TEXT OF ADDRESS BY V.T. HOUTEFF, MINISTER OF DAVIDIAN 7TH-DAY ADVENTISTS SABBATH, MARCH 6, 1948 MT. CARMEL CHAPEL WACO, TEXAS ,

The text for our subject this afternoon is Malachis prophecy. It treats of a revival and reformation such as the world has never yet known. Moreover the fact that the prophecy is written in such a way as partially to apply to ancient Israel and yet specifically for the people in the latter days for those who are approaching the great and dreadful day of the Lord prove that the reformation needed in Malachis day is needed also in our day. -2TG30 11.1

There is nothing so mysterious in the writings of Malachi but what any Bible student can comprehend by studying the book itself. I shall therefore study with you the last two chapters. The first two you can study at your leisure. We shall begin with– -2TG30 11.2

Mal. 3:1, 2 — Behold I will send My messenger and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord Whom ye seek shall suddenly come to His temple even the messenger of the covenant whom ye delight in: behold he shall come saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiners fire and like fullers sope. -2TG30 11.3

Two persons are here disclosed to view the messenger and the Lord. The messenger is to precede the coming of the Lord. He is to prepare the way then the Lord is to appear. And who could this messenger be if not the one whom the Lord names? — He declares Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Mal. 4:5. -2TG30 11.4

-11-

This messenger of the covenant (of the promise) antitypical Elijah the prophet shall prepare the way he shall restore all things. As he prepares the way the Lord will suddenly come to His temple to His church. And what is His work to be? To purify or cleanse His people by weeding the unrepented sinners from among them. The question: But who may abide the day of His coming? solemnly declares that we had better now get busy and do what it takes to make us stand before the cleansing begins. -2TG30 12.1

Whom in particular will He purify? — Let us read– -2TG30 12.2

Mal. 3:3 — 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. -2TG30 12.3

The Levites you know comprised the tribe from which came the priesthood the ministers of the Lord. And since this prophecy is to meet its complete fulfillment in our day the figure is clear: The Levites the ministers of the Lord in our day are to be purified. What then? -2TG30 12.4

Mal. 3:4 — Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. -2TG30 12.5

-12-

This verse implies that the offerings which we now bring to the Lord are not pleasing to Him not pleasing as in times past. -2TG30 13.1

Here we have the glorious promise that not long hence there shall be a pure ministry a pure people — a people without guile in their mouths without spot or wrinkle or any such thing (Eph. 5:27). Those who do not measure to this standard will not stand. Thereafter no sinner will stand in their midst for Henceforth says the Lord there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Isa. 52:1. -2TG30 13.2

This glorious future is moreover reiterated by the Spirit of Prophecy in our day. Here it is: -2TG30 13.3

…Only those who have withstood temptation in the strength of the Mighty One will be permitted to act a part in proclaiming it [the Third Angels Message] when it shall have swelled into the Loud Cry. — Review and Herald Nov. 18, 1908. -2TG30 13.4

We have been inclined to think that where there are no faithful ministers there can be no true Christians but this is not the case. God has promised that were the shepherds are not true he will take charge of the flock himself. God has never made the flock wholly dependent upon human instrumentalities. But the days of purification of the church are hastening on apace. God will have a people pure and true. In the mighty sifting soon to take place we shall be better able to measure the strength of Israel. The signs reveal that the time is near when the Lord will manifest that his fan is in his hand and he will thoroughly purge his floor. -2TG30 13.5

-13-

The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and confusion. Satan clothed in angel robes will deceive if possible the very elect. There will be gods many and lords many. Every wind of doctrine will be blowing. Those who have rendered supreme homage to science falsely so-called will not be the leaders then. Those who have trusted to intellect genius or talent will now then stand at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light. Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. 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. — Testimonies Vol. 5, pg. 80. -2TG30 14.1

In the sifting shaking time ( Testimonies Vol. 5, pg. 80) we shall be better able to know how many are really serving the Lord. Those whom we may think are to lead the church into the Kingdom may be missing while others entirely unknown to us take their places. -2TG30 14.2

Moreover it will be found that those who are constantly drilling into the minds of the laity that there are to be no more messengers sent from God no more Truth needed and that someone is constantly trying to deceive them that they should keep aloof from everything that does not meet the ministers approval — those who do this are the very ones who have already unwittingly deceived the laity and are doing their best to keep them deceived. This fact you see stands up high like a beacon on a hill. -2TG30 14.3

-14-

The only thing their carefulness not to be deceived will accomplish unless they awake is to keep themselves deceived forever and away from Truth. These shall not be able to stand when the Lord appears in His temple. Hence the revival and reformation brought to view in Malachi is the first and the last of its kind and is indeed to be crowned with the purification of the Church. Those who do not awake now will therefore sleep for ever. -2TG30 15.1

The Laodicean deception from within should not be news to you for you well know that the Church has never in any age been deceived by any but by its own ministry by those who have been as highly esteemed as were the members of the Sanhedrin those who crucified the Lord those who kept the nation deceived until it was too late to recover. Thus it was then before then and thus it has been ever since and so it is now. Stop and think this through. -2TG30 15.2

No I am not telling you something new. You know this to be so but you never think of it and that is the main trouble with the entire Denomination. -2TG30 15.3

The Church purified shall nevertheless triumph and march to victory. Fair as the moon clear as the sun and terrible as an army with banners she is to go forth into all the world conquering and to conquer. — Prophets and Kings pg. 725. -2TG30 15.4

Let us once and forever realize that the Devil is more shrewd than we can imagine. He is not particular what you believe so long as he can keep you ignorant of revealed Truth. This is what he is now doing within the Church using men of influence men who can put on the best front men who are clever who know how to gain the confidence of the people men who can easily and quietly lead the Church away from Gods messages for today the message of the Judgment for the Living — the purification of the church the cleansing of the sanctuary. Satan is doing as good a job now as he did in Christs time. -2TG30 15.5

-15-

Is not the knowledge of Malachis prophecy the purification of the Church the Judgment for the Living more important to the Church than the Judgment for the Dead? Does it look to you as though you are being deceived by this Bible study or does it look to you as though you need to reform? -2TG30 16.1

Hear therefore what the Lord is about to do: -2TG30 16.2

Mal. 3:5 — And I will come near to you to judgment and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against false swearers and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages the widow and the fatherless and that turn aside the stranger from his right and fear not Me saith the Lord of hosts. -2TG30 16.3

These are only some of the sins in the Church in which men are indulging. Speaking of the message bearers of today and of the churchs condition Inspiration further says: …They lament and afflict their souls because pride avarice selfishness and deception of almost every kind are in the church. The Spirit of God which prompts to reproof is trampled under foot while the servants of Satan triumph. God is dishonored the truth made of none effect. — Testimonies Vol. 5, pp. 210, 211. -2TG30 16.4

-16-

You will receive the mark of deliverance only if you sigh and cry against all these abominations. Ezek. 9:4-6. -2TG30 17.1

To this list of sins the Lord calls attention to the following and asks us to repent: -2TG30 17.2

Mal. 3:6-9 — For I am the Lord I change not therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from Mine ordinances and have not kept them. Return unto Me and I will return unto you saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say Wherein have we robbed Thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me even this whole nation. -2TG30 17.3

These verses do not blame the individual members of the church for robbing the Lord but the whole denomination the whole nation. Moreover you will note that the story of Malachi chapter three begins with chapter two. There you will note that the Lord addresses the ministry not the laity saying …O ye priests this commandment is for you. Mal. 2:1. Plainly then the trouble lies in the fact that though the laity as a rule pay faithful tithe and offerings God nevertheless is robbed because the Denomination is taking the tithes and at the same time is fighting rather than accepting and promulgating His message for today — the Judgment for the Living. His money is used to cheat His people from His Truth instead of enlightening them with It — keeping His people in darkness and deception even barring them from investigating the message of the hour for themselves. What a charge -2TG30 17.4

Here is what God would have the laity do: -2TG30 17.5

-17-

Mal. 3:10 — Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be meat in Mine house and prove Me now herewith saith the Lord of hosts if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. -2TG30 18.1

Where is one to look for Gods storehouse? — wherever Gods Truth is for today from wherever meat in due season is dispensed. -2TG30 18.2

The statement Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse implies that some are already bringing into it but not all. This along with the charge that the whole nation is robbing God positively shows that the tithes are now brought not to Gods storehouse but to some other house. To repeat Gods storehouse has ever been and ever will be where the message of the Hour is where Present Truth is the house from which meat in due season is dispensed at the time the tithes are paid. -2TG30 18.3

Since the old message the Judgment for the Dead is out of date as is the message of Noahs flood it is plainly seen that inasmuch as the Denomination as a whole has rejected and is fighting the message of the hour but is still collecting the tithes of the people it is indeed robbing God. -2TG30 18.4

His people are therefore asked to send their tithes to the storehouse whence Present Truth is dispensed for it is Present Truth that the flock needs now. There are many precious truths contained in the word of God but it is present truth that the flock needs now. — Early Writings pg. 63. Those who obey have this promise: -2TG30 18.5

-18-

Mal. 3:11-12 — And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land saith the Lord of hosts. -2TG30 19.1

Under no other conditions does He promise His blessings. You have hard luck? You cannot make ends meet? Start paying your tithes. Note carefully that God requires not only tithe but tithes that is tithe and free will offering. He does not want them spent on something of your own devising. You are to bring them into the store house. …Concerning the first tithe the Lord had declared I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel. But in regard to the second he commanded Thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose to place his name there the tithe of thy corn of thy wine and of thine oil and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. This tithe or its equivalent in money they were for two years to bring to the place where the sanctuary was established. After presenting a thank-offering to God and a specified portion to the priest the offerers were to use the remainder for a religious feast in which the Levite the stranger the fatherless and the widow should participate. Thus provision was made for the thank-offerings and feast at the yearly festivals and the people were drawn to the society of the priests and Levites that they might receive instruction and encouragement in the service of God. -2TG30 19.2

Every third year however this second tithe was to be used at home in entertaining the Levite and the poor as Moses said That they may eat within thy gates and be filled. This tithe would provide a fund for the uses of charity and hospitality. — Patriarchs and Prophets pg. 530. -2TG30 19.3

-19-

The command is …they shall not appear before the Lord empty. Deut. 16:16. -2TG30 20.1

God does not lie. He carries out His promises. He never fails. There is nothing more offensive to Him than unbelief and unfaithfulness in His Word. -2TG30 20.2

Mal. 3:13-15 — Your words have been stout against Me saith the Lord. Yet ye say What have we spoken so much against Thee? Ye have said It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the proud happy yea they that work wickedness are set up yea they that tempt God are even delivered. -2TG30 20.3

Here is pointed out another need of reform: We as a Denomination are charged with imagining that the ungodly are better off than those who serve God. Before drawing such a conclusion let each first examine himself and see if he is really and honestly serving God. -2TG30 20.4

Mal. 3:16, 17 — Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine saith the Lord of hosts in that day when I make up My jewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. -2TG30 20.5

If we give undivided attention to Gods Word if we do all He asks us to do we shall indeed be His people His jewels. Then a book of remembrance shall be written of us and our good and heroic deeds shall be read by the redeemed throughout eternity -2TG30 20.6

-20-

Mal. 3:18 — Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not. -2TG30 21.1

We may not now see the difference between him who serves God and him who serves Him not but the day is fast approaching when the difference will be seen by all. -2TG30 21.2

Mal. 4:1, 4 — For behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven and all the proud yea and all that do wickedly shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of hosts that it shall leave them neither root nor branch…. Remember ye the law of Moses My servant which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel with the statutes and judgments. -2TG30 21.3

Here we are asked to remember the law of Moses which God commanded in Horeb — the ten commandments the statutes and judgments (Deut. 4:10-14). -2TG30 21.4

Mal. 4:5, 6 — Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. -2TG30 21.5

The word behold calls our attention back to chapter 3, verse 1, where we are told that the Lord will send His messenger to prepare the way of the Lord for the Judgment for the Living — for the purification. -2TG30 21.6

-21-

Obviously besides preparing the way of the Lord Elijah the Lords messenger is to declare that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is at hand. -2TG30 22.1

The work of ancient Elijah you know was the closing work for typical apostate Israel — the Church. Likewise the work of Elijah of this day must be the antitypical closing work for His temple the Church before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. ( Testimonies Vol. 3, pg. 266.) -2TG30 22.2

Moreover if Elijah is a messenger he is to have a message. His message is to be heart-searching for he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers — the fathers shall long to see their children saved and the children shall long to see their fathers saved. And this revival and reformation shall in truth be crowned with the purification of the Church with the Lords slaying the antitypical false prophets of today (Isa. 66:16). For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 1 Pet. 4:17. For by fire and by His sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many….And I will set a sign among them and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations to Tarshish Pul and Lud that draw the bow to Tubal and Javan to the isles afar off that have not heard My fame neither have seen My glory and the shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses and in chariots and in litters and upon mules and upon swift beasts to My holy mountain Jerusalem saith the Lord as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. Isa. 66:16, 19, 20. -2TG30 22.3

-22-

This slaying you see takes place before probation closes for the escaped ones are sent to the Gentiles to finish the gospel work — to gather all their brethren from among them. -2TG30 23.1

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him … Let us therefore fear lest a promise being left us of entering into His rest any of you should seem to come short of it. Heb. 2:1-3 4:1. -2TG30 23.2

-23-