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The title of today’s study comes from a phrase I used last week in “The Principles Applied.” To quote, “But if you search sea and land for those willing to agree with you, and you pull them from their open errors, even their open sins, but you do not teach character, you are only making educated devils.”
The religions of the modern world are designed specifically for that purpose, to create educated devils, who may think and speak and act spiritually, but who are not fit for the world to come. We read this well-known passage, “Not every one that saith unto Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.’” (Mat 7:21-23)
Yahshua does not say to these people that they merely missed the mark, that they misunderstood some essential doctrine, or that they misinterpreted some key verse. No, they actually worked “iniquity,” which is “lawlessness,” anomia, the same phrase that John uses to define sin in his letter, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law, for sin is anomia.” (1 John 3:4)
How is it that a people, that “many” people, can be so deluded that, while they believe they are Christians, living a life of Christianity, they are actually lawless, working contrary to the will of the Father? Of course, we know an easy example of that as Adventists. We can point to Sunday-keeping in the place of Sabbath-keeping as a clear violation of Yahweh’s Law by the majority of those who call themselves Christ’s followers. In their works, they violate both the teaching and the example of the Messiah. That is an easy example to demonstrate, because it violates the letter of the Law, but what it shows is just how powerful a demonic education can be, how thoroughly it can convince the whole world to worship the Beast and its image, while thinking that they are bowing to the Creator of the universe.
Even so, this is not Satan’s ideal. It is possible to violate the letter of the Law and still have a fairly innocent character. I am not saying that anyone who violates the commandments of Yahweh will attain the fullness of the stature of Christ, and thus be translated; the wages of sin, any sin, is death. Nevertheless, in the Kingdom there will be many who did not have a full understanding of the proper practices, and will require only a gentle education in order to be perfect. What the Enemy wants is a corruption of the spirit, a violation of the very principles of the Law. There can be no redemption while a principle of Yahweh’s Law is being violated, this renders the soul entirely dead in its trespasses, and unable to understand the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Satan does not want ignorant saints; they are not particularly useful to him. He wants educated devils. He wants a people who are devils in their essential nature. He wants a people who reject the foundation of the Christian faith, the agape-love of the Father and Son, even while outwardly practicing its rituals, rather than the opposite: a people who genuinely love Christ, but do not know how to serve Him in the fullness of all available light. It is one thing to keep someone from knowledge; it is another to corrupt the spirit. We can teach someone that the true Sabbath is not Sunday, but unless we teach the importance of spiritual rest, of trusting in Yah, and letting that trust transform one’s thoughts from restless to peaceful, what is the benefit? Furthermore, more knowledge without more character makes one worse, hence Yahshua’s statement that the evangelism of the Pharisees was making their converts “twofold more the child[ren] of hell.” (Mat 23:15)
In my last few studies, I have been drawing a connection between the character of Christ and the Everlasting Gospel as expressed in the Three Angels’ Message. I have made the point that the sinless character by definition has victory over sin. It is teachable, and led by the Spirit, so it will inevitably reject false doctrines, and espouse a pure faith. It loves the Father, the Son, and the Brethren, therefore it will reject any attempt by Satan to obtain agreement to persecute the saints. Thus, it will reject the Beast and its Image, and in fact will strive for exactly the opposite: perfect unity with the People of God. Perhaps it has not always been clear to some of my readers why I summarize the Third Angels’ Message as “Unity,” and why Ellen White specified that it is the Third Angel that leads the people as one united Body into glory, when the text of the Bible has the Third Angel warning against taking the Mark of The Beast. (Rev 14:9-12) What does one thing have to do with the other? The answer to this is quite simple – it is the spirit of unity, the spirit of desiring to be among the saints in covenant fellowship, that reveals the spirit of persecution by the Beast. How can I, who identify as a commandment-keeping Christian, agree to put commandment-keeping Christians in jail, or agree to the confiscation of their property, or any measure that vexes their conscience? These two are opposites, and there can be no true neutrality; therefore, each individual will identify with one, or with the other. Yahshua said this, “He that is not with Me is against Me, and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad.” (Mat 12:30)
There is no such thing as neutrality in spiritual things; there is only the Great Controversy. There is no middle ground in this matter of the Beast and its Image. There was not in the 1800s, when its manifestation was a Sunday Law, and there is not today, when it is a matter of the dispute over the Trademarked Name. One either loves the people of Yahweh and desires to be one with them, or he scatters abroad by either:
a) seeking to enforce the trademark,
b) agreeing with the trademark, or
c) attempting to adopt an imaginary neutrality on the topic, giving the impression and the example that it is not a call for loyalty to the Father and Son.
In rejecting the Mark of The Beast, truly rejecting it, one inevitably unites with those whom it is designed to destroy. The whole world wonders after the Beast, whether it knows it or not; truly, only the Covenant of Yahshua, only the fellowship of the saints, exists as an alternative.
The character of Christ, in these last days, therefore, is manifest in the victory over sin, the purity of the Faith of Yahshua, and the desire for unity with the brethren as opposed to persecuting them or seeing them persecuted. Satan’s school for the spirit, by contrast, is specifically designed to teach human beings how to reject precisely these three principles. The religions of today are specifically designed to teach the opposite of these principles. This is how you may recognize them as products of their father, the Devil. They teach salvation in sin, a host of faulty and dangerous beliefs and practices, and that true Christian unity is unnecessary for sanctification. These are Satan’s own cherished sentiments.
The world and its churches are training people to disbelieve, actively disbelieve, the Three Angels that are sent to teach the divine character. How do we, then, as the saints and representatives of Yahweh, address this? How do we meet it and overcome it? When we encounter those educated in the School of Satan, we cannot just say, “Here is the truth,” and expect them to immediately recognize error. The very nature of their education is such that they are taught to avoid the realization. Compared to now, in the days of the apostles the distance between truth and error was relatively great. Do you worship Yahweh, or do you offer sacrifices to Jupiter? Do you participate in the Last Supper, or do you dance around a fertility pole and bow to a wooden idol? Those who encountered Christianity, for the most part, learned of the genuine faith.
These days, we are dealing with a far more educated set of devils. The distance between error and truth is now so thin that natural eyes and commonplace reasoning cannot distinguish them. Only by the Holy Spirit can one see the true path before him, and there are many, many voices attempting to drown out the guidance from On High. So, what do we do?
The apostles, although they were not dealing with the same degree of deception, have given us the pattern to follow. We read, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?” (2Cor 6:14) While most people have heard this verse used in regard to marriage between a believer and a non-believer, and it is certainly a legitimate application, that is not what Paul was talking about in his letter. In the verses just below he continues, “And what agreement hath the Temple of Elohim with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, ‘I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate,’ saith Yahweh, ‘and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” (2Cor 6:16, 17) Paul never counseled a believing spouse to leave, to “be ye separate,” from an unbelieving partner. In fact, he said just the opposite. (1Cor 7:13) This is talking about fellowship, specifically religious association with idols, false temples, and false teachings.
What we need to do is separate those whom we are trying to reach from their fellowship with darkness. We need to get them to recognize the critical importance of untangling themselves from false teachings while they are seeking to learn the truth as it is in Yahshua, or they will never be able to settle into that truth. They need to recognize that the teachers of cold formality, and those who promote doctrine without character, are transforming them, as the Pharisees once did, into children of Hell. If the messages they have been hearing are without victory, without purity, and without the drive toward unity with the Body of Christ, they need to understand that they are being trained to reject salvation. If they are content to remain where they are, with two contrary Gospels being presented to them, they need to consider the Apostle’s words. “What communion hath light with darkness?”
Now, we need to be particularly careful about how we approach this, especially in this generation with its countless cults, independent ministries, charismatic but false preachers, a fierce spirit of individualism, and a fear of being misled. These are powerful enemies of the truth – all of them, and to be clear, when I say “a fierce spirit of individualism,” I mean a worship of individuality – individuality at the expense of principle, rather than the experience of true individuality that our Father has given to us.
So yes, with all those things actively working against the principle of true Christian unity, there needs to be great caution. We see what happens when some religious groups take it too far, forbidding their members from having contact with family, or reading the “wrong” versions of the Bible, and things like that. The Gospel of Yahshua is about freedom; even the Scriptures tell us we are not to “forbid” in matters of personal freedoms, (1Tim 4:3) lest we strengthen legalistic tendencies, but at the same time, we must teach the truth, that there are principles that must be firmly embraced, there are evils in the world that will destroy the unwary, there are falsehoods designed to trick and deceive the unprepared.
The Scriptures tell us that “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light,” (2Cor 11:14) and this is not a warning to be taken for granted. Yahshua is returning for “wise” virgins, (Mat 25:6-10) and we who teach the Gospel must stress the importance of being wise, of being discerning, of recognizing where oil is being sold, and where only a counterfeit fuel is being offered. We must teach the importance of not being stuck between two opinions. That is a part of the work of the Eli-Yah people, as it is written, “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, ‘How long halt ye between two opinions? If Yahweh be God, follow Him, but if Ba’al, then follow him.’ And the people answered him not a word.” (1Kings 18:21)
That is a key verse. Understand well, it is our duty in Christ to do this. This command – to choose between light and darkness – is a part of Eli-Yah’s work. It is the way that Eli-Yah turns the heart of the people back to the Father. But often, as we read in this passage, “the people answered him not a word.”
Often, too often, the people are content with their demonic education. As long as they still like to hear the truth, they reason, what does it matter where it comes from? What does it matter what else they hear?
Many people with whom we share the truth will come to worship with us, but are also regularly consuming, not necessarily the things of the world, but the things of brethren pretending to be holy while teaching faults. They hear those teaching doctrine, sometimes good doctrine, but without the character that makes it sanctifying, and they slip away in time into the darkness. When we know something is of the world, our guard is up; we are ready to reject that which does not sound like a blessing. But if a trusted pastor, or popular preacher, says something that catches the attention, one may be more willing to absorb it, more willing to digest it and make it a part of the soul and personality. Should that message contain leaven, some doubt in the perfect work of Yahshua, some questioning of the guidance of the Holy Spirit on to perfection, it is training those who hear it to reject the truth that is also working within them.
Now we have a problem, because the brain does not like cognitive dissonance. The brain does not like to hold two contradictory opinions, so it will try to reconcile the doctrines. As you can imagine, and as Paul directly says, attempting to reconcile the truth with lies will lead only to more believable lies. It never leads to an “acceptable level of truth,” whatever we imagine that might be. We teach that “whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin,” (1John 3:9) and we teach it as an absolute reality of the Christian experience. Modern Christian theology teaches that the born again believer will, occasionally, commit a known transgression of the Law. What do you suppose a compromise between those two ideas will look like? Will it be what the Bible says? No… it will be some holier-sounding version of “occasional sin.” Maybe it means we will gradually stop sinning, they say. Maybe it means that before Jesus comes, before the close of probation, we will have stopped. We have heard these very words from those who call themselves teachers of the Gospel, but their testimony betrays them as servants of sin, as spiritual evolutionists, as compromisers of the truth with the doctrines of devils.
It is better, infinitely better, to just take the Father and Son at Their Word, and let the miracle occur.
The people who are waiting for the miracle first, for some great sign before they decide to trust in Yahshua and commit to righteousness, will never receive that sign. They will never cease from sin. They will justify their actions, they will suggest that they cannot expect to come up to the standard of Scripture, because they are “only human.” That is what they have been taught that faith is: a better excuse for failure. They have wise-sounding, well-meaning voices telling them that they are “on the right path,” and that despite the fact they have been given all the power in Heaven, and every angel as an ally, there is only so much they can do, and that is good enough. They are offended at the suggestion that, like Cain, their efforts are not good enough, because they have not been taught that the only way to survive is to let go, to let Yahshua abide in them, and to let Him do, in them, the perfect, always-perfect, will of the Father. As Yahshua said in the first passage of our study, “Not every one that saith unto Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in Heaven.” Those who understand this let the Son do the will of His Father in us, and through us, and so we enter into that Kingdom.
Yahweh is separate from all sin. His people are separate, experientially, from all sin. We see it, we recognize and encounter it, but we do not participate in it, all while the world is telling us that this narrow path is impossible. The brain will try to reconcile truth and error if two trusted sources are saying opposite things… therefore, the only hope for the conflicted sinner is to hear the warnings of the apostle, hear the warnings of the messengers of Yahweh, and separate themselves from the teachings of those who have compromised with evil. Until they have a firm foundation of truth, until they have settled into that truth intellectually and spiritually, so that they cannot be moved, their only safety is in a steady and pure diet of truth from those who have covenanted with Him who is Truth.
Some have said to us, “We do not want to separate from our churches. We do not want to leave our current fellowships, because we need to be a good example to them. We need to take the things we are learning from you, and share it with them.” That sounds righteous. That sounds noble, but the Church of Yahshua is not in the business of sending children out to war. We would not be loving brethren if we were to say to someone not yet established in the faith, “Go forth and make believers of all men.” In a time of far less error, Yahshua ministered to His disciples directly for three and a half years, then He died and poured His Spirit out upon them, before He gave them that great commission. We, who are of His Spirit, can do no differently, lest we encourage just another round of independent ministers. There are enough of them out there already.
To those who are halt between two opinions, and seeking the best intentions to stay in the middle, we counsel them to first let their foundation be strong by dwelling with Yahweh on His Mountain. Only when they are sealed, and their faces are shining like Moses’ face, (Exo 34:29) should they go down again into the valley. Only then can they help others to put away their errors without risking their own integrity. As Paul wrote, “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous… One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?). Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.” (1Tim 3:2-6)
Some might say, “I don’t plan to be a bishop, I just want to stay around my old congregation and be an example to them of what I am learning.” Read for principle. Understand what the apostle is saying here… and realize that our perception of the word “bishop” has been corrupted by the Roman Catholic Church. The word there simply means one that has spiritual authority, one who has been commissioned by Yahweh to do a work for the Body, and who can act as a guide or guardian of others.
Everyone who has attempted to fix a fallen Church from the “inside” has gone away into darkness. Everyone who has attempted to be “neutral,” to remain uncommitted to the Bride of Christ, has eventually grown cold, and settled back into sleep. They have fallen victim to, and have themselves become, nothing but better educated devils.
And I want to be clear here as well… when I say “devils” referring to human beings, I am not speaking condemnation on them, as if they were beyond hope like the actual demons that ensnared them. It is a condemnation of their teachings, certainly, and of their current course. It is a strait testimony that must be borne so that, perhaps, they will escape that final fate. Yahshua said to the Israelites that rejected and opposed Him, “You are of your father the Devil.” (John 8:44) When Peter, with what he thought were good intentions, tried to convince Yahshua not to suffer and die on the cross, Yahshua called him Satan. (Mat 16:23) Why? He did not hate His fellow Jews, nor did He hate Peter. Were His words intended to insult, or to condemn? No, that would have done no good. But He spoke these words, He gave this cutting and startling testimony, so that the people would hear His judgment of them, so that they would hear the judgment of themselves. Those who yet had life in them, and were yet open to the Spirit, would hear this testimony, and ask themselves, “Am I a devil? Am I an adversary of the truth?” That self-examination is the beginning of reconciliation, of atonement.
Remember, the word satan literally means “one who opposes” in Hebrew, and the word devil literally means “one who falsely accuses” in Greek. Many, many who think themselves servants of the Lord are adversaries, satanim, satans, when they dilute or compromise the Gospel with false and deadly teachings. Many who think themselves righteous are diabolos, devils, speaking falsely against the true messengers and servants of Yahshua. For those who wish to learn the truth, and to stand before the Father without the stain of guilt, we must counsel separation from teachers such as these.
For those who wish to learn the truth, we must ask them, seeking by close questioning whether they are truly willing to be saved, “What is your character?” “Does your character connect your faith to your destiny?” “Are you willing to be joined with Christ and His people in a covenant like unto a marriage, forsaking all others?” If they cannot endure the fellowship of the saints, with its joys, but also its corrections and guidance, then like other, actual, devils, they will only believe and tremble. We do not wish this to be the case. We pray that all who hear our words will be healthy, happy, and safe.
So then, how do we win an educated devil? How do we rescue those being influenced by an educated devil? It is not easily done by reasoning with them. Satan has designed their training well, so that they will usually resist proper and Biblical reason. The best way is by this: speak the truth to them without compromise. Give them your testimony of victory in Yahshua, your Savior. Give them a testimony against the temptation to mix light with darkness, and to settle into a comfortable neutrality. And then, when you have done that, invite them into fellowship, where they can learn the truth. Invite them, as the Scripture says the Spirit and the Bride invite them, to “Come and see.”
“Come and see the works of Elohim; He is terrible in His doing toward the children of men.” (Psalm 66:5) That is “terrible” in the original sense… awe-inspiring, overwhelming, commanding deep reverence. When the first four seals in the Book of Revelation are opened, the mighty angels around the Throne say “Come and see.” (Rev 6:1, 3, 5, 7) When the Spirit and the Bride testify of Yahshua, they say, “Come. And let him that heareth say, ‘Come.’ And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev 22:17)
This is the message of Eli-Yah to the world, to sinners, and to the educated devils. This is the invitation that will win a soul from death, turn the hearts of the sinners back to Yahweh, and finally finish the work. This is the warning to “come,” to be here, and not there, where error and death are taught. It is an invitation to fellowship, yes, but that alone is not enough. It must also be a separating message, a warning that, if they hear the truth as it is in Yahshua, but are still being influenced by the Devil in the form of an angel of light, they will not find Sabbath-rest. They will not be able to grasp the Three Angels’ Message in its intended power, and their characters will not be perfected according to the fullness of the stature of Christ. They must be “separated unto us,” united with us wholeheartedly, and then they will see life.
May the Father and Son guide us by Their Spirit, and give us wisdom to deal with each case, with each precious soul that is brought into our lives. Let us be loving, but also direct, not forbidding, but persuading, that each must have his foundation made sure, each must have his house built upon the Rock that is Christ Yahshua, and then all will be equipped, and commissioned, to help others in situations similar to that from which we ourselves have been drawn.
May we be blessed, and privileged, to be the ones that welcome the return of Yahshua with the precious jewels that we have helped to gather for His Everlasting Kingdom. Amen.
David.
An Enduring Witness
“Having received the faith of the gospel, the next work of the believer is to add to his character virtue, and thus cleanse the heart and prepare the mind for the reception of the knowledge of God. This knowledge is the foundation of all true education and of all true service. It is the only real safeguard against temptation; and it is this alone that can make one like God in character.” [Acts of The Apostles, p. 530]
“High and holy attainments are within our reach. Continual progress in knowledge and virtue is God's purpose for us. His law is the echo of His own voice, giving to all the invitation, ‘Come up higher. Be holy, holier still.’ Every day we may advance in perfection of Christian character.” [The Great Controversy, p. 527]
“Holiness is agreement with God. By sin the image of God in man has been marred and well-nigh obliterated; it is the work of the gospel to restore that which has been lost; and we are to cooperate with the divine agency in this work. And how can we come into harmony with God, how shall we receive His likeness, unless we obtain a knowledge of Him? It is this knowledge that Christ came into the world to reveal unto us.” [Testimonies for The Church, Vol. 5, p. 743]