Many Davidians contend that it is not so important that we to come to agreement on every point of doctrine in order to work together this side of the kingdom. Their reason is that their relationship with Jesus is the most important thing now and that is what they want to focus on, not to get into controversies of points of doctrine that are being agitated by within certain circles of influence or by various individuals. This is true, however, we do need to sink the shaft deeper into the mine of truth and look for answers to this dilemma from the scriptures backed up by the S.O.P. and the Rod and cease from the ideas of man and whatever our feelings may be on the subject knowing foremost that Christ Himself stated . . .
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” — Matt. 5:17-19
“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” — John 4:34
“Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.” — John 7:14-17
We are further counseled how to confront the spiritualistic source of such sentiments that are commonplace in our midst.
“Those who oppose the teachings of spiritualism are assailing, not men alone, but Satan and his angels. They have entered upon a contest against principalities and powers and wicked spirits in high places. Satan will not yield one inch of ground except as he is driven back by the power of heavenly messengers. The people of God should be able to meet him, as did our Saviour, with the words: “It is written.” Satan can quote Scripture now as in the days of Christ, and he will pervert its teachings to sustain his delusions. Those who would stand in this time of peril must understand for themselves the testimony of the Scriptures.” — Great Controversy, p. 559.2
List of some controversial doctrines amongst Davidians that keep us divided:
- How many saved/sealed alive from the S.D.A. church, only 144,000 or an additional “those with”?
- How many purifications in the church; just Ezekiel 9 or an additional pre-purification amongst Davidians?
- Who is the antitypical King David to rule in the promised land?
- Is there going to be another prophet? Do we need to have a living prophet or teacher in our midst today?
- Are the “New Code” sermon addresses published by Florence Houteff part of the authorized original Shepherd’s Rod message?
- Is it part of the health reform message to practice and promote various “New Age” spiritualistic health modalities such as reflexology, iridology, acupressure, magnetic therapy, etc.?
- Are we in the Carmel, Bashan, or Gilead pasture today according to Mic. 7:14?
- How do we keep the feast and festivals today in antitype?
- What is the full and complete understanding of the prophecy of Ezekiel’s river?
- Is there a requirement to have a storehouse of present truth this side of the kingdom?
- Can there be more than one storehouse at the same time?
- Is it important to have a Certificate of Fellowship card today?
- Where does the storehouse need to be located?
- Does the storehouse publish only original SRod literatures written by Bro. Houteff or is it ok to remodel the message and publish tracts or magazines under different titles and pen names?
- Should we publish the original literature without cost or charge money for it?
- Should the storehouse use tithe money to pay non believers to print the inspired Rod literature?
What does it mean to see “eye to eye”?
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.” (Isa. 52:7, 8.)
“The entire church, acting as one, blending in perfect union, is to be a living, active missionary agency, moved and controlled by the Holy Spirit.” “All that the apostles did, every church-member today is to do.” “His workers will then see eye to eye, and the arm of the Lord, the power of which was seen in the life of Christ, will be revealed.” — Testimonies, Vol. 8, p. 47; Vol. 7, p. 33; Vol. 9, p. 33.” — Tract, No. 8, p. 26
Nah. 1:15 — “Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.”
Here we are told that at the time the war is fought someone is to be publishing inspired revelations of newly revealed Truth, the Truth of the Judgment of the Living, the which is to forever separate the wheat from the tares (Matt. 13:30), the good fish from the bad (Matt. 13:47, 48), the sheep from the goats (Matt. 25:32), and the wise virgins from the foolish ones (Matt. 25:1-12). These shall “no more pass through” the church, declares the scripture, they are “utterly cut off.” Thus urging Judah, the church, to keep this antitypical atonement feast and to perform her vows to God so as to be found worthy of escaping the judgments of God. Hence God’s plea to His church is now ringing throughout the land, saying, “Awake, awake: put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and unclean.” (Isa. 52:1)
With these positive signs of the times Inspiration lets each individual decide for himself whether to put confidence in the Voice which Inspiration Itself recommends, or in a voice which uninspired human beings recommend. Henceforth there is to be no confusion among God’s true people. His “. . . watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.” (Isa. 52:8.)” — Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 3, p. 15
Zech. 6:14 — “And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the Lord.”
Verse 14 reveals that Joshua is to pass the crowns on to his helpers whom the Lord Himself names. This is to be a memorial, an everlasting reminder in the temple of the Lord.
What can all this mean? — Just this: Joshua is Heaven’s appointed judge, ruler. He himself is crowned as such. And in response to the Lord’s Own command, Joshua crowns (authorizes) his helpers whom the Lord Himself names. In other words, as members of “the house of David,” Joshua authorizes them to engage in the work. So, Joshua is responsible to the Lord, but his helpers are responsible to Joshua. Here is seen an organization having a Leader and an under leader — the Lord and Joshua. Thus it is that whatever is to be bound on earth, is also to be bound in Heaven (Matt. 16:19.)
As concretely as Heaven can make it, this symbolism depicts that God’s people in this final work are not to labor at cross purposes. All are to speak the same thing. So it is that His “Watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.” Isa. 52:8. Then His people shall be called “The Holy people, The redeemed of the Lord,” “Sought out, A city not forsaken” (Isa. 62:12).” — Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 8, p. 26
Christians are working at cross-purposes among themselves. One Christian brother is betraying another. Christian ministers, rather than preaching the Truth, are preaching against one another. One goes ahead to build up, and another trails behind to tear down. They do not see eye to eye; nor do they understand one another even as much as did the confused tower-builders.
Just so long as such selfishness and dishonesty, confusion and animosity, exist among Christians, their bridge and their tower, so to speak, will come to naught as certainly as did the bridge of the six covenant-breakers and as did the tower of the prophet Noah’s mockers. There is no way of stopping ism trouble without removing the cause—no, no more than a splinter wound can heal before the splinter has been removed.
You are familiar with the fact that there was no ism trouble in Moses’ day as long as Moses alone interpreted the Word of God to the people. But just as soon as Korah, Dathan, Abiram and others aspired to Moses’ office ism trouble started. And the only remedy that even God Himself could find was to cause the earth to open her mouth and to swallow the ism-breathing multitude, the self-appointed representatives of God.
In our day there is an even greater flood of private interpreters of the Scriptures (the cause of today’s isms) than there was in Moses’ day. And according to Revelation 12:15, 16, the Lord warns that He will again use a remedy similar to the ancient remedy against today’s ism-breeding flood. Then some may learn to respect the office of the Spirit of Prophecy. Let us now read of the fate of those who chose to continue walking in sparks of their own kindling.
Rev. 12:16 — “. . . and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.” — Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 14, p.15
Under this perfect system of preparing, and dispensing the Word of God, “meat in due season,” to His people, there need be no fear that the reservoir will run dry, or that the lamps will grow dim. This is the only system, moreover, that can make the church perfect, without spot, wrinkle, or any such thing — a people without guile in their mouths, all seeing eye to eye, all saying the same thing. Truly “a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like.” Joel 2:2. This beyond doubt is the mighty power that lightens the earth, it is the Loud Cry. Indeed this symbolism reveals the church at the time she is endowed with the Spirit of Prophecy and with the righteousness of Christ.
Obviously, the system of Bible interpretation, described by Zechariah, is the Lord’s only system. It is the only remedy for isms and discord among Christians. Thus it is that His “watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.” Isa. 52:8.” — Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 14, pp. 22-23
When will God’s Servants See Eye to Eye?
Mic. 5:9-14 — “Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots: and I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds: and I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers: thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thy hands. And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities.”
These verses can mean only one thing, and that is, that God will thoroughly purge His floor. He will take the fan in His hand and blow out the chaff, He will destroy the sinners that are among His people. In thus purifying His church, He will create a clean people, a united and zeal-filled ministry. “Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice;” He declares, “with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.” Isa. 52:8.” — Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 26, p. 21
Isa. 52:8 — “Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.”
All God’s servants shall together, and with joy, exalt His message (the Voice), because when the Lord again brings Zion they shall see eye to eye. What a difference between Zion’s watchmen of tomorrow, and her watchmen of today among whom hardly two actually see eye to eye! “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 Angel’s Message] when it shall have swelled into the Loud Cry.” — “Review and Herald,” Nov. 19, 1908.” — Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 38, p. 27
BRIEFLY TO SUMMARIZE OUR STUDY: We see that the time of purification of the church is at hand; that Zion (the General Conference) and Jerusalem (the local conferences) are called to “awake,” so that the daughter of Zion, the church, might be clothed with the righteousness of Christ; that she is weak; that she has not the righteousness of Christ; that the day of her redemption is now at hand; that she is to be freed from man’s rule and from hypocrisy; that Zion and Jerusalem as they are today, are no less oppressing the laity than were the Assyrian lords oppressing the children of ancient Israel; that God will not leave His people in ignorance; that they shall know it is He speaking, not an enemy as they are made to believe; that the message of the Kingdom of God is a message of comfort; that His faithful servants shall exalt His message (the Voice); that after Zion and Jerusalem awake they shall see “eye to eye,” and only those who have withstood temptation in the strength of the Mighty One will have a part in proclaiming this message in the Loud Cry (“Review and Herald,” Nov. 19, 1908); that then all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God; that God sends His Truth, not through those who are exalted and idolized by men, but through unsuspected servants; that those who do not turn from man shall fall, whereas the followers of Truth and righteousness shall live forever; that it is a sacred duty of all Truth-bearers to proclaim the message to all the brethren, for if they be not awakened now, they may sleep on forever.” — Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 38, pp. 30-31
This scripture [Joel 2:23, 28-29] shows, moreover, that the manifestation of the Spirit, in the second Pentecost, is to be much greater than the former, that in comparison the former was but a sample.
When will this be? — It will have to be just as soon as God can get a company of people to “see eye to eye” (Isa. 52:8) that their own so-called good deeds are but filthy rags, and thus be of one accord. The only such company in prophecy, you know, is the 144,000, the first fruits, the servants of God who stand on Mount Zion with the Lamb without guile in their mouths (Rev. 14:1, 4, 5). To achieve such a happy holy state the Church must experience a mighty revival and reformation, a shaking, a sifting, such as she has never yet experienced. Yes, if everyone were to cast away his private ideas and opinions, it would indeed bring the greatest revival and reformation since the day of Pentecost. This is what now must take place, and it will take place exactly as the following Scripture reveals: [quotes Eze. 9]” — Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No.19, pp. 10-11
Since it is therefore strictly Biblical that God will not bestow the gift of miracles upon a people other than those who as a group come to one accord, who come to “see eye to eye” (Isa. 52:8), and since the Spirit cannot effect this unity and harmony now while the tares are commingled with the wheat, then all might as well reconcile themselves to the educative and redemptive discipline of waiting on the Lord until “harvest” — till the tares, the discordant or false ones, are purged out. Those who will not wait, but are impatient to possess the power right now to work wonders, will beguile themselves with a spurious gift. Bent on having the gift of miracle-working power that is being acclaimed rather than the gifts made available for the hastening of the harvest, they satisfy themselves with the counterfeit which is current, just as Pharaoh satisfied himself with the counterfeit serpents which his great men brought forth against the serpents of Moses (Ex. 7:10-12). If these counterfeit miracle-workers and miracle-hunters of today will not repent themselves of this folly, then they will have to pay the penalty for playing the fool.” — Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 46, pp. 26-27
What are the Conditions for having Unity Among Believers?
We all somewhat agree, I know, that this woman of Revelation 12 is symbolical of the Church; that the Dragon is symbolical of Satan; and that the child represents Christ. But inasmuch as we may not agree as to whether the woman is symbolical of the Old Testament church or of the New or of both, it is essential that we study to see eye to eye.” — Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 16, p. 16
Question No. 104:
How can believers attain and maintain unity among themselves?
Answer:
To defeat the Enemy and maintain unity and harmony, let every believer cease finding fault with his brethren; watch his own steps and not theirs; realize that they have the same opportunity as does he to know the difference between right and wrong; bear his own and not their responsibility; esteem them better than himself; and do and say nothing he would not like them to do or say to him.
Let each realize, as did Paul, that charitableness—forbearance through love—is the most indispensable, urgent, and lofty of all attainments:
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
“Charity never faileth: but whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” 1 Cor. 13.
Do this, Brethren, and the Devil will flee and your troubles after him.
Remember that “Satan lives, and is active, and every day we need to cry earnestly to God for help and strength to resist him. As long as Satan reigns we shall have self to subdue, besetments to overcome! and there is no stopping-place, there is no point to which we can come and say we have fully attained.
“The Christian life is constantly an onward march. Jesus sits as a refiner and purifier of his people; and when his image is perfectly reflected in them, they are perfect and holy, and prepared for translation.”—Testimonies, Vol 1, p. 340.
If Christians never accuse one another, never communicate one another’s mistakes, shortcomings, failures, and troubles, they will find themselves so united that nothing can break their common Christian bond. But such a spirit of oneness can be maintained only by a people who keep a tireless vigil over themselves, always to see eye to eye and to speak the same things by forsaking their own ways and thoughts in exchange for the Lord’s.
It is imperative, therefore, that every Present-truth believer teach and practice only Present Truth—teach not short of nor beyond what is published, weave not into it private interpretations or constructions, theories and ideas, and do nothing less or nothing more than what the message calls for.
Thus putting aside your own thoughts and your own ways, and availing yourselves of the Lord’s (Isa. 55:8, 9), in exclusive devotion to the Spirit of Truth, you will really see eye to eye, and speak the same things. Then only will you be able to dispel the spirit of confusion and to retain the spirit of love and unity.
And since there is strength and spirituality only where there is union, no member of a group of people can afford to neglect his duty in maintaining such Christian unity.” — Answerer Book, No. 4, pp. 66-69
To bring before you the seriousness of the situation in which the church finds herself at this late hour, and the remedy which God would have His people apply so as to set them free from this “offshoot” annoyance, I am therefore making this second attempt to set before you the revealed facts so that no one, whether minister or layman, need longer walk blindly and in darkness.
Since there is general agreement that Inspiration direct from the Throne of God is our only spiritual eyesight, then we should be able to see eye to eye if we let the Spirit of God have His way with us.” – General Conference Special, pp. 3-4
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