"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries
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September - October, 2011

     "There are many precious truths contained in the Word of God, but it is 'PRESENT TRUTH' that the flock needs now." Early Writings, p 63.


Elder: robert sessler
E-mail address:  lightmin@terragon.com


LOT’S  HISTORY  REPEATING

     In Genesis 11:26-32, the Bible mentions that Terah had three sons – “Abram, Nahor, and Haran” (vs 26).  Haran died soon after he had a son whom he named Lot.  Then Terah took Abram – who later was named Abraham, Abram’s wife Sarai – who later was named Sarah, and Lot and left that area to live in the city of Haran, and then Terah also died soon afterwards.  With the death of Terah, Abraham and Sarah then became the sole guardians of their nephew Lot, and raised him in the righteous ways of God.  Some time afterwards, Abraham followed God’s command listed in Genesis 12:1-5 and separated himself, his family, Lot and all their possessions away from the city of Haran and from all the country of Ur of the Chaldees or Babylon, and then dwelt in the wilderness of Canaan in tents, living the country life and being close to nature and nature’s God.

     Now in Genesis 13:1-13, the Scriptures reveal that when Lot was full grown, had a wife and family of his own, and also had very much possessions, it became necessary for him and his camp to move away from the camp of Abraham, which he did.  Now that Lot was on his own, did he choose to continue living the country life in the wilderness?  No.  Lot chose to dwell “in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom”, whose inhabitants “were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly” (Genesis 13:12-13).  The Hebrew word for “toward” is “ad” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, word #5704), and it translates and means “against”.  So Lot pitched his tent and camped against the city of Sodom, or in other words he lived in the suburbs of Sodom, but not in the main part of the city itself.
     Then in Genesis Chapter 14, it mentions that after the wicked inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, including Lot and his family, had all been taken captive, they then witnessed Abraham – whom they knew was an old man as well as a follower of the Most High God – personally coming to their deliverance, defeating their enemies and then restoring them all back safely to their homes.  They also watched in amazement as Abraham did not keep the spoils of victory for himself, but unselfishly returned all of their lost possessions back to them.  Yet instead of allowing these truly miraculous and amazing events to lead these inhabitants to learn more about the Most High God whom Abraham served, or to allow their hearts to be softened and changing their wicked ways to become a follower of God, they decided instead to delve deeper into wickedness.

     The wickedness of these cities soon grew to such a great extent that their cup became full, probation was about to close upon them, and then judgment would quickly fall upon all living within the limits of these evil cities.  And these inhabitants also included Lot and his family, as they had decided to live within the city limits itself instead of dwelling in its suburbs.
     Now in Genesis Chapter 18, the Scriptures then mentions that Abraham lifted “up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him” (Genesis 18:2).  We know that one of these three who came to visit Abraham was the Lord God Michael Himself in human form because it states in verse 1 that “the Lord appeared unto him” and in verse 3 that Abraham called Him “My Lord”.  So these other two traveling with the Lord God had to be angels.  But before the Lord God Michael and His two angelic companions finished visiting with Abraham, Michael revealed some insight into God’s dealings with mankind.
     As Abraham was chosen to continue God’s special covenant, Michael informed him that “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know” (Genesis 18:20-21).  Since precious souls were about to have their probation closed, the Lord God Michael mercifully did not want to allow such serious consequences and loss of eternal life to occur without first investigating into the case to make sure that all which He had been made aware of was indeed true according to the facts.  This clearly shows us that God does not delight in the death of the wicked, but would rather have all to be saved (Ezekiel 33:11; 2 Peter 3:9).  It also reveals that God does not force anyone to obey Him and gain everlasting life, but sadly accepts their decision to reject Him and lose eternal life.  And it also reveals to us that before God judges anyone to be unworthy of eternal life and allows them to be destroyed, He mercifully and personally investigates into all the facts regarding their case to make absolutely sure that not a single human being is wrongly judged and lost by mistake.

     But surely not everyone within the city limits of Sodom and Gomorrah were all wicked and deserving of being destroyed.  So Abraham asked the Lord God Michael the following questions: “Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?  Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?...and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:23-25).
     In asking these questions, Abraham knew that Lot and his family had chosen to live within Sodom, and he was fearful that they would also be consumed in the coming judgment.  Yet these questions reveal more than just concern for Lot and his family.  These questions showed that even though Abraham recognized the Lord God Michael as rightfully being the “Judge of all the earth”, he also knew that His God Michael was of such tender condescending kindness that he could approach and talk to Him as a close friend without any fear of being destroyed, repulsed or ignored.  And Abraham was right.
     The Lord God Michael kindly answered Abraham’s questions and said: “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes” (Genesis 18:26).  Abraham continued to respectively ask God this same question five more times, but kept lowering the number each time until he finally got down to what if only ten righteous persons were all that were living in the wicked city?  Yet instead of Michael becoming angry at the continued questioning, He patiently answered that “I will not destroy it” for the sake of the remaining righteous, even “for ten’s sake” (Genesis 18:27-32).  After answering this last question, “the Lord went his way...and Abraham returned unto his place” (Genesis 18:33).
     In patiently answering Abraham’s continuing questions reveals that Michael was more concerned at trying to ease the troubled mind of His follower in order that he could understand more about the merciful kindness of God towards His erring creation, than He was at being delayed in carrying out His investigation.  But it also reveals that not only is the Lord God Michael the Judge of all the earth, and can therefore judge and pass sentence upon the guilty in being worthy of eternal death, but He also can carry out the sentence of death by Himself destroying the guilty.

     While Abraham was talking with Michael, His two angelic companions appearing as “men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom” (Genesis 18:22).  The Hebrew word for “men” used here is “enowah”, and it translates and means “a mortal who is not dignified, hence a man in general” (Strong’s, word #582).  This word is derived from “anash” , which translates and means “to be frail, feeble” (Strong’s, word #605).  So these angels did not appear to be men of high and dignified bearing, but were disguised as being just two lowly, and apparently feeble and frail looking ordinary men.  Michael was using these angels to personally verify if the wickedness of the city’s inhabitants was indeed true as reported before He would destroy it, and thus their appearance was of such a character as to not compromise their mission in the least degree.
     These “two angels” arrived in “Sodom at even” or at dusk and then entered in through the city gates (Genesis 19:1).  Even though Lot did not recognize them as being “two angels”, but just thought they were ordinary frail looking men, he still “rose up to meet them” and graciously invited them to stay the night in his house (Genesis 19:1-2).  Instead of immediately accepting his invitation, these angels declined stating that “we will abide in the street all night” (Genesis 19:3).  Since Lot knew of the great wickedness of his fellow citizens, his heart yearned to protect these strangers from harm and danger.  So instead of just calmly accepting their denial of his invitation, he repeated it and “pressed upon them greatly” until they accepted his hospitality and “entered into his house” (Genesis 19:3).  Lot then “made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat” (Genesis 19:3).
     Now these angels accepted Lot’s hospitality, had entered under his roof and ate his food.  But this was not because they needed protection from harm, or shelter from the cold, or they needed food to sustain their life.  Then why?  Since Lot had chosen to live within the city of Sodom, and even remained there after knowing that it’s inhabitants were extremely evil, and then had still decided to raise his family there and not to separate from it’s wicked citizens, then perhaps he had become just like them in character and thus deserved to be destroyed along with them.  So Michael was not only using these angels to verify the wickedness of the city, but brought them into contact with Lot to test him and verify first-hand if his character was indeed righteous as it had been when he lived with Abraham, or if his character had changed and become wicked like all the rest of the fellow citizens he was connected with.
     Yet even though the appearance of these two angels was unremarkable, the arrival of two strangers into Sodom was indeed noticed by more than just Lot.  Right “before they lay down” and retired to bed, “the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter” (Genesis 19:4).  So this gathering was not just of a few men, and it wasn’t made up of just the young or the old, but was people from all over the city who came and surrounded Lot’s house.
     After this group had secured the area and made sure that there was no possible escape route, “they called unto Lot” saying “Where are the men which came in to thee this night?” (Genesis 19:5).  So while Lot was feeding and entertaining these angels, the word had quickly spread around the entire city that two strangers had come to town, and that they could be found at Lot’s house.

     But why were the inhabitants of Sodom so willing to take the time to quickly plan and then exert the energy to all gather at Lot’s house that night just because he was sheltering these two visitors?  What was their reason for such a determined purpose regarding these strangers?  Their plans and motives were quickly made known when they yelled unto Lot demanding him to “bring them out unto us, that we may know them” (Genesis 19:5).  The Hebrew word for “know” as well as “knew” is “yada”, and it translates and means “to ascertain by seeing, to feel, to have, to instruct, to lie by man, to be privy to” (Strong’s, word #3045).  Just as “Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived” (Genesis 4:1), and “Cain knew his wife; and she conceived” (Genesis 4:17), so these young and old men of Sodom did not just want to know who these men were by sight, but they wanted to know and see and feel them in a very private and intimate way.  In other words, these Sodomites wanted to lie with and have sexual intercourse with these strangers, and thus instruct them in their perverse, immoral and homosexual practices of the city!
     Before his two guests could act, Lot quickly went out of his house “and shut the door after him” (Genesis 19:6).  Lot tried to reason with all of his fellow citizens, pleading with and saying to them “I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly” with my two guests “for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof” (Genesis 19:8).  Lot went even further in trying to protect these visitors from harm as to be willing to sacrifice some of his most dear and beloved possessions – offering his own “two daughters” in order to try and appease the mob so that they would agree to “do nothing” “unto these men” (Genesis 19:8).
     Yet the inhabitants of Sodom were unwilling to change their wicked plans.  They closed their ears and hearts to all of Lot’s pleadings, and also flatly refused to accept his amazing sacrifice and offering.  In fact, they became offended and grew very angry that Lot would “be a judge” over them in accusing them of being wicked men just because they wanted to have sexual intercourse with other men!  They then decided to “deal worse” with Lot that what they would have done with these two strangers, and they charged forward at Lot.
     But instead of Lot quickly running into the house, he remained outside the door in order to try and protect his guests and family to the last, and the angry mob pinned him hard to the door (Genesis 19:9).  So all of this angry mob manifested rage and hated against Lot and were going to kill him for no other reason than because Lot told these city dwellers the truth, pointed out their sins, and even was willing to sacrifice what was dear to him in order to save and protect his two guests from being harmed!  It was at the point of Lot losing his life that the angels quickly intervened and “put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door” (Genesis 19:10).  

     But why would Lot be willing to save two strangers?  Why would Lot be willing to risk his own life in order to protect two men whom he had never seen before from an angry determined mob?  And why would Lot be willing to offer and sacrifice his most precious possessions in order to try and save his guests from harm when they had never befriended or helped him or his family in any way?  It was because of pure, righteous, unselfish and self-sacrificing love for others – including strangers.  Thus the contrast was made very plain between hatred and love, between murder and willing sacrifice, between wickedness and righteousness, between Lucifer’s character and the Lord God’s character.
     These final actions showed and proved to Michael that all the reports He had received about the great wickedness of all these cities was indeed true.  He then judged them unworthy of life, and sadly closed their probation for destruction.  While in stark contrast, Lot had indeed showed and proved that he had remained righteous, even though he was daily surrounded by all the evil of his fellow citizens.  As such, Lot did not deserve to perish along with all the wicked, and the Lord God Michael mercifully would delay His destruction of these doomed, wicked cities until Lot had been given an opportunity to escape from them.
     The angels then “smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great” so that they could no longer “find the door” and continue to carry out their murderous plans (Genesis 19:11).  Lot and his household finally recognized that their two guests were not just ordinary men, but were angels!
     These two angels then gave Lot a precious message of mercy and love from the Lord God Michael plainly telling him that he was to gather about him as many of his loved ones as he could and then quickly separate out of Sodom forever in order to show themselves distinct from the wicked since all would be destroyed who remained within the city (Genesis 19:12-13).  Lot did not delay, but immediately “went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city” (Genesis 19:14).  Even though Lot faithfully and earnestly delivered this last separation message of mercy to his loved ones, yet “he seemed as one that mocked” (Genesis 19:14).

     When Lot returned home unsuccessful in even getting a single loved one to follow the two angels’ message which he gave them, the angels urged him to get up and flee and “take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city” (Genesis 19:15).  If there would have been found at least 10 righteous individuals, then for their sakes the Lord God would not have destroyed Sodom or any of the other wicked cities of the plain. Yet because there were only four individuals that could be considered righteous, then there was nothing further that could be done to try and stem the tide of wickedness but to save these few righteous people from themselves being destroyed along with the wicked in the city.
     But instead of recognizing the mercy of the Lord towards him and immediately obeying the message and fleeing, Lot “lingered” and hesitated.  How could he leave all of his beloved relatives behind to be destroyed?  And how could he forsake his beautiful home and forsake all of his possessions which had taken him and his wife years to build up and accumulate?
     While he thus allowed his attachments to his loved ones and to his possessions to dampen the urgency of the situation, “the Lord being merciful unto him” instructed His two angels to grab the hand of Lot, his wife and each of his two daughters, and they rushed them through the streets and past the gates until they were all “without the city” (Genesis 19:16).  They then commanded them all to “Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed” (Genesis 19:17).

     Yet having lived the easier life for so long within the city, and now facing the prospect of having to rough it in the wilderness, Lot begged to be allowed to flee to a nearby city, that was “a little one” compared to the other huge cities like Sodom and Gomorrah, “lest some evil take me, and I die” (Genesis 19:19-20).  His request was amazingly granted, even though this little city in the plain had also been designated to be destroyed along with all the rest!  This reveals that the great and mighty Lord God is not heartless and unbending in regards to the feelings of His righteous followers, but sympathizes with them and is mercifully willing at times to even alter His plans for their sake.  This is because He realizes that we are not divine “but flesh”, and as “a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again” (Psalms 78:39).
     As soon as Lot and his family “entered into Zoar”, there “rained...brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven” “upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah...and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground” (Genesis 19:23-25).  So everything that was connected in any way with the wickedness of these evil cities was included in this all consuming fire, and nothing remained alive.

     Now there is a little point which many may not be aware of.  Lot purposely chose to dwell within the wicked city of Sodom.  Even after Sodom had been attacked, and Lot, his family and all of his possessions had been taken captive and then had been miraculously delivered by Abraham, Lot still decided to go back and dwell within that wicked city.  Since Lot clearly chose to dwell with the wicked, and purposely remained within that corruptive atmosphere instead of willingly separating from it, then he really deserved to share the same fate as the wicked!  As this is true, then why did the Lord deal so mercifully and kindly with Lot and his family, even to the point of physically taking them by the hand and hurrying them out of the doomed city?  The only reason why was because of the earnest intercessory prayers of one of God’s servants – Abraham!
     “In all the cities of the plain, even ten righteous persons had not been found; but in answer to the patriarch's prayer, the one man who feared God was snatched from destruction.” Patriarchs and Prophets, p 160-161.

     After Lot and his family were entering into Zoar, and all this conflagration of fire and brimstone was falling upon and consuming the wicked in their cities behind them, Lot’s wife yearned for all of her loved ones, for her home and all of her possessions that were being destroyed.  So even though her body was physically separated from all the wickedness, yet her heart was still connected and in sympathy with it.  This led her to lightly regard the heavenly command, and she then decided to cast one lingering glance behind her in giving a final goodbye to all of these.  In doing this, she directly disobeyed the solemn and plain command to not look behind thee, and as a punishment for her rebellion, she lost her life along with the rebellious and “became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26).
     Now even though Lot’s earnest plea was granted and he was allowed to flee to and live in the city of Zoar, yet he did not stay there very long.  Lot soon discovered that Zoar was just as corrupt and wicked as the rest of the larger cities that were destroyed in the plain, even though it was smaller in population.  Having to daily see the wickedness of its citizens, as well as his wife being a pillar of salt, constantly reminded Lot of the punishment that falls upon those who refuse to obey the laws and commands of God.  Fearing that God’s judgment would also soon fall upon the wicked city of Zoar, and this time he would not be miraculously saved from being involved in its destruction, “Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him” (Genesis 19:30).

     Lot finally realized that choosing to live in the city and partake of its easier lifestyle and greater riches than what he would find in wilderness or country living, is not the best choice for a follower of God, because it can lead to the loss of everything and maybe even life itself!
     But Lot found that the dangers of city living went even beyond this realization.  Lot’s family was raised and brought up in the ways of God, yet he could not prevent the great wickedness of Sodom from daily being seen and known by his children, which included unrestrained sexual permissiveness and perversion.  This daily contact with sin and wickedness gradually began to affect his children’s understanding between what was right and wrong, and eventually some of the evil practices of its citizens began to be looked upon as not being so wicked after all.  By continually beholding and being exposed to evil, his children were becoming changed by the wickedness, and some of the righteous and God-fearing training Lot had taught his children at home was being undone.

     After dwelling for a while “in a cave” with his two daughters, Lot’s firstborn daughter began to wonder how they could ever preserve the name of their father without being married themselves.  Since they were living in the wilderness and were cut off from having any contact with unmarried men because they were either all destroyed or were all wicked, the firstborn came up with a plan that could work, but it involved the help of her younger sister as well.  So “the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: Come,...and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father” (Genesis 19:30-32).  The younger sister also agreed with this plan.
     Lot’s daughters had to have realized that this plan of their’s involved the great forbidden sin of incest.  They also realized that their father Lot would never knowingly agree to do such wickedness with them without first tricking him into it.  So they schemed and agreed to “make our father drink wine” so that he would not know what was going on and thus would be too drunk to prevent having sexual relations with them (Genesis 19:32).  Lot’s daughters figured that out of love for their father they could trick him and then practice such wickedness because circumstances had now changed, which in their minds warranted this evil practice to now be permissible and acceptable with God.  So even though the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for involving themselves in such wicked sexual practices, yet because Lot’s daughter’s motive for committing the same wicked practice was out of love for their father, they figured God would understand and bless them.

     Both of Lot’s daughters carried out their devious scheme, and when Lot was fully drunk “the firstborn went in, and lay with her father”, and the next night they again made their father fully drunk, and then “the younger arose, and lay with him” (Genesis 19:33, 35).  Their devious plan proved successful because “both the daughters of Lot [were] with child by their father” (Genesis 19:36).
     But did this wickedness now become permissible just because the motive for committing it was from love and not from inordinate perverted desire?  Did circumstances really alter God’s law, thus making the same sin punishable in one instance, but allowable in another?  And would God’s blessing instead of His curse rest upon the two children who were born through such deception and sinful practices?
     The firstborn daughter “bare a son, and called his name Moab”, and the younger “also bare a son, and called his name Benammi” (Genesis 19:37-38).  Moab became “the father of the Moabites”, and Benammi became “the father of the children of Ammon” or the Ammonites (Genesis 19:37-38).  Neither of these two sons chose to serve the God of their father Lot or of their uncle Abraham, but chose instead to serve the pagan gods and to indulge in the same immoral sexual rites and practices of these surrounding nations (Judges 10:16; Numbers 25:1-3).
     The Moabites served and worshipped Baal and Chemosh (Numbers 25:2-3; Ezekiel 25:9; 1 Kings 11:7), and the Ammonites served and worshipped Milcom and Molech (1 Kings 11:5, 7).  Both were the constant troublers and enemies of God’s Israelite people (Numbers 25:18; Judges 3:28), and both chose to fight and war against God’s followers instead of being peaceful (Judges 3:12-14, 10:9; 2 Kings 3:22), even though they were blood relatives to one another.
     Because of this great wickedness against God and against His followers, never could either the Moabites or the Ammonites enter into God’s sanctuary (Deuteronomy 23:3), or be allowed to marry with any of God’s followers (Exodus 34:16; 1 Kings 11:2).  Both were to be destroyed because they had become just like Sodom and Gomorrah in character (Zepheniah 2:9), and all the praying done to their gods, even from within the sanctity of their pagan sanctuaries, could not save them from being destroyed (Isaiah 16:12).

     Such a sad and ultimately worthless legacy was the direct result of Lot choosing to raise his family within a wicked city, instead of raising them in the country and away from as much wickedness as possible.  And even though Lot probably thought that all his righteous training of his children would prevent any evils of city life from corrupting their morals, yet he was very sadly mistaken!

     Now is this sad history of Lot just limited to the time frame in which he lived – some 3500 years ago?  Or can this history be repeated in our own time – just before Jesus Christ comes again?  Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ plainly declares:
     “...as it was in the days of Lot...Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed....Remember Lot’s wife.” Luke 17:28, 30, 32.

     So dear ones, Lot’s history is prophesied to repeat itself in these last days, and it is indeed repeating itself today.  The large cities across America, as well as throughout the world, are filled with wickedness and evils of the darkest hue.  All kinds of sexual evils and immorality are practiced within these cities – including the very same sexual evils found in Sodom!  And the very same anger and bold violent reactions of the wicked against those who, like Lot, endeavor to prevent their fellow citizens from committing these sins – including homosexuality – are indeed occurring today.  And the really sad thing about all of this is that some of God’s followers today are following Lot’s example of raising their families within these wicked cities, and you know, the very same serious results are sure to occur!

     This is the very reason why that over 100 years ago God sent warning messages to all of His people that they were also to leave the corruptive atmosphere of the cities as soon as possible and move into the more purer atmosphere of the country.
     “The time is fast coming when the controlling power of the labor unions will be very oppressive. Again and again the Lord has instructed that our people are to take their families away from the cities, into the country, where they can raise their own provisions; for in the future the problem of buying and selling will be a very serious one. We should now begin to heed the instruction given us over and over again: Get out of the cities into rural districts, where the houses are not crowded closely together, and where you will be free from the interference of enemies.” Country Living, p 9-10.

     “Let children no longer be exposed to the temptations of the cities that are ripe for destruction. The Lord has sent us warning and counsel to get out of the cities.” Country Living, p 12-13.  
     “To parents who are living in the cities the Lord is sending the warning cry, Gather your children into your own houses; gather them away from those who are disregarding the commandments of God, who are teaching and practicing evil. Get out of the cities as fast as possible.” Medical Ministry, p 310.

     And why is it so urgent that God’s followers are to get out of these cities as fast as possible?  Because, just like with Lot:
     “The Lord calls for His people to locate away from the cities, for in such an hour as ye think not, fire and brimstone will be rained from heaven upon these cities. Proportionate to their sins will be their visitation.” Last Day Events, p 95.  

     May God help all of our dear and precious remnant people – especially those with families – who are still living within the large cities and surrounding suburbs of America and all around the world to seriously and prayerfully consider this sad history of Lot, and then may you decide to obey God’s will and in faith look for another place to live that is out in the country.  But also realize that just as the Israelites had to first exercise faith in God and walk forward and place their feet in the water of the huge Jordan river before God then worked His miracle in parting that giant obstacle which then allowed His people to safely move into the promised land, so realize that you must also take the first steps in faith in obeying God’s will to move into the country, and as you do then watch for God to begin parting all of the giant obstacles ahead of you by opening doors so that you can indeed move forward into country living!
     “Parents can secure small homes in the country, with land for cultivation where they can have orchards and where they can raise vegetables and small fruits to take the place of flesh-meat, which is so corrupting to the lifeblood coursing through the veins. On such places the children will not be surrounded with the corrupting influences of city life. God will help His people to find such homes outside of the cities.” Medical Ministry, p 310.

     “During the night season I was in council. I was pleading with some families to avail themselves of God's appointed means, and get away from the cities to save their children. Some were loitering, making no determined efforts. The angels of mercy hurried Lot and his wife and daughters by taking hold of their hands. Had Lot hastened as the Lord desired him to, his wife would not have become a pillar of salt. Lot had too much of a lingering spirit. Let us not be like him. The same voice that warned Lot to leave Sodom bids us, ‘Come out from among them, and be ye separate, . . . and touch not the unclean.’ Those who obey this warning will find a refuge. Let every man be wide awake for himself, and try to save his family. Let him gird himself for the work. God will reveal from point to point what to do next.” Review and Herald, December 11, 1900.

     So to all of my dear Remnant brothers and sisters, with such historical and plain warnings as these, and with such merciful and precious promises that God will indeed help His people – step by step and point by point – to find modest homes in the country, then what are you waiting for?  Move forward by faith, and SAVE YOURSELF AND YOUR PRECIOUS CHILDREN FROM THE WICKEDNESS AND CORRUPTIVE INFLUENCES OF THE CITIES!  And know that as you do so, God will indeed part away all the giant obstacles preventing you from advancing as you follow His will to move into the country.  And may those of our people who are already living the country life not look down upon, or condemn their fellow brothers and sisters who are still living in the cities.  But instead endeavor to come close to them and loving try to help and encourage them to follow God’s will – especially with your prayers.  This is because, just like with Abraham, some may only be miraculously saved from being destroyed along with the wicked because of your personal and earnest intercessory prayers for them!

     May God help us all to decide to fully yield ourselves to His will, and then act in obeying His will – is my earnest prayer.



MINISTRY NEWS

     APOLOGY: We apologize for any inconvience, but due to the ever rising costs of postage, as well as the shortness of funds coming in, we have been forced to decide that beginning January 1, 2012, we will only be sending out the vast majority of our Newsletters through e-mail.  While we will continue producing our Newsletters and have them available on-line for you to print after the end of this year, we can no longer continue justifying the expenses of printing and mailing all of them out.  So if you would like to continue receiving our Newsletters after the end of this year, please make sure that you let us know by e-mailing us at lightmin@terragon.com so we can add your e-mail address to our Newsletter list.
     We also realize that some of our readers may not have e-mail addresses, or may not even own a home computer and thus will not be able to visit our website.  If this is your situation, we are willing to make an exception and continue mailing you a printed copy of our Newsletters.  Just write us and let us know, and we will make sure to continue sending you printed copies of our bi-monthly Newsletters.  We thank you all for your understanding.


     BAPTISMS: My wife and I recently returned from the state of Ohio where I was honored to be able to baptize 6 precious sisters into the faith as it is in Jesus.  They had completed all 33 Bible Study Lessons we offer, knew the faith for themselves and signified it by passing the testing of their faith.  Although the weather on that blessed Sabbath afternoon was windy and cold, and the waters of lake Erie were choppy, yet nothing could prevent any of them from being buried beneath the water and then rising to live a new life in their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Please add your prayers with ours that these precious souls will have the simple courage and endurance needed to maintain their walk with the Lord, as the Devil will be sure to target them intensely in his evil efforts to discourage them to give up the warfare and return to their old lives.


     PUBLISHING WORK: We have passed a new milestone in the publishing department of this Ministry.  We have surpassed the 16 million page mark!  May God be praised!  Currently, the number of present truth pages we have published is 16,076,865.  And each and every one of our supporters can personally celebrate along with us, because it was through your financial support that all of these present truth materials have been printed and are spreading all around the world.  Thus know that you have a personal share in all of the souls won to the Lord through these materials, and what a joy it will be to be able to place our star encrusted crowns of glory at the feet of our Saviour for making salvation possible to all who will receive His free gift of justification and righteousness!


     CORRECTION: in our last newsletter we mentioned that Walter Veith of Amazing Discoveries was of the position that it is ok to separate from the entire SDA church system.  But he recently produced a video presentation in which he clearly told fellow SDA believers that it was wrong for them to separate from the SDA church system.  We sincerely apologize for any problems or inconviences our wrong statement may have caused him or any of his listeners.


     SPANISH BIBLE STUDIES: We have our Bible Study Lessons translated into Spanish and available on-line for any Spanish speaking people who are interested in learning more of what the Bible teaches.  The actual link to these important studies is: http://www.lightministries.com/id1875.htm


     TRUE CHURCH WEBSITE: The Lord is continuing to bless our TrueChurchofGod.info website.  In the month of July we had 11,522 hits, which were generated by 1,699 visitors.  In these Visitor Sessions, 4,596 documents of Present Truth were viewed, and over 478.87 million bytes of information were downloaded.
     In the month of August we had 11,367 hits, which were generated by 1,568 visitors.  In these Visitor Sessions, 4,070 documents of Present Truth were viewed, and over 806.81 million bytes of information were downloaded.
     So for these past 2 months, over 1.28 billion bytes of information were downloaded from our Gospel Truth website by over 3,200 visitors!


     LTBL MINISTRIES WEBSITE: The Lord is also abundantly blessing our LightMinistries.com website!  In the month of July we had 128,210 hits, which were generated by 18,850 visitors.  In these Visitor Sessions, 32,877 documents of Present Truth were viewed, and over 16.63 billion bytes of information were downloaded.
     In the month of August we had 134,946 hits, which were generated by 18,170 visitors.  In these Visitor Sessions, 33,400 documents of Present Truth were viewed, and over 19.74 billion bytes of information were downloaded.
     So for these past 2 months, over 36.3 billion bytes of information were downloaded from our Gospel Truth website by over 37,000 visitors! MAY GOD'S HOLY NAME BE INDEED PRAISED!!


     NEW BOOKLET: Our newest booklet titled “And Michael Spoke These Words” is not just in print, but is now on-line for free reading and download.  The actual link is: http://www.lightministries.com/id1876.htm  This booklet brings before the reader the glorious subject of Michael being the one God who was directly involved with the children of Israel.  It was Michael, and not God the Father, who led and guided the Israelites in all of their experiences, including being the God who gave them the 10 commandments at Sinai.  And this God Michael eventually was born into humanity as Jesus Christ.  This booklet is all written strictly from the Bible, and thus would be an excellent evangelistic tool in reaching out to the world with this truth about the pre-existence of Jesus Christ and the law He gave for the benefit of mankind.  If you would still like to have a complementary copy of this booklet, please write us.


     TO OUR SUPPORTERS: Please know that "Let There Be Light" Ministries is not using your support to build itself up into a kingdom, nor are we trying to acquire expensive video, TV or shortwave facilities.  But we are trying to spread the truth as quickly and economically as possible.  Please also know that you have played an important part in helping spread the Present Truth into various parts of this world, including through the printed page, through the living full-time workers and ministers we sponsor, and also through our Web Sites on the internet.  This is how the Loud Cry of the third angel will be spread, and is now being spread!  If the Lord impresses you to help in these endeavors, your donations and prayers will be greatly appreciated, and not just by this Ministry.  MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU!




MINISTRY NEEDS

     "Let There Be Light" Ministries is committed to the spreading of the full present truth gospel message worldwide, and has been doing so since 1986.  This Ministry has operating expenses covering the areas of: printing, publishing, and writing of present truth books, booklets, tracts, and other literature; DVD, video and audio taping, production, and distribution; supporting several ministers and workers in foreign Countries; mail order – both domestic and foreign; traveling to hold meetings – both locally, nationally, and internationally; answering correspondence and questions regarding the message of truth; offering National and International Bible studies; sending free present truth literature to contacts in many poor Countries; etc.
     Your gracious prayers and support is greatly appreciated and needed.  Without the Lord's guidance, blessings, and your support, this Ministry could not continue to reach out worldwide with the precious message of Revelation 14:6-12 & 18:1-5.

     May our God and Saviour continue to lead and guide all those who have helped us reach souls who sit in darkness with the precious light of gospel truth.  May our supporters remember that they share in each and every soul who has been reached by this Ministry and converted to the Lord and His present truth!


GENERAL FOREIGN MISSION WORK NEEDS

     We are currently supporting several workers in many different Countries on a monthly basis.  We check into the economy of each area and supply a base support which is adequate depending on their situation, but not extravagant.  This base support is to ensure that the monthly needs of each worker and family is met for that month so that the worker may devote full time to the ministry work.  In addition to this, we are sending extra materials for evangelism, and money for printing, publishing, holding meetings, traveling, and other necessary areas in spreading the Present Truth in their Country.  And as the work extends, especially will the expenses for evangelism expand.  Whatever you can send to help in this necessary and vital area is greatly appreciated.
     The work of spreading God's present truth is not to be limited, but must extend world-wide to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people before our Saviour can come (Matthew 24:14).  What better way of spreading the Present Truth Gospel than by having workers who speak the native language, who reside in that particular Country, who can live and preach the truth, visit the interests in their homes, and spread the printed truth translated into their native language!
     "Our publications should be printed in other languages, that foreign nations may be reached.  Much can be done through the medium of the press, but still more can be accomplished if the influence of the living preacher goes with our publications....The Lord has moved upon men of other tongues and has brought them under the influence of the truth, that they might be qualified to labor in His cause." Testimonies, vol 3, p 204-205.

     Please financially help us to continue supporting our current ministers and workers on a consistent basis, so that the spreading of the truth will not be interrupted but can quickly lighten this dark world with the glory of God.

     "Every opportunity should be improved to extend the truth to other nations.  This will be attended with considerable expense, but expense should in no case hinder the performance of this work.  Means are of value only as they are used to advance the interest of the kingdom of God.  The Lord has lent men means for this very purpose, to use in sending the truth to their fellow men."  Testimonies, vol 3, p 208.




SPECIFIC MONTHLY FOREIGN MISSION WORK NEEDS


FIJI Islands:
     M Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to Fiji.
     M Printing of booklets and tracts in Fiji.
     M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.


KENYA, East Africa:
M Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to Kenya.
     M Printing of booklets and tracts in Kenya.
     M Projector, screen, and evangelistic film for non-SDA outreach.
     M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.
     M Purchase of printing machine to aid in publication of present truth--$3,500.


PAPUA NEW GUINEA:
M Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to PNG.
     M Printing of booklets and tracts in PNG.
     M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.
     M Used SOP books.
     M Clothes to pass out to naked villagers.


PHILIPPINE Islands:
M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.
     M Printing of booklets and tracts in Philippines.
     M Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to Philippines.
     M Printing 100,000 tracts in Philippines--$1,450.


UGANDA, East Africa:
M Monthly operating expenses for the publication work already established there.
     M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.


ZAMBIA, Central Africa:
M Monthly operating expenses for the publication work already established there.
     M Start up costs to open a Health Center and Herbal Store--$6,000.
     M Donations of any amount to help with construction of a home–$12,000 total cost.
     M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.
     M Donations of any amount to help purchase a vehicle–$6,000 total cost.


ZIMBABWE, Africa:
M Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to Zimbabwe.
     M Printing of booklets and tracts in Zimbabwe.
     M Donations of any amount to help with construction of a home–$12,000 total cost.
     M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.
     M Donations of any amount to help purchase a vehicle–$6,000 total cost.



     Please be sure to mark all donated monies for any of the above Ministry or Foreign Mission needs.  100% of all donated monies will go where specified.  Unspecified donations will go where needed.  Thank you very much for making this evangelistic work possible, and may God's richest blessings attend you and yours.





LETTERS to "LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries

Dear Robert Sessler,
     Many Christian greetings from Tanzania. I hope you are fine doing well. I am sorry for failing to write even a short e-mail. I have been too busy working. The fruits around the ____ are ready for harvest and I found myself working until I forgot to write. I arrived yesterday from the field tired.
     Once again, I would like to tell you that for almost three months plus I concentrated my efforts in the ____. In the island of ____ alone, more than 300 individuals had separated from the SDA Church. When we preached there, the first four days were smooth. Rough days began on the fifth day since some opposers came in. 37 souls were baptized between March-May, 2011. We hope to baptize more than 50 by the end of July regardless of the opposition. This has been facilitated partly by the printed pages which were financed by a well wisher and this money helped me to move from one place to another swiftly.
     Once again, I would like to tell you that for almost the whole of last month I concentrated my efforts in the ____. I did not visit the island of ____ since I fell sick--fever due to overworking. I recovered after five days and continued to work in the city of ____. We had already organized a group of two families who separated from the SDA Church. When the followers of ____ heard about us; they came in big number – about 30. They are completely ignorant of the major tenets of Christianity. Once again, I dropped my business of preaching the Present Truth and translated some few pages of the Book – Bible Readings for the Home Circle. I began with the sanctuary in the Old Testament and finished with the Sanctuary in the New Testament. It was not easy. However, at the end of the week they admitted that they had never heard of such messages....
     ____ is a big city and I hope that through it, I can reach many other places around the ____. There are almost 15 souls in ____ – ____ who want baptism. I met their representatives last Sunday and I plan to do that service after one week from now. I thought I had lost the match but, through God’s grace, I have come out victorious. This was a place where we had a collision with the evangelists from Rwanda and Congo one Sabbath. The people after reading the books/booklets I left with them have decided to be baptized. May the name of God be praised.
     As of now there is a shortage of funds to print more books. Even the fare back; I was helped by the new converts since I had worked tirelessly since April. The results are wonderful. In the city of ____ where I have been working for almost 6 years now the converts are less than 7. ____ city alone – 17...The work is too big. However, by God’s grace, we may total more than 100 all over Tanzania by the end of the year.
     If I had more books, I could be relaxing since these are silent witnesses. Where there are good results; it is because of the printed pages I left there. My plan, as I told you, was to have evangelistic efforts wherever we go. At last, I have come to discover that they do not yield good results. Besides, when I hear about the SDAs who have separated from the SDA Church; they are possible candidates of the Present Truth. It takes me short time to make them understand. As such, my business now is to go to the lost house of Israel first and when I have collected a big army is when I can have these evangelistic efforts in the cities and villages....
     May the Lord richly continue to bless you since your donations have helped me to stand and have a group of adherents around for consolation purposes.
Yours in the Blessed Hope, T.P., Tanzania, East Africa.

Dear elder Bob,
     Thank you for the newsletter.
     I have just received the booklets you have sent me. Thank you for helping the ministries here.
     I'd like to ask for prayers for the coming medical training that will start on July 10. There will mostly be young ones who will attend the said training. May God pour out His Holy Spirit that the training will bear the fruits that God longs to see among His people.
     Until here for now. God Bless and may we all be one of God's little ones that will endure unto the end.
b.e., Internet.





CORRESPONDENCE FROM FOREIGN WORKERS


FROM FIJI ISLANDS

1 John 3:1.
     Dear Elder Bob,
     I greet you once again in His wonderful name, and may His peace, love and joy be with you always.
     First of all I want to thank you so much for the support and the special donation, and I thank the Lord for what He has provided. I managed to have the tracts permitted [printed] out, (400 copies) and copies of News letters, and have them sent out to brothers who wanted it. Please, before I go further I want to say I’m so sorry for the delay in sending in my report.
     This last months I have been focusing on my family – the up’s and downs of life which I am going through with my children.  Sometimes I am confused and discouraged, but is draw[ing] me closer to my Lord when I look up to Him for help in my prayers and tears, I know He is still there to hear my cries.
     I have my niece staying with me now.  She’s young about 22 years old and I am sharing with her the “present truth” message.  She is very interested and believes it, now she is keeping the Sabbath. I am starting to translate the Sunday Holiness tract, and I know the Devil will not like this. But I will “rejoice with the Lord always”. For this is the will of God.
     Brother Bob, how is life in that part of the world? And how is your health?  Our prayers goes out to you and your family, and we thank you so much for being such a source of blessings to us.
     Rev 2:10.
May God Bless you always, S.K., Fiji.


FROM THE PHILIPPINES

Dear Bro Bob,
     3 John 2.
     Hi! Bro Bob.  How are you? I’m very sorry if I wasn’t able to write you for a long time. But I’m okay and still continually doing my work through the help of God. We’ve been doing house to house visitation, giving Bible Studies, helping and giving hope to the sick, encouraging and strengthening churches and giving out tracts. All of these are through the help and guidance of our loving God and Saviour and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
     Last May we were able to talk and share to [a] group of young people from Baptist church. We were able to study our differences in doctrine especially about the Law focusing more on Sabbath, and we invited them to observe us on Sabbath, but sad to say that after they tell it to their pastor, they didn’t come though they promised to us that they will come. Also during that month, we’d been inviting people to come to our house every Sabbath and we gave them Bible Studies. Several families had attended our Sabbath meetings, and they learned about God’s love for us and His promise of salvation to those who will follow His will. They have also been aware of the condition of the world and to the time that we are living and the importance of getting ready always for the coming of Christ. Also me, my kids and with two young ladies, we go out and gave out tracts every Sunday and sometimes on the week days. From that month and up to now also, I am visiting two oldies in ____ who are sick and bring them some food and medicine and then pray with them.
     From the month of June and up to now, I am again visiting a family who used to spend Sabbath with us before, but because of what happened with our former brethren, they stop to keep the Sabbath and join with the Born Again Christian. So when I visited them, I encouraged them again and I have a schedule with them every Sunday for Bible Studies. They were really amazed with what we’ve been studying. They said that what they heard from our studies and teachings are very clear and different from the studies they heard from Born Again. But though they were convicted about the truth, but still they have a struggle in their minds...But still we continue visiting them and encouraging and giving them light and studies. We are praying that at the end they will stand for the truth.
     Also, I am also visiting a lady who became my friend. When she was still young, she regularly went to SDA church every Sabbath. She knows well the old doctrine of SDA’s. But when she got married, she went to the group of Born Again. So when I knew her, I share to her our belief and encouraged her to go back to what she believed and practiced when she was young. Twice a week I visited her, sometimes we studied our doctrine, sometimes I am teaching her how to cook vegetarian food, but most of the time I’m teaching her how to make and prepare fresh juices. Since she badly needed it now because she was being operated, her gallbladder was taken away because it has a big stones. She has also cyst in her breast. So I told her that she need to change her lifestyles especially in diet.
     We are also visiting a man who is 47 years old [who] is also sick with a big tumor on his kidney. The doctor said that his tumor needs to be operated and cut off but he didn’t want to because they had no money to spend for the operation, so the doctor had rejected him already. He is suffering for this for a long time already. During the time that we first visited him, he looks very sick. His tummy is bulging, he looks very pale and thin. So when he saw us, he got some hope. His mother told us that maybe we are the one that God sends because they are praying to God to send an instrument to help her son. We did an interview with him, and we learned that he is a drunkard and smoker before. And we told him that it is the reason why he got sick, and he agreed with us. We said to him that there is still hope with God. We encouraged him to come near to Jesus, we told him about His great love that He doesn’t want His children to suffer and His great promise and hope in Him. We told him that he must surrender his self and his condition to His will. And at the same time he needs to change his habits and lifestyles. So we told him that he must be strict with his diet. I taught him how to make fresh fruit and vegetable juices and salads. Since he don’t have job or work to support for his family and even for his own needs, we are helping him in whatever capacity or means we have to sustain and help him for buying his foods, juices and herbs. We are visiting him thrice or sometimes twice a week. We are now giving him Bibles Studies. His mother also is listening with us every time we had a Bible Study. And now, we spend Sabbath mornings with them. Please include this all in your prayers.
     We have been greatly blessed in doing God’s work. Though sometimes we had hard times because we think about where we can get our means to help that in need and forward His cause, but it all turns out to be a blessing. God is just testing us. Sometimes we need to make sacrifices for the benefit of the good of others. But above all this thing, the promise of God is sure, that He will be the One who will provide all our needs in His work. And we cling to that promise. What we need to do is just to work zealously for His cause and He will fulfil His promise. And I really thank God for His goodness. He is really great to be praise!
     I thank you also Bro Bob, for all your prayers and support for our work here. I am praying that God will bless you abundantly. May God help us to be faithful to Him and to the work that He has committed to us till the end and may He find us ready when Jesus comes is my prayer. God bless!
In Christ, s.b., Philippines.


FROM UGANDA, EAST AFRICA

Dear Elder Sessler,
     Christian greetings from Uganda.
     We have been burning with the desire to claim back those that have side stepped from the faith. Elder ____ he has been almost detached from the church, time and again we have visited them with brother ____.  Because of his backsliding the home [church] closed down, [and] he has promised to rework out his salvation.
     In this month of July, I was supposed to have attended a camp meeting at ____ organized by brothers and sister.  I developed a health problem, but all in all one new soul was brought to Christ by this undertaking.
     The printing work has taken off with tracts.  We are organizing to translate most them to local language for a larger consumption after which we get on to booklets.
     ____ Work is almost dead.  The brother [in charge] seems to have lost the purpose and sense of the sacred work.  This Sabbath of 23rd April 2011, I visited him [and] he was no where, and no sign [of the] meeting [supposed to be] taking place at His home on the Sabbath. It is true that the son was very ill, but still the presence of the fear of the Lord was at lowest ebb. This looked like an abandoned work. And yet the chances of doing work are there in abundance.
     Visited again on 2nd July 2011. Found this work in slumber on this day.  The brother had moved out.  He was just called by wife that you have a visitor, so had fellowship. I encouraged him and family to be exemplary or else we lose out on the people that need our help in these final hour, to know Christ Jesus and His ways. I’m planning to go there with one other person again to assess, so as to give my final position on this work that side. His son was some how better but still bed ridden. We need your prayers for both these fellowships or home churches, they need a special touch of Christ Jesus, for we have invested time and material. We should not afford to lose out without asking Christ to do the needful. “And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” John 12:47. “This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1st Timothy 1:15.
     Our country is suffering from many results of unrighteousness, Proverbs 14:34 “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin [is] a reproach to any people.” Bolts of lightning have visited the land [country] licking out lives and destroying property on its way.  So far over 56 souls have lost theirs lives in these judgments.  We are [also] on the brink of economical collapse....
     Thanks a lot for standing with us in prayers and financial support. May the God of [and] our Father increase your Ministry and cover your family and the whole brotherhood across nations.
Yours In Christ Jesus, B.K., Uganda.


FROM ZIMBABWE, SOUTH AFRICA

Dear Elder Bob,
     Ephesians 6:21.
     Just a week after visiting the brethren in ____ where I spent a fruitful Sabbath, I passed through ____ back home. In ____, I simply greeted the brethren. I then immediately began to prepare a visit the following Sabbath to the brethren in the ____. It has been almost two months since I last spent a Sabbath with them. I had left some interested souls in the Present Truth and I had even handed over one of my copies of some booklets to [a] certain brother. When I arrived, all the interested brethren in the truth were invited to spend the Sabbath with us. They responded very well.
     Two families, former SDA and SDA Reform Movement, 8 in number, came early in the Sabbath. I tell you, this has been a showdown Sabbath for me. I was faced with very sharp questions that reached down to the core of my faith. These brethrens were looking for answers to their troubled souls. At the end of the Sabbath, they all took their decisions to join us in this great separation movement. This was evidenced by their contributions to meet the costs for my return journey back home. I am impressed to note that the Lord has His own people who are ready to accept the truth in whatever guise it may be presented to them.
     Translation work has been stopped in the mean [time] as my computer is down. It needs to be repaired. Brother, I lodge once again my request to you for LTBL Ministry literature for distribution as I get more and more calls for help from various parts of ZIMBABWE. Remember also some of my request that I gave you previously. Thank you again for the support just received.
Yours in the blessed name of Jesus, B.N., Zimbabwe, South Africa.