Sept-Oct-10

Now after the Israelites had bound and pledged themselves to faithfully keep this covenant of God’s 10 commandments, did you know that the Lord God Michael then did something so completely amazing and astounding that it stands alone in recorded history? Nowhere is it recorded in any of the sacred writings from any culture that any of their pagan deities ever did what the Lord God Michael was now going to do!

Immediately after their covenant contract and pledging agreement had been ratified and binding between the Lord God Michael and His people, then Michael asked Moses, his brother Aaron, Aaron’s two sons, “and seventy of the elders of Israel” to “Come up unto the Lord” apart from the rest of the camp of the Israelites (Exodus 24:1, 9). One of the main reasons for this special private meeting was because the Israelites had not seen the Lord God Michael Himself speaking to them, but had only heard His great voice coming out of the weighty devouring fire. And so to prevent them all from believing that the Lord God Himself was actually just fire itself and not an actual Divine Being with a form and shape, Michael was going to reveal Himself to these 74 leaders of the Israelites.

Once these leaders had come apart, then the Lord God Michael appeared unto them all “and they saw the God of Israel” (Exodus 24:10). Although most of the Lord God Michael’s form and features were not clearly revealed and distinguishable to their sight, yet they were clearly able to make out “his feet”, and also saw beneath His feet “as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone” that was clear like the blue sky of the “body of heaven” (Exodus 24:10). So even though they did not clearly see all of the personal form or divine features of the Lord God Michael, yet they knew that “they saw God”, that He was not fire itself but an actual living Being, and yet they were all still alive and able to “eat and drink” (Exodus 24:11).

But it was not only just the divine features of His feet that the Lord God Michael ever revealed to any of His servants. While still before Mount Sinai, Moses asked the Lord God Michael to reveal more of Himself to him, saying “if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee...And he [also] said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory” (Exodus 33:13, 18).

This was not a presumptuous request on Moses’ part, neither was he just curious what the other form and features of the Lord God Michael looked like above His feet. The Hebrew word for “way” used here is “derek”, and it translates and means “a course of life or mode of action” (Strong’s, word #1870). The Hebrew word for “know” used here is “yada”, and in this context translates and means “to know by recognition, to comprehend, discern, discover, perceive, understand” (Strong’s, word #3045). And we already saw that the Hebrew word for “glory” means more than just weighty and splendorous devouring fire, but it also means “honor”. So Moses wanted God to shew him His way or course of life and action so that he could discover, discern, perceive, understand and comprehend what He was like in character, and thus be able to recognize the glory of the Lord God Himself.

Moses realized that he still had all the work ahead of him in following God’s command to “Bring up this people” into the promised land (Exodus 33:12), and with at least 3 million Israelites all watching him in every move he made, Moses wanted to make sure that he gave glory and honor to the Lord God and so did not want to make any mistakes and misrepresent God in character and thus dishonor Him. So if Moses could gain this extra knowledge of the true character of the Lord God Michael Himself, then he would be able to more completely pattern his life after the divine model of character of His Lord God, would thus help all the Israelites to know more about their Creator God, and Moses would also be able, with the Lord’s continued help, to then successfully carry out his mission to completion.

As Moses was so close to the Lord God Michael in work and partnership to the point that “the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend” (Exodus 33:11), and as Moses still had a great work ahead of him yet to accomplish and was desirous of not misrepresenting his Lord God but to successfully carry out his work, Michael graciously granted this non-presumptuous request. “And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee” (Exodus 33:19). The Hebrew word for “goodness” used here is “tuwb”, and it translates and means “goodness, beauty” (Strong’s, word #2898). So Michael was going to allow Moses to see His goodness or beauty and to hear His name. But granting this request was not going to be as easy as it might seem.

The Lord God Michael informed Moses that “Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live” (Exodus 33:20). So even though Moses was so closely connected in co-partnership with the Lord God Himself that he could be directly spoken to, yet Moses was still of a fallen nature, and thus unable to physically endure the full splendor and glory of the Lord God Michael’s divine radiant face. Yet instead of using this problem as an excuse for denying Moses’ request, the Lord God Michael mercifully worked out a solution so that Moses could indeed know more about the way of the Lord, could then know Him more fully, and could see God’s glory.

The Lord God Michael said to Moses, “Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen” (Exodus 33:21-23). Michael then told Moses that He would reveal Himself to him early the next day, and he alone was to “come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount” (Exodus 34:2).

You can only imagine what thoughts were going through the mind of Moses during that night. Mixed feelings of excitement tempered with a little apprehension thrilled through his body. Moses probably did not sleep at all as he realized that the mighty Lord God of all the earth had mercifully condescended to grant his request to see and know more about Him. As soon as it began to dawn the next day “Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the Lord commanded him” (Exodus 34:4), and as soon as he reached the top of the mount, Moses presented himself and then waited to see what the Lord would do next.

The mighty Lord God Michael then “descended in the cloud, and stood with him there” (Exodus 34:5), He then gently picked up Moses with His divine hand and placed him in the cleft of the rock and covered his sight with His hand. Then as “the Lord” (Exodus 34:6), His “glory” (Exodus 33:22), and His “goodness” or beauty (Exodus 33:19) “passed by before him” (Exodus 34:6) Moses heard the Lord God proclaim “the name of the Lord” (Exodus 34:5) stating “The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation” (Exodus 34:6-7). The Lord God Michael then removed His hand so that Moses could see the divine features and form of His head, shoulders, back, hips, legs and feet as He continued walking by.

So you can see that even though Moses was able to see the back of the Lord God Michael as He passed by him, yet the name that He heard Him proclaim, and the glory that He saw pass by, were all inseparably connected with the goodness or beauty of His character. And exactly what was the type of the character of the Lord God Michael that was revealed to Moses? There were revealed nine different aspects.

#1 – The Lord God Michael is “merciful”. The Hebrew word for “merciful” used here is “rachuwm”, which translates and means “full of compassion, mercy” (Strong’s, word #7349). It is derived from the Hebrew word “racham”, which translates and means “to fondle, to love, to have pity” (Strong’s, word #7355).

So the compassion of the Lord God to us is not manifested from a motive of grudgingly extending mercy towards troublesome inferiors because they don’t know any better. Nor is it manifested from a selfish motive of desiring to gain advantages over us because of our plight. Nor is it manifested devoid of any feeling at all. But the Lord God Michael manifests mercy towards us because He loves us and longs to fondle or tenderly hold and comfort us in His strong arms. Thus His heart is touched with pity by seeing His fallen creation having to go through all of the problems and adversities of a life brought about because of sin, and having to live in a world under the control of Lucifer. So as love “seeketh not her own” (1 Corinthians 13:5), then it is only out of a heart full of tender compassion and mercy that the Lord God Michael lovingly reaches out to try and rescue all He can from remaining bound to sin, from being under the control of Lucifer, and from receiving destruction in the end.

#2 – The Lord God Michael is “gracious”. The Hebrew word for “gracious” used here is “channuwn”, which translates and means “gracious” (Strong’s, word #2587). It is derived from the Hebrew word “chanan”, which translates and means “to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, to bestow, to implore or move to favor by petition, to entreat, to make supplication” (Strong’s, word #2603).

As Michael is our God and Creator, He is so much greater in power and authority than any and all of His creation combined. Yet the mighty Lord God Michael willingly bends and stoops down to favor us with His blessings, and bestow upon us His love and merciful kindness. As love “vaunteth not itself” (1 Corinthians 13:4), so the Lord God Michael reveals His love towards us by not flaunting His exalted divine dignity in our faces, and refuse to have anything to do with us inferiors. As love also “is not puffed up” (1 Corinthians 13:4), then neither does Michael take the position that once He created us, then we are now all on our own and must then deal with our own choices and suffer the consequences of our evil actions alone and without any hope of divine help.

Even though humanity chose to disobey Him and to follow Lucifer, yet the Lord God Michael did not abandon us. This is because He knew what torture and misery humanity would have to endure under the absolute control of Lucifer, and He also knew that once sin was chosen then humanity would need His divine help more than ever in order to obtain freedom. So instead of leaving us to the consequences of our own choice, the mighty Lord God Michael instead humbled Himself and came even closer to us in order that we might be able to better know Him and His love for us. And with this extra knowledge, then we would be more willing to follow and obey Him, and thus obtain His help in escaping from sin and from the devil.

But the graciousness of the Lord God here means more than just personally favoring and bestowing blessings upon inferiors. Since the Lord God Michael is lower in authority and command to the Almighty Lord God of heaven, then Michael graciously implores, petitions, and makes supplication to the Almighty to also favor mankind and be gracious to them for His sake. And yet it is not like the Almighty Lord God of heaven is not interested in the welfare of mankind and has to be first petitioned before He will be gracious and grant them His favor. But as the Lord God Michael is a representative to mankind of the Almighty Lord God of heaven, then the character that Michael is seen manifesting towards mankind is the exact same character which the Almighty God has! Thus in seeing the loving, tender and merciful character of the Lord God Michael, we actually are seeing the same exact loving, tender and merciful character of the Almighty God being revealed to us!

#3 – The Lord God Michael is “longsuffering”. There is no Hebrew word for “longsuffering”, as it is a combination of the words long and suffering. The Hebrew word for “long” in this context is “arak”, and it translates and means “to be long, defer, draw out, lengthen, prolong” (Strong’s, word #748). The Hebrew word for “suffering” in this context is “nacah”, which translates and means “to accept, suffer, bear, hold up, spare” (Strong’s, word #5375).

So even though humanity deserves the penalty of death for their choice to sin, yet the Lord God Michael draws out, lengthens and prolongs our time on this earth, deferring or holding up the execution of this penalty and punishment against us until a future time. And why? Because the Lord “is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

It is the Lord God Michael’s earnest longing that His wayward creation find the freedom from Lucifer’s dominion that can only come by accepting Him as their Saviour and God, and thus escape from death and destruction in the end. This merciful purpose allows Him to defer punishment until everyone has had a precious chance to know more about Him and an opportunity to investigate into the plan devised for their salvation. As this realization and understanding takes various lengths of time to finally dawn upon the minds of mankind, the mighty Lord God Michael accepts our weakness and dullness of comprehension and then patiently suffers and bears with all of our sins and unrighteous actions, sparing us until we wake up because He “remembereth that we are [but] dust” (Psalms 103:14).

Yet at the same time Michael is not inactive. He is not waiting for mankind to take the initiative, but He is working through the Holy Spirit and heavenly angels to wake us up and bring all to a knowledge of the truth so that they can obtain salvation and escape death and destruction. So while the mighty Lord God winks at the time of our ignorance, yet He is calling all to come to repentance and find salvation. Thus “the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation” (2 Peter 3:15)!

This means that the foundation for the mighty Lord God being longsuffering towards humanity, and patiently enduring all our faults, mistakes, sins and dullness of mind, is based upon love for us. Thus God is teaching us that love “suffereth long”; it “Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4, 7). So the mighty Lord God Michael patiently endures and bears all of our disobedience, faults, mistakes, and even abuse towards Him because He loves us and hopes that we will finally wake up and be saved. Why else would the Lord God Michael patiently endure all the disobedience and sin against His law? Why else would He suffer all things from those who have ignorantly chosen another master and god, if it was not for the fact that He loves us and desires us to be saved?

Yet the suffering that the Lord God Michael endures is more than just having to patiently wait for us to finally “awake to righteousness, and sin not” (1 Corinthians 15:34). Every sin against His law, each time one chooses to reject His ways or to manifest unappreciation of His blessings, causes Michael sorrow and sadness, and at times even great internal pain. This is because He has shown humanity over and over again exactly how much He loves them and longs for them to come to Him and be saved. When such boundless and infinite love goes unrequited or is unappreciated, it causes the Lord God Michael internal suffering, similar to, but not on the same scale, as to what a human being feels in their heart when the one they truly love spurns them and does not return love back. But when our love is finally returned, then all such internal suffering and pain is quickly replaced with beautiful feelings of peace, contentment and wonderful happiness because finally our love is appreciated and responded to! The same wondrous and joyful experience occurs with our Lord God Michael when we finally respond to His love! In fact, Michael cannot contain exactly how overjoyed He really is because of you – that one precious repenting soul – coming to Him, and “He will joy over thee with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17)!

But it is not just the Lord God Michael who is overjoyed when one of His creation finally chooses to serve, obey and to love Him as their God. But “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:10). And it is not just all the heavenly angels that are overjoyed either. Even the Almighty Lord God joins in the happy heavenly celebration, until all “heaven” is filled with “joy...over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:7)!

#4 – The Lord God Michael is “abundant in goodness”. The Hebrew word for “abundant” used here is “rab”, which translates and means “abundant in quantity, size, number, quality, abound, exceedingly, manifold, plenteous, sufficient” (Strong’s, word #7227). And the Hebrew word for “goodness” used here is “checed”, which translates and means “kindness, goodness” (Strong’s, word #2617).

So the Lord God Michael is not just kind and good to His creation on an ordinary scale, but is so abundantly kind and good that it is beyond all computation. Through His goodness He does not just barely supply our daily needs, but His kindnesses towards us abound in quantity, size and number, even doing exceedingly above all that we ask or think.

As it was humanity that chose to disobey and separate themselves from the Lord God Michael in the beginning, and thus only deserves punishment from the Lord, yet instead He is good and “is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4) to His wayward creation, and all of the manifold blessings He sends us are of the highest quality. All of these sufficient and plenteous blessings are showered upon us to prove over and over again exactly how much the Lord God Michael loves us and is working for our ultimate and eternal good, and thus is wooing and drawing us to return to Him as our God and faithful Husband.

#5 – The Lord God Michael is abundant in “truth”. The Hebrew word for “abundant” is the same as above, and means “abundant in quantity, size, number, quality, abound, exceedingly, manifold, plenteous, sufficient” (Strong’s, word #7227). And the Hebrew word for “truth” used here is “emeth”, which translates and means “stability, truth, trustworthiness, faithful” (Strong’s, word #571).

So the Lord God Michael is not just a little in truth, but abounds in it in both quantity, size and number. Nor is the manifold truth that Michael abounds in just of a mediocre grade, but His truth is of the highest quality. In fact, the Lord God Michael is so abundant and plenteous in truth, that truth has interwoven itself so sufficiently and exceedingly throughout His whole Divine Being, that there is nothing in Him but truth, thus making Him truth itself. This means that Michael never deviates from truth, but is fully stable in all His ways and dealings. Michael is never double-minded, nor hypocritical, and this tells us that the Lord God Michael is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

As the Lord God Michael is “a God of truth” (Deuteronomy 32:4), and never deviates from truth, then there is no falsehood in Him at all. So whatever Michael says can be trusted to be truth and nothing but the truth because “God is not a man, that he should lie...hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19). As God “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2) because it is “impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18), then Michael’s trustworthiness in fulfilling His promises to His people is absolute and will indeed occur at the proper time without doubt or question because He is “the faithful God” (Deuteronomy 7:9) who keeps His word.

This also tells us that the Lord God Michael will never lead any of His followers astray, because what He tells them to do, or directs them to avoid, is exactly what is necessary and best for their welfare. So Michael is not only the truth, He does not only direct His followers in the correct way to follow, but He also leads them away from sin to find everlasting life. Thus the Lord God Michael is actually the way, the truth and the life, and therefore any and all of His followers can truly “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

As Michael is the “Lord God of truth” (Psalms 31:5), and as He indeed loves us, then He “rejoiceth in the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). Thus if any of His followers desire to make their Lord God Michael happy, then they know that in following the truth, they will indeed bring joy and rejoicing to the heart of their God.

#6 – The Lord God Michael is “keeping mercy for thousands”. The Hebrew word for “keeping” used here is “natsar”, which translates and means “to guard, protect, maintain, keep, preserve” (Strong’s, word #5341). And the Hebrew word for “mercy” used here is “checed”, which translates and means “loving kindness, favor, mercy” (Strong’s, word #2617). It is derived from the word “chacad”, which translates and means “to bow the neck only in courtesy to an equal” (Strong’s, word #2616).

So the Lord God Michael does not just dole out mercy on a whim, or on a spare-of-the-moment decision to favor someone with His kindness. But His merciful kindnesses are preserved and maintained, and are kept ready to freely bestow upon those of His people who need them. His mercies are, as it were, guarded and protected so that His creation need never fear that His favors will somehow be lost or stolen away from coming to thousands of His people. This truly shows to each and every human being that His love “never faileth” (1 Corinthians 13:8). But it is not just upon His followers that Michael freely bestows His loving kindnesses.

Although the Lord God Michael showers His merciful kindnesses upon those who follow Him, yet He also sends some upon the pagans and upon those who are living in sin and wickedness in order to try and awaken them to the truth. Michael longs to have all these wayward and rebellious people awaken to the fact that they have been deceived and are being mislead by Lucifer into dark, discouraging pathways that will end in their destruction. So Michael sends His merciful kindnesses upon these precious souls in hope that they will soon choose to come to Him and find true and lasting happiness.

This mighty Lord God does not see mankind as play things like the pagan gods do. Nor does He see them as worthless and undeserving of His attention, whose sole purpose in life is to eke and scratch out a living while rendering blind obedience, or suffering wrathful punishments when they fail. But Michael sees mankind as truly being His creation, and as such the offspring or the sons and daughters of God. And so this mighty Lord God Michael courteously tilts or nods His divine majestic fatherly head towards every human being in recognition of the fact that even though He is greater than any and all of them combined, yet they are His children and thus equal with Him in dignity, worth, and importance. Although humanity, like Esau, has sold their birthright for a mess of pottage of sin, yet Michael sees what all of humanity have lost, He sees who they really are, and also what they can become with His help. And so Michael wants to redeem them back from being slaves to Lucifer, restore their God-given birthright as His children, and reproduce the image of God in them once again so that they will not be children of God in name only, but will prove that they are children of God in character. And all this merciful and loving kindness is freely offered to all of humanity by their mighty Lord God Michael if they will only choose of their own free-will to allow Him to accomplish such a divine change in their lives. So dear ones, if you will only choose to do so, then Michael will make you “more precious than fine gold, even...the golden wedge of Ophir” (Isaiah 13:12).

With these divine changes in your life and character, you will no longer be the children of the wicked one, the bastard offspring of rebellion and the sire of the bondwoman to be disowned of any inheritance and cast out from eternal life. But you will become “the children of promise” (Galatians 4:28), “the children of God” (Romans 8:16), and will be acknowledged as “an heir of God” (Galatians 4:7) and rightful inheritors of a life measuring with the life of God – which is “eternal life” (Titus 3:7).

#7 – The Lord God Michael forgives “iniquity and transgression and sin”. But isn’t iniquity, transgression and sin just different words that all refer to the breaking of God’s law? Yes. Then why are they called by three different names? Because they are not all the same type of sins, but are 3 different classifications of sin.

The Hebrew word for “iniquity” used here is “avown”, which translates and means “perversity, moral evil, fault, iniquity, mischief” (Strong’s, word #5771). So iniquity in this case refers to God’s law being broken by some fault in the character, whether inherited or formed by choice, including those sins dealing with moral evil, such as sexual perversity, immorality, illicit relations, sensual mischief and otherwise uncontrolled passions.

Now the Hebrew word for “transgression” used here is “pesha”, which translates and means “rebellion, transgression, trespass” (Strong’s, word #6588). So transgression in this case refers to God’s law not being kept because of rebellion, including trespassing beyond the limits or confines of His commandments.

So even though all 3 of these divisions are indeed sin because they all refer to the breaking of God’s divine law, yet they are not all the same types of sin. These 3 different types of sins could be committed in a thoughtless or care-less manner, or even done intentionally and knowingly. These could be committed in the times when emotions and passions are allowed to gain the ascendency over reason, or committed through ignorance, a lack of understanding, or otherwise were unintentional.

But even though these sins might be unintentionally done, God’s law has still been broken and sin has been committed. And if the sinner would only realize that all who “confesseth and forsaketh [their sins] shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13) of the Lord, then they would also have hope that God will forgive all 3 of these different divisions and types of sins. And the mighty Lord God Michael will indeed mercifully forgive all of our sins, because He understands that we are all doomed without His divine help, and because of His great love for each one of us. As the Lord God Michael does indeed love us then He “rejoiceth not in iniquity” (1 Corinthians 13:6), but is saddened every time we sin, and longs to free us all from being in bondage and captivity to it if we would just come to Him for help.

Now for all of those who are tempted to believe that they have gone so far into sin that it is impossible for God to forgive them, the Lord God Michael tenderly invites them to “come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, and though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). Thus the Lord God Michael is extending a personal invitation to each individual who is struggling against the weight of the burden of their sins, to come and meet with Him in a private one-on-one session. If you agree to meet together with the Mighty God Michael, then He promises that His whole attention and focus will be centered upon you until you come to understand that no matter how many sins you are guilty of committing, no matter how dark your past history, yet He is willing to freely forgive you of them all – just for the asking!

But what is the point of God forgiving you of all your sins, without there also being a change in heart and outlook on life? Without a change of heart then these sins that you are now cleansed from will continue to hold a power and attraction over you and you will continue breaking God’s law. But with a change of heart, then sin will no longer have the same power over you, and thus it will not be as attractive or pleasurable as before, and God’s law will more easily be kept.

Now there is no way that this change of heart can be accomplished by ourselves, because “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” (Proverbs 20:9). And what is the answer? No one. Or “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?” And what is the answer to this question? “Not one.” (Job 14:4). So just as the Ethiopian cannot change his skin color, or the leopard his spots, then we cannot also begin doing good when we are accustomed to doing evil (see Jeremiah 3:23). So just as we must look to God for His forgiveness and cleansing from all our sins, so we must also look to Him for this miraculous change to take place in our hearts and outlook on life. And the Lord God Michael will indeed also freely give you this change of heart and outlook – just for the asking.

“Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them...and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.” Ezekiel 36:25-28.

So the Lord God Michael not only freely promises to completely forgive and fully cleanse you from all your past sins, wiping your sinful slate completely clean and giving you a second chance. But He also freely promises to give you a new and changed heart and a new spirit or outlook, so that sin will not be as attractive or powerful over you! And what is this new heart and spirit?

So then with God’s law and commandments written in our minds and hearts, and a new outlook on life, then sin will lose its hold upon you, and you are indeed set free from bondage to begin living a new life – even a life of faith. Thus “old things are passed away, [and] behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Yet Michael even goes further than only giving us these great blessings, because He also puts the Holy Spirit within each fully forgiven, cleansed and new hearted individual. Thus with the help of the Holy Spirit “who will reprove...[you] of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8), who will “teach you all things” (John 14:26), and who also “will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13), you can then indeed overcome all your past habits of sin and live this new life of keeping all of God’s commandments. All these great and merciful blessings are given to you for free by the Lord God Michael so that you can have the precious chance to fully escape from the tenacious grasp and corruptive nature of all sin and find salvation.

So the Lord God Michael mercifully states to each and every one of us – He states to you, dear one, that even though you may have “forgotten me days without number” (Jeremiah 2:32), and indeed “have sold yourselves for nought” (Isaiah 52:3) in following after all kinds of wickedness and sin, yet “ye shall be redeemed without money” (Isaiah 52:3), and “I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me” (Jeremiah 33:8). Then after doing all this, the Lord God Michael continues and declares, “I will save them...so shall they be my people, and I will be their God” (Ezekiel 37:23). All this is promised if you will just ask for it and believe. If you do so, then the mighty Lord God Michael has already “cleansed you from all your iniquities” (Ezekiel 36:33); He has already “blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins” (Isaiah 44:22), and has already created in you a new heart, given you a new outlook, given you the Holy Spirit, and you are now His, and He is now your God.

This wonderful and blessed opportunity is freely offered to every individual on this earth – irregardless of their spiritual condition. So no matter if you have given loose reign to sexual passion, indulging in all kinds of immorality, whoredom, prostitution, and harlotry, or even in the unnatural affection for the same sex, or in any other types of sexual or moral evil, yet the Lord God Michael mercifully states that though “thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the Lord” (Jeremiah 3:1), and all your wickedness will be forgiven.

This wonderful and blessed opportunity is also freely offered to those who may have once accepted the Lord God, but who have slid back into sin, or for those who have tried many times to overcome, and yet have failed and gone back into sin. To you the Lord God Michael longingly declares “Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings” (Jeremiah 3:22).

And this wonderful and blessed opportunity is even freely offered to all those who are involved in any idolatrous practices, including in any of the various dark occultic and Luciferic teachings of paganism, which, of course, all originated from Assyria or Babylon and then spread widely through Egypt and into all the world. The Lord God Michael lovingly offers full forgiveness and complete healing if you will only ask for it and then believe its yours!

“And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians [idolatrous, pagan followers] shall know the Lord in that day...and they shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them...the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria [Babylon] the work of my hands...” Isaiah 19:21-22, 25.

So no matter who you are, and no matter how great your sins or how deep into iniquity, transgression and sin that you might have gone, yet the Lord God Michael states, “return ye now every one from his evil way” (Jeremiah 18:11), freely promising that He will “forgive their iniquity and their sin” (Jeremiah 36:3). He further promises to all such returning precious souls that He will “give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God” (Jeremiah 24:7).

But also realize this dear ones, that as you are returning to the loving and merciful Lord God Michael, He is not just sitting down and patiently waiting for you to stumble along until you finally find your way to Him. But at the same time you are coming to Him, He is actively searching and looking for you, so that you can find Him and become completely healed that much faster!

“For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock...that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered” into sin, because “I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick” Ezekiel 34:11-12, 16.

So the mighty Lord God Michael, as a Great Shepherd of the sheep, is seeking you out so that He can shower upon you all these blessings if you will only accept His invitation to meet with Him and ask for all these blessings. Then the mighty Lord God Michael will unhesitatingly fulfill all these promises, forgiving you, cleansing you, changing you and giving you His Spirit, and finally He will lovingly and tenderly embrace you in His strong and protecting arms because you have indeed become His beloved and prized possession, and He has become yours.

We would like to encourage our readers to check out a website that is dedicated to providing a “voice” to the people who have joined the separation movement out of the SDA church, as well as out of all the other churches of Babylon. The website is www.SDRVoice.org. This site also publishes an excellent Magazine called “The SDR Voice”, and on the site you can view past articles of interest, and can also request to be added to their mailing list to receive future copies for free.

For those who are not able to have a home church to attend and who miss the benefit of fellowshipping together with others of like faith, there is an on-line Home Church which meets every Sabbath at 12:00 noon Central Time. This is a live broadcast of one of our separated Home Churches in Indiana which is pastored by brother Nicholas Patula. Please feel free to come and fellowship with others of like faith and enjoy the spiritual uplifting experience. You can also stay after the church service and be able to chat with brothers and sisters, as well as visitors, from around the world. Many come away with their questions answered, their hearts uplifted and filled with gratefulness for all that God has and is doing for His people! If you would like to fellowship with us, go to www.RemnantofGod.org/pogmchat.htm.

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!

"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.

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.

"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.

I was inspired and blessed by reading your book, ‘‘Facts of Faith”. Since then, I have burning desire to translate your book into Burmese, Hakha-Chin and Mizo. Trust, it must be a great shower of blessings. In Myanmar, Christian Literature are very rare and people minded with gospel spreading did translation, printing and distributing in free charge. Literature is very effective and fruitful. It is run in this way because only four percent of these people are believers and most of the region are in under darkness. It is our prayers that we wish to lead many souls to the feet of Jesus through your writings. In this point, we wish if you could support us the printing bills since we are not be able to meet the printing costs. Strongly believe that the thirst of their heart will be quenched if you agree our proposal for Him. (The Hakha-Chin and Mizo are tribal who live in the western hilly region and they speak their own dialects. And most of these people do not read Burmese).

The young man I mentioned is Muslim and he did give his heart to Christ, but he has to hide his faith from his family. So I will pray for him as well. I am glad to see you have recovered, that's good news....Also more good news, my son ____ has come to Christ as well so I am trying to motivate him to engage in studies as well.

I came out! Actually God led me out of the SDA Church by first providing a means for me to continue worshipping Him [outside] and returning my tithes. When my SDA brethren heard, they bombarded me even as to come and worship with me, until I visited the SDA church three times again. The third time, I got physically sick for 2 weeks, my head felt like it was going to explode and I could not see properly. I kept telling the sister that convinced me of going back, that I know it was because I went to church [against the conviction of truth]. From the moment I purposed in my mind, that come what may, I will not go back, my head cleared up!...

I am here working and wondering what is happening to me. I decided to go into POGM [Presents of God Ministry at www.RemnantofGod.org] and listen to a sermon while I work, and found your sermon on the close of probation and the danger of going back to church after God prepares the way for you to leave, and that is when the light bulb went off in my head regarding the above [incident]. God used your sermon to open my eyes to how He has led me. I praise Him for His mercy!!! [Editor’s Note: Amen, I do too!].

Firstly I have to apologies for the delay in sending in my reports. Well this last few months is like sailing through a rough sea, when you get hit by a strong waves of all sorts of problems. But I seems to enjoy it because when I get through it by the grace of our Lord, I feel in peace with Him and it gives me more strength to strive on.

I was giving out tracks to our neighbors here with my grandson, when he said to me Grandma, no use giving tracks to this people. And I ask him why? He said this people are worshiping idols. So I tried to explain to him that Jesus died for them too. Our job is just to tell them the truth about the word of God. We can see that they accept it and they show their appreciation, that what counts.

I do believe in what Mrs. White quoted in the last day events. As we begin active work for the multitudes in the cities the enemy will work mightily to bring in confusion, hoping to breakup the working forces. It is happening here, with this guy who is preaching Revelation Seminar. I only hope that one day when I meet him I will tell him that what he’s doing is wrong, because he has got one of my sons baptized into his group. But I cannot say that I didn’t warn him, but he was strongly influenced by his friends, and now they are all back in the world. But he is always in my prayers. (Editor’s Note: and my prayers also).

The blind guy is sharing the present truth message in prison. He goes there in the visiting days and they believe the message is the very one they’ve been waiting for, and our prayers go for them too. So the work here is moving forward, and the enemy is working mightily to stop it. But he cannot because Christ has won the battle already on the cross and so are we [victorious in Him] Rev 22:12.

Thanks to the Lord for all His goodness to supply us with all our needs to the glory of His name. As I indicated the other time, we got invited to Tanzania for a regional camp meeting. ____, ____ and I went there from 21st through 27th June. There were representatives from Rwanda, Burundi, Congo DRC with Tanzania as host. It is nice how God has opened this field too. The brethren from DRC and Rwanda did much of the presentations. We did not get opportunity with whole congregation except at the ministerial council where we shared a little bit. They have simple church organization, but well set sending out workers to various regions to take the message from time to time. Hopefully with God's blessings we shall corporate in joint endeavors as it will be possible.

However we noted they share Lord's table with children, something we have not learned before. [Editor’s Note: communion should only be partaken by those who have first been baptized – just like the disciples.] Time could not suffice to discuss further on this, but we [know] God shall help us to. Ever come across such teaching? They also don’t believe in registering with the government at all, though they can not accomplish other things except under cover of government recognition as the law demands. We shall meet again in October most likely.

Thanks be to the Lord for all His goodness to usward who are so unworthy. Surely the mercies of the Lord are so abundant every day, in spite of all the attempts of the evil one to thwart His work. Thanks for the support available for this time, for it pleased our Father to give us even that. Many others have not as much.

However, it is painful that our brothers have had to be cut off from support [due to lack of enough donations for the work], when it is so much needed, though not of design. Knowing what a tide we have had to wade through time past, I say may our wonderful Provider shows us the opening that He has prepared for escape. Sometimes as human beings we see only evil even when God means well for us. The Israelites never thought it possible to escape from the wrath of Pharaoh, but God had His way prepared before hand; neither did the Jews in Persia ever think it possible to escape the wrath of Haman, but God had His way ready for their recovery. With this confidence, I say, though we could wish this not to happen not only to us here in Kenya, but elsewhere also, let the will of the Lord be done. Amen. We understand that it is a question of time and we shall be called to go through even harder times, nevertheless the work of God will be done all the same, the Lord knows how. ____ and I have discussed this matter and we have let it settle in the hands of Omnipotence; am yet to meet with ____, possibly today, to share with him also. It appears he has not read his e-mail.

I have just come back from camp meeting at ____ near ____ city, with some brethren from Tanzania, Rwanda and one from Burundi. We have had a good meeting grounding upon the present truth, challenges and ministry. These brethren work on the simple gospel order at church level and a well-church-driven plan of ministry. Brothers ____, ____ and ____ were in Western at the same time having camp.

Then Immediately the three of us, that is Br. ____, ____ and I went to Tanzania ____ for a camp meeting which also took one week. There in ____ we met with people from five countries which are Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Congo and Kenya. Last Tuesday we were at ____'s house where we had a representative meeting of which we were arranging on how we shall work with these new members.

Thanks be to God who has given us eternal life in Christ and who has united us in this relation which will last so long as we are connected to Christ. I received your message of the support and I have been so thankful all this time through for the good work which has been done to promote the work of God. I know the Lord has a good plan for His people [as] Romans 8:28 says "all things work together for good to them that love God. So whichever happens to God’s people, it is for their good and a test whether they will continue being faithful to Him in His work.

I just came home from ____, I went home for a while because I just wanted to visit my family and the churches here. I stayed in ____ for a month in helping those youth who decided to be trained to become missionaries for the Lord. But I’ll be back there again after I have finished my work here. There are seven youths who undergo training.

In ____, we do rigid training and studies, especially on doctrinal and pillars of our faith, and they also has training on some other skills like on speech and grammar, massage, computer, driving, and others. We are very happy for the results of this training even though the training is not yet finish at all, for this training will continue for the whole three months, but we have seen already the good results.

I just came home from missionary trip. First of this was my trip in ____. I was able to visit and encouraged our brethren there especially the family of Sis ____ before they transfer to ____. They decided and chose to live in ____ because it’s really hard to live in the city. There are many reasons that they considered, first of this is the counsel of the Lord to go out of the city. The influence in the city is so bad especially for the young. The vegetables there are so expensive, unlike if you live in the province you can buy it so cheap or you can plant your own. I am hoping that they will continue to be strong and firm in following the light of truth, and praying that we will see each other again during camp meetings or other gatherings.

After my visit in ____, I also visited our brethren in ____. We left home on Thursday and spend Sabbath there. On the way going there, while riding in a boat for two hours, we were to meet an Adventist guy and were given a chance to talk to him about our faith. He expressed his interest by telling us that he hope to meet us again and talk. I invited to attend Sabbath with us but he did not come because he said he has an obligation in the church. I hope that when I go back there we will meet and talk again. Our brethren there are all okay, though there are some trials, but in the strength of the Lord they continue on in serving the Lord.

On Sunday 13th June 2010, 9:15 PM East African time we had an earthquake which almost went unrecorded. It was felt across Eastern Uganda and Western Kenya. It’s magnitude could not be readily got for we have no instrumentals to measure the magnitude, save the roofs and all household items were moving and making rattling noise.

Visited senior quarters for evangelistic purposes, which by God grace [I] spoke on the fall of mankind and the result of this fall. Thereafter visited the camp-meeting at ____ [and] went late due to malaria for we slept outside during funeral of Grandmother. The issue at this camp was purity of the members as we prepare for the Parousia [Christ’s second coming]. It was blessing [as] two souls accepted the Sabbath of Lord, one with tears rolling down her cheeks for long she had been deceived on this vital point of faith.

On 11th June 2010, our very Nation which we [and where we] thought we was safe suffered a terrible terror attack by al-Shabaab which left 82 persons dead. Since [we] thought it is [only] the American civilization that Islam is fighting, but we as people [discovered that we] have lived in false security, that it is that we are deceived, for this kind of unsettling state of nations will visit many countries.

The Bible in Genesis 16:12 reads “And he will be a wild man; his hand [will be] against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.” In the light of this Scripture we start to feel and see the truthfulness of these spoken words though [written] thousands of years ago. Mohammed is a descendant of Ishmael from his Kedar, who is the father of Al-qurush tribe. These words are clearly spoken of the descendant Ishmael....

Elder thanks for the support, like the Apostle Paul we need to learn to live with little and much. 1Tim 6:6,8: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” I will need money to support the ____ at the Diploma level, but I have learnt to adjust to the means sent.

Thanks be to God for the photocopier project. To-date I have not found the 2nd hand of ____ type. We are still believing God that very soon we shall find one. May the God [of] Abraham bless those men and women for their sacrifice towards Christ’s work. I believe they want to be home soon, this will speed the Master’s work.

When I look at the prophetic lesson of the last days of our king Jesus in Matthew 26:14 ‘’Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 26:15 and said [unto them], what will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.” Brethren, here we see that one of the disciples is going out from the group and from Jesus, and then when we read John 19;38-39: “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave [him] leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound [weight].” Here we again see secret disciples coming up and joining the group of the disciples in helping to bury their Saviour. Br. Bob, if you notice carefully here it’s not one coming, but two have come to Jesus in place of Judas. To me this is showing the movement in the last days. For sure it is happening and I feel I should call Jesus everyday to hold my hand so that I do not go back.

It is not easy [as] many of my brethren who worked with me from the first years of these truths have decided to go back to SDA church. And now the devil is on me. The war is hard and starting from my own house. I ask you to help me in prayers as [I] am almost being discourage. Br. Bob as for you, you know (the) very way (of) my road map with my family. Now because I can not build a shelter or a house and my family members are struggling, things have turned upside down. I am facing great temptations now [more] than before to an extent of seeing myself as a big failure in life. But am crying and waiting that one day the Lord will give me means to build a house [and no longer be at the mercy of landlords].

I know that the devil is against me for a lot of the work is before me. Last time I sent you a clip of a baptism programme, yes we had baptized 5 members at our new home church in ____ area about 30km from ____ town. We again went there to organize them as [a] branch with simple leadership of one elder, two deacons, one deaconess and a treasurer with a Sabbath school choristers. This will be [done] there next week for we have been called this weekend at ____ home church where the Davidians invaded. This home church is undergoing a lot of trying moments as many members have gone back to SDA, and soon I received a call that even some two prominent elders are also intending to go back [due to the Davidian falacies]. We are planning to travel there, but another urgent call has came that we need to go in a new place where this truths have been accepted by the whole company for [of] SDAs. I may not travel due to one of our prominent members whose husband is very sick and who happens to be my father in-law. My presences are needed [there] very much.

Barely a month after our first Evangelistic meeting, we began to realize some of the blessed results of that work. I had set myself to confirming the believers in the truth through holding a number of evening meetings in their homes. At first this work seemed as if it were not going too far, only to my surprise the attendance of visitors to these meetings became to be somewhat impressive. By the end of June we had added to our number 6 more souls. Sometimes those who attended these meetings could number up to 18 in a single meeting.

Consequently, the SDA church quickly organized a counter effort against our most successful crusade, and this time they came as close as 100m to my residence. As I was told later by one of their members, I was their most targeted soul, and my family, peradventure [in hopes] they could win us to their company. The first group to visit us was of elders, and the next was of women. We, however, simply told them that we could not come down because we were busy doing a great work (Nehemiah 6:3).

Furthermore we disclosed to them the fact that the church is now Babylon fallen. This message offended most of them to the effect that after [this] their crusade was over. I tried to visit some in their homes and they were repulsive of me. This reminds me of the fact that when this message is brought home to the conscience, both good and evil religious elements will be aroused from slumber (see Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 983 (Manuscript 175,1899)).

I was also invited to attend an all-night prayer meeting by another splitter group from the SDA church. This followed a tense study that I had previously held with their pastor and his elder showing them openly how their organization is defending the SDA church. It was therefore intended that I should deliver the message to the whole congregation. This is the time when my soul was greatly distressed, for even though I managed to attend, I sadly failed to accomplish my mission as I was severely attacked by influenza sickness that night so much so that my voice hardly came out. One thing I later did to the consolation of my soul is that I gave nearly each individual our truth-filled literature freely.

Finally my brother, allow me space to sob the tears of my soul in respect to our lack of organization among us in this great movement. I was very much grieved for the lack of even commentary on the issue brought up by our brother from Zambia of a UNITED BRETHREN SEMINAR. I do not know how you and others everywhere are treating this very important issue which concerns also our salvation. Where shall this attitude of our separated people – of working as independent atoms – lead us to? Brethren we are limiting ourselves from doing greater works than those that we are currently doing, for angels who are thoroughly organized and move in perfect order, cannot work for us successfully [if we are not unified and work together as one] (see TM, p 28). Look, Southern Africa had made great strides in this move, and we were by and by been clinging together in the bonds of Christian unity as never [before], but now all this has been destroyed by the Devil as I speak. What should be done now? There is much hesitation, fear of suspicion and lack of faith to move towards this direction among us. Are we not delaying also the coming of our Lord by our attitude? How I wish to see this SEMINAR come to pass is my prayer, for there is no co-operation, no co-ordination and no united effort in this work....

[On another matter]...my brother I hope you have been joining me in earnestly imploring the Lord to intervene [in finances] otherwise I am deeply praying for my fellow ministers worldwide who couldn't manage to get their support, how they have fared with their families and rented their accommodation that their faith might not fail. This is also the time when we are to take heed to the message of Joel chapter 2:16-27.