"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries
March - April, 2003
"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
WHEN IS THE LATTER RAIN TO FALL?
There are quite a few different ideas, theories, and beliefs being heard today throughout the world in regards to the timing of the Latter Rain. As we know that every wind of doctrine is blowing today, we all are forced to ask ourselves this vital question: Is what I have heard, or may believe, on this subject really the truth? Or is it just the faulty opinions and theories of men? This is a vital question which you must ask yourself, because what you may or may not believe on this particular subject will indeed involve your salvation!
"Do you ask, What shall I do to be saved? You must lay your preconceived opinions, your hereditary and cultivated ideas, at the door of investigation. If you search the Scriptures to vindicate your own opinions, you will NEVER reach the truth. Search in order to learn what the Lord says. If conviction comes as you search, if you see that your cherished opinions are not in harmony with the truth, do not misinterpret the truth in order to suit your own belief, but accept the light given. Open mind and heart that you may behold wondrous things out of God’s Word." Christ's Object Lessons, p 112.
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20.
So I humbly ask you to lay aside any preconceived opinions, any hereditary and cultivated ideas, at the door of investigation into this vital subject of the timing of the latter rain, and join with me in searching throughout the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy for what the Lord says is the truth.
Is it time yet for the Holy Spirit to be poured out? Has the Latter Rain already begun to fall? Multitudes answer this question with a resounding NO! Connected with this belief is the positive declaration that since no latter rain has yet fallen, then there can be no loud cry message of Revelation 18 yet going forth to fill this earth with the glory of God! If these above individuals were to be asked when they believed the latter rain would begin to be poured out, the majority would proudly declare that there can be no falling of the latter rain until after the Sunday law!
What we must remember is that these above beliefs are only the teachings of supposedly "studied" and "learned" men. But what does God declare? Are we to wait until some future time for the Latter Rain to come upon us?
"We must not wait for the latter rain. It is coming upon all who will recognize and appropriate the dew and showers of grace that fall upon us." SDA Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 984 (Letter 151, 1897).
What has God told all of us? He has plainly declared that His people are no longer to wait for the latter rain to fall. Why?
"Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it." Testimonies to Ministers, p 507 (R&H March 2, 1897).
So God tells all of His people that the Holy Spirit in latter rain power could now be falling on hearts all around, but many would not recognize, discern or receive it. Why? Why does it take recognization and discernment before you can receive the latter rain?
"I have no specific time of which to speak when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit will take place--when the mighty angel will come down from heaven..." Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 984 (Review and Herald, March 29, 1892).
Who is this mighty angel coming down from heaven listed in Revelation 18:1? The Holy Spirit! Now the Holy Spirit is NOT a created angel. The word "angel" translates, "messenger" (Strong's, word #32). Just as Christ is Michael the archangel, yet He is not created but is the messenger of the Lord. The same with the Holy Spirit.
So this mighty angel in Revelation 18 represents the Holy Spirit. And He comes down from where? From heaven. Hence the Holy Spirit comes down, or is poured out, from heaven. And what is another name for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit from heaven? The latter rain (see Acts of the Apostles, p 55).
Now is this mighty angel quiet when he is poured out from heaven? No, because He cries mightily with a strong voice, or a loud cry (see Testimonies, vol 8, p 118), declaring the fall of Babylon. So when the Holy Spirit is poured out, or the latter rain has come, He brings the beginning of the loud cry. It is very important to realize this. When the Holy Spirit is poured out in the latter rain, He brings the beginning of the loud cry of Revelation 18, and the whole earth is lightened with God's glory. But can the outpouring of the latter rain be in connection with truth? If so, what truth is it connected with?
"The whole earth is to be lightened with the glory of God's truth. The Lord will not close up the period of probation until the warning shall be more distinctly proclaimed. The trumpet must give a certain sound. The law of God is to be magnified, its claims must be presented in their true, sacred character, that the people may be brought to decide for or against the truth. Yet the work will be cut short in righteousness. The message of Christ's righteousness is to sound from one end of the world to the other. This is the glory of God which closes the work of the third angel." Last Day Events from the Letters and Manuscripts of E.G. White, p 179 (Letter 2c, 1892).
What did inspiration declare represented the glory of the angel of Revelation 18 which attends and closes the work of the third angel? It represents the message of Christ's righteousness! So when the latter rain is poured out, it is in connection with the message of the righteousness of Christ.
Some may want to doubt this reality, but was it any different when the Holy Spirit was poured out in the early rain at Pentecost?
"When the truth in its simplicity is lived in every place, then God will work through His angels as He worked on the day of Pentecost, and hearts will be changed so decidedly that there will be a manifestation of the influence of genuine truth, as is represented in the descent of the Holy Spirit." Special Testimonies, Series B#7, p 63.
What was "represented" at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out? A "manifestation of the influence of genuine truth."
"'He [the Holy Spirit] shall glorify Me [Jesus].' 'This is eternal life, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.' The Holy Spirit glorifies God by so revealing His character to His people that He becomes the object of their supreme affections and by making manifest His character in them. They see clearly that there was never any righteousness in the world but His, no excellence in the world but that derived from Him. When the Spirit was poured out from on High [at Pentecost] the church was flooded with light, but Christ was the source of that light; His name was on every tongue, His love filled every heart. So it will be when that angel that comes down from heaven having great power, shall lighten the earth with his glory. May the Lord help His people to see and understand what is truth." 1888 Materials, volume 3, p 1017 (Letter 25b, August 30, 1892).
When the Holy Spirit was poured out in early rain power at Pentecost, the church was flooded with light that centered in Jesus. And what is going to happen when the latter rain falls today? Again His people will be flooded with light, and Christ will be the source and center of that light.
"I stated [at the 1888 General Conference Session] that...there was to be special light for God's people as they neared the closing scenes of this earth's history. Another angel was to come down from heaven with a message, and the whole earth was to be lighted with his glory." Last Day Events from the Letters and Manuscripts of E.G. White, p 64 (Letter 22, January 18, 1889).
So the latter rain was to fall "with a message." What message? The righteousness of Christ– the beginning of the loud cry!
"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: For it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you." Hosea 10:12.
Why is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit connected with the message of truth centering in Jesus?
"The only channel through which the Spirit operates is that of the truth." Selected Messages, book 2, p 49.
The only channel through which the Spirit could be poured out in latter rain power is that of "the truth." So the latter rain was to fall with a message of truth, and that message is the righteousness of Christ.
Now since the message of the righteousness of Christ began about the year 1888, then that means that the Holy Spirit could fall with that precious message at any time! That is why God stated that it could now be falling on hearts all around. This means that it was already time for the latter rain to fall! Do you really understand this point? It was already time for the latter rain to fall, and it is still time now! We do not have to wait for it to fall in the future, such as at the Sunday Law, because it is time now!
"The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the church is looked forward to as being in the future, but it is the privilege of the church to have it now." Last Day Events, from the Letters and Manuscripts of E.G. White, p 61 (Letter 15, June 25, 1892).
In fact, there were some who were already enjoying the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the refreshing!
"...the very time when that church was receiving the outpouring of the Spirit of God...[and] is enjoying a season of refreshing..." Testimonies to Ministers, p 23 (Review and Herald, October 17, 1893).
The same is available for today! God's followers can have the Holy Spirit in latter rain power NOW! Not later, but now! Therefore no one needs to look into the future for the time for the latter rain to begin, because you can have it now!
"Let us, with contrite hearts, pray most earnestly that now, in the time of the latter rain, the showers of spiritual grace may fall upon us....It is the time of the latter rain, when the Lord will give largely of His Holy Spirit." Testimonies to Ministers, p 509, 512 (R&H March 2, 1897).
Dear readers, it is time now for the latter rain to fall! And it has already begun to fall! Please let this sink into your understanding, and do not allow the devil to snatch this truth away from you! Do not allow Satan, through any ministry, or any minister, elder, pastor, or any other human being, to mislead you into believing that the latter rain can only fall in the future, because God says that it is time now!
If this is really true, and the latter rain was already falling over 100 years ago, why are we still here? The only reason why we are still here today is because the SDA church turned her back on this realization, mocked at the idea that the latter rain could be falling then, and instead ridiculed, criticized, slighted, and rejected the message of Christ’s righteousness (see Selected Messages, book 1, p 234-235; Testimonies to Ministers, p 467-468). And in doing so, they rejected the latter rain, rejected the Holy Spirit, and thereby crucified Christ afresh!
"The Lord God, who dwelleth in the holy place, sees every soul that shows contempt for the manifestations of his Holy Spirit. God has revealed himself again and again in a most marked manner in Battle Creek. He has given a large measure of his Holy Spirit to the believers there. It has come unexpectedly at times, and there have been deep movings upon hearts and minds...This blessing extended to large numbers...Some felt annoyed at this outpouring, and their own natural dispositions were manifested. They said, 'This is only excitement; it is not the Holy Spirit, not showers of the latter rain from heaven.' There were hearts full of unbelief, who did not drink in of the Spirit, but who had bitterness in their souls.
"On many occasions the Holy Spirit did work; but those who resisted the Spirit of God at Minneapolis were waiting for a chance to travel over the same ground again, because their spirit was the same....But all the universe of heaven witnessed the disgraceful treatment of Jesus Christ, represented by the Holy Spirit. Had Christ been before them, they would have treated him in a manner similar to that in which the Jews treated Christ....
"The Lord is coming; but those who venture to resist the light that God gave in rich measure at Minneapolis, who have not humbled their hearts before God, will follow on in the path of resistance, saying, 'Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice?' The banner all will bear who voice the message of the third angel, is being covered with another color that virtually kills it. This is being done. Will our people now hold fast to the truth?" Series A, #6, p 19-20, 26.
Not only did the SDA church leadership disgracefully treat Christ through His Holy Spirit, but they went even farther than this wickedness. The SDA church leaders told the Holy Spirit to go away, bolted the doors of the SDA church so that He could not get back in, and then told Him not to come back until they called for Him!
"Had thorough work been done during the last General Conference at Battle Creek; had there been as God designed there should be, a breaking up of the fallow ground of the heart, by the men who had been bearing responsibilities; had they, in humility of soul, led out in the work of confession and consecration; had they given evidence that they received the counsels and warnings sent by the Lord to correct their mistakes, there would have been one of the greatest revivals that they has been since the day of Pentecost.
"What a wonderful work could have been done for the vast company gathered in Battle Creek at the General Conference of 1901, if the leaders of our work had taken themselves in hand. But the work that all heaven was waiting to do as soon as men prepared the way, was not done; for the leaders closed and bolted the door against the Spirit’s entrance. There was a stopping short of entire surrender to God. And hearts that might have been purified from all error were strengthened in wrong doing. The doors were barred against the heavenly current that would have swept away all evil. Men left their sins unconfessed. They built themselves up in wrong doing, and said to the Spirit of God, 'Go thy way for this time; when I have a more convenient season, I will call for thee.'...
"It is only when we serve God in the strictest integrity and in humility of mind, trusting in Jesus, that we are safe. Everything is to be shaken that can be shaken." Battle Creek Letters, p 55-56, 58 (Letter 123, August 5, 1902).
Yet God's people today do not need to follow in the footsteps of the SDA church. They do not need to refuse to accept the idea that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit has already arrived, is already falling, and in unbelief try to soothe their consciences by believing that the latter rain can only be poured out at some time in the future. And as more and more of our brothers and sisters understand this reality, following the 3rd and 4th angels' messages by looking to Jesus and separating to Christ, then more of the latter rain can be poured out. And as more of the latter rain is poured out, then the loud cry can continue to increase in intensity, and swell more and more until all the people of the earth have made their decisions to either stand with Jesus and His pure righteous remnant few, or to stand with Satan and his wicked corrupt majority! Yet this all depends upon God's people understanding the time in which we are now living!
As the latter rain has already begun to fall, then it is time to give the loud cry message found in Revelation 18! But some will deny that it is now the time to give this glorious message, because they say that the Sunday law has not yet been passed. But are we to believe these sayings of men? Are we to allow ourselves to be restricted by the arm of flesh? God distinctly declares in unmistakably plain language to all of His people today regarding when the message of Revelation 18 is to be given:
"All are to hear the last message of warning. The prophecies in the book of Revelation, chapters 12 to 18, are being fulfilled. In the eighteenth chapter is recorded the very last call to the churches. This call is now to be given." Last Day Events, p 83 (Manuscript 75, September 20, 1906) see also Upward Look, p 277.
Beloved, how much more plainly can God state it? "This call is now to be given"! But there will always be some who allow the Devil to deceive them, just like he deceived the SDA church, into believing that when God states "NOW" it really means "later". Will you be one of these?
Don't you see what time we are living in today? We are all living in the time of the latter rain and the time of the swelling of the loud cry! Don't you see what honor God is holding out to each one of us? The blessed honor and privilege to have the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in latter rain power NOW and to have a part NOW in helping to swell the loud cry into the loudest cry possible, and to NOW fill this earth with God's glory!
Oh brothers and sisters, what blessed possibilities are lovingly held out for each one of us TODAY! Shall we not grasp them? Please do not allow the Devil to hold you into a position of inaction believing a futuristic doctrine that it is not yet time for the latter rain to fall, or that it is not time to give this last message of mercy; or that it is not yet time for the probation of all the churches to be closed; or that it is not yet time to separate; or that the beginning of the loud cry is not yet here, or has not yet begun to swell – because all of the above is not true!
"The work to be done now is that of sounding this last message of mercy to a fallen world....The work will grow deeper and become more earnest to the very close of time. And all who are laborers together with God will contend most earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. They will not be turned from the present message, which is already lightening the earth with its glory. Nothing is worth contending for but the glory of God. The only rock that will stand is the Rock of Ages. The truth as it is in Jesus is the refuge in these days of error." Selected Messages, book 2, p 114.
"The messenger turned to the congregation and said, `Do you believe the prophecies? Do you who know the truth, understand that the last message of warning is now being given to the world,--the last call of mercy is now being heard. Do you believe that Satan has come down with great power, working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in every place? Do you believe that great Babylon has come up in remembrance before God, and that soon she will receive from God's hand double for all her sins and iniquities?'...If the enemy can keep workers out of the field on any pretext, he will do so." Fundamentals of Christian Education, p 362-363.
Brethren, let us go to work, for our light has already come, and the glory of the Lord has already risen upon us. Let us completely follow this glorious light of the 3rd and 4th angels’ ourselves, and then take this light and fill this earth with its glory!
Some are doing this right now! Will you unite and join your voices with us? Or will you be led away from giving the loud cry message by the perversion of men who twist the truth, and thus allow the devil to keep you out of the field of labor by following a false pretext and erroneous futuristic message?
The latter rain is falling, the loud cry is swelling, this world is being lightened with the glory of God, and what are you doing about it?
May God help us all to study for ourselves, and then to clearly understand the seriousness of the times in which we are NOW living in.
MINISTRY NEWS
Due to our involvement in many different areas we were not able to get our January - February Newsletter completed on time. So we decided to combine our January - February and March - April Newsletters together. We apologize for any inconvience this may cause our readers. We appreciate your prayers for the continued success of the spreading of present truth throughout all the world as souls are at stake in this late hour.
The Lord is continuing to bless our Web Site! In the month of December, 2002 we had 28,234 hits, which were generated by 5,421 visitors, who stayed an average of 14:52 minutes each. In these Visitor Sessions, 12,749 documents of Present Truth were viewed. While most of these visitors were from America, we also had visitors from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Dominican Republic, France, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom. All our visitors downloaded over 23,666 files, which totalled 1,136,648,000 bits of information!
In the month of January, 2003 we had our best month yet! We had 57,877 hits, which were generated by 8,805 visitors, who stayed an average of 19:01 minutes each! In these Visitor Sessions, 22,431 documents of Present Truth were viewed. Again, while most of these were from America, there were also visitors from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Singapore, Spain, and the United Kingdom! Over 39,545 files were downloaded from our Web Site, which totaled 2,188,439,000 bits of information!
In the month of February we had 44,319 hits, which were generated by 9,606 visitors, who stayed an average of 16:07 minutes each! In these Visitor Sessions, 18,773 documents of Present Truth were viewed. Again, while most of these were from America, there were also visitors from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Qatar, Singapore, Spain, and the United Kingdom! Over 37,782 files were downloaded from our Web Site, which totaled 1,768,574,000 bits of information! So the combined total for these past three months is that over 5 billion bits of information were downloaded from our Present Truth Web Site by over 23,800 visitors! MAY GOD'S HOLY NAME BE PRAISED FOR EVER!!
We continue to praise our God for allowing this Ministry to do this humble work. We also extend our deep appreciation and gratefulness to all those who have helped us to continue doing this work. We ask for your continued prayers and support in this most important work for these last days, so that Jesus Christ may be uplifted and glorified in this dark world. Please know that all our supporters share in all the souls won to the Lord through these efforts!
Now we ask all of our readers to please add brother Jim Snipes to your prayer list. He recently returned, along with brother Gary Cain, from a speaking trip to visit the work in Africa. God greatly blessed in the efforts put forth there, and it is very encouraging to see the Lord working and opening doors. Shortly after brother Jim's return home he was diagnosed with Malaria, and is in the hospital in serious condition. We urgently solicit your prayers for brother Jim, as well as his family, in this time of need. Thank you!
TO OUR READERS AND SUPPORTERS: Please know that "Let There Be Light" Ministries is not concerned with using your prayers and donations to build itself into a kingdom, but is concerned with getting the Present Truth into the hands of the common people quickly, effectively, and wisely. Instead of working towards acquiring expensive video and T.V. production equipment, satellite or shortwave facilities, we would rather use the Lord's money in publishing and distributing materials which give the full present truth gospel, as well as supporting many full-time foreign ministers and workers in various countries around the world who have proven themselves to be reliable and stable. With their monthly support and present truth materials supplied them, these ministers and workers then have the ability to more effectively spread the spoken and printed truth, establish the people in it, and carry this precious truth into the very homes of those who sit in darkness. This is how the Loud Cry of the third angel will be spread, and is now being spread! If the Lord so impresses you to help in these endeavors, your donations will be greatly appreciated--not just by this Ministry, but by many others as well! MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU!
MINISTRY NEEDS
"Let There Be Light" Ministries is devoted 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; video and audio taping, production, and distribution; supporting several ministers/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.
The Lord's blessings and guidance, along with your gracious prayers and support, is greatly appreciated and needed. Without such, 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 this Ministry reach out to 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 adequately 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 and visit the interests in their homes, and spread the printed truth translated into their common 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 FOREIGN MISSION WORK NEEDS
FIJI Islands:
-- Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to Fiji.
-- Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts in Fiji--about $100 monthly.
INDIA:
-- Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to India.
-- Printing our booklets in India--$1450 for 10,000 copies (less than $0.15 per booklet!)
-- Printing press to print materials there and save on time and money--$6000.
KENYA, East Africa:
-- Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to Kenya.
-- Printing our booklets in Kenya--$2000 for 10,000 copies ($0.20 per booklet).
-- Projector, screen, and evangelistic film for non-SDA outreach.
-- Several different herbs, plus shipping--for our medical missionary worker there--$250.
MALAYSIA:
-- Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to Malaysia.
-- Purchasing of Chinese Bibles--$7. each.
PHILIPPINE Islands:
-- Boxes of 1884 Great Controversy books for non-SDA outreach--$200.
-- Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to Philippines.
-- Printing tracts in the Philippines--$100.
UGANDA, East Africa:
-- Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to Uganda.
-- Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts in Uganda--around $100 each month.
-- A good PA System for meetings--$600.
-- Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books to purchase and mail.
ZAMBIA, Central Africa:
-- Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to Zambia.
-- Portable generator for evangelistic meetings--$650.
-- Computer for translation work--$600.
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
Let There Be Light.
Always a blessing to get your letters.
I was blessed today as I saw Psalms 68:11, went to get my Bible to mark the verse. I already had it marked but had forgotten. What a blessing to those who send out the blessed word.
R.L., AR.
Dear bro Bob & Church family,
Greetings in Jesus precious name. Enclosed please find my tithe...I will be sending an e-mail soon. May God continue to bless Let There Be Light Ministries, as you continue to spread the gospel truth as it is in Christ Jesus, to the world.
Your sister in Christ, J.V., Canada.
Dear Elder Bob,
May we give thanks and honor unto our heavenly Father and Jesus Christ our High Priest above, who is able to save us to the utmost.
I wish to express my sincere gratitude to you for your concern by sending me the most needed monthly Newsletter, as it carried touching lessons. I am amazed to discover that we are definitely in the Loud Cry of Rev. 18 now, after thoroughly studying your lesson comparing with the Spirit of Prophecy.
As this truth is revealed...what should be the response from supporters at this time of emergency? Your suggestion and concern with getting the present truth into hands of common people quickly is vital and spiritual sight. To use Lord’s money in publishing and distributing materials and especially supporting many full-time foreign ministers in various countries is very important in the sight of God and this thought is (of) heavenly origin.
Some ministries working for the Lord are running at a loss and wasting a lot of dollars in a sense that they just send materials at random without a reliable minister to take care of them. Some of the materials land in the hands of enemies only to tear, destroy and burn them. Now to have a reliable and stable minister...is appropriate for they will surely carry the precious truth into the very homes and fulfill (3T 204-205) as a proper method of working to save other nations....
I am a full-time gospel worker here in Zambia (who is) working together with my fellow worker (who is) supported by you. We are running to and fro to bring a good tidings the last message of mercy to this perishing country. I need your support on monthly basis. I may waste a lot of time by (stopping this work and from necessity) earning my living through other means while people are dying, starving due to lack of spiritual food. Here in Zambia, 10,000,000 in population requires more than two workers to reach them all. (Editor's Note: This is a worthy worker who has been helping one of our workers for the past year. Is there not someone who is impressed by God and will commit themselves to help us support this elder on a monthly basis? Only $150 per month is needed.)
My appeal to our supporters who are concerned with the salvation of mankind in terms of money all over the world is that increase more ministers in various countries by your support. At a time like this sister EGW has this to say: “The end of all things is at hand, and God calls for men to come into active service and do their duty because He desires it and the work needs their help....Do not expend one dollar of God's money in purchasing needless articles. Your money means the salvation of souls. (WM 267)...
I humbly and prayerfully awaiting your kind reply. God bless.
Your co-worker in His vineyard, E.K., Zambia.
Dear brother Bob,
My wife and I have recently broke away from the SDA church. We like the work you are doing for the Lord. We received your news letter and are very encouraged to see the present truth being proclaimed. We have been laying aside our tithe and we would like to help to support your ministry and those associated with you. We are trusting that you will put the money where it is most needed.
May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you abundantly and the "Let There Be Light" Ministries led completely by His Spirit.
Yours in Christ, B. & C.R., Canada.
CORRESPONDENCE FROM OUR FOREIGN WORKERS
FROM FIJI ISLANDS
(Combination of 2 letters) Dear Bro Bob,
1 John 3:1
May I once again greet you in His wonderful name. Love and Peace from God the Father and also from our Lord Jesus Christ, be with you always.
Thank you very much for the 5 cartons I received from you which contains booklets and tracts, and also thank you so much for your prayers.
I have just got back from a trip to interior of ____ Province where I came across two big villages and the only Church there is SDA. The people there are very thirsty and hungry for the word of God, because the SDA Church have neglected them for some times. All cartons of tracts and booklets I took with me were all distributed there. And the tracts you sent me lately will also be distributed next week. A lot of them (villagers) have felt that there is something really wrong with the Church. And after I have explained to them, they have now realized the truth of today. I was approached by one of our brethren to visit this place.
The Golden Calf Apostasy in Fijian is still going very strong and a lot of people are coming to take their book at home and also more people are writing, requesting their copies. I will be taking some of this booklets to this place because they don't speak very much in English, and this booklet is just very right for them. Please if you could send me a carton of "Why Are Protestants Bowing to the Pope" booklet. The booklet "God's True Church" is now ready to be printed. Please remember us for the publication of this booklet. The translation of the booklet "Why Are Protestants Bowing to the Pope" is almost completed and we will be advising you later about it.
The people from the 11th Hour Ministry and also from Hartland Foundation are requesting more booklets and tracts from me which I refused to give, (because) I know that they only try to use me (like what has happened before). I am glad to say that the people of Fiji have now realized the work we are doing and I praise God for it....
The people who have now embraced the light are growing stronger and stronger and they need to be encouraged every (from time to) time. Please pray for the work in Fiji....
Thank you very much for the important topic about "When is the Loud Cry to be Given." It is very strengthening and also given me the courage that it is my responsibility to warn and give out present truth to everyone in Fiji....
This first week of this month was spent distributing tracts, booklets, pamphlets and magazines, etc., etc., in the Western parts of Fiji. I took more cartons of booklets and tracts etc. to the interior of ____ Province where I spent 3 days. I really enjoyed the trip there and I promised that I will come back again. Two nights I explained everything to them and answered more questions raised by the SDA regarding their Church. A lot of them has come to understand the truth about their Church now. The trip was really appreciated by the people and I shall visit this place again very soon because I made new friends there.
The housing estate of ____ and ____ are the most populated area in the suburb of the ____ City where the second and third week was spent. We visited the whole area and entered from house to house and door to door explaining the present truth and distributing literature to everyone....It was quite an experience for us, meeting new (people) and some people we knew them before by getting together and sharing the Gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ. It makes me understand better that my job is to give the Loud Cry message to the people and make sure that they understand it and let them decide for themselves whether to accept it or reject it. Thousands of tracts, booklets and pamphlets were distributed in this areas....
My bag is packed and ready to go to town to distribute to the people literatures of present truth before sending you this report.
May the Holy Spirit of God strengthen us to give the Loud Cry of the third angel in the coming New Year. May God bless you and everyone in the Ministries.
Yours in His service, B.A., Fiji.
FROM INDIA
(Combinations of 2 letters) Dear elder Sessler
1 John 3:1....
I am involved in creating website for our Oldpath SDA as free. It takes very hard work. Today for whole day I never went to my dining table....
The troubles and follow-ups by Hindu extremists are experienced by our workers in Manaparai. The Hindu extremists are watching and following our workers and trying to make false complaint upon them in police stations. The Hindu extremists are misusing the religious conversion banning law and trying to suppress the Christian ministries in India.
Please pray for this new tribulations.
Maranatha, B.S., India.
FROM KENYA, EAST AFRICA
Glory to God in the highest and peace and goodness among men on earth.
I hope and trust in the dear name of our Lord Jesus that you are fine, busy in the Lord's vineyard. We too have been busy with studies here and there on the present truth....
Secondly, may I once again and most recently thank God for this abundant gifts we have received--the four sets of SOP library with untold gratefulness. May God bless all who donated toward this worthy cause. The booklets too cannot be unmentioned. We still receive and lately we received the Image of the Beast. We thank God and your brethren too, for all your unceasing efforts to reach souls this side of the globe.
Thirdly, we have received with gratitude plans to have a health facility here. We thank God for remembering us, thus we shall be in ____ on 14th-15th to see our brothers there to share the idea together and pray over the matter. So may the will of God be done.
"Christ is an all-powerful Helper and those who follow Him will not walk in darkness, but will understand the thoughts of heaven....We must bring our will into subjection on the will of God." TDWG 320.
Lastly, pass our gratitude to the churches of Christ there. Let us all work for Christ in the short remaining days. Thanks.
1 Pet 1:3-4. I.O., Kenya.
General Christian greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour, who loved us and gave Himself as a ransom that we may have a right to the adoption of sonship to the Kingdom of our dear Father, the Father of comfort and all mercies.
I thank God so much for the work He is doing through you brethren. We appreciate your prayers and efforts and support. Your information about study Bibles reached us and we praise God that He has opened the way for those Bibles for there are many among our teachers who are in need of them. We had received four sets of SOP Library...and have sent them (distributed) to four different (Home Church) centres. Other centres also are waiting when the Lord will open a way for other copies to come.
On the issue of a health centre, we are praying that God’s will be done.
I am on my way from ____ in Eastern Kenya back home in South West Kenya. I had gone there with ____ of ____ for the arrangement of this year’s work as one team without any fear of those who are trying to hinder this unity. We are ready not to work with those who are always working to hinder the work, for we have already known them. I shall not name them now...I thank God that their plans are thwarted.
Remain with peace from God.
Yours, N.G., Kenya.
FROM MALAYSIA
(Combination of 2 letters) Dear Elder Bob,
Isa. 55:11.
How are you recently?...I'm now still busy doing the input of the booklet “Tithe” while translating another booklet, "Why Are Protestants Bowing to the Pope?", hopefully they will be finished soon next week....
I have made some contacts with a few SDA and non-SDA friends, giving them the tracts and booklets received from you a few months ago. A few copies extra were also given to them so that they can share with their friends and relatives. One had told me on the phone that she had spent a few hours browsing your website, especially the Chinese section, and she added that she will continue to do so in her leisure hours. Praise God for that! (Editor's note: AMEN!) Please pray for this lady of other denomination. Some copies were also given to sister ____ for distribution in Hong Kong. May those seeds sown culminate in a large final harvest and total victory over the power of darkness.
Regarding the fund I received for the purchase of a new computer and software, I still need some $250 to cover the whole....
Please send those 21 tracts to me as soon as possible. I will change to translating these tracts when I finish the input of the booklets. Time is running short. I believe that these tracts are good for non-SDA's, as you know very well, not many people have any access to our website....
Hope to hear from you soon.
Richest blessings upon you and your ministry! V., Malaysia.
FROM THE PHILIPPINES
(Combination of 3 letters) Dear Bro. Bob,
The Lord has been so good to us these past days. After we were refreshed and received the blessings of the Lord at the camp meeting, the Lord’s continued (to) bless us. After we arrived at home our relatives (SDA) visited us....God opened the way for us to share to them our present position....And not only that, we have invited also that (other) Adventists here. Some attended in our meeting and study every night, but some did not. There are also some Catholics who come in order to hear the message, and that we prove that they are more interested than those SDA's. We gave a series of studies separately to those SDA’s and non-SDA's. And we will continue to work for these souls through God's help....
The Lord is really working now (than) in the past. The field is truly great and is ready for the harvest. The latter rain is now attending the message. The Lord is coming very soon and may (we) be found ready....
I’m here now in the province of ____ responding to the call of our brother who attended our last camp meeting. I saw here the need of labor like this that need not to be delayed. The controversy here is that some believe the SDA church is Babylon and the need to totally separate from her, and the other, though outside of the church, they still invite SDA member to be their speaker, and there are times that they (are) being encouraged to go back to the church; and this is the big controversy here. Also the question about if the message of Revelation 18 is now to be given, the latter rain issue, the Steps to Life and their books given to the members of separated people from SDA that lead them to go back to the church (SDA). Others also teach that this is not the time to call the corrupt SDA to be Babylon and to totally separate from her....
If God will bless our effort here and the separated church could be established in the true gospel order and to the right message...And now through the power of the Holy Spirit, these brethren come to the realization that their former position was wrong and they decided to unite with us in proclaiming this messages. Praise God for this outcome! (Editor’s note: A hearty AMEN!).
We still don't know how long we will stay here, because there are still some brethren who we want to visit. But after our work here, we will procede to the Youth Camp, which will be held in ____. This Youth Camp is a preparation for the youth who wants to enter or enroll in the training school, which is newly built. We call this as "School of the Prophets". Our ____ brethren established or built just a simple building for the purpose of training our youth who wants to enter in the field of the Lord.
Dear brother, we are asking you to please pray for this work. We want also to ask you to please give us an additional help in financial. You know we are really ashamed to do this, but I know this is for God’s work. You know, bro Bob, our budget become short because of so many travel that we have and the fact that the fare is so expensive. We still need to attend to some call but we can’t answer this call promptly because of this problem....
Till here for now. Please continue to pray for the work here. Hope to hear from you soon. God bless!
Your brother in Christ, B.F., Philippines.
FROM UGANDA, EAST AFRICA
(Combination of 3 letters) Elder Sessler,
Precious greetings in Jesus' name.
Thanks for the E-mail and M-bag received. In one bag I got 3 volumes of Spirit of Prophecy Library. These have been the long awaited materials. Thank God through you I have got nearly all SOP books. Inclusive was (booklets) "Why are Protestants Bowing to the Pope?" (and) "Will You Answer Christ's Prayer?" and some tracts "Truth About Hell".
Nevertheless the good news of the precious brethren who have given in money to purchase the said house is a miracle of the grace of God, and among the best news on this side of the sun for the children of God who are poor and homeless....On my behalf, say thank you to those brothers....
On Sunday 3rd November 2002 we visited ____ to share the gospel with one selected family. It was a blessing to share the second coming of Jesus with this family where one lady is a believer. We gave out tracts and booklets. On 22nd October 2002 we met a lady who wanted to take her life because of (i) Depts, (ii) Being HIV-positive. With sobs she told her story and had only one way out of this mounting problems, that was committing suicide. She is a Muslim. I shared the purpose of God through Jesus and the judgement even after this life and the many possibilities that we have through Jesus. It was that morning she had planned to do away with her life. I called her attention to Jesus – she accepted. (Editor’s note: PRAISE GOD!) We knelt down for prayer, immediately after the prayer God gave her a new mind. She even regretted why she had wanted to take her life. Some money was given her to do some business to enable her (to) pay some of her debts.
Elder, pray for us and the work God has given us....
On 9th Nov. 2002, Brother ____ took some booklets and tracts to Lake Side Sen Sec School (an SDA School). On 14th...received calls from the same school warning me of undermining the work of the S.D.A. (Church). They promised to burn the booklets. I thank God most of the booklets had been circulated.
On 26th Nov. 2002 I visited the hospital, praying for the sick and gave out some tracts....
We had a wonderful meeting. The Loud Cry message was given with great clarity, many messages on health reform and preparation was set before the people. The turn up was small, around 40 souls attended....Christ’s second coming was brought much nearer than we 1st believed, a great measure of blessing was gathered. The 3rd evening of our meetings we moved out to give out tracts and booklets.
Thanks a lot for standing with us in prayers, (and praise God for the) protection and new strength we have gained (from) our Saviour.
Salute the brothers and sisters that side. God bless you.
Yours in the blessed Saviour. James 5:17. K.I., Uganda.
FROM ZAMBIA, CENTRAL AFRICA
Dear Elder Bob,
Greetings from the brethren here.
The work is going on well though through hardships as at now. I have been to ____ (to pass out more) of our materials. Already I have received some good response. Some people have written me enquiring for more materials. There are Catholics who have heard this Sabbath (truth) after reading through our materials. (Editor's Note: May God be praised!)...
Allow me to report to you again that more and more people are coming in(to the) separation groups. Pray for us as we have a lot to do in our work since ordinations are still going on here in our Home Churches.
Elder Bob, kindly pray for me, as I will be traveling to Namibia...for a camp meeting where I have been called....
God bless you, W.M., Zambia.
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