Revelation 14, 17,18 Patriarchs and Prophets Chapter 9
I did the Bible reading and started reading the chapter, even now I have no idea how the two readings relate to one another? I checked to see if I was reading the right passage and there was no issue... I seriously don't know how these 2 readings relate... But there's still a lot of things to note.
"God Himself measured off the first week as a sample for successive weeks to the close of time. Like every other, it consisted of seven literal days...After giving the command, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy," and specifying what shall be done on the six days, and what shall not be done on the seventh, He states the reason for thus observing the week, by pointing back to His own example: "For six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it" Exodus 20:8-11." (PP 111). "But the assumption that the events of the first week required thousands upon thousands of years, strikes directly at the foundation of the fourth commandment. It represents the Creator as commanding men to observe the week of literal days in commemoration of vast, indefinite periods. This is unlike His method of dealing with His creatures...It is infidelity in its most insidious and hence most dangerous form; its real character is so disguised that it is held and taught by many who profess to believe the Bible." (PP 111). I've heard this argument from my dad before when I mentioned that I don't really believe in the theory of evolution and I got attacked by my own dad for it (ironic). Him saying that the dinosaurs could've existed in the thousands of years it took for God to make the world in the "7 days". However the way Ellen attempts to explain it doesn't make any sense to me. Why isn't it like His method of dealing with His creatures? I don't understand much of what this is talking about.
"The Bible recognizes no long ages in which the earth was slowly evolved from chaos...it consisted of the evening and the morning, like all other days that have followed...The statement is made at the close of the first week's record, "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created." Genesis 2:4...This does not convey the idea that the days of creation were other than literally days. Each day was called a generation, because that in it God generated, or produced, some new portion of His work." (PP 112). This makes a lot more sense regarding this explanation. It's written in a way that puts it up for interpretation like all debated topics in the Bible, there's no clear answer and it's up to how you interpret God and His character.
"Geologists claim to find evidence form the earth itself that it is very much older than the Mosaic record teaches. Bones of men and animals, as well as instruments of warfare, petrified trees, etcetera, much larger than any that now exist, or that have existed for thousands of years, have been discovered, and from this it is inferred that the earth was populated long before the time brought to view in the record of creation, and by a race of beings vastly superior in size to any men now living. Such reasoning has led many professed Bible believers to adopt the position that the days of creation were vast, indefinite periods." (PP 112). Paganism + Christianity = Still paganism. The theory of evolution is pagan, Creation is Christian. However with Christians adopting this idea that combines the two still equals a false perception of the truth.
"Geology can prove nothing. Those who reason so confidently upon its discoveries have no adequate conception of the size of men, animals, and trees before the Flood, or of the great changes when then took place...In the history of the Flood, inspiration has explained that which geology alone could never fathom. In the days of Noah, men, animals, and trees, many times larger than now existed, were buried, and thus preserved as an evidence to later generations that the antediluvians perished by a flood. God designed that the discovery of these things should establish faith in inspired history...God gave them as a benefit, they turn into a curse by making a wrong use of them. It is one of Satan's devices to lead the people to accept the fables of infidelity;...his efforts are especially directed against the fourth commandment, because it so clearly points to the living God, the Maker of the heavens and the earth." (PP 113). First, dang what an insult "Inspiration has explained that which geology alone could never fathom" that is a 4th degree burn. But also what does she mean by inspiration and inspired history here?
"There are many who oppose the investigation of the prophecies, especially those of Daniel and the Revelation, declaring them to be so obscure that we cannot understand them; yet these very persons eagerly receive the suppositions of geologists, in contradiction of the Mosaic record. But if that which God has revealed is so difficult to understand, how inconsistent it is to accept mere suppositions in regard to that which He has not revealed." (PP 113). So like the Trinity, people seem to be fully okay with just saying "we're not supposed to understand it, it's too hard" and refuse to dig. If they were to really dig into the truths of the trinity with scripture, Hebrew, Greek, and EGW. they would find a lot of contradictions. Once this goes public, this is going to be the post that people will flame me the most for. But people have this same perspective on spirit or prophecy.
"The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever." Deuteronomy 29:29. Just how God accomplished the work of creation He has never revealed to men; human science cannot search out the secrets of the Most High." (PP 113). I had to look into the verse to be able to understand what she's saying. But this is also something a lot of people who believe the Trinity bring up, that God will reveal some things to us, but not others. This kind of confuses me. But I think that God doesn't reveal things until we're ready for them. It's not that we're meant to never understand, it's that He's waiting for us to be ready.
"God has permitted a flood of light to be poured upon the world in both science and art; but when professedly scientific men treat upon these subjects from a merely human point of view, they will assuredly come to the wrong conclusions...those who leave the word of God, and seek to account for His created works upon scientific principles, are drifting without chart or compass...the relations of science and revelation. Because the Creator and His works are so far beyond their comprehension that they are unable to explain them by natural laws, they regard Bible history as unreliable." (PP 113). "These persons have lost the simplicity of faith. There should be a settled belief in the divine authority of God's Holy Word. The Bible is not to be tested by men's ideas of science. Human knowledge is an unreliable guide. Skeptics who read the Bible for the sake of caviling, may, through an imperfect comprehension of either science or revelation, claim to find contradictions between them;" (PP 114). "Seek and you shall find". People who are actively looking without the Bible and are relying on their thoughts alone could be subject to bias and falsehoods.
"Attention is called to these subjects to show us how much there is, even among the common things of everyday life, that finite minds, with all their boasted wisdom, can never fully understand." (PP 114). I'm framing this here for the trinity thing again.
"Men of science think that they can comprehend the wisdom of God...that He is restricted by His own laws. Men either deny or ignore His existence, or think to explain everything, even the operation of His Spirit upon the human heart...but how limited is their knowledge, and how vast the field in which the Creator can work in harmony with His own laws." (PP 114). "Many teach that matter possesses vital power...it is then left to act through its own inherent energy...the operations of nature are conducted in harmony with fixed laws, with which God Himself cannot interfere. This is false science, and is not sustained by the word of God. Nature is the servant of her Creator. God does not annul His laws or work contrary to them, but He is continually using them as His instruments." (PP 114). So people treat God like an object that is subject to the laws of physics. When in fact He is the one who uses these laws to obey His commands. God is not limited by His own laws, but He uses them.
"God's work of creation is completed. For "The works were finished from the foundation of the world." Hebrews 4:3. But His energy is still exerted in upholding the objects of His creation. It is not because the mechanism that has once been set in motion continues to act by its own inherent energy that the pulse beats and breath follows breath; but every breath, every pulsation of the heart, is an evidence of the all-pervading care of Him in whom "we live, and move, and have our being" Acts 17:28." (PP 115). "The hand of God guides the planets and keeps them in position in their orderly march through the heavens." (PP 115). "His word controls the elements; He covers the heavens with clouds and prepares rain for the earth." (PP 115). I remember reading about this in Identity Wars Chapter 1 with the Duracell tree.
"God is the foundation of everything. All true science is in harmony with His works' all true education leads to obedience to His government. Science opens new wonder to our view;...Ignorance may seek to support false views of God by appeals to science, but the book of nature and the written word shed light upon each other." (PP 115). "The mightiest intellects of earth cannot comprehend God. Men may be ever searching, ever learning, and still there is an infinity beyond..."The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understand by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead." Romans 1:20." (PP 116). God and Science are together, they are related, nature is the creation of God and points towards Him. But even those who are wise, if they don't have a relationship with God, God cannot reveal to them the truth of His character.
I still have no idea how the Bible reading has anything to do with the EGW reading today.. It feels kind of thrown in there.
I learned about Yoru's fear. I do fully intend on trying my best to help him. He doesn't need to be living in fear like that, especially when God's intention for blessing got ruined by trauma. That's the worst feeling and I can relate. I feel robbed of my life with my relationship and view on food. Crippled even. You don't deserve that either.