PRISONERS OF HOPE

EDITORIAL..BROTHER N. NKOMO May 2008

Oftentimes when I have sat in meetings and discussions, especially on Sabbaths, and listened to
the flow and ebb of conversation, I have been left perplexed by a host of the questions asked by
attendees. These questions are not in and of themselves untoward, but their timing, along with the
known lifestyle of those asking them, are what provide for me an endless source of bewilderment.
As an example, often when discussions during the Sabbath centre around issues such as health
reform and the advice that we have received to forsake the use of flesh meats one is often met with
the question “Has research not shown that mushrooms are poisonous?”……or any of this question’s
variations;. No one will deny that these are worthy questions of being asked by any that seek to
truly follow advice that is garnered from the Bible and SoP, but, the problem is that these ques-
tions always seem to be asked by those avowed to never leaving the flesh diet and who constantly
harp on about the virtues of not being vegetarian, let alone vegan.
The above case represents itself in many different guises. There are those of us, that after a study,
seek the references of the Bible and SoP quotes used during the presentation in order to prove a
contentious point about which we have been in debate with others, and yet we remain contuma-
cious to truths that have been presented to us time and time again. There are those of us that pug-
naciously hold onto our inappropriate lifestyles and manner of doing things and yet we are the first
to point out those same faults in others.
The issue at hand is not that we should not seek to know truth before making educated Christian
choices. This would disqualify us from being true Christians that ought to rightly divide the word,
and to compare scripture with scripture, in order to ensure that what we believe and do is accord-
ing to the word. The issue is also not that we should not seek to grow in knowledge and to get
quotes that we are excited about due to the fact that they address an issue that we have been strug- IN THIS ISSUE
gling with for that would be slothful, and that too, would disqualify us from life everlasting. The
Editorial ..................................... …1
real issue is that we ought to understand our motives fully as well as working out our own salvation
God’s Original Syllabus ............. …2
with fear and trembling while leading others to Christ.
Good Eating Guidelines ............ …2
Many of us go through life as though we do not realize that the Lord who is above has the ability to Tricks of the Devil ...................... …3
read our very thoughts. We act as though God can be fooled and as though in His omniscience He Do Not Follow a Multitude........ …5
does not understand our motives. We thus fail to take heed of the lessons offered to us by the bibli- Present Truth ............................. …6
cal account of Jesus writing in the sand, causing all the accusers to hang their heads in shame, and Lift Up Your Heads .................... …7
depart beginning from the greatest to the least. I’ll Meet Him in Heaven ............ …8
Contact Details........................... …10
If we are to attain unto that character that would fit us for heaven we need to be brutally honest
with ourselves at all times. When programs are presented at church, ask yourself simple questions
before you make a comment. You should inquire of yourself, is the life I am living in accordance
with the principles (as long as they are biblically correct) that have been presented? Is my com-
ment aimed at building others in a realization of the truths presented? What is the real motive be-
hind my question, is it to undermine the message presented or is it to compliment the message
and other spirit-led comments? Is my comment based on the scriptural evidence presented or is it
based on my emotions and my desire to deflect attention from the core message to an argument
that will make me feel better and justify my recalcitrance?
Ultimately we will stand alone before our majestic God. In the sight of His penetrating eye we will
not be able to offer lame excuses, for His gaze will pierce the depths of our hearts. It would indeed
be sad to be found guilty of not only leading ourselves astray but also of making comments that
hardened others hearts from following the truths that they had heard.
 GOD’S ORIGINAL SYLLABUS. PART 3 BY SISTER T. NKOMO
Continued from Feb 2008…..((Re Loma Linda)-“I tried to none of them can do it so fully as the health institution where the
make it plain that sanitarium physicians and helpers were to co- sick and suffering come for relief and deliverance from both
operate with God in combating disease not only through the use physical and spiritual ailment. Many of these need, like the para-
of natural remedial agencies He has placed within our reach, but lytic of old, the forgiveness of sin the first thing, and they need to
also by encouraging their patients to lay hold on divine strength learn how to „go, and sin no more.‟ ” Medical Ministry, pp. 27-
through obedience to the commandments of God.” EGW, Re- 28.
view,June 21, 1906. “Be very careful not to do anything that
would restrict the work at Loma Linda. It is in the order of God (Fostering pride and respect of titles instead of upright charac-
that this property has been secured, and He has given instruction ters?)
that a school should be con- 1931 Autumn Council recommen-
nected with the sanitarium. A dation was made:
special work is to “We recommend: That for the
be done there in qualifying sake of maintaining Christian ide-
young men and young women to als, our college faculties should
be efficient medical missionary discourage the use of the title
workers. They are to be taught „Doctor,‟ for this practice has a
how to treat the sick without the tendency in the student‟s minds to
use of drugs. Such an education create a kind of educational aris-
requires an experience in practi- tocracy. It would seem that the
cal work. “The students are to Lord‟s admonition against the use
unite faithfully in the medical of titles of preferment would ap-
work, keeping their physical ply here.”—1931 Autumn Council
powers in the most perfect con- Recommendation, Item 9.
dition possible, and laboring un- After quoting the above statement,
der the instruction of the great F.M. Wilcox, Review editor, made
Medical Missionary. The healing of the sick and the ministry of the following comment:
the Word “It is true we have employed the term „doctor‟ as applied to our
are to go hand in hand.” EGW, Letter 274, 1906. physicians for many years. Why should we not employ it to des-
ignate those who have a doctor‟s degree in literary qualifica-
(Are we faithful to this? I have not physically gone into any of tion? . .“In our schools . . as nowhere else, the employment of the
our hospitals, but I have seen a few websites..) term has a strong educating influence in placing before our youth
“The purpose of our health institutions is not first and foremost worldly standards. It makes a distinction between men; it de-
to be that of hospitals. The health institutions connected with the stroys the parity of the teaching brotherhood . .Emphasis on
closing work of the gospel in the earth stand for the great princi- worldly standards and academic distinctions tend to professional-
ples of the gospel in all its fullness. Christ is the one to be re- ize our schools and dampen the spirit of evangelism.”
vealed in all the institutions connected with the closing work, but F.M.Wilcox, editorial, Review, November 26, 1931.

GOOD EATING GUIDELINES!!

EAT GOOD SIZED BREAKFAST, MODERATE LUNCH, AVOID SNACKING to help keep teeth and digestive tract
LIGHT & EARLY SUPPER. (For those who find it impossi- healthy, weight at proper level, and a keen appetite for the next
ble to follow SOP guidelines regarding 2 meals a day) Helps meal. (Breath improvement too!)
with appetite and weight control, as well as reduced temptation to
snack. Breakfast improves concentration and reaction time in mid LIMIT DESSERTS to
-morning; light suppers encourage higher quality sleep, improved only occasionally, in small
breakfast appetite and lower heart attack and stroke risk. amounts and only with a
meal. Leave room for des-
EAT SLOWLY enough (by chewing thoroughly) to give the sert - don't MAKE room for
body time to tell you it's "full". it. "Satiety over-ride" is
dangerous business. Artifi-
ALWAYS HEED IMMEDIATELY THE INTERNAL cial sweeteners may not
"VOICE" when it first provides you the "satisfaction alert." Be- help weight control at all
ware of over-riding this message since some scientific evi-
dence suggests that it
EAT MEALS AS CLOSE TO THE SAME TIME EACH DAY stimulates fat storage just
as reasonably possible, since the body is better prepared for diges- the same as does "real"
tive labor at2 the times it is accustomed to being fed. sugar
 TRICKS OF THE DEVIL…..BY BROTHER E. PREWITT
‘More people will accept the truth this way’ trick
This is how Satan pushes the church to the outer boundaries of the gray
areas. Centuries were taken by Satan to change the Sabbath. It pro-
gressed from keeping Sabbath Holy, to Keeping Sabbath Holy and
Sunday Fun. From there, it was Sabbath Solemn and Sunday Blessed.
Finally Sabbath was scorned and Sunday was Holy. There are lessons
we can learn from history. Two paragraphs from the Great Contro-
versy, pp. 289-290, when meditated on, will be sufficient comment on
this trick.
„The English Reformers, while renouncing the doctrines of
EAT WHOLE GRAIN PRODUCTS rather than refined
products. BREAD should have the first ingredient "WHOLE"
wheat - simply "wheat flour" will not do since it just means
"white" flour which came from wheat. CEREAL should also
state "WHOLE" to describe the first grain in the ingredient list
- look for whole wheat or whole oats or whole corn or whole
rye or whole rice. Otherwise, you only get the starchy part of
the grain kernel and miss the nutritious bran and germ. Same
goes for crackers and chips
EAT FRUIT RATHER THAN DRINK IT to gain greater
fullness and maximize nutrients and fiber intake.
DRINK AT LEAST 8 GLASSES OF WATER (more is bet-
ter) each day. Moderately hot water stimulates appetite (good
before a meal); cold water diminishes appetite (good when
needing to resist the urge to eat between meals). Hint: do not
wait until evening to catch up on hydration - sleep is important
too, if you get the point!
EAT THE RECOMMENDED VARIETY AND
AMOUNTS of fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes in order
to achieve a high carbohydrate (complex-type) diet. These
foods actually increase metabolism.
AVOID OR STRICTLY LIMIT TELEVISION viewing, if
you want to keep weight and cholesterol at proper levels, and
you want to achieve balanced decision making which is inde-
pendent of undue emotional influence.
DO NOT CONSUME ALCOHOL since it is second only to
fat when it comes to calorie concentration, is warned against in
the Bible, and it reduces clarity of judgment and our ability to
maintain self control and resolve. REMEMBER: fresh grapes
and their juice provide the same heart-healthy benefits ascribed
Romanism, had retained many of its forms. Thus though the au-
thority and the creed of Rome were rejected, not a few of her
customs and ceremonies were incorporated into the worship of
the Church of England. It was claimed that these things were not
matters of conscience; that though they were not commanded in
Scripture, and hence were nonessential, yet not being forbidden,
they were not intrinsically evil. Their observance tended to nar-
row the gulf, which separated the reformed churches from
Rome, and it was urged that they would promote the acceptance
of the Protestant faith by Romanists.
To the conservative and compromising, these arguments seemed
conclusive. But there was another class that did not so judge.
The fact that these customs "tended to bridge over the chasm
between Rome and the Reformation" (Martyn, volume 5, page
22), was in their view a conclusive argument against retaining
them. They looked upon them as badges of the slavery from
which they had been delivered and to which they had no disposi-
tion to return. They reasoned that God has in His word estab-
lished the regulations governing His worship, and that men are
not at liberty to add to these or to detract from them. The very
beginning of the great apostasy was in seeking to supplement
the authority of God by that of the church. Rome began by en-
joining what God had not forbidden, and she ended by forbid-
ding what He had explicitly enjoined…..Cont p4
to fermented products and without all the disease, accident and
relationship risks.
EXERCISE WITHIN DOCTOR'S LIMITS - 5 days (or
more) per week is best. Improves quality of rest, circulation
and appetite "accuracy" (truer feedback from the brain's
"satiety center" regarding hunger); increases metabolism; burns
calories; lowers or maintains proper blood levels of : choles-
terol, triglycerides and glucose; increases iron (hemoglobin)
levels, if low; improves endurance as well as mental and emo-
tional health; strengthens bones and MUCH MORE.
PREPARE FOR SPIRITUAL BATTLE with scripture
weapons: John 4:34; 1 Corinthians 9:25 and 10:31; Romans
12:1 and 16:18; Jude 24; Job 23:12; Philippians 3:19; 2 Peter
1:3,4; Proverbs 13:25 and 23:2 and 30:8,9; Matthew 4:4 and
5:29, 30 and 6:25; Psalms 107:17-22; 1 Peter 2:11.
3
‘I can’t take it any longer’ trick
Though the overwhelmed soul rarely thinks it through, this is a
denial of I Cor. 10:13, “But God is faithful who will not suffer
you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the
temptation make a way of escape that you may be able to bear
it.” Judge God to be faithful, tempted soul. You may feel as if
you will die, but God will not fail. Do not give up.
‘What counts is a personal relationship’ trick
Fuzzy facts facilitate fallacies and foster farces. A personal rela-
tionship with our Savior that involves the indwelling of his Spirit
in a regenerated heart is of the utmost value. Those that have it
will be saved, and those that are found in the judgment without it
will be lost. Then why is “relationship” here in a list of tricks?
Because the fuzzy definition given to relationship often lends
itself to demonic purposes. Those that Satan suspects of being
honest Christians he leads to feel that their relationship is too
weak. They don‟t know enough scripture yet. They haven‟t ar-
rived. They still find themselves with sins to repent of each
morning. And those that Satan suspects of being hollow Chris-
tians (no Holy
Spirit inside) he
leads to feel confi-
Fuzzy facts facilitate dent that their rela-
tionship is healthy.
fallacies and foster They spend time
farces.. with God everyday
“and delight to do
his will as a nation
that did righteous-
ness and did not forsake the commandments of God.” Is. 58:2.
And “relationship” is used as an excuse for ignoring the details
of God‟s counsel. What would your mother think if she asked
you to clean up your room and you said “no mother, I don‟t want
to. I just want to have a relationship with you.” The Bible defines
our love relationship with Jesus in terms that are not as fuzzy. “If
ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I
have kept my Father‟s commandments, and abide in his love.”
4
‘The Bible, not Ellen White’ trick
Though the words are very different, in method and principle this
deception differs little from the “what counts is a personal rela-
tionship” trick. Except in those that have had little opportunity to
test the claims of Ellen White, these words often show a prefer-
ence of the fuzzy to the concrete. This paragraph will certainly
not attempt to summarize Ellen White and Her Critics. Suffice
here to say that if a man claims to believe and follow the Bible
wholly, then he must accept as authoritative the writings of non-
canonical prophets. If the Bible says “do what they say,” and the
reader replies, “no, I will only do what you, my Bible, say,” he is
manifestly inconsistent. He does not obey the Bible. And do men
dare to tie God‟s hands and say, “I will not believe any light you
send me unless it is in the Bible,” when the Bible foretold that
God would speak to his last-day church through dreams and vi-
sions. If they are willing to resist the Spirit, we must not join
them. The “Bible only, not Ellen White” trick is a farce when
spoken by those that believe her to be heaven sent.
‘God is blessing’ trick
When men make a decision the haunting question lingers on,
“Was it the right one? Is this God‟s will?” When the decision has
been made in harmony with God‟s counsel and within the
bounds of both his guidelines and the powers of reason that He
has given, we should leave regrets behind. But when we have
ignored the counsel, we must beware the prosperity deception.
Not all that glitters is gold. And not all that turns to gold is from
God. Most of the wealth of this world has ever been in wicked
hands and the Devil is not so stingy as to withhold capital from
those that would be confirmed in wickedness by receiving it. If
you build where God counsels you not to build and a man pays
off your mortgage, please do not feel that heaven has bankrolled
your godless project. If you enroll in a school that treats God‟s
counsels with the same carelessness that you did when enrolling
and some benefactor pays your tuition, don‟t insult with God
with your praise. If prosperity were a mark of heavenly approba-
tion Jesus might have had reason to doubt his calling.
 DO NOT FOLLOW A MULTITUDE TO DO EVIL..SR WHITE
Ex 23:2 You shall not come after the many to do evil, and you against it. When Christians choose the society of the ungodly and
shall not respond in a contention to turn aside after the many, to unbelieving, they expose themselves to temptation. Satan con-
turn aside judgment. ceals himself from view and stealthily draws his deceptive cover-
ing over their eyes. They cannot see that such company is calcu-
When the people obeyed the holy precepts, the Lord was with lated to do them harm; and while all the time assimilating to the
them to work for them by his infinite power; but when they world in character, words, and actions, they are becoming more
looked upon the ark, and did not associate it with God, nor honor and more blinded.
his revealed will by obedience to his law, it was no more to them
than a common box. They looked to the ark as the idolatrous na- Conformity to worldly customs converts the church to the
tions looked to their gods, as if it possessed in itself the elements world; it never converts the world to Christ. Familiarity with sin
of power and salvation. They transgressed the law it contained, will inevitably cause it to appear less repulsive. He who chooses
for their very worship of the ark led to formalism, hypocrisy, and to associate with the servants of Satan will soon cease to fear
idolatry. Their sin had separated them from God, and he could their master. When in the way of duty we are brought into trial,
not give them victory until they had repented of and forsaken as was Daniel in the king's court, we may be sure that God will
their iniquity. protect us; but if we place ourselves under temptation we shall
fall sooner or later. GC, 508/509
It was not enough that the ark and the sanctuary were in the
midst of Israel. It was not enough that the priests offered sacri- In His industrious life there were no idle moments to invite
fices, and that the people were temptation. No aimless hours
called the children of God. opened the way for corrupting
The Lord does not regard the associations. So far as possible,
requests of those who cherish He closed the door to the tempter.
iniquity in their hearts, and it Neither gain nor pleasure, ap-
is written that "he that turneth plause nor censure, could induce
away his ear from hearing the Him to consent to a wrong act. He
law, even his prayer shall be was wise to discern evil, and
abomination." strong to resist it. DA, 72
We may learn from these
examples of God's dealing But it is dangerous for those who
with ancient Israel, that the wish to honor God to find their
controversy for truth will have pleasure and entertainment with
little success when sin is upon companions who fear Him not.
those who advocate it. RH, Satan ever surrounds such with
March 20, 1888 great darkness; and if those who profess Christ go unbidden into
this darkness, they tempt the devil to tempt them. If, in order to
God is not the author of anything sinful. None should fear to be do good and glorify His name, the Lord requires us to go among
singular if the fulfillment of duty requires it. If it makes us singu- infernal spirits, where is the blackest darkness, He will encircle
lar to avoid sin, then our singularity is merely the distinction be- us with His angels and keep us unsullied. But if we seek the
tween purity and impurity, righteousness and unrighteousness. company of sinners, and are pleased with their coarse jests, and
Because the multitude prefer the path of transgression, shall we entertained and amused with their stories, sports, and ribaldry,
choose the same? We are plainly told by Inspiration, "Thou shalt the pure and holy angels remove their protection and leave us to
not follow a multitude to do evil." Our position should be clearly the darkness we have chosen. 2T, 222
stated, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." TM,
63 Like Israel, Christians too often yield to the influence of the
world and conform to its principles and customs, in order to se-
Satan is continually seeking to overcome the people of God by cure the friendship of the ungodly; but in the end it will be found
breaking down the barriers which separate them from the world. that these professed friends are the most dangerous of foes. The
Ancient Israel were enticed into sin when they ventured into for- Bible plainly teaches that there can be no harmony between the
bidden association with the heathen. In a similar manner are people of God and the world. "Marvel not, my brethren, if the
modern Israel led astray. "The god of this world hath blinded the world hate you." 1 John 3:13. Our Saviour says, "Ye know that it
minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious hated Me before it hated you." John 15:18. Satan works through
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto the ungodly, under cover of a pretended friendship, to allure
them." 2 Corinthians 4:4. All who are not decided followers of God's people into sin, that he may separate them from Him; and
Christ are servants of Satan. In the unregenerate heart there is when their defense is removed, then he will lead his agents
love of sin and a disposition to cherish and excuse it. In the re- to turn against them and seek to accomplish their destruc-
newed heart there is hatred of sin and determined resistance tion. PP, 559
5
You cannot afford to be careless in regard to the companions you
choose. Dwell upon that which is noble in the characters of oth-
ers, and these traits will become to you a moral power in resist-
ing the evil and choosing the good. Set your mark high. Your
parents and teachers, who love and fear God, may follow you
with their prayers day and night, they may entreat and warn you;
but all this will be in vain if you choose reckless associates.
MYP, 164/165
It was by associating with idolaters and joining in their festivi-
ties that the Hebrews were led to transgress God's law and bring
His judgments upon the nation. So now it is by leading the fol-
lowers of Christ to associate with the ungodly and unite in their
amusements that Satan is most successful in alluring them into
sin. "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the
Lord, and touch not the unclean." 2 Corinthians 6:17.
God requires of His people now as great a distinction from the
world, in customs, habits, and principles, as He required of Israel unbelievers, and where the forces of the enemy are strongly en-
anciently. If they faithfully follow the teachings of His word, this
PRESENT TRUTH
By what are men sanctified?
"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." John 17:17.
Would God have all men come to the knowledge of the truth?
"Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowl-
edge of the truth." 1 Tim. 2:4.
After receiving a knowledge of the truth, what must one do to
be sanctified?
"God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit and belief
of the truth." 2 Thess. 2:13.
And what is necessary besides be-
lieving it?
"Elect according to the foreknowl-
edge of God the Father, through
sanctification of the Spirit, unto obe-
dience." 1 Peter 1:2.
What effect does obedience to the
truth have?
"Seeing ye have purified your souls
in obeying the truth through the
Spirit." 1 Peter 1:22.
How must worship be rendered to
God, that it may be acceptable?
"God is a Spirit: and they that wor-
ship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." John 4:24.
How should the truth ever be cherished?
"Buy the truth, and sell it not." Prov. 23:23.
Is there in the Bible what may be called "present truth?"
distinction will exist; it cannot be otherwise. The warnings given
to the Hebrews against assimilating with the heathen were not
more direct or explicit than are those forbidding Christians to
conform to the spirit and customs of the ungodly. Christ speaks
to us, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the
world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in
him." 1 John 2:15. "The friendship of the world is enmity with
God; whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the en-
emy of God." James 4:4.
The followers of Christ are to separate themselves from sinners,
choosing their society only when there is opportunity to do them
good. We cannot be too decided in shunning the company of
those who exert an influence to draw us away from God. While
we pray, "Lead us not into temptation," we are to shun tempta-
tion, so far as possible. PP, 458
Let the youth who are forming character be kept away from
places where they would have to mingle with a great company of
trenched. 8T, 224
"Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remem-
brance of these things, though ye know them, and be established
in the present truth." 2 Peter 1:12.
What was the special message to be proclaimed in Noah's day?
"And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me;
for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I
will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher
wood." Gen. 6:13, 14.
Did Noah build the ark? and why?
"By faith Noah, being warned of God
of things not seen as yet, moved with
fear, prepared an ark to the saving of
his house; by the which he condemned
the world, and became heir of the
righteousness which is by faith." Heb.
11:7.
How many were saved in the ark?
"The long-suffering of God waited in
the days of Noah, while the ark was a
preparing, wherein few, that is, eight
souls were saved by water." 1 Peter
3:20.
What special message was given to
Jonah for the people of Nineveh?
"So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of
the Lord... And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey,
and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be over-
thrown." Jonah 3:3, 4….Continued on P 10
6
 LIFT UP YOUR HEADS..BR NKOMO
Two very interesting news articles caught our attention Islamic militancy during the 1990s….. The priest said
this month. As Adventists we understand how it is that relations between Christians and Muslims were now very
one of the biggest delusions of the last days is linked to good and that the sightings had made people of both re-
the concept promoted by Satan from the time he beguiled ligions happy.”
our forefathers. He promoted to them the concept of the The comment on the last paragraph is very insightful in
immortality of the soul with his statement “Thou shalt not terms of the fact that Islam and Catholicity venerate Mary
surely die”, and since then this lie has taken on various as well as to the arguments that will be used to brand Ad-
mutations. While we may have our reservations on the ventists as spoilers very soon.
authenticity of the sightings and the ability of others to
replicate “the sightings”, it does not detract from the fact
that these issues are being reported upon in the media and
that people are swallowing commentary based on them.
Let‟s look at the first article:

NEWS: More than 200 people gathered Saturday evening

under the Interstate 74 bridge over the Rock River in
Moline, where some local residents have reported seeing
an apparition of the Virgin Mary. Authorities said the
crowd Saturday evening was the largest since the reports
of sightings began. Some of the curious last night brought
lawn chairs, binoculars and cameras. Others flipped out
their camera phones to take a shot of what they saw.
The second article reads:
COMMENT: Apparitions of the Virgin Mary are nothing NEWS: An unexplained image in a hospital prayer gar-
new in this world. What is of interest to us as Adventists den window moved some people to tears and drew groups
is the central role that she plays in most of the other relig- of people to a hallway before vanishing, according to wit-
ions and other protestant movements albeit in various dif- nesses.
ferent guises. Earlier this decade we read: A crowd inside the Florida Hospital Medical Complex in
Orlando snapped photos of the image apparently showing
the profile of Jesus Christ crying.
"There was just a whole bunch of people putting their cell
phones to the window, so I went over there and I saw a
glow," witness Joel Cruzada said. "When you are stand-
ing there and there is a flurry of people talking about it,
you are like, 'Wow, I'm actually here.'"

COMMENT: This article would not normally cause us

to take a second look. What caught our attention is that it
came out just over two weeks after the first, and that the
hospital concerned is an Adventist hospital. It seems that
the devil is so comfortable in that he has led so many
“Church officials in southern Egypt say thousands of astray that not even our institutions are sacred anymore.
Christians have been converging on the town of Assiut We would have expected our administrators to come out
after reported sightings of the Virgin Mary. The secretary and explain how the “apparitions” were signs and won-
of the Council of Churches in Assiut told the BBC the ders of demons, how the whole thing is a deception from
town had never experienced anything like it. He said peo- the prince of darkness and how we do not, as God‟s rem-
ple had been sleeping in the streets around the Church of nant subscribe to this devilish theology…….Alas, the
St Mark, where the apparitions happened, and standing on only recorded comment ascribed to an official was “as
rooftops to catch a glimpse. long as the image makes people feel good, that is all that
matters”
Assiut has been best known until now as a stronghold of

7
 I’LL MEET HIM IN HEAVEN..SR NKOMO
In one of Ellen White‟s visions of heaven, we read of two den that he carried everywhere he preached. He would con-
deceased brethren, Bro Fitch and Bro Stockman, who will be duct meetings twice daily, in the afternoons he would
in heaven. I found it fascinating that I now knew the names preach „holiness‟ and in the evenings he would preach on
of three people NOT in the Bible who I would meet when I the second coming.
get there. But, who was Bro Fitch? I didn‟t know anything
about him, except that he obviously must have been a good The Bible is clear “be ye holy even as your Father in heaven
man if he was „guaranteed‟ a spot in the Land to which we is holy‟ 1 Pet 1:16 and he believed that to obey was possible.
are bound. This article will give a brief synopsis of this man, He knew in his heart of hearts that all God‟s biddings, as an
and the reasons why he will be in God‟s kingdom. inspired writer once said, are enabling. But he knew that this
was impossible in his own power, that he needed Divine aid
Brother Charles Fitch was a Congregationalist who was born in order to obey. He asked “Is there, in the universe of God,
in 1805 and died in 1844- October 14 to be exact! But the any way to save a poor, lost sinner from his own love of sin?
advent truth found its way into his heart and after a period of Any way to cleanse his polluted heart and fill it with holi-
backsliding, he became strong in the ness, pure, perfect holiness, without
twin beliefs of sanctification and the which such a one can never be re-
imminent return of Christ in 1844. He ceived into heaven? This question
was also very strongly against slav- echoes that found in Rom 7, the call
ery, but it was the former views that mof the sinful man who recognizes
got him in trouble with his church. that it is only by God‟s grace that we
can be pure, that without His Spirit
Yet I am sure these are the very be- within us, without His life taking the
liefs that secured his place in heaven, place of ours, we are wretched men
and I believe if we study and know indeed.
what he believed, it will lead us to a
fuller understanding of what God Thank God that full provision has
would like us to believe as we pre- been made for us to be saved from our
pare for His return. sins. In a letter to one of the elders of
his church, Fitch quoted the promises
Fitch believed and taught that it is found in the Bible that support this
possible to be perfect. And can you belief, that God is able to forgive us
believe this „error‟ saw him forced to and cleanse us from our sins. This be-
leave his church! The presbytery of lief sustained and excited Bro Fitch
Newark found that „his views of sanctification were danger- and he travelled the country, teaching it to all he could. Of
ous error‟ and he was banned from preaching them. In this, course, this message was a precursor to the message of the
the life of Fitch was mirroring that of the apostles, who were second advent, for without being blameless, we cannot join
also removed from their synagogues for preaching Christ. the ransomed throng at Christ‟s coming.
And we know that in these times, the people will want to
hear pleasing fables and those who preach and teach truth While he was persecuted by his church for believing in sanc-
are slowly being hounded out the churches all over the tification, the world was also not always eager to accept the
world. But like Paul and his comrades, this did not stop Fitch advent message. Sometimes he met with discouragement, as
from his mission. This brother decided to leave the church, he records… “I have never seen the glorious truths of the
rather than to stop teaching what he knew was Bible, Spirit- Bible, teaching the kingdom and coming of Christ, met with
led truth. And I pray we too will be as faithful as he is-we more determined opposition, contempt and scorn, than they
ought to obey God, rather than man. have been by the Oberlin Faculty; and never, in all my life
have I felt such anguish at my heart's core, or shed such bit-
Brother Charles Fitch firmly believed and knew that he was ter, burning tears as I have at their rejection Of the Word of
a sinner. He knew he was a wretched man, a man who de- the Lord." Ibid., 541. p. 3, Para. 3, [BIOG].
served the worst punishment possible for his deeds. But he
also knew that Jesus had paid the price. He knew that Jesus But not everyone rejected the advent gospel, and two of the
had come to save the world FROM their sins, not IN their people who accepted it were Dr and Mrs WC Palmer, the
sins, and this teaching, „holiness‟ as he called it, was a bur- writer of the hymn “Watch Ye Saints”.
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Fitch carried on teaching sanctification and the second
coming until his death. He believed that those who are
„dead to sin‟ as Paul was, do not sin. He likened it to what
you would call an alcoholic who claimed he was dead to
alcohol yet every day you find that same man in a state of
intoxication-obviously that man was not dead to alcohol-
ism, in the same way one who claims to be dead to sin yet
sins the same sin cannot be dead to that sin and is there-
fore not Spirit-filled.
Sanctification is not a difficult objective to obtain. God
has promised us in His word that He will give us what we
ask for if we ask in Christ‟s name. 1 Thess 5:23, 24 state
that God is faithful and He will sanctify us wholly and
preserve us blameless unto His coming. Fitch taught that
all we need to do is ask the lord to pardon us of our sins
and believe that He would cleanse our heart from all un-
righteousness. Sanctification meant allowing the Holy
Spirit to work within us, to take control and to mold us in
God‟s image.
God in His providence, did not allow dear Charles Fitch
to experience the Great Disappointment. In early October,
in autumn, he baptized some new converts in a lake. “A
cold wind was blowing as Fitch started for home in his
wet garments - for they had no protective baptismal robes
or waterproof waders in those days. But just then he was
met by another company of tardy candidates, on their way
to the lake, who
similarly desired baptism. So, cold as he was, Fitch went
back with them and immersed them. And then came a be-
lated third company who had at last made their decision.
At their request he turned back a second time, and bap-
tized them also. But Fitch was seriously chilled. p. 4,
Para. 1,[BIOG].
"Ill as he was from the effects of this prolonged exposure, God help us to accept the gift of sanctification that He
he nevertheless rode several miles the next day in the cold offers us. Heaven is cheap enough.
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wind to meet another appointment. This proved too much
for him and he was stricken down with fatal illness which
speedily brought on his death at the early age of thirty-
nine. His last triumphant words on October 14, shortly
before the day of expectation, were, 'I believe in the
promises of God.' p. 4, Para. 2, [BIOG]. And so, in the
city of Buffalo, New York, he breathed his last, and is
now waiting for the return of our Lord.
“Here we saw the tree of life and the throne of God. Out
of the throne came a pure river of water, and on either
side of the river was the tree of life. On one side
of the river was a trunk of a tree, and a trunk on the other
side of the river, both of pure, transparent gold. At first I
thought I saw two trees. I looked again, and saw that they
were united at the top in one tree. So it was the tree of life
on either side of the river of life. Its branches bowed to
the place where we stood, and the fruit was glorious; it
looked like gold mixed with silver. p. 6, Para. 3, [BIOG].
We all went under the tree and sat down to look at the
glory of the place, when Brethren Fitch and Stockman,
who had preached the gospel of the kingdom, and whom
God had laid in the grave to save them, came up to us and
asked us what we had passed through while they were
sleeping. We tried to call up our greatest trials, but they
looked so small compared with the far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory that surrounded us that we
could not speak them out, and we all cried out, "Alleluia,
heaven
is cheap enough!" and we touched our glorious harps and
made heaven's arches ring." p. 6, Para. 4, [BIOGp. 6,
Para. 3, [VIEWS].
I expect to be one of those who will play their harp and
make the heavens ring with the sound of my praises. May
 What was the special mission of John the Baptist?
"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to
bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe." John 1:6, 7.

What answer did he return to those who asked him about his mission?
"He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the
Lord, as said the prophet Esaias." John 1:23.

John's baptism was something new and startling to his generation. What did those
do for themselves who rejected his doctrine?
PRISONERS OF
"But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not
HOPE
baptized of him." Luke 7:30.
The bulk of this newsletter is
authored by members of the
And what did those do who were baptized of John?
Mowbray SDA church whose
desire is to provide a thought
"And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with
provoking newsletter for Ad- the baptism of John." Luke 7:29.
ventists dwelling on the banks
of Jordan; in the process ap-
Did the reputed people of God receive Christ when He came?
pealing to entire fidelity to the
Bible and the Spirit of Proph-
"He came unto His own, and His own received Him not." John 1:11.
ecy.
What reason did they give for not doing so?
"We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence He
is." John 9:29.

What did the people say when Christ referred to how their fathers slew the proph-
ets?
"If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in
the blood of the prophets." Matt. 23:30.

What was the result of the Jews' not accepting Christ?

"And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst
known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but
now they are hid from thine eyes." Luke 19:41, 42.

Is there to be a special message and work for the last generation?

"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his house-
hold, to give them meat in due season?" Matt. 24:44, 45.

What is pronounced upon those who are found doing such work?
"Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when He cometh shall find so doing." Matt. 24:46.

What will be the burden of that proclamation?

"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and
the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12.

How earnestly is this work to be prosecuted?

"And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel
them to come in; that my house may be filled." Luke 14:23.

Contact Information:
+27(0)21 556 9971 086 608 7075 +27(0)83 268 7575
poh@itshe.com  PO Box 34197, Rhodes Gift, 7007, Cape Town, South Africa
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