Spirit Baptism & Christ's Glorious Return
- by David Berthiaume
-
in Slider
-
Hits: 2109
As Seventh-day Adventists we have looked forward to the second coming of Christ for over 160 years. Our belief in the second coming is displayed in the name of our denomination. When I was baptized in 1966 the second coming of Jesus was a prominent part of the teachings I received by the pastor who gave me Bible studies. Throughout the past 160 plus years Adventists along with many other Christians have longed for Christ’s return. Life at times can become personally very challenging. The suffering in the world is horrendous. At times the world seems on the verge of a great conflagration. Natural disasters are on the increase taking more and more lives and destroying more and more property. Terrorist groups around the world plot and carry out atrocities against their fellow man. All of these things cause the Christian to long for the soon coming of Christ. Paul’s description of Christ’s return as the “blessed hope” certainly describes the way Christians view the event (Titus 2:13). Students of Bible prophecy know that Christ’s coming is the only hope for the end of death and destruction in this earth. The long looked for coming of Christ has seemed to be delayed in the minds of many Christians. The apparent delay was alluded to by Christ in the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25). However, also according to Christ, in reality there is no delay because the Father has always known the “day and hour” of Christ’s return (Matthew 24:36). Many Christians struggle with besetting sins, which seem to constantly over come them. Some are weighted down with emotional oppressions such as depression and fear. After struggling year after year many conclude that they will have to wait for the latter rain of the Holy Spirit and Christ’s return before they are finally free from these persistent struggles and defeats in their lives. Therefore, they also long for Christ’s return to finally be rid of them, and enter a life of joy and happiness. There is a very real danger in the attitude of hopefully waiting for Christ’s return in order to finally be free from spiritual defeat and emotional oppressions. Why is this dangerous? It is a dangerous attitude because the truth is; those ready to meet Jesus will have gained the victory over all temptation and sin – even the besetting ones. They will be free from all emotional oppressions in their life by the power of Christ You might be surprised and ask at this point, “How can that be?” The goal of this book is to confirm the fact that those ready to meet Jesus will have experienced complete deliverance from all of Satan’s oppressions; spiritual, emotional and physical. In this book I will also give you insights into how they will have achieved this complete victory.
Every student of the Bible knows that the events taking place on earth today indicate the coming of Christ is near. Natural disaster, wars, famines, and diseases all indicate time is running out (Matthew 24:4-33). Sometimes events are so terrible and destructive one might conclude that things are out of God’s control. However, that is not the case. God is sovereign. He reigns in heaven and earth. Nothing happens without His permission. God even sets up kings and rulers, and removes them (Daniel 2:21). Man and nature are all under His sovereign ruler ship.
Some will argue there have always been these kinds of terrible events. That is true. However, today they are different. They are taking place more frequently and are more severe. Paul describes our time with the words:
“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” 1Thessalonians 5:3
The destructions are coming as the birth pains come upon a woman about to give birth (Matthew 24:8). The pains become more frequent and more intense. So it is with the destructions coming upon the earth today. They are more frequent and more destructive. The earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Indonesia affected more countries and killed more people than any natural disaster in recorded history. Hurricane Katrina brought more devastation than any hurricane before it. Pakistan experienced its worst earthquake. We have reached the time Ellen White described in her writings.
“Calamities will come—calamities most awful, most unexpected; and these destructions will follow one after another.” Evangelism, p.27
“Do you believe that the Lord is coming, and that the last great crisis is about to break upon the world?” Special Testimonies on
Education, p.132
“There will soon be a sudden change in God’s dealings. The world in its perversity is being visited by casualties,—by floods, storms, fires, earthquakes, famines, wars, and bloodshed. The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power; yet he will not at all acquit the wicked. ‘The Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.’ O that men might understand the patience and long-suffering of God! He is putting under restraint his own attributes. His omnipotent power is under the control of Omnipotence. O that men would understand that God refuses to be wearied out with the world’s perversity, and still holds out the hope of forgiveness even to the most undeserving! But his forbearance will not always continue. Who is prepared for the sudden change that will take place in God’s dealing with sinful men? Who will be prepared to escape the punishment that will certainly fall upon transgressors?” Ibid 134
We are seeing these things happen before our very eyes today. We are seeing the “sudden change in God’s dealings” with sinful men. It is urgent we know where we are living in time. We must know what hour God’s prophetic time clock has reached. Our eternal destiny depends on it.
God has a time table or divine prophetic time clock for the events of earth’s history. God told Abraham that his descendents would be captives in a foreign land (Genesis 15:13-14). God’s Word came to pass just as predicted. Israel, Abraham’s descendents, became captive slaves in Egypt. They struggled in Egypt for over 400 years. Then God’s prophetic time clock reached the hour of their deliverance. God’s Word tells us:
“Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went
out from the land of Egypt.” Exodus 12:40-41
The phrase “the selfsame day” indicates the deliverance of Israel took place at the exact time God had preordained it to take place. God’s prophetic clock reached the hour for Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.
Israel entered another captivity hundreds of years later. Because of their transgressions against God He allowed them to be overthrown by the nation of Babylon and many were led into captivity by their enemy. Again God foretold how long the captivity would last. They were to remain in captivity for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:12). When the 70 years were accomplished and God’s purpose fulfilled God opened the way for His people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their city and nation.
Hundreds of years passed and Israel longed to see the fulfillment of God’s promise of a coming Messiah. Many Old Testament prophecies gave very specific descriptions of his coming and mission. The apostle Paul writes of the first advent of Christ with the words;
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, . . .” Galatians 4:4
God’s Word is clear. Jesus came right on time; at the fullness of time. Jesus came when God’s prophetic clock reached the hour of His coming. In Daniel chapter nine God even foretold the date of Christ’s baptism and death. Again we see that God has a very specific time table for the events of earth’s history.
Nothing happens on this earth haphazardly. Everything is preordained by God. Nothing is out of His control. That is why God’s promise is true that states “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28. If all things were not under God’s control Satan would see to it that all things did not work out for good for those who love God. God has a purpose in everything He allows; even the things that seems so terrible from our perspective. Remember God tell us;
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
The same holds true concerning Christ’s second coming. From eternity past the Father has known and foreordained that great climatic event of earth’s history (Matthew 24:36). Christ will return on the exact “day and hour” the Father has ordained Him to return. And my personal conviction is that the “day and hour” of Christ’s return
is very near. However, something has to happen to God’s people before that event takes place; something that will prepare them to “stand’ in that day (Revelation 6:17). The generation of Christians living when Christ comes will be able to stand in the presence of Christ in all His glory and not be consumed while all those around them are being “destroyed by the brightness of his coming” (2Thessalonians 2:8). They will be as no other generation of Christians that have walked this earth.
Today God’s prophetic clock has reached the hour when He is calling that last generation of Christians into existence. He is calling them to come out of their Laodicean condition. He is calling them to prepare for Christ’s second coming.
Today God is calling His people to become just like His son Jesus. Why is this call so important? If we do not heed this call we will not be ready for Christ’s return. The apostle John tells us:
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2
The Greek word translated “like” in this verse is “homoios,” which means one and the same. It means those ready to meet Jesus will be corresponding in nature (2Peter 1:4), the same in conduct, character, authority, dignity and power (John 14:12; Luke 10:19). It is urgent we realize this truth. Only by knowing where the Lord wants to lead us can we cooperate with Him in our journey. This verse in 1John tells us that God wants to make us “just like Jesus.” We are not to be kind of like Jesus or merely similar to Jesus. We are to become just like Him!
This is the generation God is calling into existence today; the generation of Christians who will become just like Jesus. They are the ones who will give the three angels’ messages in power. They will be the true “remnant” people of God; just like the early church described in the book of Acts. They will victoriously make it through the final crisis (time of trouble) and stand in the flesh in the presence of Jesus in all His glory when He comes and not be consumed.
Be a Wise Virgin and Come Out of Laodicea Up
Revelation chapters two and three describes seven eras of Christian church history. The seventh era, which describes Christians living just before Jesus returns, is called the church of Laodicea. God speaks very directly to this last day church with a severe warning to change their condition. If they don’t change they will not be ready for Christ’s second coming (Revelation 3:16).
Therefore, the first step in becoming like Jesus is to take seriously God’s call to come out of our Laodicean condition. God clearly states that if we do not heed that call and stay in the lukewarm, Laodicean condition He will “spew” us out of His mouth (Revelation 3:16). Why? Because the Laodicean condition affects everything in the Christian’s life. While in the Laodicean condition one’s prayer life is sporadic and weak. Worldly commitments take the place of commitment of time, talent and money to God’s cause. The fruit of the Spirit are immature in the life while self and pride takes the higher position, which inhibits genuine Christian growth and fellowship. Evangelism is left primarily to the specialist, with little sense of the need to personally share Christ with others. Laodicean Christians are neither the “light of the world” nor the “salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13-16).
Those in Laodicea do make a profession of their faith thinking they are right with God (Revelation 3:17). They have the form of godliness, but deny the power to become godly (2Timothy 3:5). Those in Laodicea are the “foolish virgins” of Christ’s parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-12). Ellen White confirmed this when she wrote:
“The name ‘foolish virgins’ represents the character of those who have not the genuine heart-work wrought by the Spirit of God. The coming of Christ does not change the foolish virgins into wise ones. . . . The state of the church represented by the foolish virgins, is also spoken of as the Laodicean state.” Review and Herald, Aug. 19, 1890
Therefore, the “wise virgins” of Christ’s parable are those who have heeded God’s call to come out of their Laodicean condition. Also, in the parable, the difference between the wise and foolish virgins is the extra “oil,” which is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. The wise virgins have received the fullness of the Holy Spirit in their lives, which enabled them to come out of Laodicea and become like Jesus. They came to understand and experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is the early rain of the Spirit. This in turn enabled them to benefit from the latter rain outpouring of the Spirit.
The necessity of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit is indicated by Jesus knocking on the door in God’s counsel to the Laodiceans (Revelation 3:20). The only way to come out of Laodicea is to let Jesus fully into the life. That happens only by daily receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus comes to us through the Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 18). Jesus lives in us via the baptism of the Holy Spirit (1John 3:24).
The foolish virgins ignore God’s call to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Why? Because they think they are o.k. They think they have all they need of the Spirit. Therefore, they do not have the deep, inner working of the Spirit in their lives and do not become just like Jesus.
This leads us to see why it is essential we understand and experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, in the next chapter we will look closely at that subject.
Those who come out of Laodicea experience the last great revival that will take place on this earth. That is why Ellen White wrote:
“A revival of true godliness among us is our greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work.” 1Selected Messages, p.121
You see, without this revival happening nothing else will happen. Revival is the greatest need of those in Laodicea. The baptism of the Holy Spirit and prayer are the only way to achieve this much needed revival.
“The baptism of the Holy Ghost as on the day of Pentecost will lead to a revival of true religion and the performance of many wonderful works.” Selected Messages, Volume 2, p.57
“A revival need be expected only in answer to prayer.” Messages, Volume 1, p.121
Satan is very afraid of you having this experience in the Spirit. Therefore, He will do everything he can to keep you from this experience. Ellen White wrote:
“There is nothing that Satan fears so much as that the people of God shall clear the way by removing every hindrance, so that the Lord can pour out His Spirit upon a languishing church and an impenitent congregation.” 1Selected Messages, p.124
God’s work will not be finished in this earth until this takes place. Ellen White tells us:8
“The Lord does not now work to bring many souls into the truth, because of the church members who have never been converted and those who were once converted but who have backslidden. What influence would these unconsecrated members have on new converts? “ Testimonies, Vol. 6, p.370 (emphasis added)
When revival takes place we will see an evangelism explosion.
“If we would humble ourselves before God, and be kind and courteous and tenderhearted and pitiful, there would be one hundred conversions to the truth where now there is only one.” Testimonies, Vol. 9, p.189 (emphasis added)
The final revival and evangelism explosion will take place. Those who heed God’s call to come out of their Laodicean condition will be the ones used by God to finish His work. They will become just like Jesus and be able to stand in His presence in all His glory when He returns and not be consumed.
Yes, those ready to meet Jesus will be a people of hope. Their hope will rest completely in their God for deliverance; deliverance from temptation and sin, deliverance from every oppression of Satan in their life (spiritually, emotionally, and physically), and deliverance from the plotting of their enemies who are determined to destroy them during the time of trouble.
This hope is important for God’s last remnant people to have. “For we are saved by hope:” Romans 8:24. So, do not let the high calling you have read about in this book cause any discouragement in you. Don’t look at your past failures and present weakness and think, “It’s impossible. I can’t achieve that level of Christlikeness.” You can and you will if you learn to trust God and be “confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6.
God’s last day remnant people will be a people of faith, a people of hope and a people of love. Their faith will be in Jesus. Their hope will be in Jesus. They will have the love of Jesus in their hearts. They are the people who will stand in the presence of Christ in all His glory when He returns and not be consumed. God is calling you today to be among that people. I pray you will heed His call.
At the time of the writing of this book, Dennis Smith is serving as pastor in the Southern New England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Dennis has served the church as an active layman, and in pastoral and departmental positions for over 35 years.
Dennis received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Colorado State University. While at Colorado State, he became a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. After working in engineering for a short time, he felt the call to full time ministry. To fulfill that calling, Dennis attended Andrews University Theological Seminary and received a Masters of Divinity degree. Dennis has also done studies in the area of public health from Loma Linda University.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you interested in reading the whole book on
Spirit Baptism & Christ's Glorious Return
The cost for: Spirit Baptism & Christ's Glorious Return is US $8.99 + shipping
.
The Author can be contacted through E-mail at:
smith06515@msn.com