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I am greatly concerned that many who believe in the coming of the Lord are making flesh their arm. The Bible tells us in Amos 3:7; "Surely the Lord God doeth nothing, but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants the prophets." Are we reading the testimonies?  Are we intelligent in regard to the pillars of our faith? Are these the source of our spiritual knowlege? Many who should know and understand present truth, are following documentaries on youtube in a soap opera type intensity as though these are the source of truth for God's people. Yes, there may be many things on these that are true, but everything that is true is not "the truth." The bible says  in John 17:17; "Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth." I have heard it said many a times that we cant trust the regular news, while the spirit of prophecy tells us...

"Troublous times are right upon us. The fulfilling of the signs of the times gives evidence that the day of the Lord is near at hand. The daily papers are full of indications of a terrible conflict in the future. Bold robberies are of frequent occurrence. Strikes are common. Thefts and murders are committed on every hand. Men possessed of demons are taking the lives of men and women and little children. All these things testify that the coming of Christ is near at hand. . . . "{HP 342.2}

There are those who say, "you have got to watch this documentary to really see what the government is doing." Sure friends, the government is corrupt. However this is not the last message of mercy that we are to give to the world. The impression is given that the only ones who will see the signs are those who watch certain videos that reveal secret info. That must mean that a lot of people are going to be lost who did not have dvd players or televisions.

God does not tell us we better do some study and research into what the government is doing in order to see the signs. He does tell us if we do not study his word, and learn what we believe as people that we will be decieved. Every hour spent watching a documentary, is one less hour that we will have to study God's word to prepare our hearts for what is coming. The signs will not need to be researched. There will be enough happening in our every day world to tell us that He is coming soon. All through Matthew 24 Jesus says "and ye shall hear...", and "ye shall see..", and "there shall be..." The world around us will notify us of what is coming. These things should drive us to the study and the research of God's word.

It is true that we can't trust the regular news. However the spirit of prophecy says that we will see the signs and indicators in it. The implication is that I can trust Alex Jones and other experts in secret government info. The only thing that we can trust is God word. Newpapers get things wrong. Documentaries get things wrong. The Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy is never wrong.

"No one can blind himself to the terrible results of the drink traffic. The daily papers show that the wretchedness, the poverty, the crime, resulting from this traffic, are not cunningly devised fables, and that hundreds of men are growing rich off the pittances of the men they are sending to perdition by their drink business. The accounts that fill the daily papers are enough to move a heart of stone, and if the senses of our rulers were not perverted, they would see the necessity of doing away with this death-dealing traffic. O that a public sentiment might be created that would put an end to the drink business, close the public houses, and give their maddened victims an opportunity to reflect on eternal realities! "{PH132 8.3}

The solemn implication is, that it should be enough to move the "heart of stone."

"The Lord has a special work to do for us individually. As we see the wickedness of the world brought to light in the courts of justice and published in the daily papers, let us draw near to God, and by living faith lay hold of His promises, that the grace of Christ may be manifest in us. We may have an influence, a powerful influence, in the world. If the convicting power of God is with us, we shall be enabled to lead souls that are in sin to conversion." MYP 26.1

The Spirit of Prophecy acknowleges that the regular news leaves out a lot of information, but that there is enough there to preach about. We do not even need to research any further information about what is not being told.

 We are living in a time of lawlessness. It is described by the prophets: "Judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter." "By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood." Isa. 59:14; Hos. 4:2. While but a small part of the evil and corruption of our large cities is ever published, there is enough to make the daily papers a daily comment on these texts. {SW, March 1, 1909 par. 1}

 
Then she says that she wishes that we would take note of the daily papers in this country.

"I wish you could read the daily papers of this country, and notice the accounts of how men in responsible positions have dropped dead while traveling or while at some entertainment. Never have the deaths of wealthy men in high life been so frequent as of late. This is the result of a violation of nature's laws. Cause is being followed by effect. The life-forces are extinguished by indulgence. "Heart failure," say the physicians who attended these men at their death. Poor souls! They abused the Lord's wonderful machinery until it could endure no longer, and gave up the conflict. God does not work a miracle to keep in motion the machinery that is worn out by the abuse put upon it. " {7MR 56.1}

  In His warning message our Saviour has told us how it will be in the end of the world. "As the days of Noah were," He says, "so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." {7MR 56.2}

 Very plainly Christ saw that the condition of society would be in the future. He saw that self-indulgence would control men and women. What of the marriage relation today? Is it not perverted and defiled, made even as it was in Noah's day? Divorce after divorce is recorded in the daily papers. This is the marriage of which Christ speaks when He says that before the flood they were "marrying and giving in marriage." -57- {7MR 56.3}

 In Summary: Study God's word as never before. Learn what is the message of the hour that we may intelligently under the influence of the Holy Spirit tell it to the world. Take note of the signs as a warning signal, and stay in the scriptures for in them is life eternal.

Part 2 is coming...

Some insightful words from Pastor John Grossboll of Steps to Life.

http://www.stepstolife.org/php/view_article.php?article_id=2218