MLC Sermon Notes     Note 11/07

The Coming Exodus

1. THE FIRST EXODUS
The story of ancient Israel's exodus from Egypt is well known. One would be hard pressed to find a Christian minister who had not, at some time or another, told his congregation the story.

• Of how Israel (Jacob) and his family settled in Egypt at the invitation of his son Joseph who had saved that country from virtual starvation by preparing for a famine that lasted seven years.
• Of how some years later another Pharaoh arose who knew not Joseph. The new Pharaoh and his people subsequently turned against the Israelites and forced them into brutal slavery.
• Of how, after many years of suffering, YAHWEH, the Almighty God of Israel, sent His servant Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt on a pre-determined day into the wilderness.
• Of how the Almighty brought Israel to mount Sinai where He made a solemn covenant with His people and gave them His holy law.
• Of how many Israelites rebelled against the Eternal. They complained about the lack of water, the monotonous diet and the leadership of Moses. Those who rebelled all died in the desert.
• Of how for 40 years Israel was miraculously nourished and protected by Yahweh much to the astonishment of all the surrounding nations.
• And eventually of how the Most High led His people into the Promised Land, the land commonly known as Palestine.

2. TWO PROPHECIES
Before going any further, let me introduce you to two Bible prophecies that tell of this soon-coming event. The first prophecy is found in chapter 20 of the Old Testament book of Ezekiel. Read the whole chapter to get a better picture of this almost incredible eventuality. Whilst reading, try to appreciate the Almighty's amazement and sorrow at His people's continued rejection of His law, particularly His Sabbath days. Note also His rising frustration as He outlines His plan to gather Israel (and this includes true believers in His Son who are grafted into the Olive of Israel) and lead them into the 'wilderness of the people.' Bear in mind that this is not an exodus from the four corners of the earth to the present land of Israel; a phenomenon which has already been in progress for the better part of this century. No, this is a high level exodus from human society to a location the Eternal calls the 'wilderness of the people,' a term never used when referring to the present land of Israel. In that 'great desert' the Almighty plans to 'plead with His people face to face, just as He pleaded with Israel of old in the desert of Egypt.' The very concept that we are being invited to consider here is breath-taking to say the least; and were it not so well documented in scripture we would be amongst the first to dismiss it without further thought. But it is there for examination and it would be foolish to ignore it. In that 'wilderness' the Most High plans further to individually identify His people like a shepherd marks His flock: and to purge out rebellion against His holy law, especially His Sabbath law. Then He plans to bring His people into, what He calls, 'the bond of the covenant.' All this is scheduled to occur before He leads us into 'His holy mountain in the height of Israel:' a high and holy state which is foreshadowed by the present mount Zion in the land of Palestine. Now for proof of this amazing prospect.

Ezekiel 20:34-41

"And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the countries where they sojourn, and they shall not enter the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord. As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols. For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen."

The second prophecy is found in the New Testament book of Revelation. It tells of how Jehovah (Yahweh) plans to take His wife (His faithful people) into the wilderness for a period of 1260 days (3.5 years) where she will be miraculously nourished and protected from attack by Satan the Devil.

Revelation 12:1-17

"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew a third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out unto the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which hath brought forth the man child. And to the woman were give two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times and half a time from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus."

Briefly, that is what lies ahead for the church of the Most High: a soon-coming exodus from human society to the 'wilderness of the people.' An exodus to a place where she will be protected and miraculously fed for a period of 1260 days out of the reach of Satan the Devil and out of the reach of the Antichrist. In that wilderness Yahweh will bring His people to the real 'Mount Zion, a high and holy mountain' and into the 'bond of the covenant.' In other words, He will bring us into His very presence and overwrite our minds and actions with His holy law, His character and His Name. Then we will be an absolutely sanctified and holy people for the very first time in our lives. That is what being brought 'face to face' and into the 'bond of the covenant' means. Those who rebel against this divine plan will not enter the real Promised Land, the eternal inheritance of the saints. Note the phrase 'I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.' The second exodus, in other words, is a work of sanctification which will take place in full view of the heathen: for the Eternal intends to vindicate His Name, His law and His slandered reputation once and for all. That is what these prophecies are saying.

3. IMPORTANT QUSTIONS
'But,' you may well ask: 'Where is this wilderness? Is it a desert in the Middle East or some other area on earth? How will I get there? And if I'm to go, how will I survive in a wilderness?' More importantly, 'How will Yahweh's people know when to go?' Without reasonable answers to such questions the very idea of another exodus to a wilderness is a non-starter. So let me first briefly list the events that will lead up to a world situation where this seemingly impossible eventuality not only becomes likely, but inevitable.

4. THE SEVEN SEALS OF REVELATION
In our booklet Understand the Revelation the future of mankind as recorded by the Apostle John is explained. If you haven't already studied the on-line booklet, then now is the time to do so: because this paper assumes that you are acquainted with end-time prophecy. For those who are not, the seven seals of the Revelation are briefly listed and explained below to show how just such a situation will arise when the Almighty's obedient servants will be compelled to leave human society.

1st Seal

A White Horse: symbolising the advance of Truth.

2nd Seal

A Red Horse: symbolising War and Bloodshed.

3rd Seal

A Black Horse: symbolising Famines world-wide.

4th Seal

A Pale Horse: symbolising Disease epidemics.

5th Seal

Souls under the Altar: symbolising further persecution.
The events under these five seals have already begun. Bear in mind that as each horse enters the arena, earlier riders continue on course. In other words, when the last rider joins the field, all four horses are galloping over the earth.
In 1994 we are here - awaiting the 6th Seal.

6th Seal

The sun goes out, the moon turns red, meteorites in their thousands are seen, the sky is rolled back and there is a global earthquake. These events cause world-wide panic!
The events under this Seal have obviously not yet occurred: for never has mankind run to the rocks and mountains to hide from Him who sits on the throne of the universe. Most people do not believe the Almighty exists, let alone attempt to hide from His presence.
The 144,000 Servants of God (Rev.7) are then sealed. In other words, this sealing work has also not occurred: but will take place before the hurting of the earth, the sea and the trees under the 7th Seal. The 144,000 are sealed and signed by the Holy Spirit with Yahweh's Name: which represents His character, His law, His absolute holiness, kindness, mercy and truth. We repeat, this sealing work is still future.

7th Seal

This seal is sub-divided into 7 Trumpets.
The first four trumpets hurt the trees, oceans, rivers and solar system.

1st Trumpet

A third of the trees and all the grass is burned.

2nd Trumpet

A third of the sea becomes like blood.

3rd Trumpet

A third of all river water becomes undrinkable.

4th Trumpet

Sun, moon and stars are darkened by a third.

5th Trumpet: 1st WOE (Rev. 9:1-12)

The Abyss is opened at this trumpet and the Beast (the Antichrist) ascends from it to torment mankind for a period of 5 months. Only the sealed servants of God are protected from his tortures.

6th Trumpet: 2nd WOE (Rev.9:13 to Rev.11:14)

During this Woe the following events occur:

• Four demons are released from the Great River Euphrates; a spiritual concourse on which sits Satan's mighty capital city Babylon the Great. Leading an army of 200,000,000 evil angels, they slaughter a third of mankind! (Rev.9:15)
• Jerusalem is conquered by Gentile nations and ruled for a period of 42 months. (Rev.11:2)
• The Two Witnesses prophesy during this period of 1260 days. At the end of this time they are killed in Jerusalem by the Beast (the Antichrist) who ascended from the Abyss at the 1st Woe.

7th Trumpet: 3rd WOE (Rev.11:15 to Rev.19:21)

During this Woe, which also lasts 3.5 years, these events occur.

• There is a war in heaven. Satan and his angels are cast down to the earth; where he begins to persecute the woman who brought forth the man child (Yehshua the Messiah).
• Satan then empowers the Antichrist to rule all nations under a New World Government. At about this stage the peoples of all nations are compelled to receive the Mark of the Beast. Without the Mark no one can buy or sell. It is this application of sanctions against individuals who refuse to accept the Antichrist's Mark that makes it impossible for obedient believers to remain in human society. Bear in mind that until such time as the Mark becomes compulsory, no one has it. The coming exodus will occur AFTER the Mark of the Beast becomes law throughout the world!
• Angered by the woman's refusal to worship him, and unable to harm her because she is now protected in the great wilderness, Satan then turns on the remnant church still in human society. These believers probably consist of:
  1. The 144,000 prophets who continue to preach the LORD'S last- day message to a rebellious world. Repentance at this late stage is still possible, but rarely expressed. (Rev.16:9)
  2. Those who respond to the message of the 144,000. They had previously refused Yahweh's Seal, but now endeavour to 'wash their robes.' That is, they now begin to keep the commandments they had previously violated.
• The seven last plagues occur under this Woe.
• Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) returns to earth at the end of this last trumpet. The dead in Christ are raised to life and the church in the wilderness is clothed with immortality.
• The Antichrist is put to death at Messiah's return and Satan the Devil is placed in the Abyss for a thousand years.
• The millennium reign then begins.

5. THE COMING WORLD GOVERNMENT
You will see from the foregoing, that in 1994 we are still awaiting the events under the 6th Seal: which, of course, could burst upon us any day! Once the events under that seal begin, they will move so rapidly that most of the human race will be taken completely by surprise. It will be at about that time that the new world government will rise to devour the whole earth. (Dan.7:23) The new world order is already in the making. One can see it in the way business organisations are becoming internationalised: and how economic sanctions, when applied, overcome the most powerful of nations. The devastation sustained at the 6th Seal and the first four trumpets of the 7th Seal will speed this process. Using economic sanctions as its main weapon, the new world order will be very different from the military empires that have gone before. Under it the greed for gold will decimate earth's natural resources. At its head will be the Antichrist, the Son of Hell, who, as the little horn of Daniel's prophecy, will even dare to challenge the Almighty God and pollute His heavenly sanctuary. (Dan.8:9-27) The Antichrist will be worshipped by the terrified human race as the only one capable of saving humanity from its myriad problems. We are told in Bible prophecy that he will reveal himself and be worshipped as God! When he arrives he will become immensely popular and will vainly attempt to annul the Almighty's Sabbath and Festival commandments by instituting his own. (Dan.7:25)

6. MIRACLES & LYING WONDERS
The Bible tells us that many false prophets, all claiming to be spokesmen of the Almighty, will arise in the last days. They will perform astonishing miracles and cures which will deceive multitudes into rejecting the commandments of the Eternal.

Matthew 24:24

"For there shall arise false Christ's, and false prophets, and shall shew great wonders; inasmuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

Miracles and lying wonders are already being performed all over the earth. Virtually every religion can boast its miracle-workers: so-called holy men who can walk on fire, heal the sick, speak in tongues and perform many other astonishing feats. But most of these miracle-workers reject the law of the Most High, claiming that it is obsolete. These men are false prophets. Like the magicians of Pharaoh they can do mighty miracles, but they despise the law of the Almighty; and in doing so they lead multitudes into error. The remnant church, incidentally, is recognised, not by its ability to do miracles or speak in tongues, but by its obedience to Yahweh's eternal law.

Revelation 12:17

"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

All this means, that the only believers who will see through the final deception, which will be accompanied by breath-taking miracles, will be those who obey the commandments of the Most High. All others will be deluded into accepting miracles as evidence of the Holy Spirit and will end up believing that evil is good and good is evil.

7. WHEN WILL THE COMING EXODUS OCCUR?
You will see from the foregoing that the final events under the 7th Seal are scheduled to last about seven years: and that the predicted exodus to the wilderness will occur during the second half of that seven year period. How near, then, is the start of that seven year period? The following details are given to show that we are fast approaching that starting date. Man's allocated term of 6000 years will be over in about 10 or 11 years' time. In other words, the starting date for the last 7 year period (when the seven trumpets begin to sound) is only about 3 or 4 years away! Could it be that the Almighty's millennial Sabbath is so near? World events lead me to believe that it is.

AM means anno mundi (in the year of the world)

BC means before Christ.

AD means anno Domini (in the year of our Lord)

References

J B Dimbleby & Others
J B Dimbleby, astronomer, chronologist and author of the book entitled ALL TIME PAST, differs from Archbishop Ussher by some 8 years. Along with other chronologists, Dimbleby calculates that the creation occurred 3996 BC, not 4004 BC. According to Dimbleby and others we will reach the 6000 year mark between 2001 AD & 2005 AD. The Jewish Calendar
The Jewish calendar, I understand, dates back to the birth of Seth's son Enos in the year 235 AM. In the Jewish calendar the year 1993/4 is year 5754 AM. Add 235 years to 5754 and we arrive at the year 5989 AM. In other words, by the Jewish calendar the year 1993/4 is also about 11 years away from the 6000 year mark!

8. WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?
It certainly doesn't mean that Stewarton Bible School is forecasting the year of Christ's return. The Saviour made it abundantly clear that no man can do this.

Mark 13:32

"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father."

But even though we do not know the exact year, the event will not catch us unawares as a thief in the night. To be sure it will surprise the unbelieving world; but the alert believer should be expecting it.

2 Thessalonians 5:4

"But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief."

We know enough to realise that the Saviour's return is very near: much nearer than millions of Christians remotely imagine. For example:

• We know that the end-time signs listed in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 are occurring all over the earth: wars, famines, disease epidemics, earthquakes, widespread lawlessness and a falling away from the faith.
• We believe that the CREATOR is working to a Sabbatical Principal: a timetable patterned on the seven day week: a timetable in which a thousand of our years is like one day to Him.
  

  2 Peter 3:8

  "But beloved be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."

• We also believe that we are about 10 or 11 years from the end of man's allocated time of 6000 years: a period, incidentally, that is to be cut short!
  

  Matthew 24:22

  "And except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened."

• We know, moreover, that the time prophecies of Daniel and Revelation (the 2300, 1335, 1290 and 1260 day periods) are all scheduled to occur 'at the crisis at the end of the world;' during a period lasting about seven years. (Dan.8:17-26, Dan.12:8-9)

9. THE EXODUS SIGNAL
Yes, these are details we already know. But what will be the signal for the coming exodus to the wilderness? How will we know when and where to go: if, indeed, we have to go anywhere? Will the signal be persecution, famine or disaster? Or are we to wait for some charismatic, miracle-working cult leader to lead us out of town? No, it will be none of these things. Over the centuries the church has lived through scores of persecutions, famines and disasters. As for miracle-working cult leaders posing as Christ's spokesmen, that is probably the most dangerous deception of all; because many deluded souls end up either believing them or dismissing Christianity as a farce fit only for small children, old people and Bible-thumping weirdos. Both options are tragedies, because the Saviour is definitely going to return to earth soon, even though we do not know the exact year.

Nevertheless the question still remains: What will be the signal or sign for the coming exodus to the wilderness? Our answer is based on Scripture and you must bear it in mind in the years ahead. The coming exodus to the great wilderness will not take place until the following events have occurred. The signal, in short, is a series of events. I list them:

1. The incidents recorded under the 6th Seal must first happen. These include a global earthquake, a darkened sun, a blood-red moon, falling stars (meteorites) and blind panic around the world.
2. The 144,000 prophets of God must then be sealed. When sealed and filled with the Holy Spirit, this group will proclaim the Everlasting Gospel to all the world. The Everlasting Gospel is described in the SBS Lesson Course and is briefly outlined in the next section.
3. The events recorded under the first 4 Trumpets of the 7th Seal must then occur. These trumpets, we are told, hurt (devastate) the earth, sea, trees, grass, rivers of water and even the sun and moon.
4. The Antichrist must then make his appearance, take over the governments of the entire world and be worshipped as God!
5. A third of earth's population (some 2,000,000,000 people) must then die! Read about this astonishing fact in Rev.9:13-18.
6. Jerusalem must be captured by the Gentiles and be held by them for a period of 42 months. (Rev. 11:2)
7. The Two Witnesses must first appear and preach to all the world for this same period of 42 months. (Rev.11:3-4)
8. Peoples of all nations must find themselves forbidden to buy and sell unless they accept the Mark of the Beast. (Rev.13:16-17)
9. Signs in the sun, moon and stars must coincide with the Feast days in the sacred calendar as promised in Gen.1:14. This amazing phenomenon is explained here in the SBS booklet The Sacred Calendar of the God of Israel.
10. Most likely, at that time, the Almighty will send holy angels to lead us out of civilisation. He did this in the case of Lot before He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah: and here we have a destruction infinitely greater than that of Sodom.

WHERE IS THE WILDERNESS OF THE PEOPLE?
In my opinion, that wilderness is not a physical desert at all. It is a high level spiritual experience which we will enter when we are driven out of human society because we refuse to break Yahweh's law by accepting the Beast's Mark. It is a desert of rejection and isolation, where even food and fuel will be forbidden us, because of our stand for the Sabbaths of the Most High. Economic sanctions against the obedient church will then alienate it from all the world. We will be expelled from human society as Israel of old was thrust out of Egypt. Like spiritual aliens unfit for the new world order, circumstances will force the church into the 'wilderness of the people.' Life will be as hard there as it is when trying to survive in a literal desert.

Exodus 12:39

"... they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry ..."

Geographically this wilderness will be in all nations. That is why it is called the 'wilderness of the people.' If this is the case, then Yahweh's church will not be gathered to a single location; but, instead, will be divinely led out of human society and sustained at selected sites scattered throughout the world. The Almighty has promised to nourish and protect us just as He did Israel of old in the desert of Sinai. The unbelieving world will marvel when they see that miracle take place before their own eyes. The church is also going to witness the effect of the seven last plagues on the very society which so foolishly thrust it out.

Psalm 91:3-9

"Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at the right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation. There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."

10. THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL
What is the Everlasting Gospel? As its name implies, it is the good news that will never cease to apply: the good news that contains the key to life everlasting. Most Christians already know the Gospel, or the first part of it at any rate. But for those who may not know, here is the Everlasting Gospel that will be preached by the 144,000 during the closing days of this age. Bear in mind that this age, man's allocated 6000 year period, is coming to its end. When the events under the 6th Seal occur, the human race will hear the following message proclaimed with a power never witnessed in history.

Revelation 14:6-7

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgement is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."

From this it is evident that the Everlasting Gospel consists of a twin call to:

• "Fear God." This means, stand in respectful awe of the Almighty: have faith in Him and give Him the glory that is His due. This part of the everlasting gospel is proclaimed by virtually every Christian denomination on earth. It was voiced by the apostle Paul when he was asked the way of salvation by his jailer.
  

  Acts 16:30-31

  "... Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

• "Worship Him that made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the fountains of waters." This is obviously a call to reject the unproved theory of evolution and to worship the Creator, the One who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the fountains of waters. How does a believer testify to his/her belief in the Creator? The answer is by keeping the seventh day Sabbath which is the divinely appointed memorial of the creation.
  

  Exodus 20:8-11

  "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it."

That is the Everlasting Gospel in a single sentence. It is found in Ecclesiastes 12:13 and it encompasses the whole duty of mankind - for all time! In New Testament terms it means: Have faith in God and obey Him. We hope and pray that Yahweh will grant you the wisdom to take that advice to heart. We are now approaching the final stages in world history: and the time is going to be cut short! The 6th Seal is about to occur any day now. You do not have much time to mentally and spiritually prepare for the events that will follow that seal. To help you further understand end-time prophecy and the Almighty's amazing plan to save mankind from eternal death, turn to the SBS Prophecy page which includes:

• Understand the Revelation
• Who/What is the Antichrist?
• What is his Mark?
• The 2300 Day prophecy of Daniel 8 explained
• The 144,000 Who are They?

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