Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
We used to hear it said, "There will always be an England!" And we wonder if the "England" to come will be filled with people of other cultures who will transform the grand old buildings and Houses of Parliament.
The prophecy of Daniel 2 describes seven nations that were once the Roman Empire as still in existence when the great Stone strikes the image on its clay-mixed-with-iron feet. There'll be an "England" until the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation meet their end-time fulfillment before the world.
But another serious question: will there always be a "remnant" church of Revelation 12:17 and 14:12 that relates to the true Holy Spirit in this Day of Atonement truth? Could it be that beautiful church buildings will be filled with people who do not believe they are living in the time of the cleansing of the sanctuary; that our reason for being has quietly vanished while we've slept?
The question ceases to be a hypothetical future issue; even now there are sincere people whose hearts are moved by the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation, who treasure the unpopular truth of Christ's righteousness, who don't know where to go for fellowship in the Holy Spirit on the Sabbath day.
The true Holy Spirit's first work is always conviction of sin, for example, "you are lukewarm," Rev. 3:16); and there is a counterfeit who ministers corporate and individual self-esteem and worldly self-satisfaction ("I am rich, ... have need of nothing," vs. 17).
The true one ministers self-respect, a heart appreciation for the Price paid by the Son of God who has redeemed and saved you through His cross. Your individual faith in Him ("which works through love [agape]," Gal. 5:6) will sustain you with the bread and water of life, even if the local church is "desolate." But now, don't stay home; you can bring the true Holy Spirit with you when you come to the Bible study and worship services.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 29, 2007.
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