Dial Daily Bread: Something Great Must Happen Before Jesus Can Come Again

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Everyone who believes the Bible teaching of the second coming of Jesus must also believe that something great must happen before He cancome again: "This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matt. 24:14). It is commonly understood that this means huge expenditures of money in public meetings and TV presentations using state-of-the-art electronics. Wonderful work; deserves our offerings. But could it be that the Bible teaches a more effective method of "evangelism," one that we have "in a great degree" overlooked?

It can be summed up in one statement Jesus made near the end of His ministry: "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said [Song of Solomon 4:12-15], out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' ... This He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive" (John 7:37-39).

This means that the humblest person who "believes in Jesus" will become "a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon" (Song of Solomon 4:15). Unconsciously, in an unstudied way, he will pour forth the ultimately powerful message. It will be that "the love of Christ constrains us" (2 Cor. 5:14), compels, motivates, empowers, makes effective the agent who cannot help but communicate the message--all with one proviso, that he "believe in Jesus." That's what Jesus said in John 7.

It sounds deceptively simple. For two millennia people have "believed in Jesus," haven't they? Yet in spite of all our best efforts, the task gets bigger all the time. There must be something about what it means to "believe in Jesus" that we haven't yet grasped. If that "well of living water" is not flowing out from within our soul as the ultimate evangelism, it's obvious: we haven't yet learned to "believe" in the sense that Jesus meant when He spoke on that "last day ... of the feast."

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 12, 2004.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: A Brilliant Insight Into the Private Life of Jesus

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Do you remember the story about the leaders of the Pharisees sending "officers" to arrest Jesus? They listened to Him and then returned that evening without Him. They asked the officers, "Why have you not brought Him?" The men had to reply, having been awed by His words, "No man ever spoke like this Man!" (John 7:32, 45, 46).

How could Jesus have spoken such words, especially since He had not been properly educated in their schools? But Isaiah tells us the secret: In becoming one of us, Jesus took upon Himself our human nature. All He knew He had to learn from His Father, just as we have to learn. Isaiah lets us in on a little secret.

Speaking in behalf of Jesus, he records this brilliant insight into the private life of Jesus: "The Lord God [His Father] has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned. ... And I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away" (50:4, 5).

Jesus says that He had no wisdom of His own: "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me" (John 7:16). "I have many things to say ... which I heard from Him" (8:26). "I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things" (vs. 28).

And when did the Father "teach" Him? In those early morning sessions in prayer and study. And so will the same heavenly Father teach you what to say to someone today whom you will meet who is "weary," someone who needs a morsel of the bread of life, who needs to drink of the water of life.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 18, 2004.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Divine Author Is Not Trying to Hide Truth From the World

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The divine Author of the Holy Bible evidently intended that Daniel and Revelation should be read in the context of the other 64 books that make up the written word of God. Thus the symbolism of those two books is not hard for any thoughtful reader to understand (Jesus told the woman of Samaria that "the Father is seeking such to worship Him," John 4:23).

"Beasts" = nations or kingdoms; "sea" = large populations; whirlwind storms ("four winds") = war; "horns" on beasts = prominent leaders or kings; and time expressed in "days" = literal years, thus a "month" = 30 literal years, etc., etc. Abundant evidence discloses these and other correlations.

It's obvious that our divine Author is not trying to hide truth from the world, but He wants to reveal it, hence the name "Revelation." The book is for everyone to understand. That's why it went through a special process of being "signified"--a literary task committed to a special "angel" whose job was to translate its message into inspired "cartoons" (see Rev. 1:1).

Reverent-minded Bible students accordingly concluded centuries ago that the time symbolism in the "sixth trumpet" of Revelation was intended to pinpoint the identity of Islam (9:13-15). They recognized that the "hour and day and month and year" led to August 11, 1840, when the Muslim political power of the Ottoman Empire collapsed. In God's providence this event was widely published, resulting in the conversion of many atheists to biblical Christianity.

To see Islam in Bible prophecy was pivotal in the rise and progress of the great second advent movement that shook the world in the 1840s. It laid the foundation for a world movement today that proclaims that the second coming of Jesus is near. The prophecy in God's word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (cf. Psalm 119:105). Be thankful!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 5, 2005.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Long Overdue Message

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

As another Memorial Day has gone into history, we pray that the Lord may "make wars cease to the end of the earth; [and] break the bow and cut the spear in two, and burn the chariots in the fire" (see Psalm 46:9). Millions sacrificed their lives in World War I to fight "the war to end all wars," and World War II sent many more millions into undeserved death. Those whose lives spanned much of the 20th century lived through the most bloody years the earth has ever known in its 6000 years of history.

The very name of Jesus, the Son of God, is the “Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9:6). The angels announced at His birth that Jesus would bring "on earth peace, [and] good will toward men" (see Luke 2:14). But the Prince of Peace was "despised and rejected by men" (Isa. 53:3), and expelled from the world He came to save.

According to the Bible, the only way that the Prince of Peace could bring peace to the earth without being "frustrated" and stymied would be for His people to cooperate with Him in His work. In other words, it's useless for us to pray, "Prince of Peace, please bring peace to this hate-filled, war-torn world," unless we serve as His agents in enabling Him to do so. "As [My] Father has sent Me, I also send you," He declares (John 20:21). He is the Vine, we are the branches that must be intimately bound with Him for His purposes to be worked out in the earth.

He spells out the formula in Revelation 7:1-4. There He promises that He will undertake to "hold the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow," provided His people on earth proclaim "the seal of the living God." He commands those terrible four winds that began to break loose in World Wars I and II, then in the Vietnam War, the Iraq and other wars, "Do not harm the earth ... till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."

It's an illusion for God's people to assume that horrible wars contribute to the progress of God's work by bringing conviction to hearts and taking away our "idols." It's not His plan to forcibly remove our "idols"! War terrorizes people so they can't even contemplate the Gospel. No, war has no redeeming evangelistic value. Now let us learn what is His "sealing message" and commit ourselves to proclaim it. It's the long overdue message that is yet to "lighten the earth with glory" (Rev. 18:1-4). Lord, please awaken us!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: May 31, 2004.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Time to Begin Thinking About Christ and the Reward That He Deserves

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The climax of the book of Revelation is not the reward that the saints will receive for their self-sacrifice in following Jesus, but the reward that Christ will receive for His great sacrifice.

It is a grand paradigm shift in thinking for us to get our minds off praying aboutourreward ("Lord, please be sure to save me and my loved ones"), and begin to think of Christ and the reward that He deserves.

Isaiah speaks of Him, "He shall see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied" (53:11). It's like little children finally growing up so they can be mature and think of the "travail" of their mother in bearing them and of their parents in caring for them.

God's people cannot remain children forever. "Let us go on to full growth" to maturity (Heb. 6:1, 2, Darby Bible Translation), to the possibility, yes, to the blessing of being able to think of Him rather than always thinking of ourselves. This is the interesting turn that the story in Song of Solomon 5:2ff takes when the bride-to-be, warm and snug in bed on this cold rainy night can change her thinking from how much fun it is to snuggle under the covers, and begins to be able to think of her true Lover out there in the rain "knocking" on her door.

The famous "Laodicean message" has its setting in that little story, for Jesus concludes His last days' message with a quotation from that story: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock" (Rev. 3:20; taken from the LXX). The original story tells how she finally repents and gets up to let Him in; how long she left Him out there "knocking" it doesn't say; but when she got to her side of the door, she found him "gone." (In our case it's well over a century.)

We cannot always serve as the flower girl at the wedding, "the marriage of the Lamb" (cf. Rev. 19:7, 8). God's people in a corporate sense must become the "wife" at the wedding. And that must be the ability to appreciate "the travail" that the Bridegroom has gone through. With no trace of extremism, the remnant will learn to proclaim nothing “except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2).

All that the little flower girl at the wedding cares about is the refreshments; the bride has begun to enter into the Bridegroom's thinking and to feel for him (at least, let's hope so; else there cannot be a happy marriage!). Those who have never learned to appreciate "the travail" of the Savior cannot be happy in His personal presence. Which is the practical truth of shutting oneself out of heaven by one's unfitness for its companionship. Let's use our last few moments of time in learning to understand.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 9, 2007.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: When Elijah Is Sent, He Will Build Up, Not Tear Down

Dear Friends of “Dial Daily Bread,”

When the Lord "sent Elijah" to the "scribes and Pharisees," they "did not know him." John the Baptist's message was "Elijah"! (Matt. 17:10-13). Could the dear Lord in His great mercy send "Elijah" to us and we "not know him"? Could the Lord send us a message designed to prepare us for the coming of Christ and we treat it as the Jews treated John the Baptist? God has promised to "send" him (Mal. 4:5, 6); could anything be more important than learning what that "message" is and how "we" have treated it? Maybe we need to repent!

When "Elijah" comes, will he overthrow Baal worship as he did long ago? Ancient Baal worship was the worship of self disguised as the worship of God. The 450 "prophets of Baal" made Elijah sick at heart. What is "Baal worship" today?

It is professing to serve the Lord when in fact your agenda is to promote self. A pastor glorifies himself, attracts the people to himself, turns their attention to himself, panders the worldly-minded people in the church, climbs the ladder of his career. He professes to worship Christ but in fact he is serving self. Is he not a "prophet of Baal"? His career is to build for himself a comfortable living; unconsciously he directs the youth to any or all careers except to prepare a people to stand in the day of God. He is not preparing a people to be translated as Elijah was, to "follow the Lamb [the crucified Christ] wherever He goes." Instead, he is preparing a people to accept the "mark of the beast" when it comes.

When "Elijah" is "sent" by the Lord, he will not be easy on modern Baal worship. But his will not be a ministry of denunciation; he will build up, not tear down. The "word" will do the job. Proclaiming Christ and Him crucified will melt hardened, worldly hearts, and Baal worship will be renounced.

"When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride."

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 9, 2002.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: A New Motivation, Even for Teens

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

David says "my Shepherd ... leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (Psalm 23:3). "Leads" young people in their choice of a college, or training for a career? Yes! Leads you in your choice of a job, or where to live? Yes! Does He also "lead you in a path of righteousness" concerning whom to marry? The answer has to be Yes, or the psalm is a fake. (Of course you must accept His leading!)

And to all of us at some time comes that journey through "the valley of the shadow," whether we are teens or in our 90s, and we need a Shepherd or divine "Pastor" with us. Please note: the relief from fear in the Shepherd Psalm is the result of a choice: "I will [to] fear no evil." The choice can be made today, long before the shadowed journey begins. And it is not merely an adjustment of emotions through psychology; it is a rational, logical, reasoned choice arrived at through careful thought.

The reason why "I will [to] fear no evil" is because I believe the Good Shepherd is "with" me; I believe I have a Companion in my journey through either sunshine or shadow. And how can I bring myself to believe such Good News? Because I appreciate that the Son of God became our Second Adam, the new Head of the human race, that the Father adopted me "in Christ," and I am "in Him" as He went through the agony of "hell" (Psalm 16:10). I identified with Him when He cried out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Psalm 22:1; Matt. 27: 46).

Having by faith "in Him" and with Him conquered that greatest of all fears, no lesser fear can now assail me. From now on His "rod and staff" no longer annoy me; tribulations and chastisement "comfort me," says David, even though I may feel like I am "punished" "every morning" (Psalm 73:14, Good News Bible). "Whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every sonwhom He receives" (Heb. 12:6).

Now by His grace nothing but joy lies before you, "goodness and mercy" all your "days." And best of all, you really want  to "dwell in the house of the Lord forever" instead of in the movie theater or at the mall. A new motivation now transcends fear of being lost or hope of reward, and even for teens "the world has been crucified to [you]" (Gal. 6:14).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 21, 2000.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: One of the Greatest Treasures of All Time

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

One of the greatest treasures of all time is more valuable than the gold in King Tut's pyramid tomb, and for most Christian people it remains unexcavated: the Book of Hebrews. The reason its message is almost unknown is that sincere translators have unwittingly twisted one of its central truths that in effect cover up its message to modern readers.

Chapter 1 proves Christ is divine, eternally pre-existent; His name is "God" (vs. 8). Chapter 2 proves Christ is fully human, "in all things ... made like His brethren," "partaken of flesh and blood" as are all the fallen children of Adam, so that by means of this education He might be fitted to be "a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God" (2:17, 14; 4:15; 5:8, 9).

So far, good; all is clear. Chapters 7-10 emphasize how the Levitical priesthood and sanctuary ministry failed miserably in that they could not "continually year by year, make those who approach perfect." But the useless ritual went on continually for centuries! (10:1, 2). Therefore there must be an entirely new priesthood, that of Christ Himself, and the old must cease for its failure. But the old was a type, a pattern, a kindergarten lesson, to illustrate the nature of the new priesthood, that resembled the new as a shadow represents the object that created it.

And here is where the translation difficulties begin. Chapter 9:1-10 details a significant feature of the "shadow" Levitical ministry: there were two phases to the high priest's ancient ministry. Every day in the year he would go into the first apartment where the seven golden candlesticks were and the table where twelve freshly baked loaves of bread were displayed every Sabbath morning, there to minister forgiveness to repentant sinners (but they kept on sinning!). But once a year he would enter into the second apartment where the golden ark was with the two tables of stone with the Ten Commandments written thereon by the finger of God. That second-apartment ministry was to "cleanse" the sanctuary and put an end to on-going sinning. But it never worked!

So, says Hebrews, there must be a second apartment ministry of the great High Priest in the true heavenly sanctuary, to solve forever this on-going sin in the lives of His people. The problem: most translations confuse the two apartments, which in Greek are ta hagiaand hagia hagion. At His ascension, Christ entered ta hagia; at a period before His second coming, He leaves ta hagiaand enters hagiahagion, there to complete His work of preparing a people for His second coming. Read Hebrews with this in mind: it will come alive for you.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 4, 2003.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Key Ingredient in Experiential "Justification by Faith"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

There are two truths that are especially clear to anyone who allows the Bible to speak in its context: (1) We are living in the last days just before the second coming of Christ, and (2) there is a special spiritual work to be accomplished for those who will stand firm for Christ in the "mark of the beast" crisis and be ready to be translated at His coming.

"There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time" (Dan. 12:1). It is spoken of as the "time of Jacob's trouble" (Jer. 30:7). No such severe test has ever come to the corporate body of God's people. Although their anguish will be great, God will not forsake them. Butit will appear to them that He has! In other words, there will be nothing to support them except their faith. This will be no test for "Christians" who are "lukewarm," of childish spiritual development! They will be the ones who will "drink" of Christ's "cup" and will be "baptized with [His] baptism" of spiritual test (see Matt. 20:20-22).

Anyone who feels competent to "drink" of that "cup" just doesn't know his or her own heart! Jeremiah says that in that day "all faces [will be] turned pale" (30:6). All will face darkness as black as that which enveloped Jesus on His cross when He cried out, "My God, why have You forsaken Me?" God will notforsake them, but everything will tell them that He has; and only their faith will pull them through. At last they will live 100 percent by faith and not even 1 percent by sight. And "let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12).

It's a cruel deception to lull sincere people to sleep with the thought that no special spiritual preparation is necessary! "Just say your prayers as usual, pay your tithe, try to be good, and you're OK. There's no difference in being ready to die and being ready for that final time of trouble."

But there is a difference and it is spelled out clearly in Day of Atonement living. These are the last days when Jesus' words make great good sense: "When you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. ... Take heed to yourselves, lest ... that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth" (Luke 21:31-35).

The difference in spiritual preparation? Not a super-works trip, but a more developed faith--the key ingredient in experiential "justification by faith."

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: December 2, 1999.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Methods to "Evangelize"--Jesus Told Us What to Do

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Mission boards and committees are deeply burdened in their search for better methods to "evangelize" non-Christian people such as Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and agnostics or atheists. We can also include materialists and pleasure-seekers, who are everywhere.

Let's briefly review what Jesus said we should do: He said, "As you go, ... heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give" (Matt. 10:7, 8). Our ministry must include feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, providing housing for the desolate, and of course, educating the children and youth. And if it's in our power, help secure justice for the downtrodden.

And there is something else Jesus said we are to do: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved." "Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you" (Mark 16:15, 16; Matt. 28:19, 20).

Jesus specified what kind of "gospel" we are to proclaim in order to realize success: "'If I am lifted up from the earth, [I] will draw all peoples to Myself.' This He said, signifying by what death He would die" (John 12:32, 33).

Certainly that very successful missionary-evangelist, the apostle Paul, did not neglect the humanitarian work mentioned above; for sure, he healed the sick and cast out demons. But he understood what happened on Christ's cross, and how to tell people about it. He "determined not to know anything ... except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:1, 2). Hearts and intellects and souls were stirred--lastingly.

Proclaiming the cross of Christ involves much more than the use of images or pictures; the gospel grapples with the horror of hell, and makes clear how the sacrifice of Christ was and is the only answer to it. Its truth delivers the captives of hell. The proclamation of the cross is ineffective unless its truth is made clear with all its dimensions of agape--its width and length and depth and height (Eph. 3:18). The Savior of the world died the world's second death. Nothing will cut through to non-Christian hearts, except that ultimate revelation of how far the love of Christ went in saving us.

But that will be told when ... we come to Revelation 18.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 27, 2004.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: A Troublesome Text About Jesus' Second Coming

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

It's a troublesome text, and for many serious-minded people it threatens the belief that the second coming of Jesus is imminent. In Matthew 24:33, 34, Jesus says to those who live in the last days, "When you see all these things, know that it is near, at the very doors. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things are fulfilled."

The problem is that for well over 150 years Seventh-day Adventists have believed that the coming of Jesus is so near that it is "at the very doors," and the stalwarts who pioneered what is known as the Great Second Advent Movement steadfastly believed that the "thousand years" of Revelation 20 would for certain be the next millennium. God's people who are ready for Jesus' coming would spend it in heaven. But now the world seems set on spending it here on earth.

The problem with the disturbing words of Jesus is this: What are those "all these things" that "this generation" sees? The answer is clear: the "signs" in the heavens, the end of "the tribulation of those days" when "the sun will be darkened," "the stars will fall from heaven," and "on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, ... men's hearts failing them from fear" (Matt. 24:29; Luke 21:25, 26). The last of "the signs in the heavens" was the falling of the stars of 1833, and the generation that saw it has for well over a century been sleeping in their graves.

There has to be an answer, or for thoughtful young people the idea of imminence will crumble away. The answer is: the unbelief of God's people has delayed the Lord's coming, even as that of Israel delayed their entrance into the Promised Land. But there is Good News, for the solution is repentance; and repentance is a gift of the Holy Spirit that canbe accepted!

Jesus also told us to pray, "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:10). Let's stop hindering the fulfillment of that "will."

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 14, 1999.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Let's Be "At-One" Today--in Agape

Dear Friends of “Dial Dally Bread,”

The Bible urges us, "Be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20), but how can our hearts be if we misunderstand His character of love? We must hear the gospel as common sense Good News, or lingering enmity will fester in our hearts. Fear of His role as Condemner in the final judgment creates alienation. Therefore the gospel of reconciliation ("atonement," at-one-ment with God) must be understood.

Jesus says the Father will not judge [condemn] anyone (John 5:22), and then adds that He also will not condemn "anyone" who "does not believe" (12:46, 47). Then who will do the final condemning of those who "do not believe" "in the last day"?

Jesus says, "The word that I have spoken will judge [krinei, condemn] him in the last day" (vs. 48). Oh yes, there will be a "word" of condemnation in that day of final judgment, but Revelation says it will come from the lips of the lost themselves. All are said to gather before the "great white throne and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. ... The books were opened" (Rev. 20:11, 12). Chapter 14 makes clear that the wicked cannot bear to look into the eyes of the Son of God (vs. 10), for in the final judgment, heaven and earth "flee away" from beholding that face!

When "the books [are] opened," every person will be keenly conscious of what is written therein; the eyes of Jesus will look right through them; memory comes alive with self-condemnation. All see where they crucified afresh the Lord of glory and put Him to an open shame. Too late, they understand their role at Calvary. What Jesus said will be literally fulfilled, "The word that I have spoken will judge [them] in the last day."

The ages-long "great controversy between Christ and Satan" cannot be concluded until the lost freely, voluntarily confess the judgment and mercy of their final end. "Every knee shall bow" and confess, "Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!" (Phil. 2:10; Rev. 15:3).

This does not mean that the lost will become converted; far from it. Satan will indulge in one last wild temper tantrum against God, trying to capture the Holy City (Rev. 20:7-9). After their voluntary confession of God's justice, the wicked again join him, proving to the watching universe that they are hopelessly in rebellion against righteousness (vss. 7-15). Then at last the entire universe will be "at-one" in agape. Let's be at-one today!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 18, 2002.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Should We Be Afraid of the Judgment?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Should we be afraid of the judgment? Is it like a final exam that students face, the kind where they cram the night before and come to it trembling with fear? There is a judgment that comes before Christ returns--otherwise He could not bring His reward with Him "to give to every one according to his work" (Rev. 22:12). And before there can be a resurrection, there must be an "accounting," which is a judgment to determine who is "counted worthy" to come up in that most glorious of blessings--the first resurrection (Luke 20:35). But can we know anything about when that pre-Advent judgment is to take place? Does the 2300-day prophecy of Daniel 8:14 make any sense?

(1) The Day of Atonement in the Hebrew sanctuary service was an object lesson of that final pre-Advent judgment.

(2) The Lord did not intend that its purpose should be to condemn Israel or the people, but "on that day the [high] priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord" (Lev. 16:30).

(3) That precisely is the purpose of the investigative judgment--not to condemn God's people, but to cleanse them so they can meet Jesus in person when He returns.

(4) There is sin, conscious and unconscious, that must be discovered, repented of, "overcome" (Rev. 3:21), so that those who follow the great High Priest in His closing work of Atonement may not be consumed by the brightness of Jesus' coming. That's going to be a serious moment!

(5) The High Priest doesn't want to condemn you; He wants to vindicate you--that's the only judgment He wants to make in your case. Don't stop Him, don't hinder His on-going work!

(6) The Septuagint translators of Daniel 8:14, 150 years B.C., clearly saw in the 2300-day prophecy a reference to the Day of Atonement; and long before there were any people known as Seventh-day Adventists, Christian scholars saw that 1844 was the terminus of that prophecy.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 10, 1998.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Key for Finding Perfect Theological Harmony

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, we must take a look at his plea that we let the Holy Spirit do something special: bring us into perfect theological harmony. His plea is in 4:11-16. God has given the church "some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers."

To preach and teach confusion, tearing the flock asunder with conflicting theology, perplexing lay members so they don't know which end is up? No, but to "equip the saints, ... edifying the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith ... to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Yes! theological harmony! Paul's illustration is vivid--he compares all these "gifts" of the Holy Spirit to a human body " joined and knit together by what every joint supplies" (vs. 16).

A good violinist's fingers and wrists and joints do what the "head" desires, thus making beautiful music. A basketball team functions in perfect unity. Paul never heard a symphony orchestra like the London Philharmonic; each musician with his unique instrument plays from a different score; if all played the same note it would be boring; but they make harmony in unison with differing parts. No discord! No confusion!

But such perfect theological harmony is widely disparaged as "impossible." "We can't all see alike!" is what we hear. "We must preach and teach contradictory views of this or that theology, differing in understanding the prophecies, trying to silence each other even in understanding what Christ accomplished by His sacrifice." Like a bus load of passengers all telling the driver to take different routes. Canwe achieve "perfecting ... unity of the faith," "unity of the Spirit" (vss. 13, 3)?

A visitor walks into church Sabbath morning, sees the class torn with conflicting theology. He leaves confused. Will he come back? Ephesians gives us the key to finding true harmony: "speaking the truth in agape" (vs. 15). A different kind of love that listens to each other carefully so as not to misrepresent each other, "endeavoring to keep the unity of the [Holy] Spirit in the bond of peace" (vs. 3). No more misquoting each other to win an argument.

Yes! At last, self is crucified "with Christ"! Now the church, like a symphony orchestra, is making beautiful music. Will the visitor come back? Yes! It will be "the loud cry."

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 25, 2001.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: “Christian Experience”--A Term Seldom Heard Today

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

A fundamental question we must settle is whether God is just, and whether He is good. We read in Hebrews 6:10 that "God is not unjust," meaning that He is indeed just. And we read in Psalm 103 that He is like a father who pities His children, that He is merciful and gracious (vss. 13, 8).

Believing who He is must be settled in our hearts, for he who comes to God must believe two things: (1) that He is, that He exists, and (2) that He rewards those who diligently pursue knowing Him (Heb. 11:6).

Jesus likened God to a father who gives his children food when they are hungry. "If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone?" (Luke 11:11). Then He went on to explain that our heavenly Father is more kind than any earthly father.

That being true, then we must conclude that He is not trying to make it difficult for people to have eternal life in His kingdom. He does not send difficulties and disappointments in order to try to break our confidence in Him, but because we are living in the midst of a great controversy between Christ and Satan, we have to meet trials that inevitably test our faith. The only way to avoid them would be to go to the grave.

Even Jesus, God's only begotten, beloved Son was forced to meet severe trials, the greatest of which was the experience of feeling forsaken of God while He hung on His cross in the darkness. Meeting strange and bitter trials is not inconsistent with knowing that the Father loves you as He loves His own Son; there may be even a more understandable realization of God's love in the midst of trials.

When every other voice is stilled and you are alone before God wrestling with your trials, your soul may sense the nearness and tender love of Christ more keenly. Peter says, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings" (1 Peter 4:12, 13).

There is a term seldom heard today, "Christian experience." It encompasses the breadth of one's first-hand knowledge of God experienced in sunshine and shadow, trials borne which establish one "in the faith." It's a precious acquirement! It's something no one can take from you, not even Satan. Ask God to give it to you; but remember, He can't do so except through giving you "experience" itself.

When the "144,000" sing "a new song before the throne" they will not be reading notes in hymnbooks; John says they "learn that song" (Rev. 14:1-3). How? By experience!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 19, 2000.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: What Can Make an Evil Person Become a Good Person?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

What can make an evil person become a good person? Is fear the true motivation?

It is generally recognized that fear can motivate an alcoholic to become sober. It can also motivate to national reformations, such as that of King Hezekiah, of whom we read: "He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, ... so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, ... He held fast to the Lord; ... [and] the Lord was with him" (2 Kings 18:1-7). That was when the rebuke of the Lord given in Revelation 3:14-21 to Laodicea apparently did not apply; for once God's people on earth were right with Him in heaven.

The Bible becomes almost eloquent describing the wonderful reformation accomplished by King Hezekiah. But to the extent that fear, even the fear of the Lord, prevailed in Hezekiah's grand reformation, we find that the motivation of fear failed miserably.

When the Lord worked a celestial miracle to signify His healing of King Hezekiah when he became seriously ill, sadly Hezekiah failed to give the honor and glory to the Lord (2 Kings 20).

Good King Hezekiah had a son named Manasseh who, when he came to the throne, reversed all the good that Hezekiah had done. The people followed him as readily as they had followed King Hezekiah!

The history of God's dealings with His chosen people through the ancient ages followed an up and down curve—it was often down, sad to say. Old covenant fear proved to be a weak source of motivation.

In the end of time, there will emerge a special people, "144,000" in number (whether that is a literal or symbolic number is not part of this discussion). Their experience of faith is described: "They sing a new song;" "in their mouth is found no guile;" "they are without fault before the throne of God" (Rev. 14:1-5).

Why this marvelous change? The answer is here: "These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes" (vs. 4). Fear has no part in their "Christian experience." They are those who listen to preaching such as that of Paul to the Corinthians when he "determined not to know anything among [them] except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (cf. 1 Cor. 2:1, 2).

This is beginning to happen around the world now!

—Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 8, 2008.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Christ's Repentance in Behalf of the Church

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

There is probably no one who doesn't want the church to be truly awake, repentant, and alive with the joy of the Lord. We know that someday it will be (after there is a great shaking, after "Elijah" has come and done his work).

But is there anyone ready to take all the sins of the church, known and hidden, upon himself or herself, realizing that apart from the grace of the Savior he would be guilty of them all? Or does each one of us feel that that would be impossible; we could never fall that low. "We've been brought up right!"

If such an insightful person could be found, someone who wouldn't be praying, "Lord, aren't they awful! Please save them!" that would be a practical, corporate repentance that would do a world of good.

Someone came to the true church one time who found it in a terrible spiritual condition; yes, He must have prayed for that church; but He did something much more--He repented in behalf of that church. He took all their sins upon Himself as though He were guilty of them all.

So intimate and real was this "taking" that "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21). He put Himself in each person's place, knowing all the details from their conception on. He felt each person's weakness as though it were His own. He felt the shame of his defeats, and the tearful longings for peace with God.

It was on His cross that He was "made to be sin for us, who knew no sin." It was a horrible experience of "knowing"--hell itself. He felt in His soul that He was lost forever. Hope did not present to Him His coming forth from the grave a victor. "He was numbered with the transgressors" (Isa. 53:12). He "made His grave with the wicked" (vs. 9), the kind of grave that has no end to it; and He did something that no other person in 6000 years has been able to do: He felt to the full the horror of it.

Thank God, He has disciples who are even now learning from Him.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: September 10, 2006.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Who Is "The Light of the World"? Is There a Contradiction?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Why did Jesus tell His people in Matthew 5:14, "You are the light of the world" and then in John 8:12, He said of Himself, "I am the light of the world"? Is there a contradiction?

Not if you understand how those who believe in Him are "in Him." They identify with Him; in fact, that's what faith is in its true definition, it is identifying with Christ, becoming one with Him, so that as He shines, the believer shines with reflected light from Him.

If the believer has come out of darkness into the light, he appreciates how Christ is indeed "the light of the world," how it is true that "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5); how "in Him" is life, "and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4). Those are very simple one-syllable Anglo-Saxon words, but what depth of meaning lies in them! "And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it" (vs. 5).

What does this mean? Christ is the source of all the love and light and joy there is in this world. Even the pagans who know Him not, what pleasure and happiness they have ever experienced is a gift from Him. "That was the true Light which gives light to every man who comes into the world," which must include those who know Him not (vs. 9)!

If it were not for Christ and what He has accomplished for the world itself, not one human being anywhere would ever know anything but the densest darkness of despair. And that darkness would be the second death itself. That is why Paul says in Hebrews 2:9 that Christ has "tasted death for everyone," has endured that darkness of soul that is the torture of the second death for every human being, that is, has paid the price of the punishment for his sins. That is how He Himself is "the light of the world." Something to be profoundly thankful for!

Now, Jesus says, "Youare the light of the world." Tell the Good News to someone, don't block it or cover it up with legalism. And don't be afraid that telling such Good News will encourage him to go on sinning; it's the only way he can overcome sin!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 21, 1998.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: A Smart Philosopher's Challenge

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

A smart philosopher says that if God is perfectly loving, He must want to abolish all evil, and if He is all powerful, He must be able to do it. "But evil exists, therefore God cannot be both omnipotent and loving," says this thinker. Is there a solution to his problem? 

Can the Bible help? It teaches that God took all the evil that exists in the world and bore it in Himself. "The Lord has laid on [Christ] the iniquity of us all" and "He made [Christ] who knew no sin to be sin for us" (Isa. 53:6; 2 Cor. 5:21). God wishes to abolish all evil, the Bible says (1 Tim. 2:4), but since "God is agape" (1 John 4:8), He could abolish evil only by dying to it, being crucified to sin. The solution to the philosopher's challenge is to explore "the width and length and depth and height" of that agape, wherein is "the fullness of God" (Eph. 3:17-19).

Every philosopher and atheist will some day bow and confess the infinite logic that is wrapped up within the cross of Jesus, even those who have spent their lives ridiculing it. But there are some--perhaps many--who will humble their souls before the cross right now in this life and confess the truth of God. This blessed result will require deep thinking and deeper feeling on the part of those who now profess to keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.

God loves the brilliant people, the philosophers and scientists in the world, just as much as He loves common people. No one can "by searching find out God"; all the universities in the world cannot teach these bright people how to find Him.

The neglected truth that agape teaches is that God finds man; no lost sheep, however smart, can find his way back to the shepherd--the Good Shepherd must go and find him. God has commanded His church on earth to be His agent in proclaiming that news about God, who is the seeking-and-finding Good Shepherd.

A people in whose hearts and souls self is crucified, who are in perfect unity and harmony, who "glory" in the cross, will proclaim the message, for it must "lighten the earth with glory" before Jesus can return; then every honest hearted philosopher will hear a voice that says "come out of Babylon" (Rev. 18). We will be surprised who or how many will respond (cf. Rev. 15:2, 3).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 22, 2001.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Brread: Can Satan Force Us to Continue to Sin?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

When Jesus was resurrected, Satan was mortally wounded. Genesis 3:15 was fulfilled: the serpent (Satan) had indeed "bruised" Christ's "heel" through the crucifixion; but Christ "bruised" his "head." When you smash a serpent's head, you've killed it. So, since the resurrection, Satan has been crushed.

But immediately the question arises in thoughtful minds, "Then why 2000 years of continued sin, cruelty, and misery, created by this same 'serpent' who is supposed to be crushed? Why have global dictators flourished, and why do crime and violence plague the world as it was in the days before the Flood of Noah? Why is Paul's prophecy so terribly fulfilled, that 'evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse'"? (2 Tim. 3:13). "Does all this look like the work of a defeated foe?"

Other questions arise: "Why doesn't Jesus come the second time as He promised to do, and put an end to all of Satan's work? Is God indifferent? Is He just procrastinating until He's finally had enough of it and decides to blow the trumpet and ring the curtain down?"

We can search the world for an answer, and must come back to what the Bible says: "If a man should scatter seed on the ground, ... When the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come” (Mark 4:26-29). God's people must grow up and appreciate--"believe"--what Christ accomplished in His death, burial, and resurrection, that Satan has been defeated.

Hebrews 2:14 says that Satan has been "paralyzed," as when wildlife experts shoot darts into a rhino or a fierce lion and paralyze it so they can examine its teeth. Satan cannot force us to continue to sin unless we willingly choose to permit him to deceive us. The victory of Christ over Satan in His resurrection was wonderful; now, says Revelation 12:11, God's people must also "overcome him by the blood of the Lamb."

Satan still claims that it is impossible for any human being to keep God's law of love, but it's our privilege to share in Christ's glorious victory. That's something worth living for!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 14, 1998.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."

 

Dial Daily Bread: "Protesting" in a Christlike Way

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

It seems wildly inappropriate to think that there was ever a "war in heaven," but that's just what Revelation 12:7-10 describes. A war to the finish between "Michael" with His angels against "the dragon [Satan] and his angels." A careful reading suggests that it was Christ and the loyal angels who started the war, although this is opposite to most thinking today.

But this fits in with what the Bible says about Christ. Christ never lies down and lets the devil walk over Him. You remember at His temptation in the wilderness, He told the devil to "get out!" and the devil did (Matt. 4:10). Again when Satan used Peter to try to turn Him away from His cross, He said, "Get behind Me, Satan!" (16:23).

When Lucifer (who became "the devil and Satan") instigated the rebellion in heaven, he was spreading his poison all through the ranks of the holy angels. If Christ and they had not protested, sin would have filled the universe. They could not sit back and relax and condone a fictitious "peace and harmony" as we are often tempted to do when evil is about to triumph; they arose in vigorous protest. They started a war! They saw through the subtle lies that Lucifer was telling, and their souls were on fire in their love for truth. Their concern was for the security of heaven and the universe. They had to "speak up."

We might say that "Michael and His angels" were pro-test-ants, righteously so. And so will everyone be who takes up his cross to follow Jesus (Luke 9:23). Love for souls, for your nation, for your church, for society, for the universe itself, yes, concern for Christ, motivates you to protest against injustice, against lies.

The first work of the Holy Spirit is to "convict of sin," that is, to protest against sin because sin kills (John 16:8; Prov. 8:36). Whatever your problem, the Holy Spirit will convict you of that sin before you repeat it. Before anyone chooses to transgress God's holy law, He continually says, "No!" He "convicts of sin" in love.

But be careful: It's not your job to do the work of the Holy Spirit. You can lift your voice against evil and not be obnoxious at the same time. You can "protest" in a Christlike way.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 24, 2002.
Copyright © 2019 by "Dial Daily Bread."