Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Daniel said that in the time of the end "many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase" (12:4). For many years our forefather evangelists explained this prophecy as fulfilled with Model T's running almost everywhere; today, we cite space travel, computers, and iPhones.
But while scientific and technical knowledge keeps quadrupling, the "knowledge" that God's people have of the gospel of justification is also being "increased" through the blessing of the Holy Spirit. In the days of the Waldenses, they understood as much as they could; Luther and Calvin were agents for greater light; then the Wesleys and Arminianism pressed in with greater light.
Then came the great Second Advent Awakening followed by the "present truth" of the sanctuary and the great cosmic Day of Atonement. Those who were preparing to "follow the Lamb wherever He goes" (Rev. 14:4, 5) gladly welcomed each new glimpse of truth the Holy Spirit gave them.
But no new truth will contradict truth previously known; "the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day" (Prov. 4:18). If at any point as truth unfolds like a rosebud unfolds, we reject the new revelation of truth, we in fact reject Christ at that point, for He says, "I am the ... truth" (John 14:6). Therefore it is impossible to reject any truth without rejecting Him!
A massive problem rises with the story of the "angel of the church of the Laodiceans," the last great church just before the return of Jesus. It knows no "hunger and thirst for righteousness" (cf. Matt. 5:6), for it asserts of itself, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing" (Rev. 3:17). If you had lived in the days of Luther and had rejected the message God sent by him, you would very likely have severed your connection with the true Holy Spirit. It would have been very dangerous to do so. The same with the Wesleys.
And now today? The great "present truth" is that message which is to "lighten the earth with glory." The new light will not cancel or contradict any light that has shone in the past; but it will be to the message of Luther's and Calvin's day what a sleek Lexus is to a Model T.
Beware that you don't separate yourself from the sure leading of the Holy Spirit. It still involves bearing a cross.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 14, 2007.
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