Hope International - New Zealand
Hope International - New Zealand
Health Ministries & Christian Publishers
Health Ministries & Christian Publishers

 We all remember the story of the Children of Israel running out of water as they were walking in the wilderness. When they came near Mt Sinai at the rock of Horeb, they complained. "And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?" Exodus 17:3. Moses, who had to be retrained by the Lord, by tending Jethro's sheep for forty years, had learned the lesson of going to God with all of his burdens. So as the crisis arose, Moses cried out to the Lord, and God in mercy instructed Moses to strike the rock, and out flowed water. Water that God miraculously provided in a dry and weary land, and water that continued to flow as they journeyed on toward the promised land. "Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel." Exo 17:6.


Psalms Reference to the Water
King David 400 years later brings to the world the words recorded in Psalm 78. "He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers."  Psalms 78:15-16. In the New Testament we find that Paul also references the same miraculous event, we find this in 1Corinthians 10.  "And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." 1 Corinthians 10:3-4. From Paul's prophetic input we can now authoritatively state that Jesus is that ROCK in a weary land. Jesus is not only the shelter in the hot weary path of life, but he is also the one who pours forth the spiritual water of life for our perishing souls.
You will also remember in the Exodus story that Moses was instructed to strike the rock, for it to bring forth the water.
Isaiah shows, that striking is again teaching of the Messiah. "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:4-5.
Israel of old saw these and many other miracles, and experienced rich blessings, yet they still doubted God when troubles arose. There are deep lessons for all of us on this point. God refers to this unbelief in the following verses. "And He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?" Ex 17:7. Lack of faith was the reason for their delay of entering the promised land. Paul references this in Hebrews. "But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief." Hebrews 3:17-19. From this Old Testament Bible story we learn the serious nature of unbelief. Not only that form of apostasy that says 'I no longer believe God, and I will stop worshipping Him', but more so the subtle doubt where we so often try to solve the problem by our self, without leaning on the Lord, and waiting His powerful intervention in the heat of our trial.

Jesus is the  Only Source of this Water
Let us consider the symbol of the water a little further. Jesus is the only source of this water, that quenches the thirsting of the soul, He is the only provider of the water of salvation. Muhammad, Budda or the Pope himself, no one else can supply this need. Christ expressed it this way, "… Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." John 7:37-38.
The Word of God foretells of a terrible crisis coming at the end of time. One that will be very dry and trying for our soul, one that will test the hearts of all mankind. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water (Literal Water), but of hearing the words of the LORD (Spiritual Water)" Amos 8:11. We, as Seventh-day Adventists, know that this is the gauntlet through which the faithful must pass, before reaching the safety and serenity of heaven’s eternal shores. In this final struggle, we will need our full supply of the water that cometh from Christ alone.  We know that the disciples had to go through their own terrible ordeal, where their faith was tested in the heat and drought of crises. Jesus was taken from them, just  as they thought they had the seat of kingly power in their grasp. They pressed around Jesus as they came to Jerusalem, thinking He was about to ascend the throne of David. But as we know, Jesus went to His death at Calvary, leaving the disciples feeling totally abandoned.
As this test of faith was experienced with the disciples, something similar occurred in 1844 with the great disappointment. Many who went along for the emotional ride, left the faith when challenged by the lack of visible signs on October 22, 1844. Again, those who were fully partaking of the Spirit of God, ie the water of life, sensed that even in the crisis that God was with them, that He was doing something wonderful, that they could not as yet understand. So even then, they held on waiting for the answer - drinking of the water of life in this, their weary land. God, who never abandons us, did give them their answer, but not without the trial of their faith. The Sanctuary Message came from this new understanding of God's dealings with His people.
Another crisis that came to the people of God, was in the time of Gideon. Here was a man subdued by the Midianites, and the angel called him to raise an army. When the army of Israel arrived, God said 'if anyone is fearful let them go home'. Then Gideon was told you still have too many. Send the army to drink water and send home those who bow their knees - unmindful of the danger to the cause of God. When the multitude had been sent from the battlefield, Gideon was told that God would win the battle for them using the remnant of 300. "And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place." Jdg 7:7.
The Spirit of Prophecy in reference to this event tells us, "Those who in time of peril were intent upon supplying their own wants were not to be trusted in an emergency. The three hundred chosen men not only possessed courage and self-control, they were men of faith." Eternity Past Pg 396.

Gideon’s  Army Divided into Three
Gideon's men were then formed into three groups and surrounded the enemy. Upon breaking the vessels hiding the torches they cried out, causing panic among the Midianites. In this battle between the cause of God and the Midianites (the world), it becomes clear that character is again the great issue. Only those receiving from Christ the water of life, can develop this character. "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 11 Peter 1:4.
In Patriarchs and Prophets 550, EG White states 'Gideon's plan to divide into three groups was a 'Divinely inspired plan.' The three companies of Gideon's army is comparable with the light of the 'Three Angel’s Messages'. The dazzling light from the broken pitchers, the trumpets and loud cry that they cried in attacking the Midianites, 'The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon' put the enemy to flight. So will it be at the end, when all seems lost and hopeless. The Three Angel’s will be joined by the power of the 4th Angels Message (The Light and Loud Cry) of the Holy Spirit. The message will then be given with a power that lightens the earth with it's glory. This event of Gideon is a picture of 'Latter Rain Power'.  "And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory." Rev 18:1. We need to strive to be among this number. The number who are giving the First, Second and Third Angel's Messages with the power that comes from the Fourth Angel (Latter Rain). This group through victory over this world, become the  144,000. There is no other message to be given. You will note that Gideon's army only broke into the three groups ie messages. So much for all the red - herring cries within Adventism trying to re-interpret prophecy, and re-define truth calling it 'New Light'. These Messages in Revelation 14 and 18 are God's love messages to a lost world at the end of time. These are the messages supplying water for a thirsty soul. They include the 'righteousness by faith message' of victory through the power of a risen Saviour. Without Jesus, it is a dead letter with no power. Without this Gospel Power, there would be no one with the character ready to give the trumpet the certain sound. "Several have written to me, inquiring if the message of justification by faith is the third angel's message, and I have answered, "It is the third angel's message, in verity." Review and Herald, April 1, 1890.

Coming to the End of  This World
As we examine the days in which we live, it is not hard for the Bible student to be convinced that we are living at the very end of time. Bible signs are all around us, crying out 'Get Ready, Get Ready'-'partake of that water from Heaven'. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;" 2Tim 3:1-4. Political corruption and financial disaster are visible to all who would see. A false form of godliness is visible in an ecumenical movement that is producing a fake revival - where men claim to follow God while they are fighting against His very laws. They are proclaiming a revival without repentance, and faith without obedience.
Christ paralleled these last events with the experience of the flood of Noah. "Before the flood, after Noah entered the ark, God shut him in, and shut the ungodly out: but for seven days the people, knowing not that their doom was fixed, continued their careless, pleasure loving life, and mocked the warnings of impending judgment. ‘So,’ says the Saviour, ‘shall also the coming of the son of man be.’ Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man's destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy's offer to guilty men." Maranartha 264. Jesus gives this world one last warning, and that is the messages that you and I are commissioned to carry, just like Noah preaching in the time of the flood, but the majority of the wicked stubbornly refuse the out stretched hand of mercy. But some will flee, (Praise God) some will repent and accept the forgivenes offered by the Lord, before it is forever too late. Brands plucked from the burning is how Amos prophesied them. (Amos 4:11).

Close of Probation
At this very time, with the International Sunday Law enforced, will come a moment when Jesus will stand up in the Most Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary. "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." Dan 12:1. This will be the close of probation, when all cases are decided, both for the dead and the living. The evidence of who drank from the 'stream of the river of life,' will be visible to all the unfallen worlds. We read of this in Revelation 22. “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still".  Rev 22:11.
In the book Maranatha we read, "In the day of the Lord, just before the second coming of Christ, God will send lightnings from Heaven in His wrath, which will unite with fire in the earth. The mountains will burn like a furnace, and will pour forth terrible streams of lava, destroying gardens and fields, villages and cities, and as they pour their melted ore, rocks and heated mud into the rivers, will cause them to boil like a pot, and send forth massive rocks and scatter their broken fragments upon the land with indescribable violence... the earth will be convulsed, and there will be dreadful eruptions and earthquakes everywhere." Maranatha 283.
As a last statement from an offended God to a wicked world, He places the Ten Commandments in the heavens for all to witness. The righteous see it, knowing it is the sign of God's soon return. The wicked view it in terror as  their conscience is burned with the knowledge of appeals ignored and warnings mocked. "And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah." Psa 50:6  "There appears against the sky a hand holding two tables of stone folded together. …That holy law. God's righteousness, that amid the thunder and flame was proclaimed from Sinai as the guide of life, is now revealed to men as the rule of judgment. The hand opens the tables, and there are seen the precepts of the Decalouge, traced as with a pen of fire." Maranatha 286
The separation is now completed. God has in infinite patience pleaded with all humanity, and now every person has made their choice. The wicked in their anger will seek the destruction of those who love God and would keep His Commandments. Just like Esther in days gone by, they plan for the destruction of all who have been loyal to their Creator.
 Ellen White details this event "When the protection of human laws shall be withdrawn from those who honor the law of God, there will be, in different lands, a simultaneous movement for their destruction. As the time appointed in the decree draws near, the people will conspire to root out the hated sect. It will be determined to strike in one night a decisive blow, which shall utterly silence the voice of dissent and reproof…  (AS THE DREADED CRISIS APPROACHES) By the people of God a voice, clear and melodious, is heard saying. "Look up." And lifting their eyes to the heavens, they behold the bow of promise. The black, angry clouds that covered the firmament are parted, and like Stephen they look up steadfastly into heaven and see the glory of God and the Son of man seated upon His throne". Maranartha 278.

Too Late to Change
Too late for those who made gods of their jobs and bank accounts. Too late for those who have spent a lifetime blaspheming God.
Too late for those who would not remember the Sabbath. Too late then for those who would not partake of the water of life, that Christ had offered so freely.

With the earth reeling and rocking and the saints threatened with their very existence, Jesus, for the second time breaks into the course of human history. "And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud. ‘Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’” Rev 14:14-15.

The Final Separation
For those unready, this terrible moment will separate them eternally from the righteous.
“ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2Peter 3:10.
Think of the joy as the struggles of this life fade into insignificance at the return of our Lord. With our lives threatened and necessities denied, we could only look in hope to the Christ’s return.
“At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us in prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and the wicked would fall helpless to the ground... Soon our eyes were drawn to the East, for a small black cloud had appeared about half as large as a man's hand, which we all knew was the Sign of the Son of Man. We all in solemn silence gazed on the cloud as it drew nearer, lighter, and brighter, glorious, and still more glorious, till it was a great white cloud. The bottom appeared like fire, a rainbow was over it, around the cloud were ten thousand angels singing a most lovely song. And on it sat the Son of Man, on his head were crowns, his hair was white and curly and lay on his shoulders… Then we all cried out, who shall be able to stand? Is my robe spotless? Then the angels ceased to sing, and there was some time of awful silence, when Jesus spoke, Those who have clean hands and a pure heart shall be able to stand, my grace is sufficient for you. At this, our faces lighted up, and joy filled every heart. And the angels struck a note higher and sung again while the cloud drew still nearer the earth." Daystar January 24, 1846. What scenes will soon meet our eyes? This moment is the very reason for our existence as a people.

Now is the hour of men’s salvation. Jesus the ‘Water of Life’ longs to quench the thirsting of our souls. He as the ‘smitten Rock’, endured Gethsemane and Calvary to make possible this water. I pray that you and I will pause each day to partake of ‘HIM’.

By Peter Henham


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