REAPING TIME:
Christianity is being placed on trial in a very peculiar manner in this last stage of time. Forms of godliness without vital godliness are holding the great masses of humanity under their blighting influences. The spirit of the age has made the nations drunken and war-mad.
Notwithstanding the fact that almost every home in every Christian country has one or more copies of the Bible, the huge masses are still “ lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.” They have declared in the face of plain truth: “ We must, and will, have carnal pleasures regardless of the cost. We must dance, we must go to the play-houses of recreation; we must have our wine and beer.” They have in effect said to God: “The path you have marked out for us is too narrow, and we will not walk in it. Your Son’s example and teaching means too much of a sacrifice, and we will not follow Him. The pleasures and indulgences you deny us are harmless and innocent, and we will not abstain from them. The plain, simple and modest apparel you prescribe for us to wear does not suit our taste nor the spirit and customs of our day, and we will not be governed by your instructions on dress: we must have our geld and diamonds and pearls, and we must exhibit our personal charms to advantage. You have made us beautiful, and we want our companions to see and admire our beauty. Our pastors and their wives and daughters are good Christians and they do these things. God is too good to send any one to hell on account of this innocent indulgence.”--- And thus the matter is dismissed, and the professed church goes hand in hand with the world. But—Is God going to let them go? Let us see.
What may we suppose God would do with any people who chose the path of carnal pleasure in preference to His way? He would give them full measure. To sow- to the flesh means a harvest of corruption. To sow to the wind means to reap the whirl-wind. The lust for carnal pleasure leads to the lust for money, power and war. When people become pleasure-loving and effeminate, they either must reform or be destroyed. This is what happened to the antediluvian world, Sodom, Babylon and Rome; and it has, in some measure at least overtaken the kingdoms of the world at this time. God is saying to the nations, including America, “ You decided to follow after carnal things, and you are getting them in full measure.” And the end of all things is not yet.
So, dear readers of the Faith and Victory, in these trying times let us who are Christians be true to God and His eternal truth. There may be even greater trials in store for us, such as have overtaken the Christians in times past. “ Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame” (Rev. 16: 15). —W. A. Shaffer. Faith and Victory, April 1923
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History of the Origin of the Millennial Deception
From Faith and Victory Jan. 1941
We shall now take up the general Judgment and prove by the following scripture that it will take place when Jesus comes: “I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:1); “And the books were opened: . . . and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Rev. 20:11-15). All of the above is to take place when Jesus comes “for we shall all [saints and sinners] stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Rom. 14:10). Also read 2 Cor. 5:10: He will reward the righteous
punish the wicked.
Next we come to the last proposition, the utter consuming and passing away of this earth and the works therein: “The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” (1 Pet. 4:7). “But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” “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. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness: looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (2 Pet. 3:7, 10-12). For final proof of this last proposition, the consuming of all things literal, read Rev. 20:11, 12: “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead small and great stand before God, and the books were opened, . . . and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (no time or place now for a millennium).
Many are confused over the two resurrections, for there are two taught in the word of God. The first is spiritual, and the second or last is literati. “We know we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren” (1 John 3:14). This means the dead state brought about by sin. “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12; also read Eph. 2:1). Spiritual death reigned over the world from Adam to Christ (Rom. 5:12-14). When Christ came, He brought life to this sin-cursed world (2 Tim. 1:9, 10). “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). This resurrection antedating all others must of necessity be the first. It may properly be said that the first resurrection is divided into two parts: namely, the mighty host raised up in the apostolic age; and the host saved since that time— “and the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished, this is the first resurrection” (Rev. 20:5). The millions quickened to life through this entire gospel dispensation all taken together, compose the first resurrection.
"What are termed the Middle Ages commenced with the fifth and terminated with the fifteenth century. Of these, the first six are denominated the “Dark Ages;” but throughout the whole period Christianity suffered a long eclipse of a thousand years.” (Goodrich’s Church History, p. 478). During that dark period, but very few were saved; “ but the rest of the dead” of Adam’s fallen race “lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” The reign on earth had ceased, and the only reign enjoyed by the people of God was “with Christ” in paradise by those who had part in the first resurrection.
But the Reformation again brought the resurrecting grace of God into action, and thousands of the “rest of the dead” have been, and are being, brought to life through the gospel; and “shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ.” (Rom 5:17; Rev. 5:10). So instead of setting up a kingdom when he comes (as so many think) here on earth, he will deliver it up (1 Cor. 15:24). “Behold I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep [we shall not all be in the grave.], but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the winkling of an eye, at the last trump:” which will be when He comes. (1 Cor. 15:51, 52). “Let God be true, but every man a liar.” Oh “ye stiffnecked, and uncircumcised in heart,” who always wrest the Word of God to your own destruction by listening to the doctrines and dogmas of men, stop and listen to the voice of Jesus: “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations [saint and sinner of every nation on earth] and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep [which represent saints] from the goats [which represent sinners]” Matt. 25:31, 32. When he comes in the clouds, all will see him at the same time (Rev. 1:7).
The kingdom which Jesus set up when he came did not consist of literal things, but “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 14:17). Millennium means one thousand years, so almost two millenniums have passed since Christ was here. In Rev. 16:13, John in spirit saw three unclean spirits come out of the mouth of the dragon (Paganism), and out of the mouth of the beast (Catholicism), and out of the mouth of the false prophet (Protestantism). The appellations: devil, satan, or old serpent, are symbolically applied to this dragon (Paganism) because of its devilish origin, idolatrous worship, being antagonistic to the Christian church. Michael, the Lord Jesus Christ, came upon the scene and with his angels (pure apostolic ministry) in the ecclesiastical heaven, made war against this great red dragon and conquered it; and with the chain of his eternal truth bound this anti-Christ power and hurled it from its lofty position to the great abyss and set up his kingdom instead. When Pagan Rome saw her religion decreasing under increasing light of Christianity, it became wroth at the woman (church) and went to make war with the remnant of her seed (the saints). This was done through her son, the beast (Papal Rome) (Rev. 12:17; 13:1-7). This beast reigned on earth 1260 years (42 months equal 1260 days. The Bible uses a “ day” for a year: “I have appointed thee each day for a year” Ezek. 4:6.) The woman (church) fled into the wilderness (a place of obscurity, where she remained during the 1260 years from A. D. 270 to A. D. 1530 (Rev. 12: 6-14). In Rev 17, we see a description of a corrupt woman (Roman Catholic Church) where her daughters were called harlots (verse 5). The second beast (Protestantism) in Rev. 13:11-18 is an image made to the first beast (popery) and is the sectarian institutions. “ And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, which had not worshipped the beast neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years”— A. D. 530, the time when Catholicism was substantially set up, till A. D. 1530, Martin Luther’s time. Not that they ceased to reign at that time, but salvation work once more commences on earth, and now we reign here with him while the saints above are still reigning with him in paradise, praise God. Our future home will not be here on earth as Millennium teachers believe, but in heaven; for this earth will have passed away, also the aerial heavens (Rev. 20:11, 12). So we see there will be no time, place, or need of a Millennial Reign for we are reigning with Christ now, here on earth. But thank God for an eternal heaven that will not pass away, where we shall reign with Christ in eternity. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people (2 Cor. 5:1)— the preparation necessary to enter heaven is a pure heart (Mat. 5:8), and a holy life (Heb. 12:14). All Millennial teachers are wrong.
“O poor sinner, don’t believe them,
There will be no age to come;
If in life you find not Jesus,
Death will seal your awful doom.”
G. E. Harmon.
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What is the Gospel?
Briefly comprehended the Gospel is the message of salvation brought by the visible appearing of Jesus Christ which was God manifested in the fleshIn Mar 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
we read that Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and He said unto the people, “ The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe the Gospel.” In Mat 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
. In Luk 8:1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
In Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, So we see that we first must hear the Word of truth which is the Gospel of our salvation. The Word of truth is the Gospel and Jesus is spoken of as the Word, “ And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.” John 1: 14. Peter speaking of us who have purified our souls by obeying the truth says, “ Being born again, not of corrupt able seed, but of incorrupt able by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” 1 Peter 1: 23. The Gospel then is the seed of truth which, if a man receives into his soul, will produce a birth. Old things will pass away and he will become a new creature. This is why Jesus told Nicodemus that, “ Ye must be born again.” John,3:5 He says,“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”.
” The word water used in the Bible often refers to the Word of truth, which is Christ. For instance, Jesus in speaking to the woman at the well said, 1 ‘ If thou knewest the gift of God, and who- it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” The Gospel is spoken of as the “ word of life” Phil. 2: 16
In Rev. 22: 17, “ Whosoever will,” are exhorted to come and take of the “ water of life freely.” So we see that the word of truth is the Gospel and also the water of life. Jesus says. “ Except a man be born of water (Word) and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.” John 3: 5. We are not born of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God
By reading the scriptures in the first chapter of Matthew we find that Jesus was not conceived in the natural way, but the angel talking to Joseph said, “ For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost,” It was a supernatural conception, and so it is with us — the Gospel or the Word of truth which is the seed, is first received into the womb of the soul and so we are begotten of God and are born again and new life springs up and we become a new creature in Christ by the supernatural power of God. This is why the Gospel is spoken of as the “ glad tidings.” 2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
The Gospel indeed is glad tidings when it conveys to the mind of lost men and women that they can have life and immortality, for then a new hope springs up into the soul. Paul says, Rom 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”.
The Gospel also has an effect upon every one to whom it is preached, for Paul says, “ To one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life.” 2 Cor. 2: 16. The Gospel, if received into the heart, will mean life ; if rejected, it will mean death. Jesus says, “ And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” John 11: 26. He was speaking here of the soul of man that was resurrected as born again. Although this body would die and go to dust yet the soul would live on with God in a blissful state. The qualification was, “ If we lived and believed in Him.” “ Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” —■
Fred Pruitt. ----Faith and Victory Dec. 1934
BLAST FROM THE PAST
PEACEABLE FRUIT
Smite on! It doth not hurt me now;
The spear hath' lost its edge of pain;
And piercing thorns that bound my brow
No longer leave their bleeding stain.
What once was woe is changed to bliss;
What once was loss is now my gain;
My sorrow' is my happiness;
My life doth live by being slain.
The birth-pangs of those dreadful years
Are like the midnight changed to morn;
And daylight shines upon my tears,
Because the soul’s great life is born.
The piercing thorns have changed to flowers;
The spears have grown to scepters bright;
And sorrow’s dark and sunless hours
Become eternal days of light. •—Upham .
faith and Victory March 1923
BLAST FROM the PAST: a collection of articles from the "Faith and Victory" Published by the Faith Publishing House from March 1923 until it's closing, November in 2014. (Articles and poems to be added as time permits)
The Way Of Escape Faith & Victory April 1946
Virginia L Wittenborn
In the tenth chapter of I Corinthians we find Paul warning the saints at Corinth using as examples those children of Israel who fell by the wayside, being tempted.
The experiences that the Israelites met with in the wilderness are typical of the temptations and trials that we meet with in our Christian life.
Paul goes on to say, “ Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There is no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it.” I Cor. 10:12, 13.
This is one of the many great and exceeding precious promises that God has given us, that by these we may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Pet. 1:4.)
We should notice that in all of God’s good promises, there are conditions for us to meet before we can obtain the promise.
Let us notice the condition God has made with this promise of help in time of temptation. He will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able, but will with the temptation make a way of escape.We must take the way of escape that God provides. Any other way will only lead us more deeply into temptation. It is good to endure temptation; but take heed lest ye endure to your own destruction! Any enduring after God has made a way of escape becomes no longer enduring but submitting. When God makes a way out of our temptation it may seem much harder to take than just enduring the temptation. It may take a greater effort than just resisting the enemy. There comes a time in every battle when aggression must be resorted to. Let us be aggressive in the battle against the enemy! When we take the way out that God provides, praise the Lord, we can know that the “ way out” is the “ way in.”
You can’t find God’s way of escape for you? Be careful lest a tenderness in your heart toward that temptation should blind you. The way out of our temptation may be in death— the kind of death Paul speaks of when he said, “ Then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Cor. 4:12.
I ’m glad that Paul carried about in his body the dying of the Lord Jesus Christ, that the life also of him might be made manifest in his mortal body. (2 Cor. 4:11.)
I have been oftentimes refreshed, strengthened, and nourished by the fruits that Paul bore, haven’t you? Paul was daily taking the way of escape. He looked not at the temptation, but away from it and into the beautiful completion of the work and plan of God in his own life.
Look away from your temptation and into a vision o f God’s perfect plan for you. Are you tempted to slack up a little, give up a little because your efforts have seemed fruitless? Launch out into the deep and let your nets down for a draught. Have you been holding the lines in on your nets? Let them go deep! Don’t tie strings onto the power of God. Don’t be found guilty, of limiting the Holy One of Israel, just because you are a poor, weak man or woman. Recognize God’s power. Acknowledge it and give it free reign in you. Are you tempted to let down or be cast down into that awful quicksand of self-pity by sorrow? Look away from sorrow and into the tender mercy of God. Your sorrow shall be turned into joy and that joy, no man taketh from you. Are you tempted by the pride of life and earthly possessions? God has made a v/ay out for you, too. “ Seek ye first the kingdom of God.”
God has not only given us a way of escape but also gives us a means of avoiding temptation. “Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.” Matt. 26:41.
Index to The back issues of Faith and Victory; 92 Years starting with March 1923 thru November 2014
The years starting with March 1923, will be listed month by month, going forward to Nov. 2014, one year at a time as time permits. There were some years that there were by monthly only and very few years that had an August issue, due to enabling the Print Shop workers to attend the National Camp Meeting at Monark Springs, MO., which is in the last 10 day's of July.
GO AFTER THE NINETY AND NINE
In the long ago, when Jesus was here,
He spake of the people as sheep.
And He as their shepherd to whom they were dear.
For them he would pray and weep.
He told of the fold where the ninety and nine
Lay safe in his sheltering arm;
But one sheep was out in the cheerless dark night, Exposed to danger and harm.
So he left the fold with the ninety and nine,
And he went through the cold dark night
Over mountain and crag, o’er valley and plain,
Twas found, but oh, what a sight!
The shepherd was wounded and bleeding so;
But he brought back that poor lost sheep.
And now if we love Him, we also will go,
And labor and pray and weep.
But it seems there’s one in the fold alone,
And the ninety and nine are lost—
Oh, who will go find them and bring them back home? The Shepherd will pay the cost.
Go call them gently and plead with them long,
They’re scattered all over the earth.
Bring them to the Shepherd with shout and with song— His sheep are of infinite worth!
The Master says, Go, and seek for the lost,
Go labor while yet it is day.
Faint not at the labour, regard not the cost
For all I will gladly repay. — Sister Rebecca Basicker
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UNFIT FOR SERVICE
One night, ’twas a Saturday evening,
I sat alone in my room,
Watching the fading daylight,
And the steadily gathering gloom.
And I longed and watched for an opening,
A word for my Master to say,
Ere the twilight gave place to darkness,
And the week had died away.
I knew that there had been moments
Afforded me through the week,
When I might have witnessed for Jesus,
But I hadn’t the heart to speak.
And now, when I would have spoken,
The privilege was denied;
So 1 went in my sorrow; to Jesus,
“ And why is this?” I cried.
Ah! the Master knew all about it,
So He said, and I knew it was right: “
The tool is too blunt for service;
I cannot use ’it to-night.”
Oh, Christian,, learn well this lesson:
We can only be used by God
When communion with Him has fashioned
Our mouths like a sharpened sword.
Author unknown
Faith and Victory 1933
THE ANALOGIES OF THE BIBLE, THE BOOK OF ALL BOOKS
We stand in awe when reading the wonderful words of Jesus. As He speaks from nature of the birds of the air, the sparrow that falls to the ground, the lily of the field, God’s care is seen in all His gracious words. And the floods, the angry waters— a picture of retribution; wind, which is a symbol of the Spirit in its regenerating power; the pearl of great price is salvation; the wheat and tares, the sheep and goats foreshadows judgment; the barren fig tree personifies false professors; the mustard seed, and the yeast are analogies of the rise and growth of the Kingdom of God; the members are salt to save, and lights to shine; and in parables: the sower, the fishermen—figurative of Christ and His ministers; He is our Bread, Water, and Shepherd.
He in His life and death takes the opposite of what He wants us to be and enjoy.
He was made the Son of Man that we might become the Sons of God;
He was born in a manger that we might have a Mansion;
He became human that we might be partakers of His divine nature;
He became poor that we may be rich;
He had no home that we might have an Eternal Home;
He became a servant that we might be Kings and Priests;
He became sin that we might be righteous; He was condemned that we might not be condemned;
He became weary that we might have rest;
He was wounded for our transgressions that we might have eternal forgiveness;
He bore our chastisements that we might have Peace with God;
He bore our stripes in His own body that we might be healed;
He was cut off that we might be made nigh;
He was stripped that we might be clothed;
He became a curse that we might inherit the Blessing;
He was forsaken that we might be loved;
He died that we might live;
He lives that we might not die (the second death);
He went into the realm of darkness to bring us into light;
He was rejected that we might be accepted;
He was silent that we might testify of Him;
He cried, I thirst, that He might give us Living Water;
His foot-steps were heavenly that we might walk in His steps;
He sanctified Himself that we might be sanctified; on the cross He said, It is finished, that we might finish the work
He gave us to do;
He went into glory that we might follow him there;
He is interceding for us that we might intercede for others;
He went to prepare a place for us, and he wants us ready to occupy when He comes after us.
Dear saints, are we ready? God help us to fight the good fight of faith.— G. E. Harmon. Faith and Victory 1939
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God’s Church is Not a Sect. Faith and Victory July 1938
The Church of God is not a sect, as God makes no sects. Sects are formed by men aided by the spirit of Satan. Men organize themselves together under certain rules and doctrines and give themselves a name calling their organized body the Church, and people join them something similar to the Lodges of the world. Sinners join them if they are somewhat moral and will make a profess on, pay their dues or assessments or come under their law or rule of giving a tenth.
The true Church of God or “Family of God” is vastly different from the “ Man-made worldly Churches” insomuch that it is organized by God only, and one can only become a member by being born of the Spirit and will only retain their membership by continuing to live free from sin and walk in the light of his word. They consecrate to God and to him only and the.r rules and doctrines are the whole Bible and when he gives them more light and knowledge they are free to walk in it, having no man made bands and straps on them. Jesus is the door and he takes in those that should be in and puts out those that should be put out and he makes no errors.
We are born into God’s Family or Church ly a spiritual birth even as children are born into literal families by a literal birth. We take the Father’s name, “ Church of God” or “ Family of God” just as the earthly child takes its parent's name. (John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. and Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, We retain our sonship with God just as long as we do not sin and do no evil. When we sin and do evil and die spiritually we are only counted in the family as a dead child, even as a literal child when it dies and is buried’ it is no more in the family, but is only known as a dead child.
Satan loves for people to join sects and take upon themselves a profession of religion. He encourages them in those things and has great personally attractive preachers that teach many good things and say many fair speeches and seem to be great lovers of the Bible. They go after numbers and have large crowds with a profession traveling the broad way to destruction. -------- L.D.Pruitt.
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