shade’s disclaimer:  I have noticed a pattern of excellent resource material being available on the Internet one day and then gone the next.  This page was originally taken from http://home.maine.rr.com/waco/wscn.html and transferred here to preserve it.  I have fixed minor typos where obvious but otherwise have left this as is.  This epistle bears a striking resemblance to Koresh’s sermon on Joel/Daniel 11; I am unclear if one is an edit of another, Koresh worked from a script formula, or what—and I’m too lazy to do a line-by-line comparison.

 

The Teachings of David Koresh

Letter To The Wisconsin Brethren

Transcription by Mark Swett

Dear Brother Steve and friends, this is Vernon speaking. I’m very thankful that we’re able in these days to have the wonderful messages of truth, and we’re going to share at this present time with you the understanding God has given in regard to the writings of the prophets. Brethren in Wisconsin, Revelation Chapter 10. If you’ll turn with me in your Bibles to this chapter - let’s see what the Bible is saying. For those of you who wish confirmation in these statements from Sister White, I’d like to refer you to Second Selected Messages page 52 where Sister White says: Those who not accept the word of God just as it reads will be snared in the devil’s trap. So, that’s the statement I want to read from Ellen White at this season.

Now, Revelation Chapter 10. What is the lesson to be taught there. John witnesses a mighty angel come down form heaven clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. Notice this messenger from heaven is a messenger of magnitude. Why is it that he is in such garments as these: the clouds, face as the sun, rainbow upon his head, feet a pillars of fire. For those who inquire - the answer that I can give you is found in Deuteronomy Chapter 32 which begins God speaking: My doctrine shall drop as the rain and shall distil as the dew. God’s truth, God’s word is holy an perfect. We know that don’t we. God has a message for the last days. It’s called the refreshing from the presence of the Lord. People are familiar with Joel 2: 28 which God promises the former and latter rain. This is a message of truth which is to be given to God’s people that they may know the work that God has prepared for them to do. But notice how it comes.

An angel is sent from heaven. OK. Are we to believe an angel from heaven? Well, notice this angel - verse two: and he had in his hand a little book opened. What do we think that book is? Could it be the Bible? Could it be the book of Daniel as Adventists believe? For sake of argument it might even be the book of Obadiah. There’s only one chapter in that book, and that’s definitely a little book isn’t it? But regardless of the point, we know that whatever the angel has to present is found - contained in a little book: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot upon the earth, and he cried with a loud voice as when a lion roarrth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. Now notice. If we could really witness an angel it would wake us up wouldn’t it? Or would it? Christ stated that if they believe not Moses and the prophets though one rose from the dead they would not believe. So, if somebody rose from the dead and we would not believe, I think it hard that we would even believe if an angel came from heaven. But notice; when the angel cried as when a lion roareth, seven thunders uttered their voices. Whatever the message is about - that little book - it’s designed to wake us up. Seven thunders - what more could God uses to shake his people that they may know his purpose as written in the book. And when the seven thunders verse four, had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. Now notice. Seven thunders - uttered and yet sealed. John the revelator was not permitted to reveal this truth about the book, which means simply to us today that there is a message, or a truth contained in the book, which God has not permitted his people to fully understand. And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, the earth and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer. Now, we as Seventh Day Adventists understand this to refer to prophetic time.

But who has the right to say that when itself does not say that. The scripture in its context says time no longer. No longer referring to what. The Book? The seven thunders? What is this mystery about the seven thunders that John was not permitted to write? Well, verse seven explains by stating: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel - not the third angel, not the fourth, fifth, or sixth. But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. Now notice. Brethren in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, you have proclaimed for years that you are presenting this message to the world. But notice. Do you know the writings of the prophets? Can you harmonize and chronicalize all that they have spoken in the message for the seventh angel? You, as well as I, must admit that you have not this ability. The book of Daniel is definitely a little book, but it contains twelve chapters. Whereas I know of many books of the Old Testament dealing with prophecy have far less chapters then twelve. They have far far less chapters. But here is the key. Whatever the mystery may or may not be, it is found in the writings of the prophets because God has declared to them. And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto to me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is opened in the hands of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, [eat it] Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be sweet in thy mouth sweet as honey. And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up, and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. Now, what book of the Bible do you think possibly could be considered a small book, and be bitter in the belly? Well, you know the book of Obadiah for instance, it talks about Esau. Esau had an eating problem. But, the book turns out to be a good book when it states that on Mt. Zion shall come forth saviours which shall judge the mount of Esau. Well, that reminds me of Revelation Chapter 14 where there will be a 144,000 on Mt. Zion at a specific time, at a specific place, in a specific manner. But this is just my thoughts. But nevertheless, what the scripture has emphasized that in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, the mystery of God shall be finished as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. John is commanded to take this book and eat it up, and in his mouth it is sweet, but the effect of the book is bitter in the belly. And he said unto me, thou must prophecy again. That’s the bitter experience. We have not understood the writings of the prophets. We have not eaten the book, but once upon eating it, we find that there is a responsibility, because the prophecies explain what God’s people must and must not do in the latter days to be saved - before many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings. Was there a second angel’s message? Was there a third? Yes. But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, the mystery of God should be finished as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. Now for our study let’s simply go back to the writings of the prophets. But, see that there is a far gap between my understanding and individuals understandings pertaining to the prophecies.

Let’s begin with the Book of Daniel. Let’s review all that we have learned about Daniel. We know that Daniel was one of the captives taken by King Nebuchadneezer according to the fulfillment of Isaiah Chapter 39. Isaiah told King Hezekiah that his son’s - his seed - would be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. This was a fulfillment of prophecy. Daniel was told, in the second chapter, the history of the world relating to the kingdoms of Babylon, Medio-Persia, Greece, and Rome. But according to the prophecies of Daniel, additional light came.

The additional light referred to more complex events; like for instance in the seventh chapter of Daniel. Daniel beheld the four winds striving upon the great sea, and he saw four empires rise up. But, instead of being symbolized as a man’s image: with a head of gold, arms of silver, belly of brass, legs of iron, feet part of iron and part of clay - he witnessed in this vision the same kingdoms that had been illustrated as beasts - beast kingdoms: lion, the bear, the leopard, and the eagle. This is the burden of the seventh chapter. We find that he was given additional information about future events in the eighth chapter. In the ninth chapter, even again, Daniel is given certain prophetic events which must be understood. Now people say to me consistently, “Vernon, why is it you don’t talk about the Gospel?” “How come you always want to talk about prophecy?” Well, you see, prophecy, Peter tell us, is a light that shines in a dark place. Now, how would you have liked to have been Cyrus the King of Persia who came according to prophecy, and understood the prophecies, and demanded that Gath be returned to the land, and yet they did not because they did not fully understand the prophecies. How would you like to have been Alexander the Great who died a death because simply he was fulfilling prophecy, and knew not the day of his visitation. How would you like to be the Jews, who did not fully understand the significance of Daniel Chapter 9 - so that when the Messiah came, he found them unprepared for his Gospel, and yet today, we ourselves are in a period of time where we don’t even understand the prophecies.

Revelation 10 is the Messiah to us - that mighty angel who comes down bears the word of the Lord, and states that in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, the mystery of God will be finished as he hath declared to who? His servants the prophets. For instance, let’s take a look at Daniel Chapter10, verse 19. That is Gabriel speaking to Daniel and say’s: O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I had been strengthened, and said, Let my Lord speak; for thy hast strengthened me. Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. But I will show thee, [Gabriel tells Daniel,] that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince. Now notice, Gabriel is to teach Daniel in the eleventh chapter that which is noted already in the scripture of truth. What books were available to Daniel in his day? Well, take notice that in Revelation - excuse me - Daniel Chapter 9, we find that Daniel was studying the Book of Jeremiah. This is found in the second verse of Chapter 9. Daniel’s whole prayer in the ninth chapter is based upon the deliverance of God’s people out of Babylon - to be restored back into their land. What we see here, whatever may be contained in the eleventh chapter, Gabriel explains clearly that the mystery is simply that he will now show unto Daniel that which is noted in the scripture of truth. So, the Book of Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, Obadiah, Jeremiah - such books were written way before the Book of Daniel was written . What great mysteries contained therein? We are not going to belabor this chapter. What we’re going to simply do is cover some simple ground to make people think, or at least to try to make people think, that they may hunger and thirst after truth as it is Christ. Notice - we see the work of the king of the north as being a work that takes place all the way from the time of Messiah to the end of the world. Now, no man has really lived that long, but we know there has been a power in the world who has inspired man to do his bidding, as there is a power in heaven, who by the Holy Ghost inspires man to do his bidding. So, the power between good and evil has been a consistent war of variance since the beginning of time.

But notice about the king of the north. We find out in verse 40: and at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships: and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. Now what does this verse mean? Well, at the time of the end, this king of the south, whoever he may or may not be, is going to push at who? Him - referring to the king of the north - verse forty Chapter 11. That’s what it say’s: at the time of the end shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, with horsemen, and with many ships: and he shall enter into the countries, [not just one country but many] and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown. Now notice verse forty-two. This northern kingdom, or king of the north, enters into the glorious land. What is the glorious land? Well, many people believe it to be Palestine or Israel. And this must be so, because the next verse says: many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. Well, clearly the glorious land must be Israel, because these nations of Edom, Moab, and Ammon are now known as the Arab countries. Now notice. He shall stretch for his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt [which is a southern country] shall not escape. But he,[ referring to the king of the north verse thirty-three] shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps [even the parts of North Africa]. Now notice. Let’s review. From verses forty to verse forty-three what do we find? The time of the end - this king of the south pushes at the king of the north. The king of the north in turn comes against the king of the south like a whirlwind. He overflows the countries, and many shall be overthrown by him. He goes into Palestine, or the glorious land, but the Arab countries escape. He even goes and stretches forth his hand against Egypt - and he has all the power of gold, and silver, and treasure, and the precious things of Egypt. But tidings - verse forty-four - states, or news out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him. That’s important information to know. After the king of the north has apparently done away with all of these kingdoms, he hears these tidings eastward and from the north: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and to utterly make away many [or utterly take away many] . Who does he want to take away? Well, let’s find out. He [the king of the north] shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas - what seas? Remember now, the glorious land is Israel - so we have the Mediterranean and the Persian, right? In the glorious holy mountain. What holy mountain? Yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. Now, people say, “Well, why do I have to worry about that?” “I believe in Jesus.” Well, now notice - Chapter 12 verse1: And at that time. At what time? The time he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain. 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 unto that same time: and at time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that is found written in the book. Now brethren, honestly before God. If we do not know the events that are foretold by Christ’s own testimony - which Revelation 19 tell us; the testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy - then we can be assured that our name is not in that book, because how can we fulfill that which we know not. The Pharisees fulfilled prophecy. They killed the Son of God did they not. They did, because they knew not the truth pertaining to the events of their day.

But here is a prophecy that tells us about the king of the north, and it also tells us about these tidings of which the king of the north hears - makes him go forth with fury to utterly take away many. Now notice, at this time Michael stands up, Chapter 12 verse one says clearly. Verses two of Chapter 12: and many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Not only will many of the righteous be raised, but many of the wicked likewise. Revelation says they shall see him whom they have pierced. Now, notice verse three: And they that be wise [the margin says teachers] shall shine as the brightness of the firmament: and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. That’s good good news. Don’t you think it’s important to know who the king of the north is? Don’t you think it’s important to know why he goes into Palestine for? And who he tries to take away? Now notice verse four Chapter 12. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even unto the time of the end: [this book’s been sealed even to the time of the end] many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. That’s a sign we can see today isn’t it? Then I Daniel looked, and behold there stood other two. Other two people were there listening to this message, right? Watch. The one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on the other side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? It’s a mystery. How long will it be? Verse seven: And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven. Not like the angel of Revelation Chapter 10 who holds up one hand, right? This angel holds up both hands: and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever that it shall be for a time, [which is one year] times, and a half. That say’s three and one half years, isn’t it? And when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people... Now wait a second. Who is the he brought to view in this verse. Can anybody guess. Notice in Chapter 11 verse forty-four: But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with a great fury to destroy, and to utterly make away many [ or make away many]. Verse seven, Chapter 12: time, times, and half the time, and when he [the king of the north] shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. Now wait, the king of the north goes into Palestine. He hears tidings out of the east and out of the north which trouble him. He goes forth to utterly take away many, and he sets up his tabernacles between the seas and the glorious holy mountain. He goes to scatter the what! Holy people. Which means the holy people at this time must be where? The glorious land. Which is where? Palestine. Now notice: And I heard, [verse eight] but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. So, how can we be wise if we do not know these prophecies and what they really mean? Key - and from the time of the daily, the word sacrifice being in funny looking letters there means that it was added by the translators, though it was not a part of the original Hebrew text. So we read it as this: And from the time that the daily shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety-days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred five and thirty days. But go thy way till the end be: thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

Now as Adventists, it’s taught that this refers to the prophecies relating to the twelve hundred sixty, and the thirteen hundred thirty-five days - each day for a year. But, there is no where in this Bible that it states - for the prophecy of Daniel 11 and 12 - that God is given a day for a year. It does state that it is a time, times, and a half which is three and one half years. We obtain that from the third and fourth chapter of Daniel where it talks about Nebuchadneezer being a tree saying that; seven times shall pass over him, which was seven years. But, in this prophecy, no where can we obtain as a rule by faith - a day for a year - any true theological facts relating this time period; except it is literal days. And notice - there was nobody that arose from the graves in 1844 was there. Neither good or bad. The only people who were delivered in the book were those who were a part of the judgment of the dead. Let’s review. From verse forty to verse forty-five of Chapter 11 - the time of the end. The king of the south pushes against the king of the north. Verse forty-one - the king of the north goes into the glorious land - the Arab countries: Edom , Moab, and Ammon escape. Verse forty-two: He shall set forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. Egypt is also taken into captivity by this northern army. Then verse forty-three, note that the army has plenty of finances - plenty of money. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt. Now - even parts of North Africa shall be within his reach. That’s where all the gold and silver and oil is, isn’t it? Verse forty-four - but he hears something: tidings out of the east and north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to utterly take away many. He tries to plant the tabernacles of his palace, or miniature headquarters, between the seas, Mediterranean, Persian Gulf, in the glorious holy mountain which would be what mountain? Well, how about Mt. Zion in Jerusalem? Yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. Why? Chapter 12, verse one: And at that time shall Michael stand up and deliver God’s people from the king of the north. We need to understand these things. Read this prophecy over and over and over again. And these people that are to be delivered are to wait 1,290 days - within what period? Well, time, times and a half is 3 1/2 years, but how can this prophecy be harmonized perfectly with the prophecies of today. Well, Revelation 10 states: that in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, the mystery of God shall be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

Let’s look into the book of Joel and see what wisdom God has placed there that we might understand these things; as God has given each messenger a portion of the truth we must harmonize each prophecy of the Bible that we may know the whole truth and be prepared to be delivered, because we are written in the book. If we are the ones who fulfill prophecy in these days then it is God who has spoken of us long ago that through the writings of the prophets God may foreknow us by the spirit of prophecy. If we do not fulfill God’s word we are not written in this book, but if we fulfill that which is written we are in God’s book as assurety, we are children of light.

Joel Chapter 1, verse one: The word of the Lord that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. That which the palmerworm hath left the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten.

Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth. Now, here are five verses that we have read. Remember what Sister White says in Second Selected Messages: take the word as it reads. Here’s a prophecy in which the prophet sees a time that he asks that old men to give ear and to hear. Something has taken place which has never taken place in their days. But, they are yet to keep it as memorial to tell the future generations. There is utter famine in verse four. These bugs have eaten all of the food. Verse five - the drunkards weep, because you see the wine, and the new wine is cut off from your mouth. Why? Verse six explains: For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. What has this nation done. Verse seven tell us: He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree. In the margin it says - for bark laid my fig tree bare. He hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white. So, we see that God has permitted a nation to come upon his land, and has taken away all the food, and the burden of the prophet is this; has this been in your days? Yeah, sure there is no wine. The new wine is cut off, because this nation has come up and destroyed - wasted verse seven says - wasted the vine, and barked the fig tree. So, what does God admonish his people to do. Verse eight: Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth. The meat offering, and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the Lord; the priests, the Lord’s ministers, mourn. Now in the margin - for meat it says oblation or bread offering - the bread and the wine. Notice verse10: The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth. There is nothing to eat for these people. These people that are fulfilling this prophecy - a nation has come upon the land that they are inhabiting, and it has made them utterly hungry. Notice: Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished. See, nothing to eat. No wheat means no flour, no flour no bread, no barley, no grain, no wine, no fig trees, no food. Isn’t that what it’s saying brethren in Wisconsin.


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