Digging For Truth

The Shaking

A study of      Zechariah 6: 1 - 8

Author:  Stephen Connor

  

   So, what will cause the shaking??  We have help from the prophet to help Modern Israel in these last days.  Ellen White wrote:

•   I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God’s people.   {EW 270.2}
•   I saw that the testimony of the True Witness has not been half heeded. The solemn testimony upon which the destiny of the church hangs has been lightly esteemed, if not entirely disregarded. This testimony must work deep repentance; all who truly receive it will obey it and be purified.  {EW 270.3}

          “It is the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of the third angel.”  {EW 271.2}

  Just what is this increased light of the latter rain?  Righteousness by faith.  It means dying to self.  Understanding that we have no righteousness of our own.

   Isaiah 64:6   But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

  Let’s turn to Exodus 40:34,35  “Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.  And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.”

Note that there was not room in the tabernacle for Moses!  Remember Jesus’ words in 1Corin 3:16   Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If the Lord dwells in us, there is not room for us!  

By faith, He will actually impart His righteousness in us.  His righteousness will work through our members.  So it is He who does the works!  Our job is to not resist His leading.  It is He who obeys the law.  Just as He gave His Ten Commandment promises.  The reason we keep His commandments is not because we work them.  He keeps His law in us because we do not resist His righteousness, His leading.  He would not have us commit murder.  He would not lead us to commit adultery!  He keeps the law in our members because we do not resist Him.  The Good News of the true gospel message is that He has done it all.  

And He is cleansing the sanctuary.  We have a part in that cleansing…….By not resisting His righteousness, we do not add more sin!  If not for His righteousness the sanctuary could never be cleansed!  There would always be added sin.

Revelation 14:12   Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Satan, of course, has a counterfeit for every movement of God.
While we struggle inside the church with unbelief, Satan is bringing in deceptions such as the ‘spiritual formation’ movement.

Spiritual Formation: A movement that has provided a platform and a channel through which contemplative prayer is entering the church. Find spiritual formation being used, and in nearly every case you will find contemplative spirituality. In fact, contemplative spirituality is the heartbeat of the spiritual formation movement.

Contemplative Spirituality: A belief system that uses ancient mystical practices to induce altered states of consciousness (the silence) and is rooted in mysticism and the occult but often wrapped in Christian terminology. The premise of contemplative spirituality is pantheistic (God is all) and panentheistic (God is in all). Common terms used for this movement are "spiritual formation," "the silence," "the stillness," "ancient-wisdom," "spiritual disciplines," and many others.

Seventh Day Adventist ministers are invited by the SDA Conferences to attend Willow Creek for this indoctrination!!  Willow Creek Association is an international, evangelical Christian association that runs workshops, conferences, and one large annual conference. According to one article, "Seventh-day Adventist pastors and church members have been attending these conferences for years".    (Byrd, Alita (January 1998). "The Year of SDA Congregationalism" (PDF). Spectrum (Roseville, California: Adventist Forums) 26 (4): 3–10. ISSN 0890-0264. Retrieved 2008-08-06.)

A recent issue of the Review and Herald contains an article describing EG White as a ‘mystic’!

     Let’s look at the prophesy of Zechariah 6:1-8.  Here we also find evidence of “the shaking”.

And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came for chariots out from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of brass.     Zechariah  6: 1

 

   What do the Mountains Represent?  - -  "But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."     Micah 4:1, 2

   Here we see that in the last days, God's church is likened unto a mountain.

The fact that there are two mountains with a valley in between from which the chariots come, distinctly show us that these two mountains must represent God's church in two different periods of time when His church could be symbolized as a strong and durable mountain, We must remember that God never has more than one true church at a time.

   Brass is pure, free from defects.  Articles made from brass are free from dirt, gas and other defects.  Has God ever had a church fitting this description?

• "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:1- 4.

   Thus we see that the first brass mountain fittingly represents the early Apostolic church in her purity. Logic would lead us to conclude that if the first brass mountain represents God's church at a time when the church was strong and durable, able to withstand the storms of persecution and endowed with the Pentecostal power of the Holy Spirit, then in order to be consistent we would have to conclude that the second brass mountain must also represent God's church at a time when she will again be endowed with this same power.

   It is evident that the perfect state of the church here predicted is still in the future;"  Early Writings, p 140. 
   "God's servants must, by laboring together with Christ, roll away the curse that has made the church so lukewarm. [Rev. 3:15-19 quoted.]  7 Bible Commentary p. 966, E.G. White.

This valley then must symbolize the history of the church from the time when the Apostolic church's purity began to wane until the time when the Lord purifies the seventh church (Laodicea), when she shall go forth conquering and to conquer (Prophets and Kings p. 725), becoming the church triumphant (Testimonies to Ministers p. 47), the church in whom Christ character will be perfectly reproduced (Christ's Object Lessons p. 69), thus ushering in the period of the Second Brass Mountain.

• In the first chariot [were] red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;  Zechariah 6:2 
• And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. Zech 6:3 
• Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? Zech 6:4  
• And the angel answered and said unto me, These [are] the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.  Zechariah 6:5 

   For a church in the work of gathering souls, the most fitting symbol is a "chariot," and for its leadership, naturally "horses".

   As symbols to illustrate various lessons, horses are quite prominently employed in the Scriptures, being in every instance perfectly adapted, of course, to the circumstance or situation. In this connection, they represent people (the leaders of the church), for the sounding of their "bells" is "HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD;" whereas "The spasmodic, fitful movements of some who claim to be Christians is well represented by the work of strong but untrained horses. When one pulls forward, another pulls back;" Testimonies to Ministers pp . 485, 490.

  The consecutive order of the chariots indicates a series of gospel events. " In the first chariot were red horses." That the color red stands for bloodshed, the Spirit of Prophecy bears out: "As we were traveling along, we met a company who also were gazing at the glories of the place. I noticed red as a border on their garments; their crowns were brilliant; their robes were pure white. As we greeted them, I asked Jesus who they were. He said they were MARTYRS that had been slain for Him." Early Writings pp. 18,19.

The red border on the garments of this company being symbolic of martyrdom, obviously, then, the red color of the "horses" denotes the martyred leaders of the church before 538 A.D.

The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.    Zechariah  6: 6

 

   The figurative significance of "black" is bondage, So as the martyrdom of the early Christian church was followed by the Dark Ages of religion, from 538 A. D to 1798 A. D., it is evident that the chariot with the black horses represents the church and its leadership during this long prophetic period in ecclesiastical Roman bondage. This fact is borne out by the angel's explanation of the horses' destination: "The black horses," he said, " . . . go forth into the north country. " And "the north country" is the Biblical term for ancient Babylon.

But as we are dealing with the fulfillment of prophecy in the New Testament era, the north country in this connection must be antitypical Babylon---Christianized Rome---where God's people during the New Testament period have gone.

Since Black is significant of bondage, then white, being the opposite of black, must denote Liberty. Accordingly, the white horses with their chariot must be symbolical of the church following her 1260 year period of Roman bondage. Said the angel to Zechariah: "The white go forth after" the Black Horses, to the north country. The white chariot therefore represents  a free church, carrying a heaven-born message to the north country shortly after 1798 A. D., in the time of religious liberty, after Protestantism had broken away from Papal Rome.

Then cried he unto me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.   Zechariah  6: 8

 

  After the warning message by the Millerite movement had been rejected by the churches, in the fulfillment of the words, "have quieted My Spirit in the north country, "God withdrew His Spirit from them. In evidence of this, "the second Angel" announced: "Babylon is fallen." Rev.14:8.

  Babylon at this time experienced only a moral fall. She does not completely fall until the time of the Loud Cry. See Great Controversy pp. 389-390

  The foregoing chain of facts surrounding the first three symbolical "chariots", shows that the series of gospel events which they comprehend terminated with the Millerite movement, in 1844 A.D., And the additional fact that the "white" color of the "horses" also denotes purity, show that the "third chariot" is symbolical of the church which of all the seven churches is the only one that is white, without condemnation --- the Philadelphia church (Rev. 3: 7).

  The Millerite, or "First Advent Movement," being the only one that never cast out any of its brethren, is consequently the only church which can be represented by the white chariot, and the only one worthy of the name "Philadelphia"---"brotherly love."

  Ever true to God, it closed its brief but spotless career in 1844, its appointed destination. Having lived its entire life under the personal supervision of its founder, it was never new-modeled. Thus being without condemnation, as perfectly illustrated by the third "chariot" and its "white horses," it stands out in bold relief (contrast)  to the succeeding movement represented by the fourth chariot.

  Since the first three "chariots" embrace the history of the church from the Early Christian Church up to 1844 A.D., the fourth one must represent a subsequent church organization-successor to the Millerite, or Philadelphia church. The last of "the seven churches, " the church of the "Laodiceans," necessarily, therefore, is the one symbolized by the "Fourth Chariot."

  Just as the name "Philadelphia" fits only one church organization, and only one of the chariots, so the name "Laodicean" can logically fit only one of the chariots and only one denomination. The word, itself, is derived from the Greek word, Lego-dikean, meaning, "declaring judgment." After the event of the Philadelphia church, there must therefore be a church declaring judgment. And it is a historical fact that in 1844 A.D., the very year the Millerite movement came to the end of its appointed course, a new movement, our Seventh-day Adventist denomination, arose, proclaiming: "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come." Rev. 14:7.

 Grisled  and  The  Bay  Horses  ---  Double  Leadership.

The fourth chariot, unlike the other three, has a double span of horses.

Just as the colors of the preceding horses are significant so the colors of this double team on this last chariot are also significant. The marginal reference in your Bible will tell you that the Bay horses are a strong team and indeed they must be as Zechariah tells us that they are the team that eventually wins out in their determination to go to and fro through the earth, Zech. 6:6,7.

A "grisled" color is not a definite hue or color It is an undefined color. In this setting the word "grisled could be synonymous with the word "Laodicea", "neither cold nor hot." Ministry and laity alike are warned that if we continue to remain in a "lukewarm" (grisled) condition that we will be spewed out. "Because you are lukewarm, I must spew you out of My mouth." 7 Bible Commentary p. 963, E. G. White.

Note the fact that the grisled span is not defined!  This makes them all the more successful at deception from within.  A good reason why Mrs. White insisted that we must search the scriptures for ourselves, not relying on pastors and other leaders for bible truth! 

  The Spirit of Prophecy forewarned us years ago that two parties would be developed in our church. "A new life is coming from heaven and taking possession of all God's people. But divisions will come in the church. Two parties will be developed. The wheat and tares grow up together for the harvest." 2 Selected Messages p. 114.

• “While the Lord brings into the church those who are truely converted, Satan at the same time brings person who are not converted into its fellowship. While Christ is sowing the good seed, Satan is sowing the tares. There are two opposing influences continually exerted on the members of the church. One influence is working for the purification of the church, and the other for the corrupting of the people of God."   Testimonies to Ministers, page 46

   Can we not see clearly the Two Classes of people today in our church as depicted by the grisled and bay team?

   In speaking of the ministry (horses), the servant of the Lord counseled us years ago that some of the ministry as well as the laity need to be converted. "Some ministers, as well as people, need converting. They need to be torn to pieces and made over new. Their work among the churches is worse than lost, and in their present weak, tottering condition, it would be more pleasing to God for them to cease their efforts to help others, and labor with their hands until they are converted. Then they could strengthen their brethren." Testimonies, Vol. 1 p. 37.

        "I tell you plainly, brethren, unless the ministers are converted, our churches will be sickly and ready to die....

   "When ministers realize the necessity of thorough reformation in themselves, when they feel that they must reach a higher standard, their influence upon the churches will be uplifting and refining.   "There are sinners in the ministry."  Testimonies to Ministers pp. 143, 145.

   "The work the Lord would do to set the churches in order is not done, because the individual members-and especially the leaders of the flock -- would not be corrected."    Selected Messages, Book 1,  p. 47.

Our object in quoting these statements as recorded in the Spirit of Prophecy is not to just criticize or to find fault with the ministry of our church but to simply point out the truth that we as a denomination have tares in the ministry as well as in the laity. We know the Lord has his faithful ministers as well as faithful laity. But Satan has also sown his tares among ministry and laity alike. Those ministers or leaders who prove to be faithful are represented by the "Bay" team.

     The   Paradox

Most arresting about the whole symbolism is the paradoxical fact that the grisled went "toward the south country, and the bay went forth, and ...walked to and fro through the earth"! Zech. 6:6,7. The grisled go one way, and the bay, another way, and yet both are pulling the same chariot.

The Scripture asks the question, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed"? Amos 3:3. The dissimilar teams hitched to the fourth chariot, each pulling in a different direction from the other, show not only that there is a Double Leadership in the Laodicean church, but also that the one is opposed to the other in character as well as in purpose. This condition being a strange one, the wise will well consider it. Seeing that the Word of God has spoken it, and that the symbolism perfectly describes the contest which, before their very eyes, is taking place, they will tenaciously take hold of the truth.

 Many years ago the servant of the Lord commented on this very condition, when she said: "I am filled with sadness when I think of our condition as a people. The Lord has not closed heaven to us, but our own course of continual backsliding has separated us from God. Pride, covetousness, and love of the world have lived in the heart without fear of banishment or condemnation. Grievous and presumptuous sins have dwelt among us. And yet the general opinion is that the church is flourishing and that peace and spiritual prosperity are in all her borders.

• "The church has turned back from following Christ her Leader and is steadily retreating toward Egypt. Yet few are alarmed or astonished at their want of spiritual power. Doubt, and even disbelief of the testimonies of the Spirit of God, is leavening our churches everywhere. Satan would have it thus. Ministers who preach self instead of Christ would have it thus. The testimonies are unread and unappreciated. God has spoken to you. Light has been shining from His word and from the testimonies, and both have been slighted and disregarded. The result is apparent in the lack of purity and devotion and earnest faith among us." Testimonies, Vol. 5 p. 217.

Thus we can see that the "south country" or Egypt, the direction into which the "grisled" team is headed is symbolical of the world. Just as ancient Israel while wandering in the wilderness, wanted to go back to Egypt, so modern Israel is walking in her foot steps today.
"The professed followers of Christ are no longer a separate and peculiar people....Daily the church is being converted to the world."  Christ's Object Lessons pp. 315,316.

  "I have been shown that the spirit of the world is fast leavening the church. You are following the same path as did ancient Israel. There is the same falling away from your holy calling as God's peculiar people. ...Your neglect to follow the light will place you in a more unfavorable position than the Jews upon whom Christ pronounced a woe." Testimonies, Vol. 5 pp. 75, 76.

Seeing that the chariot is drawn by both teams, each pulling in a different direction from the other,  obviously both cannot win out without breaking it in two, thus leaving it ruined and useless.  Seeing that the chariot is drawn by both teams, each pulling in a different direction from the other, one pair or the other, therefore, must be cut out of the traces. And the fact that the bay (the "strong horses"-verse 3, margin) are the ones who eventually will be enabled to "walk to and fro through the earth" while the grisled have attempted to take the chariot toward the south country (Egypt, the world), shows that the bay team during the Loud Cry, (the period of the second brass mountain) are to possess the chariot and to preach "this gospel of the kingdom...in all the-world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matt. 24:14.

The Spirit of Prophecy commenting on this particular time says: "Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers." Great Controversy p. 612.

• ". . . But the Lord will use in the accomplishment of His work means that we do not now see. He will raise up from among the common people, men and women to do His work, even as of old He called fishermen to be His disciples. There will soon be an awakening that will surprise many. Those who do not realize the necessity of what is to be done, will be passed by, and the heavenly messengers will work with those who are called the common people, fitting them to carry the truth to many places. Now is the time for us to awake and do what we can."  Loma Linda Messages p. 83. (The Paulson Collection of Ellen G. White Letters p. 319)

  "God will work a work in our day that but few anticipate. He will raise up and exalt among us those who are taught rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the outward training of scientific institutions....God will manifest that He is not dependent on learned, self-important mortals." Testimonies, Vol. 5 p. 82.

        What  Happens  to  the  Grisled  Team?

Since the Spirit of Prophecy tells us that "Only those who have withstood temptation in the strength of the Mighty One will be permitted to act a part in proclaiming it, the Third angel's message when it shall have swelled into the Loud Cry" (R&H Nov. 19, 1908), the question naturally arises, What Happens to the Grisled Team, to those who do not overcome temptation in the strength of the Mighty One?

• Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.  And it shall come to pass at that time, [that] I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil. Zephaniah 1:11,12   

   We found in our studies that when the Judgment for the living commences or just before the Loud Cry begins to be proclaimed that the Lord Himself commissions the five angels with slaughter weapons to go through the city (church) and slay all those who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads, men, women and little children perish together. See: Testimonies, Vol. 5 p. 211. In speaking of those who have ministered to others, the Spirit of Prophecy says: 

• "It is with reluctance that the Lord withdraws His presence from those who have been blessed with great light and who have felt the power of the word in ministering to others. They were once His faithful servants, favored with His presence and guidance; but they departed from Him and led others into error, and therefore are brought under the divine displeasure."  Testimonies, Vol. 5 p. 212. 

Thus we can clearly see that the Lord Himself will remove the grisled team.

"Angels keep a faithful record of every man's work, and as judgment passes upon the house of God, the sentence of each is recorded by his name, and the angel is commissioned to spare not the unfaithful servants, but to cut them down at the time of slaughter." Testimonies, Vol. 1, page 198

"When trees without fruit are cut down as cumberers of the ground, when multitudes of false brethren are distinguished from the true, then the hidden ones will be revealed to view, and with hosannas range under the banner of Christ. Those who have been timid and self-distrustful will declare themselves openly for Christ and His truth. The most weak and hesitating in the church will be as David -- willing to do and dare." Testimonies, Vol. 5 p. 81

The fulfillment of this prophecy will bring into being the Second Brass Mountain, God's purified remnant church. The hidden ones are brought to view when God purifies His church. They will be the first fruits of the final harvest, the 144,000 (the bay team).

“The great issue so near at hend (the purification of the church) will weed out those whom God has not appointed and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain . . ."  Selected Messages Book 3, p 385 ( Letter 55, 1886 )

Mrs. White wrote concerning the 1888 Most Precious Message that it was the beginning of the Latter Rain.  Thus we can see with the 144,000 as the Loud Cry ministry, the Second Brass Mountain will come into being.  Isaiah calls this pure, true, sanctified ministry, "the holy people". 

• "And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion," (after the purification of the church) "and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning." Isaiah 4:3,4.
•  "Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken." Isaiah 62:11,12.

                               also

And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.  Zechariah 6: 7

The grisled team has been cut off, so the bay team is able to go forward.
What is the Work that is Before this Holy People? (144,000, Bay Team)

“For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many."  Isaiah 66: 16 

Then In the next few verses Isaiah will tell us what happens to those who escape this slaying (those who receive the mark, or seal in their foreheads as recorded in Ezekiel 9:1-11).

“And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubul, and Javan, to the isles afaw off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory, and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children if Israel" (144,000) "bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord."  Isaiah 66: 19, 20  

Now we can clearly envisage a great ingathering of souls which will culminate in the establishment of the second brass mountain, the church which will perfectly reflect the image of Jesus. "When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own." Christ's Object Lessons p. 69.

Thus we can see that the Lord will use His pure, true, sanctified ministry, (the bay team, the 144,000 first-fruits) to garner in earth's final harvest, the great multitude of Revelation 7:9, the harvest John saw after he saw the sealing of the 144,000. "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;" Rev. 7:9.

The 144,000 are the Bay Team, those who are without fault before the throne of God (Rev. 14:5). They will eventually become the second brass mountain (the church triumphant). Being the nucleus of the second brass mountain, they will be . . . 

“Clad in the armor of Christ's righteousness, the church is to enter upon her final conflict. 'Fair as the moon, clear as the sub, and terrible as an army with banners' (Song of Solomon 6:10), she is to go forth into all the world, conquering and to conquer,"  Prophets & Kings, page 725  

 

  “It is our prayer that the hearer of this message be among those who will compose or make up the Bay Team, those who will have a part in proclaiming this message to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, under the power of the Holy Spirit. "Today you are to have your vessel purified, that it may be ready for the heavenly dew, ready for the showers of the latter rain; for the latter rain will come, and the blessing of God will fill every soul that is purified from every defilement. It is our work today to yield our souls to Christ, that we may be fitted for the time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord -- fitted for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. . . "  Evangelism, p. 702.

 

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