Panorama of Prophecy: Episode 15 | “Widows of Heaven” | Doug Batchelor
Bible Questions:
00:00 – Intro
06:58 – How many people witnessed the accession of Jesus into Heaven, and did He go into the Holy Place or the Most Holy Place?
08:50 – Why did God curse the Serpent? Was the Serpent a knowing participant with Satan, or just at the wrong place at the wrong time?
09:43 – Please explain the phrase: “Many are called, but few are chosen”
12:10 – 2 Peter 2 verse 9 says that the Wicked are reserved under punishment. Doesn’t that mean that they are in Purgatory or Hell until Judgment?
16:19 – If the Holy City is 375 miles around, it seems like that is relatively small and not many people will be saved. Is that correct?
17:26 – Can you please share some Bible texts to confirm that people would burn depending on the life that they had, and the sins that they had committed?
18:31 – Why will we judge men and Angels during the Millennium if Jesus has already judged everyone by then?
19:52 – What does it mean when Paul mentions the Letter and Spirit of the Law? What is the meaning in 2 Corinthians 3 verse 6 when it says: “The Letter Kills”
21:40 – Did Joshua conquer Jericho on the Sabbath?
22:50 – What does it mean by “writing the Law in our hearts”?
24:25 – How should a Christian treat a toxic person in their life?
26:30 – Is there a record in the Bible of the 12 Disciples getting Baptized?
27:15 – Can you ask for Forgiveness ahead of time?
32:51 – Sermon – “Windows of Heaven”
Video Source
I keep praying about learning to love my neighbor. I can't even love my family unconditionally when I feel they pretend to love my Jesus just to keep me helping them out! I need prayers thank you!
Yes, l can testify all that the Heavenly Father in the name of His son Jesus and the Holy Spirit my life of work has been transformed!
Am so blessed with this sermon. God bless you more and your ministry, Pastor Doug!
I am very old and am just learning these things. I am not SDA, but am headed there. Your teachings are so deep. Not always comfortable. I did not realize till I was introduced to it and began to really study the Word of God, that accepting Christ was a total commitment.
The Offerings of the Lord the SECOND TITHE!
The children of Israel are our ensamples, that while we should imitate their faithfulness and virtues,
we should shun those sins which brought the displeasure of God upon them. {RH, July 10, 1879 par. 13}
The Second Tithe and Its Object.
To promote the assembling of the people for religious service, as well as to provide for the poor, a
second tithe of all the increase was required. Concerning the first tithe, the Lord had declared, "I
have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel." Numbers 18:21. But in regard to the second He
commanded, "Thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which He shall choose to place
His name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and
of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always." Deuteronomy 14:23, 29;
16:11-14. This tithe, or its equivalent in money, they were for two years to bring to the place where
the sanctuary was established. After presenting a thank offering to God, and a specified portion to
the priest, the offerers were to use the remainder for a religious feast, in which the Levite, the
stranger, the fatherless, and the widow should participate. Thus provision was made for the thank
offerings and feasts at the yearly festivals, and the people were drawn to the society of the priests
and Levites, that they might receive instruction and encouragement in the service of God. Every
third year, however, this second tithe was to be used at home, in entertaining the Levite and the
poor, as Moses said, "That they may eat within thy gates, and be filled." Deuteronomy 26:12. This
tithe would provide a fund for the uses of charity and hospitality. {PP 530.2}/{PH148 7.2}
The system of sacrifices and offerings was a most expensive one to ancient Israel. Continual offerings
were to be made. But God required nothing less of them, and they did it willingly. Men in our day,
who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ, and yet who choose to gratify self and increase their
possessions rather than render to God that which he requires of them in tithes, in offerings, and in
gifts, and in giving themselves to his service, are inexcusable. The more we do in the cause of our
Master, the more we have to do with, and the greater will be our willingness and pleasure in doing.
{ST, July 15, 1880 par. 7}
One of the means which God has ordained for the advancement of his cause in the world is to bless
men with property. He gives them the sunshine and the rain. He causes vegetation to flourish. He
gives health, and ability to acquire means. All our blessings come from his bountiful hand. In turn he
would have men and women show their gratitude by returning him a portion in tithes and offerings,-
-in thank-offerings, in freewill-offerings, in trespass-offerings. Should means flow into the treasury
in accordance with this divinely appointed plan,-
a tenth of all the increase, and liberal offerings,-there would be an abundance to carry forward the Lord's work. {RH, February 2, 1911 par. 16}
Those who have been made partakers of the grace of God should not be slow to show their
appreciation of that gift. They should not look upon the tithe as the limit of their liberality. The
Jews were required to bring to God numerous offerings besides the tithe; and shall not we who
enjoy the blessings of the gospel, do as much to sustain God's cause as was done in the former, less favored dispensation? None should forget to make thank-offerings and free-will offerings to God,
that through their instrumentality the precious light that they have received may be borne to others
just as worthy as themselves. {RH, August 24, 1886 par. 10}
God has made an absolute reservation of a specified portion of our time and our means. To ignore
these claims is to rob God. Christians boast that their privileges far exceed those of the Jewish age.
Shall we then be content to give less to the cause of God than did his ancient people? The tithe
was but a part of their liberalities. Numerous other gifts were required besides the free-will offering,
or offering of gratitude, which was then, as now, of perpetual obligation. {RH, May 16, 1882 par. 29}
God called for men in the Mosaic dispensation to give the tenth of all their increase. He committed
to their trust the things of this life, talents to be improved and returned to him again. He has
required a tenth, and this he claims as the very least that man should return to him. He says, I give
you nine-tenths, while I require one-tenth; that is mine. When men withhold the one-tenth they rob
God. Sin offerings, peace offerings, and thank offerings, were also required in addition to the tenth
of the increase. {RH, August 25, 1874 par. 43}
The liberality of the Jews in their offerings for religious purposes might well be imitated by
Christians. If tithes and offerings were required thousands of years ago, they are much more
essential now. The labors of God's servants were then confined almost wholly to the land of
Palestine; but the apostles and their successors were commissioned to preach the gospel
throughout the world. The people of this dispensation are favored with greater light and blessing
than were the Jews; therefore they are placed under even greater obligation to honor God and to
advance his cause. {ST, January 10, 1884 par. 19}
Ministers have stood directly in the way of the work of God in Ohio. They should stand out of the
way, that God may reach His people. They step in between God and His people, and turn aside His
purposes. Brother J has exerted an influence in Ohio which he must labor to counteract. I saw that
there were those in Ohio who would take the right position with right instructions. They have been
willing to sustain the cause of present truth, but have seen so little accomplished that they have
become discouraged. Their hands are feeble, and need staying up. I saw that the cause of God is not
to be carried forward by pressed offerings. God does not accept such offerings. This matter is to be
left wholly to the people. They are not to bring a yearly gift merely, but should also freely present a
weekly and monthly offering before the Lord. This work is left to the people, for it is to be to them
a weekly, monthly, living test. This tithing system, I saw, would develop character, and manifest the
true state of the heart. If the brethren in Ohio have this matter presented before them in its true
bearing, and are left to decide for themselves, they will see wisdom and order in the tithing system.
{1T 237.1}
But there has been a great neglect of duty. Many have withheld means which God claims as His,
and in so doing they have committed robbery toward God. Their selfish hearts have not given the
tenth of all their increase, which God claims. Neither have they come up to the yearly gatherings
with their freewill offerings, their thank offerings, and their trespass offerings. Many have come
before the Lord empty-handed. "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me…….., that there shall
not be room enough to receive it." {3T 510.2} Sin will rest upon us as a people if we do not make
most earnest efforts to ascertain those who have donated to the different enterprises who are too
poor to give anything. All that they, in the liberality of their souls, have given should be returned to
them with an additional gift to relieve their necessities. The raising of money has been carried to
extremes. It has left a bad impression on many minds. Making urgent calls is not the best plan of
raising means. There has been manifested an indifference to investigate the cases of the poor and make returns to them, that they should not suffer for the necessaries of life. A neglect of our duty in
this respect, of becoming acquainted with the necessities of the needy and of relieving their pressing
wants by returning means which has been given to advance the cause of God, would be on our part
a neglect of our Saviour in the persons of His saints. {3T 510.3}
The Claim of Redemption
Tithes and offerings for God are an acknowledgment of His claim on us by creation, and they are
also an acknowledgment of His claim by redemption. Because all our power is derived from Christ,
these offerings are to flow from us to God. They are to keep ever before us the claim of redemption,
the greatest of all claims, and the one that involves every other. The realization of the sacrifice made
in our behalf is ever to be fresh in our minds and is ever to exert an influence on our thoughts and
plans. Christ is to be indeed as one crucified among us. {6T 479.1}