1 Corinthians 10:11, commentary and pictures

All that befell Israel in the wilderness happened as examples and was written for the admonition of those upon whom the ends of the world are come, that is, people living in the last days at the close of earth's history, that they not repeat Israel's disobedience, rebellion and unbelief. Though all were under the cloud and passed through the sea and ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink from Christ the Rock, God was not well pleased with many of them, and they were overthrown in the wilderness for lusting after evil things, idolatry, fornication, tempting Christ, and murmuring. Therefore he who thinks he stands must take heed lest he fall, flee idolatry, and remember that temptation is common but God is faithful to make a way to bear it, for no one is safe by position, strength or past standing. The ends of the world being come means this generation has the accumulated light of all past ages with greater dangers and greater responsibility than Israel faced, and must watch, remain sober, discern the signs, and prepare to stand in the day of God. God's people now stand as Israel stood on the borders of Canaan, repeating the same experience of murmuring and drawing back, so the faithful record of sins punished and devotion blessed must be prayerfully studied and personally heeded in humble obedience rather than applied to someone else.

Record Written for Admonition

All that happened to Israel in the wilderness happened as examples and was written for the admonition of those upon whom the ends of the world are come, that is, people living in the last days at the close of earth's history. Their disobedience, rebellion, punishment and death, their failures and judgments, were recorded to warn later generations not to repeat Israel's unbelief, sins, lusting after evil things, idolatry, fornication, tempting Christ, and murmuring, not to reject God's messages and wise arrangements, and not to presume security or safety from falling. Those now must remain separate from the world, heed the same commands given to ancient Israel, and live in humility and vigilance rather than confidence in their own standing. The adults who left Egypt were overthrown in the wilderness because they disregarded His commandments, their education in Egypt having left them vulnerable to temptation, idolatry and licentiousness, while God did not forsake Israel during its wanderings and their children were allowed to enter Canaan.

The coming of the ends of the world means the present generation lives with accumulated light from all past ages shining upon it, with dangers no less than Israel's and indeed greater, and therefore with greater responsibility. The judgments that fell on the guilty teach avoidance of transgression while the blessings given to the obedient encourage following God's way, and because believers possess this history of God's dealings anciently and presently, with His reproofs showing what He condemns and His commendation of faithful trust, solemn responsibility rests on them in the present crisis. Scripture's warnings, admonitions and promises are for those living at the end, so they must watch and remain sober rather than be caught unprepared, wake from spiritual sleep, and prepare to stand in the great day of God. These truths written for their instruction must be earnestly gathered, deeply studied, understood in the significance of events, obeyed so that the light shapes words and actions, and used to prepare others.

The prophets spoke less for their own time than for the present time and especially for the generation living amid the last scenes of this earth's history, ministering not to themselves but to the last generation, so their prophesying is in force now. All the past history of God's people — being under the cloud and passing through the sea, being baptized unto Moses, eating the same spiritual meat and drinking the same spiritual drink from Christ the Rock, yet being overthrown — together with everything God planned and did in Old Testament times as Christ's own instruction through creation, the pillar of cloud and holy men, and what Christ taught the disciples when He made the adorned temple a lesson book about the coming calamity upon Jerusalem and carried their minds forward to the close when not only nations but the whole world will be destroyed, was left as admonition for those upon whom the ends of the world are come, with lessons especially applicable to the present time. The Bible alone gives the needed evidence and counsel rather than the experience of men, bringing truth down from age to age unchanged with no part worn out or dead from old age, and the whole accumulated truth with all great events and solemn transactions repeating in the church is presented in force with new and increased light to profit believers, that they may walk uncontaminated as Enoch did, have the mind of Christ, follow the light with increased faith and earnest dependence on God, and live holy lives in keeping with the rich inheritance received. Those histories are not to be lost sight of or ignored because of lapse of time, for prophets and apostles meet and unite their witness to the sufferings of Christ and the glory to follow, and through representative patriarchs and prophets a flood of knowledge with the gospel in types and symbols and continually increasing light is concentrated in the last time to testify of Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, so that what happened before will happen again and His words of approval or disapproval sound down the line with eternal welfare depending on obedience.

The record faithfully preserves both sides without concealment, for omitting Israel's sins would weaken the lesson. The grievous sins of leading men with the reproof and punishment that followed, their weaknesses set down together with correction, and Israel's complaints, rebellion, repeated murmurings, miracles, idolatry, ingratitude and visitations of divine wrath were left on record for the benefit of after generations and more especially as warning to those living near the close of time, to teach avoidance of unbelief and escape from wrath. God caused a faithful delineation of character to be given of the best and greatest men as mortal and subject to temptation, giving little to extol their virtues and ascribing all victories and good works to God alone who is to receive glory, because man is only a feeble instrument and is continually disposed to depart, forget and worship the creature instead of the Creator, and this faithful history should inspire faith in the word of God as true. Their devotion, energy, generosity and faith are also recorded as examples to imitate, especially their cheerful willing freewill offerings for the tabernacle and for preparing a house where God may meet with them, teaching that those who prize His sacred presence and heavenly blessings will manifest zeal and liberality beyond that shown for earthly dwellings.

Israel's Sins and Judgments

Though all were under the cloud and passed through the sea and were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink from the spiritual Rock that followed them, which was Christ, God was not well pleased with many of them and they were overthrown in the wilderness. Their lusting after evil things, idolatry, fornication, tempting Christ, and murmuring brought destruction by plague, by serpents, and by the destroyer, and this was recorded as warning for those living at the ends of the world not to repeat those sins. Even those who think they stand must take heed lest they fall, must flee from idolatry, and must trust that God is faithful not to permit temptation beyond what can be borne but to make a way to bear it.

Fornication prevailed among Israel and brought marked divine displeasure, with judgments following close upon the sin when thousands fell and their polluted bodies were left in the wilderness. At Baal-peor joining with idolatrous nations brought destruction of all the men that followed Baal-peor and a plague in which twenty-four thousand died, until Phinehas by his zealous act turned away wrath. No one is safe by position or strength, for Satan knows the material of the human heart from thousands of years of study of the points most easily assailed in every character, and through successive generations he has overthrown the strongest men and princes in Israel by the same temptations that succeeded at Baal-peor, leaving wrecks of character stranded on sensual indulgence. As the close of time approaches he redoubles his efforts and lays snares for every soul, not only the ignorant and uncultured but those in the highest positions and most holy office, because by leading them to pollute their souls he can destroy many through them, tempting through worldly friendships, charms of beauty, pleasure-seeking, mirth, feasting, and the wine-cup to violation of the seventh commandment. When such corruption is revealed the church becomes responsible unless it makes a determined effort to eradicate the evil, for the facts regarding departure from God's commandments were to be repeated from time to time lest they be forgotten, because when God's people place themselves on a level with idolatrous nations they experience the sure results of their own choice.

The golden calf apostasy happened as an example of extremes and fanaticism in Satan's service, eating and drinking without thought of God and His mercy and without resisting the devil, with glee and dancing and hilarity and singing carried to infatuation that beguiles the senses, and indulgence in inordinate lustful affections. That idolatrous feast, reckless revelry, and shameful conduct dishonored God and became a shame in sight of the heathen. It warns end-time people to forsake sin because judgments are about to fall, while God in mercy still gives opportunity to repent.

The extended rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, led by two hundred and fifty princes of the congregation, men of renown, with all its objectionable features was faithfully chronicled and passed into history to admonish those upon whom the ends of the world are come. Rebellion must be called by its right name and apostasy by its right name, and genuine rebellion may become hopeless and incurable. The warning is against rising up against God's appointed servants and rejecting plain testimony that reproves wrong, against receiving Satan and rebelling from those who had seen the glory of God from the mount to members of the priesthood who opposed Moses while thinking they were opening a door of freedom for Israel, against following false prophets with their heresies, and against accepting Satan's deceptions and spurious holiness while taking the great leader of apostasy and naming him Christ our Righteousness. Such opposition can lead people to deceive themselves through deceptive reasoning and murmuring spreading like leaven and claiming all are holy, to defend harmful self-indulgence, to draw others into discord, and to fail to distinguish the voice of the true Shepherd from that of a stranger or the precious ore from the base material because they have not sunk the shaft deep into the mines of truth, while Satan who continually incited Israel to rebellion is even more active now, attacking first one and then another and succeeding when men are unguarded.

Achan's sin was written for instruction and admonition of those upon whom the ends of the world are come, showing that one man's sin charged upon the whole nation made all Israel weak, defeated, brought into contempt, with God's enemies triumphing and some soldiers slain, and God withdrawing His presence until the accursed thing was destroyed. God looks down with displeasure on the church when those who claim to be His representatives point by precept and example to earthliness and sensuality instead of purity and holiness, and individual sin stands charged in the books of heaven. Without humiliation of soul and true heart work in repentance, confession, and forsaking of sin, those engaged in such work will surely be lost, for the church must humble itself, seek out and address wrongdoing among its members, and do the work God requires rather than rely on prayer alone, protecting members in affliction from being wronged and acting with sympathy and practical help toward them.

Israel's murmurings at the bitter waters where Moses showed dependence on God as Leader and God made the waters sweet, at Rephidim, in the wilderness of Sin after the Red Sea, at the Red Sea itself, and at Kadesh with the evil report of the ten spies, wishing to die in Egypt and planning to return, then presumptuously going up without ark or presence to defeat at Hormah, happened as ensamples to admonish those upon whom the ends of the world are come. Though Israel was wonderfully preserved and precious in God's sight, and though God wonderfully manifested His power for them and ordered experiences like the Red Sea to lead them to trust Him in trying places, many lost faith in His leading, forgot the great things He had done, and murmured and complained when brought into strait places. God may lead His people into difficulty to test faith and loyalty and to teach them their need of His aid, and their emergency is an opportunity for Him to help them; they should remember His past goodness, wait patiently, trust His guidance, and go forward rather than respond with unbelief, self-sufficiency, murmuring, and complaints, for patient trust would have shortened their test. That history is being repeated today when many murmur and criticize while few help bear the burden of workers in hard places, discouraging them by criticism. Moses' failure to enter Canaan through angry smiting of the rock warns especially men in positions of trust what it means to become angry and show a spirit unworthy of a leader of God's people, warns those in God's service who give way to anger without the repentance Moses felt and brace themselves to follow an unchristian course from one wrong to another, and warns murmurers in the church who easily lose self-control, become irritated and provoke one another to evil when everything does not please them, showing they lack the light and love of God and give loose rein to an unsanctified irritable spirit when crossed, calling for diligent work for repentance.

Over appetite God led Israel out of Egypt to establish them pure, happy, healthy and righteous by discipline, largely removing flesh food and seeking to bring perverted appetite into a healthy state to enjoy the food given to Adam and Eve in Eden, which cheerfully followed would have kept feebleness and disease unknown among them and given their descendants physical and mental strength, clear perceptions of truth and duty, keen discrimination and sound judgment. Because they murmured at restriction and lusted after the flesh-pots of Egypt, God let them have flesh to their curse and they were overthrown in the wilderness, and through gratification of appetite Satan overthrew them so that nearly all who left Egypt died in the wilderness and did not enter Canaan, though Christ Himself was with Moses and Joshua to lead His chosen people there. Even Moses, the meek man, was tempted to take to himself the glory God claimed. Last-day people must therefore deny appetite, submit to God's health requirements, and not lust after evil things as Israel lusted, for backsliding from the principles of health reform by eating and drinking as people please repeats Israel's history and leads gradually to carelessness toward instruction on other phases of present truth, with the certain result of reaping as sown, while those who have received light must follow it in humility and obedience rather than disregard God's requirements, murmur, and choose their own way.

The record also preserves God's holy dwelling where the most holy place was guarded by death against presumptuous intrusion and entered only on the appointed day, once each year by the high priest with trembling while incense veiled the divine glory and worshipers waited in silence praying for mercy, calling end-time people to silent awe and reverence before God's holiness and to refrain from seeking with presumptuous hand to lift the veil that conceals His glory. It preserves the law spoken at Sinai, not a new law given only to Israel but a law already in existence that Israel was entrusted to preserve and pass down, with display of God's power to impress reverence for the law and its Author, and the statutes and judgments rehearsed by Moses, together with the laws given to preserve Israel in a happy, healthful state and guard against Satan's deceptions, in whose obedience there is life, health, and happiness. It preserves Christ's special directions for Israel's encampment requiring purity, order, cleanliness, and sanitation, to be studied and followed as God's will for arranging an encampment sacred, orderly, clean, and safe, and the instruction of the blue ribbon in clothing teaching distinctness from the world and honor to God through simple dress rebuking pride, vanity, and extravagance. Parents must diligently heed the Word and teach children not to disregard God's plain commandments, because neglect of so great salvation leaves no escape.

Take Heed Lest Fall

The wilderness overthrow stands written as a warning for those living at the close of earth's history, that even one who thinks he stands must take heed lest he fall. The caution covers lusting after evil things, idolatry, sexual sin, tempting Christ, and murmuring, with destruction following by plague, serpents, and the destroyer, and it calls every believer to recognize evil, shun it, resist temptation, and flee from idolatry. Temptation is common to humanity, yet God remains faithful and provides a way to bear it, so no one is made safe by position, strength, or past standing. Sabbath-keepers who repeat Israel's sins will fall short of everlasting life and fail to enter the heavenly Canaan. The Hebrews' unbelief, rebellion, blindness, and repeated sins warn especially those near the close of time against becoming proud, trusting their own judgment, and falling through self-exaltation, for blessings received do not secure while sin persists.

Great light, privilege, and blessing do not ensure faithfulness, and outward obedience cannot make up for unbelief. As Israel's unbelief kept them from the earthly Canaan, professed commandment keepers may likewise forfeit the heavenly Canaan. God's favors must not be taken as proof of personal goodness or security in sin, nor as ground for pride and reliance on personal wisdom. Israel had great light and exalted privileges yet did not live up to the light or value the privileges, walking in the light of their own eyes instead of God's counsel, and their light became darkness. That presumption and self-deception warn those in responsible positions not to assume God's work depends on their special help, for pride and self-righteousness bring blindness, hardness of heart, and separation from God, while humility, confession, and sincere repentance open the way to renewed love and holiness.

The examples warn against unbelief that leads away from God and against becoming hardened through sin, calling believers to encourage one another daily and to hold confidence in Christ firm to the end. Hardships such as those at Rephidim test faith and loyalty, for God may lead His people into strait places to reveal need of His aid and to teach patient trust. Patient trust strengthened by remembering His goodness and past works would have shortened Israel's trial, turning emergency into opportunity for divine help, whereas forgetfulness, murmuring, and complaint prolong difficulty. Believers facing difficulty must therefore wait patiently and trust divine guidance rather than imitate Israel's distrust, yielding to temptation, unbelief, murmuring, and complaints.

God is revealed as an impartial ruler who in no case justifies sin, whose goodness and love require dealing with sin as an evil fatal to the peace and happiness of the universe, contrary to the idea that He is too good to punish the transgressor. The recorded judgments on the angels who kept not their first estate and abandoned their place, on Adam's transgression in violating even one commandment, on the antediluvian world absorbed in worldly concerns and self-gratification, on Sodom, and on unbelieving Israel stand as abundant evidence that He will punish transgressors of His law. Pharaoh's history adds that repeatedly resisting light hardens the heart and makes obedience harder, so that rejecting the Spirit's appeals reaps its own consequence. The antediluvians thus teach those in the last days to reject selfish and sensual aims and to live with serious thought and earnest prayer, for disobedience brings punishment unless repentance and obedience turn darkness to light.

Faith Obedience and Reverence

Success in the present depends on carrying out the Creator's plan with fidelity, just as it would have done for ancient Israel, for adherence to the principles of God's word brings as great blessings now as it would have brought to the Hebrew people. The travels and experience of Israel were recorded as warnings for later times, showing that forgetting God, idolatry, and disobedience lead to ruin in the wilderness. The same choice still stands before God's people between blessing through separation from the world and humble obedience to the same commands, or a curse through joining the idolatrous, and no one is to presume safety from falling or trust human judgment above God's word.

God brings His people into strait places and hardships to test faith and loyalty, to strengthen trust, and to teach them to walk by faith, wait patiently, and go forward without questioning reasonableness or speaking of failure. At the Red Sea fear led to loss of faith and murmuring against appointed leaders, but the command to go forward taught trust and obedience without waiting to understand the way of deliverance. The history of marchings to and fro, exposure to hunger, thirst, and weariness, and striking manifestations of power for relief was a school preparing the Hebrews for the promised home in Canaan, and it is to be reviewed with humble heart and teachable spirit in preparation for the heavenly Canaan. Following the cloud by day and fire by night, abiding when it rests and moving when it moves even when no way is seen, resting in the Lord with angelic ministration guiding by the only safe course to the haven of rest, shortens trial, while forgetfulness, complaint, drawing back, fear, and discouragement spread by Satan forfeit blessings hanging over them.

The overthrow of many in the wilderness for lusting after evil things, idolatry, fornication, tempting Christ, and murmuring warns those upon whom the ends of the world are come to take heed lest they fall even when they think they stand. The admonition is to flee from idolatry, shun evil, resist temptation, and trust that God is faithful not to permit temptation beyond what can be borne but to make a way to endure it. Satan continually incited Israel to rebellion, from those who had seen glory from the mount to the two hundred and fifty princes of renown who opposed Moses while thinking they opened a door of freedom, and he is even more active now, attacking first one and then another and succeeding when they are unguarded. His efforts to spoil thoughts and confuse judgment are ever increasing, with many inventions to lead youth away from firm faith to idolatrous practices, so God's people must be on guard and carefully study the lessons and cautions given.

Faithful actions in Israel's history are to be imitated and actions that brought God's displeasure avoided, for God can be trusted to work powerfully for those who obey Him. Their feasts and offerings acknowledged God as giver of every blessing and showed zeal for His presence, teaching Christians to value opportunities to learn truth and grow in character, since neglecting received light and blessings brings responsibility. God is to come first and His work to have special attention as expressing the greatness and majesty of truth, with talents lent by the Lord used in skillful consecrated service and freewill offerings showing that all possessed is His and men and women are only stewards. Honoring Him at all times means putting far away injustice, fraud, and selfishness and practicing the mercy, love, and compassion commanded toward brethren and toward the stranger within the gates, with promise of every temporal and spiritual advantage and honor among nations to those who obey, though not freedom from temptation.

The wilderness history over appetite warns those living at the close of earthly history not to lust as Israel lusted, for God led them out of Egypt to establish them pure, happy, healthy, and righteous by discipline, largely removing flesh food to restore perverted appetite to the food given to Adam and Eve in Eden. Cheerfully followed, that way would have kept feebleness and disease unknown and given descendants physical and mental strength, clear perceptions of truth and duty, keen discrimination, and sound judgment, but murmuring at restriction and lusting after the flesh-pots of Egypt brought flesh to their curse and overthrow. Backsliding from health reform by eating and drinking as people please repeats that history and leads gradually to carelessness toward other phases of present truth, with certain reaping as sown. The same admonition requires distinct dress apart from the world, with the blue ribbon teaching that God cares about clothing, and with simple apparel honoring God and rebuking pride, vanity, and extravagance when luxurious living and extravagant dressing prevail as signs of the last days. It calls those preparing for eternal life to put away distractions that confuse mind and conscience, including demoralizing fashions, luxurious extravagance, admiration before the mirror, and worthless literature that weakens regard for Scripture, giving precious hours instead to meditation, searching of heart, prayerful study of God's word, and useful publications that bring spiritual light.

The record written for this time is timely nourishing truth for youth, giving reproof, warning, encouragement, and rich promises, and it should be studied in schools, families, and pulpits. Parents and teachers have a great work, for what God required then He requires now: children are to be gathered out from schools where worldly influences prevail and from homes and associates who disregard the commandments and teach evil, and placed in church schools and homes where the word of God is the foundation of education, to prepare before an overflowing scourge comes. Israel's deliverance from Egypt, its wilderness history, and the psalms of warning and promise such as Psalms 28, 29, 78, 81, and 89 through 93, with accounts of rich blessings poorly returned, forgetting God, and scattering, are meat in due season to be made objects of study without hardening hearts or neglecting salvation. As Israel forgot God and was scattered, so churches today are in danger of forgetting Him, and both teachers and students living at the end of the world are accountable to heed what they have heard.

History Repeating in Last Days

The experience of the church is like the journey of Israel toward Canaan, for what happened to Israel just before entrance into the land happened as examples written for the admonition of those upon whom the ends of the world are come. God's people now stand on the borders of the heavenly Canaan as Israel stood at its borders, living over the same experience of murmuring and drawing back and repeating that history. Lightness, vanity, love of ease and pleasure, selfishness, and impurity are increasing among them, revealing great lack of holiness and power and efforts for self-exaltation. This calls for men firm and fearless in declaring the whole counsel of God, who will not sleep as do others but watch and be sober, who see Jesus as He is and themselves as they are, so weak and inefficient and unlike their Master that to have their names written in the obscurest part of the book of life would be enough, with Caleb-like fidelity. Professed Sabbathkeepers who repeat Israel's sins and continue in evil habits will be tested and proved in character, will fail under that testing, will fall this side of the kingdom as Israel fell, will come short of everlasting life, and will never enter the heavenly Canaan.

Satan lays his snares for God's people now as verily as he laid them for Israel then, and as the close of time approaches and they stand on the borders of the heavenly Canaan he redoubles his efforts to keep them from entering the goodly land. He knows the material of the human heart from thousands of years of study of the points most easily assailed in every character, and through successive generations he has overthrown the strongest men and princes in Israel by the same temptations that succeeded at Baal-peor, leaving wrecks of character stranded on sensual indulgence. He uses the same agents now as three thousand years ago, tempting through worldly friendships, charms of beauty, pleasure-seeking, mirth, feasting, and the wine-cup to violation of the seventh commandment. He lays snares for every soul, not only the ignorant and uncultured but those in the highest positions and most holy office, because by leading them to pollute their souls he can destroy many through them. His efforts to spoil thought and confuse judgment are ever increasing, attacking first one and then another and succeeding when men are unguarded, inventing many things to lead youth away from firm faith to idolatrous practices, working through secretive mind-upon-mind power and deceptive spiritualistic influence as in the first great apostasy and in Eden, so that those possessing Old and New Testaments must study how he worked and be on guard not to act out the same representation.

Other recorded histories were also preserved as ensamples for the end, to warn and instruct those living near the close of time. The record of Elijah's work gives courage to those standing for what is right amid apostasy, for history repeats and the idolatry of his time has parallels in the present even when people worship wealth, fame, pleasure, or human ideas rather than visible idols. Daniel's history teaches diligence in using opportunities, close connection with God, and wisdom that enables faithful witness and firmness in danger and crisis, showing that God-given wisdom and knowledge serve those who seek them with effort and faith. Abraham's example teaches that faith should willingly obey God, surrender what is precious, and cost something, working through love and purifying the soul. Eve's disastrous belief of Satan's lie, Gehazi's and Judas's covetousness despite privilege, Saul's demanding a king from desire for worldly plans and policy and then withholding service from God until instead of blessing Israel he became its curse, and the Jews' and Pharisees' unbelief, pride, and rejection of John and Christ stand likewise as admonition. The scribes and Pharisees closed ears to precious light, refused prophets and Christ, clung to ancient customs instead of walking in the new and living way, spurned salvation through Christ, and opposed gospel reform from selfish motives of dignity, wealth, and position; the Jews treated John's message as idle tales, hardened the heart against warning, then rejected still clearer light in Christ, saying This is the Heir and killing Him and choosing a robber and murderer in His stead. If people now travel the same path they will suffer God's rebuke as the Jews suffered it, for those blessed and labored for with tender solicitude are responsible for light shining on their pathway, and therefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall and take heed lest there be an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.

Warnings for the end bear especially on leadership, for the history of Moses' failure to enter Canaan happened for ensamples to warn those in trust what it means to become angry and show a spirit unworthy of a leader of God's people. Those in God's service who give way to anger without the repentance Moses felt brace themselves to follow an unchristian course from one wrong to another, while murmurers in the church who easily lose self-control, become irritated and provoke one another when everything does not please them, show they lack the light and love of God and give loose rein to an unsanctified irritable spirit when crossed, calling for diligent work for repentance. When Moses faithfully did his duty as God's representative a separation was made between him that serves God and him that serves Him not, calling those living in perilous times to take their stand for the right, to feel deeply for souls and pray and plead with God for them, and by standing true and faithful to be counted as God's representatives. The complaints against Moses and God that left Israel dead in the wilderness, and the readiness to find fault with Moses whom God ordained to lead to Canaan and to murmur even against God, warn those in this last great work not to censure God's chosen or rebel so easily and give battle before calmly and rationally considering whether there is anything to war against, but to be converted and obtain the mind of Christ. The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram warns against rising against God's appointed servants and rejecting plain testimony that reproves wrong, for such opposition deceives the opposers, defends harmful self-indulgence, draws others into discord, and teaches that God prepares workers by correcting self-reliance and ambition and that sharers in a work must not mistake their role for equality with the one God appointed to lead.

Professed Sabbathkeepers and commandment-keeping people upon whom the ends of the world are come must take warning from Israel's course and not fall into evil habits and ways. The words Moses spoke recounting God's statutes, judgments, and ten commandments before entering the promised land were commanded to be recorded for their admonition and instruction, and those who would stand firm in the faith in these last days and gain entrance into the heavenly Canaan must listen to the words of warning Christ spoke to Israelites, studying and heeding the lessons given to the church in the wilderness throughout their generations forever. The wilderness experience will be the experience of His people in this age, and truth held fast is a safeguard to those who hold the faith once delivered to the saints. The experience of Israel will be the experience of God's people in these closing days, warning against carelessness and indifference and calling for obedience to every requirement of God and for putting on the whole armor to stand in the evil day, for Satan is determined to deceive if possible the very elect, but standing in the light and working with God's glory in view gives protection. This calls for diligent study so as not to be ignorant of God's requirements, reviewing the wanderings in the wilderness and the life in the promised land, for God's Word gives encouragement, warnings, and admonitions plainly pointing out obedience, while those favored with great light bring condemnation when they refuse God's wisdom, human wisdom is worthless, and those who walk before God in a perfect way walk securely.

Study Scripture and Respond

The recorded history, especially Israel under the cloud and through the sea, baptized unto Moses, eating the same spiritual meat and drinking the same spiritual drink from Christ the Rock yet overthrown in the wilderness, was written as examples for admonition of those upon whom the ends of the world are come and must be studied today to take warning not to lust after evil things, practice idolatry, commit fornication, tempt Christ, or murmur. That study must be prayerful and deep, comparing Scripture with Scripture, receiving it as God's spoken voice and as Christ's own instruction then, for Christ was Redeemer then as fully as in humanity, speaking in creation and from the pillar of cloud and through holy men, and His lessons then are of as great importance now as to those who first heard them. Truth has been given for every age, the Bible alone gives the needed evidence and counsel rather than the experience of men, its testimony brings truth down unchanged from age to age with no part worn out or dead from old age, and what happened before will happen again so that eternal welfare depends on obeying that voice and passing by nothing given for every generation. Its light must shape words and actions and build up mental, moral, and physical life, calling readers to compare life with its requirements, measure character by its standard of righteousness, imitate faithful actions, avoid what brought displeasure, trust God to work powerfully for the obedient, wake from sleep, and prepare others to stand in the day of God.

Because the record of God's past dealings was written for this time at the close of earth's history, it is timely nourishing truth giving reproof, warning, encouragement, and rich promises, and it should be studied in schools and taught with reverence in schools, families, and pulpits. Parents and teachers have a great work to gather children out from schools where worldly influences prevail and from homes and associates who disregard the commandments and teach evil, and to place them where the word of God is the foundation of education, even establishing church schools before an overflowing scourge comes. The accounts of God's rich blessings and Israel's poor returns, forgetting God and being scattered, especially in Psalms 28, 29, 78, 81, and 89 through 93, are meat in due season for youth and must be made objects of study, for as Israel forgot God so churches today are forgetting Him. Those truths must be earnestly gathered and understood so as to recognize the significance of events and prepare to stand in the great day of God.

Warnings must be taken to oneself for personal admonition and profit rather than supposed to mean someone else with less righteousness, with a submissive teachable spirit that distrusts own wisdom and is circumspect in all conduct, which elevates the standard, reveals a plain elevated path, and gives precept and example that ennoble all who expect unswerving principle. The example in Rochester served as warning, yet those in Battle Creek failed to heed it and repeated the same unbelief and wrongdoing in worse condition, and the disorder, fault-finding, jealousy, and complaining among Sabbath-keeping believers in Maine likewise show the danger of repeating rebellion and murmuring to the harm of the work. The wilderness history admonishes both teachers and students to heed what they have heard, avoid hardening hearts, not neglect salvation, and heed God's word rather than trust own judgment, since those at the end are accountable to learn from earlier disobedience and failure to learn God's ways. God designs that there be men to reprove sin and wrong lest His people become careless and corrupt their ways, so men must be awake and not stupid or asleep regarding errors and sins among them, standing in defense of the right to oppose wrong and repress corruption, while refraining from dwelling on defects of apostles, reformers, and pioneers in ways that destroy confidence.

Having these examples leaves no excuse for turning from the counsels of the Spirit, exalting self, and carrying out own ways in defiance of His words, but requires humbling the heart, correcting ways, and genuine conversion without which service cannot be accepted, for God does not let wicked practices go on without reproof and warning. The call is to faith, hope, and complete conformity to God's will, obeying every requirement including the coming test over the commandments, putting on the whole armor to stand in the evil day, and following light given little by little, line upon line, precept upon precept through Scriptures and testimonies sent to the churches, since those who will not study messages sent to them reject light. God's people today live over Israel's experience of murmuring and drawing back when bidden to go forward, and need men like Caleb and Joshua, men of fidelity and unshaken trust imbued with the Spirit, sanctified and self-sacrificing, to work more earnestly with courage born of genuine faith without questioning reasonableness or speaking failure, because Christ's coming is near and the work is opposed. The words and warnings of Scripture therefore apply directly to the last days, including not to mock God for judgment is determined, and rejecting teaching, counsel, and reproof to rely on own judgment risks departing from the faith and bringing ruin on self and others while life is short and uncertain.