Volume 10 The Symbolic Code No. 1

 

September, 1954

 

PREPARATION FOR ALL-OUT EFFORT 3
FEAR OF LIGHT REAL TRAGEDY 7
INTERVIEW WITH FIELD WORKER REVEALS ADVANCEMENT — WITH OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME 8
YOUR NEED FOR CERTIFICATE OF FELLOWSHIP 11
THE MAIL BAG 12
FOREIGN RELIEF 23

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“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. { 10SC1: 2.1 }

“Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.”—Isaiah 55:1, 2 { 10SC1: 2.2 }

These booklets are, therefore, circulated free of charge. { 10SC1: 2.3 }

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PREPARING FOR ALL-OUT EFFORT

The Hunting Campaign launched last year initiated and heralded a new electrifying and progressive advancement of present Truth. { 10SC1: 3.1 }

Now again, with even greater emphasis toward reaching her goal, Mount Carmel Center makes the following announcement to all faithful Davidians who will realize that this good news is perhaps nothing short of a sign. Mount Carmel Center, by commencing to first sell its excess property, then the whole, is symbolically leading the way to the program that is outlined by the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, in the words: { 10SC1: 3.2 }

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth that field.” Matthew 13:44. The Lord himself is leading the way. { 10SC1: 3.3 }

“. . . Jesus has made it possible for you to accept His love, and in happy co-operation with Him to work under its fragrant influence. He requires you to use your possessions in unselfish service, that His plan for the salvation of souls shall be carried forward with power. He expects you to give your undivided energies to His work. { 10SC1: 3.4 }

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“Would you make your property secure? Place it in the hands that bears the nail-print of the crucifixion. Retain it in your possession, and it will be your eternal loss. Give it to God, and from that moment it bears His inscription. It is sealed with His immutability. Would you enjoy your substance? Then use it for the blessing of the suffering.” –“Testimonies,“ Vol. 9, pages 50, 51. { 10SC1: 4.1 }

“I saw that if any held on to their property, and did not inquire of the Lord as to their duty, He would not make duty known, and they would be permitted to keep their property , and in the time of trouble it would come up before them like a mountain to crush them, and they would try to dispose of it, but would not be able. I heard some mourn like this: ‘The cause was languishing, God’s people were starving for the truth, and we made no effort to supply the lack; now our property is useless. Oh, that we had let it go, and laid up treasure in heaven!’ I saw that a sacrifice did not increase, but it decreased and was consumed, I also saw that God had not required all of His people to dispose off their property at the same time, but if they desired to be taught, He would teach them, in a time of need, when to sell and how much to sell. Some have been required to dispose of their property in times past to sustain the Advent cause, while others have been permitted to keep theirs until a time of need, Then, as the cause needs it, their duty is to sell.”-“Early Writings,” page 57. { 10SC1: 4.2 }

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“Spiritual prosperity is closely bound up with Christian liberality. The followers of Christ should rejoice in the privilege of revealing in their lives the beneficence of their Redeemer. As they give to the Lord, they have the assurance that their treasure is going before them to the heavenly courts. Would men make their property secure? Let them place it in the hands that bear the marks of the crucifixion.”-“Acts of the Apostles,” pages 344, 345. { 10SC1: 5.1 }

We see each passing day more and more that God requires His people to gladly support His cause, first by their tithes and offerings, (Malachi 3: 8-10),and at last by selling all, if they would enter into life eternal. He who takes part in the first of His requirements, will at last with joy go all the way by selling all when God gives the command. Thus only may he joyfully buy the “field” with the great “treasure.” { 10SC1: 5.2 }

It now becomes very obvious that the time is short, that he who would be ready for the “great super” and for his eternal home, will have his eyes open to truth and his heart set on his eternal welfare. God will direct him day by day. { 10SC1: 5.3 }

Certainly then this move could be a signpost to both Davidians and to Laodiceans that the eleventh-hour message is on the very verge of a final and all-out effort to reclaim the church from the hands of the Enemy. { 10SC1: 5.4 }

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Be it, therefore, known that part of Mount Carmel property is being subdivided for high class residences beginning at the old peach orchard near the Mount Carmel entrance. { 10SC1: 6.1 }

The wise do not consider it a gamble to sell all they have in order to make the kingdom their own. They know that they are getting a bargain, that such an investment will make them rich. Both the man that bought the “field” containing the great “treasure,” and the man who bought the “pearl of great price” sold everything they had in order to close the deals. But even though it took everything, they both had enough to buy what they had set their hearts on { 10SC1: 6.2 }

Then who knows, but the Lord, that this heart-stirring example may soon turn into a sounding alarm and be followed by every faithful Davidian believer throughout the land. Even now, the Lord’s example to raise funds by disposing of His possessions, is a loud cry to every Davidian to awake to the fact that he is privileged to join the campaign with faithful tithe and offering at first, and at last to swell the funds by giving everything so that the work may be finished and the saints be gathered home! { 10SC1: 6.3 }

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FEAR OF LIGHT REAL TRAGEDY

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark. The real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the Light.—Selected.” This quotation from the “Review and herald” of August 12, 1954, p. 15, contains more truth than fiction { 10SC1: 7.1 }

In view of the obstinate fearfulness of the Seventh–day Adventist ministry toward the “Shepherd’s Rod” message we may well paraphrase the statement to read: “We can easily forgive a layman who is afraid of the dark. The real tragedy of life is that the ministries are afraid of the Light.” { 10SC1: 7.2 }

Now, if the leading brethren would only make a practical application of this statement by ceasing to “beat the air” in their fight against the “Shepherd’s Rod” message and stop blocking the way to keep the laity from studying the additional Light to the church, how quickly the atmosphere of “fear of being deceived” and “watch out for the Rod” would disappear and the whole church reform. { 10SC1: 7.3 }

We can be grateful to the Lord that He is now using His eleventh-hour servants to penetrate the obstructive walls of fear, prejudice and self-complacency. All are being given an opportunity to either stick with, to their eternal loss, the fear-mongering “bugaboo” warnings against the Lord’s “Rod” (Mic. 6:9) or to fearlessly embrace the additional Light regardless of reproach or inconvenience. { 10SC1: 7.4 }

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INTERVIEW WITH FIELD WORKER REVEALS ADVANCEMENT—WITH OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME

One of the field workers, who recently returned to Mount Carmel after five months of survey travel, has consented to give us a condensed idea of the “pulse rate” of the church in general, as related to the “Rod” message. { 10SC1: 8.1 }

This worker found that the S.D.A. ministry was by and in the large opposed to the “Rod” message, their general attitude being that: “The General Conference has investigated and found error and these men who are smarter than I am should be able to recognize error.” However, the ministry was not complacent but greatly concerned over the inroads the “Rod” message is making among the S.D.A. laity—bewailing the fact: “That the ‘Rod’ is capturing some of our best members, those who are students of the Bible.” { 10SC1: 8.2 }

The ministry were consistent in parroting the Adam’s brochure that the “Rod” was teaching “The Seventh-day Adventist church is Babylon.” When confronted with the question of whether they would kindly show where in the “Rod” message this statement is found they passed out the stereotyped answers that “just off hand I can’t point it out,“ or “I’ll have to brush up a little more on that subject,” or ”I have an important appointment now,” or some other excuse. { 10SC1: 8.3 }

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When this field worker asked one minister if he believed the Seventh-day Adventist church was the Laodicean church spoken of in Revelation 3:14, he answered in the affirmative. Then he was asked who the “angel” of this church represented. The minister said the “angel” represented Christ. Then the field worker asked him if he was willing to apply to Christ the description of being wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked given to this “angel” in the book of Revelation. He still insisted the “angel” was Christ, closing his eyes to the truth that the “angel” represents the present Seventh-day Adventist church leadership. Apparently he would rather have Christ wrong than himself. { 10SC1: 9.1 }

Another minister indulging a “holier than thou art” attitude claimed “that a man at Waco” has no education. When asked how much formal education sister White had, and if she was not used mightily by God, he had no ready answer and could pursue no other course than to change the subject. { 10SC1: 9.2 }

In dealing with the laity it was found, generally speaking, that those in the smaller churches were more cordial and receptive than those in the larger congregations. Since the ministry is not at all receptive to the additional Truth, whereas a fairly good percentage of the laity are, this shows that the eyes of all the people have not been closed. { 10SC1: 9.3 }

The biggest stumbling block to the laity

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studying the Message was in the fact that many of the laity were permitting the ministry to do their thinking for them and were making walking and talking idols out of the ministers. { 10SC1: 9.4 }

Those who are accepting the Message report that they are enlightened on the Scripture as never before. Furthermore, they assert that the Message has given them fresh zeal and determination to come up on all points themselves and to spread the good tidings of the Kingdom to their brethren. { 10SC1: 10.1 }

Although the purpose of this five-month survey was primarily for investigative purposes to obtain “the lay of the land” (church), at the same time we can with joy report that there were decisions made for Christ and for His additional Message to the Laodiceans. { 10SC1: 10.2 }

The field worker, who received this cross section view of the reactions of the church, is convinced that God will have 144,000 first fruits from His church for His Kingdom. Moreover, the promises of His Word never fail to materialize; they are all sure { 10SC1: 10.3 }

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YOUR NEED FOR CERTIFICATE OF FELLOWSHIP

All Davidians whose Certificate of Fellowship has expired are requested to promptly communicate their desire for renewal of the same. { 10SC1: 11.1 }

Those who have recently accepted the Davidian Truth and are supporting the timely message and living out its principles, should request the Davidian Association to send them an application blank for fellowship. A Certificate of Fellowship will be granted upon satisfactorily filling out the application. { 10SC1: 11.2 }

The applicant must be striving to be an overcomer—to be freed from sin, to keep the Truth, and to continue in the race; striving not to fall, but resolving , in case he should fall, to rise again and to press on more determined than ever to reach the goal. He must be able thus conscientiously to sign the application for fellowship. { 10SC1: 11.3 }

If the applicant is unable to comply in full with all the requirements of the Message, then to his application he must attach a satisfactory statement of explanation. { 10SC1: 11.4 }

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THE MAIL BAG

Excerpts from letters

[mk_image src=”http://y8a.2ae.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/shepherds-rod-10-symbolic-code-2-mail-bag.jpg” image_width=”500″ image_height=”400″ crop=”false” hover=”true” align=”center” margin_bottom=”10″]

“Dear Brother and Sister Houteff:

“I went to the Seventh-day Adventist Church and got there a few minutes before services. The sermon was about the most rebuking I ever heard. Elder ——— apologized for having to be so plain, as he worked it, but said the condition of the church here was alarming and not only here in——— but elsewhere, that the church must be asleep, unwilling to give up tobacco, coffee, theaters, funny papers, jewelry, worldly dress and fashions, pork and ham, dances, etc., and that there had to be a change lest many lose out. { 10SC1: 12.1 }

“His text was on: ‘The Pearl of Great Price.’ Several weeks ago he preached on the

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need of a change of heart, a new heart, so I have written several letters, I am mailing the letters to several Seventh-day Adventist members, relative to his sermon on the need of a new and change of heart and referred them to Ezekiel 36:22 to 28—when, where, and how we get that change of heart. I am also quoting Sister White from ‘Testimonies,’ Vol. 7, page 17, on her unfinished work in the Kingdom and referring them to Daniel 12:1-3, the special resurrection. { 10SC1: 12.2 }

“Now I want to brief my text letter to the members around today’s sermon on the alarming condition of the Seventh-day Adventist church and refer them to Ezekiel 9 and our final cleansing in the Kingdom. { 10SC1: 13.1 }

“It seems like the Seventh-day Adventist Elders are rebuking the churches for their alarming condition and blaming the laity, but have no solution. { 10SC1: 13.2 }

“I gave Sister ____ my copy of your letter which was written with my 1950 Certificate of Fellowship. I can read that letter every day and find new courage and help in my daily devotions and my prayer is that I be faithful and live up to all the admonition in that letter, then I will be sure of a home in God’s Kingdom. { 10SC1: 13.3 }

Sincerely,

Alabama

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“Dear Brethren:

“Sabbath morning we went to church in ___, after several weeks of visiting the other churches in this area. Elder ____ preached on the same subject Elder ____ presented last week. The intention was the same (to refute the ‘Rod’), but the interpretation was surely different. He told the people that we teach the church is Babylon and that the Judgment of the Living began in 1929. After service ____ corrected him on these points, as we were going out the vestibule. This made some of the people angry. One brother clinched his fist and his teeth and told ____ that if he weren’t a Christian he would punch him in the nose! He ground his feet into the ground and said, ‘I’d like to grind you into the dirt with my feet.’ This episode amused Elder ____ highly. { 10SC1: 14.1 }

A Hunter”

Pennsylvania

“Dear Brethren:

“A few weeks ago at camp meeting in South Lancaster, Mass., I spoke to quite a number of church members about the ‘Rod’ message and passed out a good number of tracts. Elder____ threatened to have the police remove me from the camp ground, but I persuaded him not to. We caused no disturbance whatever. I explained to Elder____ that I had discussed the Bible

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and the “Testimonies” and gave tracts to those who would accept them. I then asked if he believed in practicing religious liberty.” { 10SC1: 14.2 }

Massachusetts

“Dear Brothers and Sisters:

“Sisters ____ and I returned after 39 days on a missionary trip. The Lord surely was with us, protecting us , and His Holy Spirit impressed hearts with the Truth for this time without which all our words would have been sounding brass and tinkling symbols. { 10SC1: 15.1 }

“We took God at his Word, if you go right to work in the name of the Lord in a humble way doing what you can to teach the truth, God will vindicate you’ and ‘everyone is required to work to the extent of his ability. Every worldly consideration should be laid aside for the glory of God.’ { 10SC1: 15.2 }

“Of course it was a sacrifice on our part and also on my husband’s part for he batched while I was gone and worked every day and others sacrificed something also. Some of our good brothers and sisters filled our tank with gasoline while others gave us cash which we only used for expenses while we were gone. { 10SC1: 15.3 }

“We had many interesting experiences and gave 42 studies while gone. It is not always pleasing to ourselves to live in other homes

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but our Lord left, his home in Glory and came down and lived with the people where he found them. I know He often must have been homesick for home but he could not go back until the supreme price was paid. How dare we think of our convenience at a time like this! { 10SC1: 15.4 }

“We encouraged all present Truth believers to send in their first and second tithes, and get their certificate of fellowship and start studying the home Bible doctrine course and fit themselves to help to finish our job. { 10SC1: 16.1 }

“I will close and I pray we may each be found doing what He wants us to when He comes to make up jewels. { 10SC1: 16.2 }

Your sister in present Truth,”

Wyoming

“Dear Friends:

“I have been studying with one of your workers for sometime. I enjoy these studies very much, and I am very thankful that I was not one who closed my door on this wonderful message. { 10SC1: 16.3 }

“I have seen your side of the picture and I have also seen the side which most of the ministers believe and I am very sure that your message is of God. I therefore believe that

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my tithe and offerings should be used to speed this message so I am enclosing ____. { 10SC1: 16.4 }

“May the Lord’s blessings be with you. { 10SC1: 17.1 }

Yours in Christ,”

Pennsylvania

(Editor’s Note: The following encouraging communications are excerpts from letters which were received from foreign lands.) { 10SC1: 17.2 }

“Mr. V. T Houteff

Mount Carmel Center

Waco, Texas

Dear Sir:

“With much pleasure I write this letter to you. I went to ____ and there I found many S.D.A.’s. I stayed with them three weeks preaching unto them about the message of the Eleventh Hour. I’m telling the truth, the whole church believed because I brought them the new interpretation. I have names and addresses of some. Send them tracts. Please try to help these thirsting souls. In ____ they are still calling me to go and help them. { 10SC1: 17.3 }

“We shall not perish because in the midst of the brethren, God raised a wonderful prophet to show the house of Judah their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins. Isaiah 58:1. { 10SC1: 17.4 }

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“Send me lectures. Send the light here in Africa. Come over and help us. I want to do the work in God’s vineyard. { 10SC1: 18.1 }

Your faithful servant”

Africa

“Sir:

“I have the honor to announce to you that for some months I have been registered for your Bible Correspondence course. (NOTE: apparently meaning he has been on the mailing list.) I will explain to you that I do not know the English language, but all the same you have sent some English lessons. The arrival of these lessons caused great pleasure; unfortunately the language is a great impediment to the spiritual advantage. I am going to find your former student to give me some explanation, but that will not be sufficient since this lack will still keep me from getting a good understanding of the light that shines from the Holy Writings. { 10SC1: 18.2 }

“I am certain and sure that for a single sinner living upon the earth Jesus Christ would still have abandoned His glory and come upon the earth to give His life as a ransom for that one. { 10SC1: 18.3 }

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“So I beg of you to be good enough to go to the trouble of getting the lessons or books by Minister Houteff in French. I say this because the good Lord did not send the Light only to the English but for all the world. { 10SC1: 19.1 }

“After having received this letter, your favorable response in the first or second mail will cause me much joy. { 10SC1: 19.2 }

Very truly yours,”

Africa

“Dear Brethren:

“We learned that Elder ____ is on the island. He is going around the island showing films of Sister White and her works. The main burden of his visit though, is to warn men and women against the ‘Shepherd’s Rod’ message. When we heard that he was going to be present at this church on Wednesday night, we decided to attend also. { 10SC1: 19.3 }

“After his opening remarks, the district pastor told the people he wanted to introduce two other leaders who were present also. Then he asked_____and_____to stand. We just remained seated as though we were glued on the bench. When he saw this he became angry. He told them that we are “Shepherd’s Rod” leaders

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and he wanted all of them to know us. He pointed to us and told them that we were sitting near to Sister____. Everybody exclaimed and looked around. { 10SC1: 19.4 }

“After the meeting we went up to speak with Elder ____. He started to tell us how we were in error. We told him that he had taken statements out of their context and read to the people. He said that’s what the statements say. I replied by saying they were unlawfully taken out of their context. I told him that the denomination’s trouble was not with your (the ‘Rod’s’) statements but with reconciling Sister White’s statements with the Bible. I told him that the end of probationary time did not bring the harvest, but that the harvest brings the end of probationary time. He just looked at me and said nothing. When I asked him if the end of the world means the last split second when Jesus comes, he tried to dodge it. { 10SC1: 20.1 }

“He told me that I would have to acknowledge that the main theme of our teachings is the literal slaughter of Ezekiel 9 and then the loud cry of the third angels’ message. I gave him two quotations to explain: ‘Testimonies,’ Vol. 5, p. 212, and ‘Early Writings,’ p. 85. He said that was easy. One was a troublous time and the other a time of trouble when the seven last plagues are poured out. He really began to play upon the words. Then I told him clearly, emphatically, and boldly: ‘Look here Elder ____, we are not learned and educated , nor do we play upon words. We have a clear and distinct

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message for the church. It’s the slaughter of Ezekiel 9 and the loud cry of the third angel’s message. We can sustain our points from the holy Word of God and the ‘Testimonies.’ And we want you to know that whether you brethren hear or forbear, we are going to give the message to the laity.’ All the local men who were present looked astonished and surprised. They wondered that we two young girls were able to speak to him in the way we did. Many of them think he is sacred and holy. They regard him with great awe and reverence. { 10SC1: 20.2 }

“By this time ____ had ‘Testimonies to Ministers,’ pp. 475, 476. She asked him to explain it and to convince us that Sister White was the Elijah. He took it and read it aloud all the paragraphs. He was just beginning to play upon words again when I insisted that he tell us of one scripture Sister White interpreted about the great and dreadful day of the Lord. He turned and twisted, and fidgeted, and finally said she has had great light on certain scriptures. I told him that was not the point. I did not want to know whether or not she has had a great light on the Scriptures, all I want to know was whether she had brought light on the scriptures about the great and dreadful day of the Lord. { 10SC1: 21.1 }

“There was a few present, and if any of them were honest hearted and fair minded, I’m sure they’d have seen the Truth that night.

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We didn’t reach home that night till nearly midnight.”. { 10SC1: 21.2 }

Trinidad

“Dear Sir:

“I am in receipt of your esteemed favour and the contents therein were paragraphically gone through. I was very glad when I received your letter and I want you to add my name on your mailing list.. { 10SC1: 22.1 }

“I was one of the members of the Voice of Prophecy Bible Correspondence courses taken at Ibadan, and furthermore I have received their certificate in Bible and they were the party who directed me to you.. { 10SC1: 22.2 }

Yours sincerely to walk in the Light to the Holy City, ”

Nigeria

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FOREIGN RELIEF

Requests are continuing to come, especially from the foreign fields, for suitable clothing and shoes for our brethren. { 10SC1: 23.1 }

All articles sent to Mount Carmel Center should be in a clean, orderly condition and not so worn out that it would be a waste of postage to re-ship the same to our brethren. The clothes and shoes should also conform with Davidian dress standards. { 10SC1: 23.2 }

Ship in secure well-bound boxes to: The Universal Publishing Assn., Mt. Carmel Center, Waco, Texas. { 10SC1: 23.3 }

WELCOME THE SYMBOLIC CODE

The readers of “The Symbolic Code” will be pleased to see “The Code” back in print again. In 1943, its place was taken by other publications, and now are glad to welcome “The Code” back. { 10SC1: 23.4 }

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The Davidian Seventh-day Adventists Association

 

(An unincorporated Association constituting a Church)

 

Mt. Carmel, Waco, Texas

 

P.O. Box 23738, Waco, TX 76702

+1-254-855-9539

www.gadsda.com

info@gadsda.com

Printed in the United States of America.