How I found out that there actually are TWO LORDS IN THE HOLY BIBLE.
By Pastor Mike Clute – mclute777@aol.com
Besides going all over the Eastern states from Maine to Florida, preaching wherever I was invited, I met a lot of people who came to our “Outpost Ministry.” I will never forget the week this one man came and began telling me about the animal sacrifices. I had not written about this in my first manuscript and only made one comment about it in my second book on the last page, 127. So, I didn’t know very much about it. Then this man began to explain it to me. It all sounded so logical and fit together with everything else I had been studying. Once I understood the principle many other Scriptures began coming to mind and the concept expanded more and more in my mind. He stayed about a week and I studied the Bible every day with him. I think it was about the third day that he mentioned something about Satan being the one who tempted Abraham to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice. Up to this point I had agreed with everything he had said. But now he had gone too far…off the deep end! I immediately turned to the story in Genesis 22:1, 2 and read it again. I pointed out to him that the Bible specifically stated and designated that God, not Satan, was the one who tempted Abraham to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice. “And it came to pass after these things, that God (Capital “G”) did tempt Abraham…” He did not try to prove his point with any other Scripture or use any kind of logic to persuade me. He simply said that it was Satan, the God of this world, (2 Cor. 4:4) who told Abraham to kill Isaac. “God never speaks death” he concluded. We stopped for the day. I needed a break.
The following morning I went to “Patriarchs and Prophets,” and read to him what Ellen G. White said. I knew that he believed Sister White to be a prophet. Still he would not budge from his position that God never speaks death and that Satan was the voice who tempted Abraham to sacrifice his son. “The Bible tells us in James 1:13 that God does not tempt man” he continued insisting that Satan spoke in the name of the Lord in many places in the Old Testament. Then he went to Exodus 19 and showed me how Jesus had warned Moses that another Lord was in the mountain who would “break forth,” or kill the people and told Moses to set bounds about the mount so they would not go up into the mountain and “gaze” or “stare” at “God” and be killed because this “Lord” would “break forth upon them.” Exodus 19:24. He clearly showed me that the phrase “break forth” referred to Baal, 2 Sam. 5:20, where David named a place of battle “Baalperazim.” He gave me overwhelming proof from Strong’s concordance that Baal was a name directly relating to Satan, which I already knew. But I didn’t say anything. I was too upset and in a state of shock to protest. I always said I would never believe anything unless it was “logical.” If it was logic I wanted it was obvious God was willing to give me all I ever wanted and more because I now found myself drowning in logic. On and on he went piling one fact upon another. He read Gen. 38:29 to show the origin of the phrase “break forth.” My mind was reeling as I tried to take it all in.
This was very upsetting to me because I thought that I had already discovered and written everything that needed to be written about God’s character. Now, here comes this fellow with additional light. I just knew it was only a matter of time until the Lord would begin urging me to write another book on His character. Although it was frustrating it was also exciting. It was like climbing another mountain which was higher than any you had ever climbed before and seeing further than you had ever seen before and discovering things you never even knew existed.
For three days I wrestled with the story of Abraham and Isaac. I knew that if I took the Bible and the Bible only I would have to accept the fact that God does not tempt people and therefore, it very well could have been Satan who was allowed to speak in the name of God to bring this terrible temptation upon the father of the faithful. I also discovered that the word “Tempter” was a title singular to Satan. The Bible never applied it to God. I finally was able to accept this amazing new truth and realized Sister White was not the final authority on this question. I had previously wrestled with several quotations from her writings that seemed to state God destroyed. I was able to correlate most of them with parallel Bible passages which showed the prophets wrote in a similar vein regarding the “wrath of God,” always putting the responsibility or blame on the Lord. Although the majority of EGW quotes regarding God’s character presented a positive picture showing Him to be a life-God, not a death-God, there were a few statements which indicated that at one time she definitely believed God destroys. These were mainly from her earlier writings. “Patriarchs and Prophets,” was also part of her earlier works.
So, there was a progression in her understanding of the character of God as we see in the Bible itself from the Old Testament period ending with Malachi to John the Baptist and then Christ Himself. The truth is ever unfolding as the Bible says about the path of God’s people. “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18. The very next verse speaks about how the “Way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.” Vs. 19. Daniel 12 tells us that the wise will understand but the wicked will not.
As we progress in our understanding of the character of God we find there are levels or steps which one advances on in the character of God message. The first step is the basic idea that “GOD DOES NOT DESTROY.” COL 84. The majority of God’s professed people cannot even make it to this first step which is so sad because without this understanding of God’s character a person can never comprehend, let alone accept the Righteousness of Christ. This was the big stumbling block at the 1888 Conference on Righteousness by Faith at Minneapolis. A.T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner tried to explain it a little but there was so much resistance and opposition that the rest of the message was never given. Before she died the Lord used Sister White (EGW) to write a number of clues in her published books so those of us living in these final days of this earth’s history would have some lights along our path to lead us back to the Scripture so we could dig it out ourselves.
The Second step is to understand the real truth about the animal sacrifice system. This is extremely difficult for an intellectual SDA who has studied and memorized many texts to prove the basic doctrine of the sanctuary. But this is a most important and fascinating study. I start with Jesus words in Matt. 9:13, “But go and learn what that meaneth. I will have mercy, and not sacrifice:” Next I go to Matt. 12:1-9 and read each verse showing how Christ led His disciples and the people step by step to a realization that the killing of animals in the temple was not his original desire, intent or perfect will at all. That is why He cleansed the temple twice. Once at the beginning of His ministry and again at the close. Sister White’s comment on these events are extremely important and enlightening. I have gone into minute detail explaining all of these things in both of my books and many audio cassette tapes and some videos. The basic study takes about 90 minutes. But when I am finished most intellectually honest people will accept the concept even though they may be in a slight state of shock and some may even be shaking their heads in astonishment as to why they had never seen these simple truths before.
In Matt. 9 and 12 Jesus was quoting Hosea 6:6, the first part only. Now, watch as I quote the entire verse. “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6. Hosea was inspired by the Spirit of God to use the same word He inspired David to use in Psalm 40:6. “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire;” And in Isaiah 1:11 He inspired the prophet to say: “I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, of he goats…who hath required (or demanded as the Spanish version says) this at your hand, to tread my courts?” vs 12.
These words become very powerful in our minds when we allow the Holy Spirit to impress us with the truth. Notice that God’s holy word plainly tells us that He did not desire, delight in or require these animal sacrifices. I have probably given this study over 1,000 times in various length, versions and places, mainly to groups and individuals. Now, it is going out on the internet on web sites and e-mails to the whole world. Yet, each time I speak or write this message I always learn something new because the message is continually growing and expanding in my mind. From Isa. 1:10-12 I go to Isa. 66:1-4. These verses are a real mind blower all by themselves. In verse 3 God tells us that the killing of an animal is just as sinful as a human being. “He that kills an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrifices a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offers an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burns incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighted in their abominations.” Now, if that were not enough in and of itself vs 4 grinds it in even more when the Lord tells them they never even answered when He called. Why? Because they were tuned into Satan’s voice. “You are of your father the devil.” John 8:44. He goes on to say again that they were doing evil by choosing those things in which “He delighted not.”
It is very easy to miss the incredibly powerful implications of these words, my friend. Not only is God telling them that He did not desire or delight in the animal sacrifice system, He clearly and boldly informs them that the entire system is an abomination to Him. It was something the people themselves had chosen. By this time I have the person’s or persons complete attention. If they are not yet convinced the next two texts will make them a believer. Listen: “Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out fo the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. But this thing commanded I them, saying, ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk yet in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.” Jeremiah 7:21, 22. The next scripture you put with this is Deut. 5:22 3which tells us that the only words God wrote and spoke were the Ten Commandments. “These words the Lord spoke…with a loud voice; and He added no more. And He wrote them upon two tables of stone, and gave them to me.” Now, just in case someone protest just show them what Jesus said in Matt. 5:38, 39. “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Here Christ clearly proves that He did not speak that law of an “Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth law.”
Now the time has come for the ultimate question. If Jesus did not give or speak the animal sacrifice system and the eye for an eye law, then who did speak it? That is when I go to Exodus 19 in order to clearly show that Satan was in the mountain bringing the thick darkness, thunders, lightning and loud noises to frighten the people into submission. God told Moses to warn the people not to go up into the mountain to “gaze” at this “Lord.” Now, just think about that word “gaze” for a minute. What does that tell you? It reveals that the “god” they are looking at, staring and gazing at could not possibly be the true God for the Hebrew God, Jehovah (Yahweh) of the Old Testament was invisible. So, this could not be the true God because Christ and His Father were both invisible to the human eye. So, the “Lord” who was appearing in the mountain, about half way up, as a beautiful angel of light, was none other than his majesty the devil, (diablo) the prince of darkness.
If there is any lingering doubt in your mind just read vs. 24. “And the Lord (Jesus) said unto him (Moses) Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the Lord (Satan) lest he (Satan) break forth upon them.” The true Lord God never talks about Himself in the third person here in this experience at Sinai. Let me show you how the true God speaks. “I am the Lord thy God,…thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Ex. 20:2, 3. Again in Exodus 24:1-12 you have the contrast between lord Satan and Lord Jesus. “And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord,” etc….And Moses alone shall come near the Lord: they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.” Only Moses was holy enough to have protection against this killer god, Satan, posing as the true God. Now, notice in Ex 24:12 how the true God invites Moses to come up to Him. “And the Lord said unto Moses, ‘Come up to Me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written.” The author of the living Bible knew God does not talk about Himself in the third person so notice how he changed the wording in the original Hebrew so it would agree with his theory that God does destroy. “But Jehovah said, ‘Go on down, and bring Aaron back with you, and don’t let the priests and the people break across the boundaries to try to come up here, or I will destroy them.” This is changing the Word of God to teach a false doctrine about God. The New Century Version also has changed the original Hebrew to read: “They must not come up to the Lord, or I will punish them.” Exodus 19:24.
Unfortunately, the so-called “scholars” of the Bible who are protesting various changes in the Scriptures are not a bit concerned about these particular changes because it agrees with their concept of a “killer God.” They are very happy with it. They don’t have the first clue about how Satan pretended to be God in the OT. The title “Lord,” is not God’s name. Satan has assumed that title himself. Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 4:4, that Satan is the “god” of this world who has “blinded the minds of them which believe not.” Furthermore, Jesus told the leaders of Israel that their “father” was the devil in John 8:44. Satan is also called the “Prince of the power of the air,” Eph. 2:2 and also the “King of the Bottomless pit.” Rev. 9:11. So, Satan has been allowed to assume every title of Christ. The only way we can discern the false lord or god from the true is by his character. Why do you think many enemies of Christianity worship “Lucifer?” Because they believe that the Jehovah of the OT is an angry and vengeful God who is to be hated, feared, opposed and avoided at all costs because he is a destroyer. Therefore, they have turned to the worship of Lucifer. All Bible believing Christians who teach that God destroys are basically agreeing with them and thereby teaching that the Jehovah of the OT is a mean and cruel monster. In conclusion I refer you to 2 Sam 24:1 and I Chron. 21:1. When you cross reference these two scriptures you will discover that the noun and title Lord and Satan are interchangeable. 2 Sam 24:1 was written about 1,000 BC. About 500 years later Ezra the scribe put the Chronicles together and changed the noun/title Lord to Satan clearly showing that it was Lord Satan who moved David to number Israel. This is progressive revelation. You can prove this to anyone in about 20 seconds which I have done hundreds of times with people.
Today, as I up-date try to complete this auto-biography, I am sending this message out on the internet via GLC web site mclute777@aol.com and e-mails.