What does it mean when God permits or suffers something to happen? How are we to understand the suffering in the world? How is it related to the sufferings of God? 

Why am I receiving this email? Because you registered at Maranathamedia.com. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter then Unsubscribe The Papacy and February 11   Today pope Benedict XVI gave his farewell address. Tomorrow is the last day of February 2013 and the last day of the pope's pontificate.  This has drawn much attention and speculation as to why he is resigning (a most rare occasion for popes) and who will be taking his place.  Adrian invited me to expand on a comment I made in his recent blog on this subject. It has to do with a certain prominence…

Sermon Transcripts from Pr Adrian Ebens during Passover 2021 in Widgee

Pr Adrian Ebens Presentation Transcripts for the 2021 Tabernacles camp meeting at Fernvale

The Conference president (in meeting that he chaired to condemn me) claimed the Fundamental Beliefs is a creed that I must subscribe to.  I was called to a disciplinary hearing (October 2015) and two days were spent to find evidence against me.  In the disciplinary meeting I refuted the charge that we have a creed with evidence from official church material that states we believe the Bible is our only creed to which all doctrine and teaching must be tested; and that the highest authority within our church is the writings of E.G. White, who also substantiates this. In addition…

St. Valentines Day is a pagan festival imported into Christianity. But therein lies an important insight into living real life. The original pagan gods involved were Eros (Greek) and Cupid (Latin). To this day Cupid is often pictured as a cherub shooting arrows from his bow, the idea being that if he strikes a couple, they are programmed to fall in love. Very nice.

Seventh-Day Adventists often discuss `The Latter Rain', and question whether or not the `showers of blessing' of the Latter Rain will begin to fall shortly before a National Sunday Law is proclaimed, or shortly after.  The official teaching of the Church on this subject, is that Martin Luther first proclaimed Righteousness by Faith, and it was  `rediscovered' the truth of `Righteousness by Faith', as the fourth quarter of the 2011 Sabbath School lesson pamphlet declares in its introduction to `The Gospel in Galatians': `INTRODUCTION The Gospel in Galatians Paul’s letter to the Galatians has been compared to spiritual “dynamite,” and…

This is probably the first time that I have penned down my personal testimony of coming to be a SDA Christian and how I came to truly know the father and his wonderful Son.  My prayer is that the message in this testimony may be an ornament of blessing upon the reader! The early years of my life were somewhat an unpleasant experience to record, and allot of things that I grew up with are not the kind of things that one would write about.   I was brought up in a broken Family.  My mother left five brothers and myself in…

This date still commands the attention of Adventists today. Seems like each generation takes a crack at it. Church historians spin their own version of what “really” happened in Minneapolis 127 years ago. It was in a Minnesota school house where the 90 delegates of a 27 year old church with 27,000 members met, already divided over “The Law in Galatians.” 1888. How can anything that old be of any value (let alone interest) to us today? Aren’t there more important issues that deserve our time and attention? Like Sunday laws, Prophecy, Terrorism, Illuminati, the Papacy, Isis, the economy... The…

The subject of the Holy Spirit is a mystery to us in many ways. Jesus indicated the mysterious nature of the Spirit when speaking to Nicodemus. Joh 3:8  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." Perhaps it would be good to remind ourselves of the care needed when discussing such a subject as this. When discussing the personality of God we are on Holy Ground and must approach it reverently taking great care to…

The  afternoon session of the July 6 1919 General Conference Session began with Elder C.S Thompson asking Professor Prescott to define a statement which he had made in the morning session, at which he had stated that `all truth is personality'. Elder Thompson asked Prescott to further define this statement: "C.S THOMPSON: I understood you to say this morning that all truth is personality. I cannot understand the personality of God and Christ, and also of the angels and human beings, but I find myself unable to understand that all truth is personality. Is sunshine a personality? If so, in…

The use of the word "brass" in the english translation from the Hebrew word h5178. נְחשֶׁת (Necheshet) is commonly accepted and thus makes the use of this term in developing symbolism quite simple. Unfortunetaly not all languages share this simplicity and it is the intention in this article to demonstrate, simply, that the contextual use of the translated word "brass" is not a violation of the text and thus opens the door to expansion of the symbolic meaning contained in this translation.

God's people, whom He calls His peculiar treasure, were privileged with a two-fold system of law; the moral and the ceremonial. The one, pointing back to creation to keep in remembrance the living God who made the world, whose claims are binding upon all men in every dispensation, and which will exist through all time and eternity. The other, given because of man's transgression of the moral law, the obedience to which consisted in sacrifices and offerings pointing to the future redemption.

It is a worthwhile study to see how the prophetic gift bestowed upon Ellen G White was used to give the early pioneers of the Seventh Day Adventist church illumination and understanding of the holy bible. The foundational pillars of our faith were laid by diligent study and a reverent appreciation of both. Another way of saying this is that the visions and inspiration sent to Mrs White from God was given to help us in our weakened condition, so that we may better understand the authority of the greater light, the bible.

There is much to say in regards to endorsing a belief, especially if it appears to be sound.  However, when we come to a rock solid belief in something that we do not fully understand, it must be weighed, measured and balanced, else it has no bearing.    It is written …   “A FALSE balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight”  Proverbs 11:1   “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” 2 Tim 2:15   “All scripture is given…

Is there something in common with Samuel Spear's (1892) article, and F. M. Wilcox's (1913) "Trinity" statement?  Similar to Samuel Spear's apparent "Trinitarian" endorsement of Adventist belief in 1892, (as reprinted by M. C. Wilcox), is the 1913 "Trinity" statement from his brother F. M. Wilcox in the Review and Herald.  Nearly every church historian and scholar who has written on the subject, grasp this statement as undeniable proof that Adventism had fully accepted the Trinity doctrine as early as 1913.  (see Pfandl, footnote #64)

Lots More Community Features Dear Maranatha Media Subscriber We have been busy adding several new features to the community, including: A forum for discussion on various topics. A blog option for each member to write their own blog. A wall like facebook to write comments and make connections with people in the community Ability to keep track of your forum entries, comments, blog entries via your user profile Several other features! Please come and share in the community, start a blog of your journey with the Father and His Son, encourage others and connect. There are over 125 users from…

2010 April 6 Update New Community Features Dear Maranatha Media Subscriber Just to let you know, that as promised, we have added the ability to manage your own details on the website. You can change email but also connect with other community members, add your picture if you like. You will see a new "Community" menu section has been added with several features. About half the site is now only availabe to registered users and is visible one you log on. If you have trouble logging on, make sure you type your username and password by hand and not let…

Do you want a deeper experience with God? Do you want an ongoing walk with Him? Do you want to overcome besetting sins? Do you want the sweet peace of oneness of purpose with God? If yes, then there is one necessary thing: prayer.

Wahroonga, April 03, 2009 Adrian Ebens Dear Adrian, The Biblical Research Committee commissioned me to formulate an answer to your formal response without consulting with the committee regarding the details. The following has, therefore, not been edited by the committee, and words and phrases are mine. Though the committee has expressed its trust in my ability to present to you what has been its clear consensus when it comes to the content of your manuscript, any failure to do so in the most gracious and kind manner falls back on me alone. In your response to the Biblical Research Committee…