Study section: Victor T. Houteff

"Has Elijah the prophet already come?" "Is the ancient prophet to appear in person himself?" "Is a group of people to do a work similar to that of the ancient Elijah?" Or what?

Dear Brethren in Laodicea, do you know that prophecy positively declares that the people of God in the Laodicean church are in a critically dangerous condition and know it not? Well, Brethren, whether or not you realize it, whether or not you believe it, that precisely is the case.

Then in time, the Lord purposed to lead Jacob and his household out of the land of Canaan, down into Egypt. Knowing, though, that the sons of Jacob would not go as did Abraham, by His simply telling them to, He therefore in His providence put into the heart of Jacob a greater love for Joseph than for his other children.

Though the sanctuary in heaven and the one on earth are in two different locations, yet the one necessarily involves the other, for both deal with the same sins and sinners. Hence, for one sanctuary to become polluted will as a consequence affect the other.

Though in the working out of Litch's prediction, there was a seemingly preternatural element of coincidence, the event in question could not have been that described in John's prophecy, for the latter reveals that the four angels bound in the Euphrates were to slay the third part of men.

The trouble is not with education itself, but rather with the kind of education one receives. Yes, there are two kinds of education--the human and the Divine, the natural and the spiritual, the wrong and the right. As man is born with desires to love the natural and to hate the spiritual, naturally, then, the human method of education has been highly cultivated, and the Divine greatly, if not altogether, neglected. Thus the reason for "so many misfits."

The reader will well appreciate the fact that the importance of this health-bringing agent is in some respects similar to that of the gospel, because no home, be it Christian. Jewish, or heathen, can afford to be without a copy of it. And the gospel's first concern being one's health, this heaven-sent agent is, therefore, the "entering wedge" for Bible and colporteur work, and it will, if rightly used, not only open doors and hearts to the gospel of all time, but also to Its "meat in due season" (Matt. 24:45), the message of the hour, "the everlasting gospel." Rev. 14:6.

Emerging in 1930 from within the Seventh-day Adventist denomination ("the church of the Laodiceans"), the Davidian Seventh-day Adventist Association has ever been committed to the prophetic work (predicted in Isaiah 52:1) of preparing the Laodicean church, the last with "the tares" among "the wheat," for the final proclamation of the gospel "in all the world." Matt. 24:14.

"Plead with your Mother, plead."- Hosea 2:2

In sending your Certificate of Fellowship for this year, we should like to share with you a few Scripture thoughts which we have found very helpful from day to day as we travel the Christian way.

Provisional in set-up as well as in name, the Davidian Seventh-day Adventist Association exists solely to accomplish a divinely appointed work within the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, wherein it therefore strictly confines its activities.

In World War II, some of our men registered as noncombatants, and some as conscientious objectors, but the Association's position was more on the side of noncombatant registration, with a special request for the concessions set forth in the following instrument, entitled

Mt. Carmel Training Center was established in 1935, and is located six miles northwest of Waco, Texas. Its 375 acres a sylvan sanctuary, and its western and northern prominences commanding unexcelled views of beautiful Lake Waco some three hundred feet below, and the picturesque vistas beyond, it is happy indeed for situation solitarily in the woods.

You doubtless know that in the last few years our churches have been invaded, as it were, by a group known as Davidian Seventh-day Adventists whose literature is entitled The Shepherd's Rod. Though we as a people have done everything in our power to keep them down

The primary purpose of The Shepherd's Rod is to unlock the long-concealed mystery concerning the ever-challenging and much discussed subject of the 144,000 (Rev. 14:1), with the central object in view of bringing about among God's people that "thorough reformation" foretold by the Spirit of Prophecy

It is the intention of this book to reveal the truth of the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 7 but the chief object of this publication is to bring about a reformation among God's people.

This book is not published to explain, or comment on truths which have been previously revealed, and accepted as such, but is to disclose realities which God has Preserved through many generations, not only from becoming extinct, but also preventing their meaning from being discovered by men of wisdom.

Dear Brother Lysinger: We received your circular letter dated Oct. 24, warning us against "The Shepherd's Rod," and enclosing the little tract: "A Warning Against Error."

Heaven's Appeal The time has come when the following appeal can no longer go unheeded with impunity:

The many letters and inquiries coming from every part of the field has added much extra work to our regular duties, so that it has been impossible to keep pace with our correspondence in connection with "The Shepherd's Rod."

The Superintendent of the Wyoming Mission was here Jan. 12 and preached 2 hours against the SRod. Before they separated to celebrate the ordinance of humility, he had them vote

Doubtless all our brethren have been anxious to hear what has been accomplished by the Texas trip. We are now ready to report.

Though it was at first thought that the office should remain in its original location for a month or two longer, circumstances called for its immediate removal, and it is with praises that we make this happy announcement of our arrival at the new headquarters location

Long has it been the hue and cry of our own dear Seventh-day Adventist brethren and sisters that with all the large medical institutions, belting the globe, many of them here in the United States, yet the rank and file of our people are denied the benefits

As the eyes of Mt. Carmel Center extend over the entire field of the "first fruits" so the ears of those who are to be "without guile" are strained to catch every possible sound of its activities.

We are glad to report of the progress made in spiritual lines; that is, in dress and health reform, which step has drawn us nearer to the Lord and we feel His blessings resting upon us, for which we are very thankful.

We are happy to announce that the headquarters office of the sealing message moved from Waco to Mt. Carmel Center on September 29 to its new and permanent home

We are now glad to inform all those who are interested in this "startling revelation" that this building will be sufficiently finished for occupancy in the next two weeks if the Lord will.

Every news item that has been carried by this little paper through out the field, the editor has been very pleased to broadcast and happy to share with all God's people far and wide the joy that comes because of each advancing step against the foe

As many of our people whose hearts are in the cause of Present Truth desire to know a little more than words can express, we are at this time endeavoring to convey the news of our building program on Mt. Carmel by the means of the drawings instead of by words alone.

Since arriving here last May, as the tract of land was under rental, we have devoted most of our time to our building program, and as a result there are now five substantial buildings on the place.

This little paper is dedicated for the conveyance of news items and reformatory activities to Present Truth believers; to answer questions in connection with the sealing message of the 144,000

Having availed ourselves of an opportunity to come to Texas with an old friend and neighbor, my wife and I, after visiting and studying with some of the believers along the way from the east

The following excerpts from a letter written in 1932 by Brother V.T. Houteff to a Seventh-day Adventist Elder is being published at this time not only because of some early historic facts it contains, but also because of its other statements of interest.

From time to time, as the Lord directs, it will be the privilege of The Symbolic Code to publish certain sermons delivered by the late Brother V.T. Houteff through the years before the Timely Greetings series was started.

The sermon Brother Houteff delivered November 11, 1944 has been selected for this issue of the Code because it deals with the importance of the Certificate of Fellowship.

The sermon which was selected for this issue of The Symbolic Code is the one Brother V.T. Houteff delivered May 27, 1944. It is especially timely now as we have already launched into a new year. And it may serve as a guiding thought to "the children of light" who are "not in darkness" as to the lateness and importance of the time in which we now live.

The sermon selected for this issue of The Symbolic Code was delivered by Brother V.T. Houteff March 31, 1934 and again on June 16 of the same year. Thus we can see that double emphasis was given this subject pertaining to the faith and action needed to permit us to enter into our "rest."

The sermon which has been selected for this issue of The Svmbolic Code is on Isaiah 27. It was given on several occasions in 1936 and the last time Brother Houteff presented it was February 27, 1943. On September 21, 1936 Brother Houteff made the remarks concerning the possibility of trouble coming to the church

The question has frequently come to Mt. Carmel, since the subject of the "forty-two months" was explained in The Symbolic Code asking why the Code has never said when the forty-two months started and when the "great earthquake" of Revelation 11 is to take place.

Brother _____, who is visiting us, has asked me to give a study on the Kingdom. And with God's help I shall endeavor to do my best to bring out certain facts on that subject. Let us turn to

Our study for today is taken from several chapters in Isaiah, particularly chapters 12, 13 and 14. Some of these chapters contain prophecies which are illustrated by certain experiences of ancient peoples and nations which at some time were to be repeated.

The angel swore that there should be time no longer. I think I understand how we as Seventh-day Adventists interpret "time no longer"; but these two verses when read together clearly show what kind of time is to be no longer

This verse denotes that it will take much speaking and effort on God's part before righteousness and salvation will go forth out of Zion and Jerusalem.

There is a class of people who do everything they can in order to enrich themselves in material wealth perhaps even for a good cause, yet they are poor because they attempt to acquire it in their own wisdom and strength

God is challenging the world not only to predict the future, but to explain also what bearing the past has on the future, that they may show that they are gods.

When John the Baptist preached that the Kingdom of God was at hand, he also taught the need for repentance and baptism. The baptism that John performed was itself an object lesson that the people were sinful and unprepared for the Kingdom.

The drunkards in this verse are identified as Ephraimites. The kingdom of Ephraim is known as that division of Israel which was made up originally of the ten tribes and was called the house or kingdom of Israel.

Our study for this afternoon is based on texts that are somewhat scattered throughout the Bible. It is in reality a review of the studies we have had the last several weeks, or you might say that it is the conclusion of them.

Since the experiences which are recorded in the Bible were written for ensamples or object lessons for God's people today (1 Cor. 10:11), let us read a few verses from Isaiah 7 and then Isaiah 8, and glean the lesson there may be hidden there for us.

From time to time questions have come into this Office regarding various important aspects of the Sabbath. Before his death, Brother Houteff prepared material in question-and-answer form for a tract dealing with the subject of the Sabbath.

"I have read Pastor N's book," writes another Truth-seeker, "and as a result I have become confused about Sabbath-keeping in Australia, and do not know how to deal with the proposed

As for a lunar calendar, let us not lose sight of the fact that Moses and the people that he led out of Egypt were all born and raised in Egypt; that they knew of no other than the Egyptian calendar. And what was it? -- History gives the answer in the following paragraphs:

"I wish," writes still another Truth-seeker, "you could help me see for sure from the Bible that Sabbath falls on Saturday, and that Christians are required to keep It instead of Sunday."

The question as to how long Christ remained in the tomb, and the day on which He was buried and resurrected, has been as widely discussed as any other Biblical subject. A number of theories have been advanced and doubtless much valuable time has been wasted, however, confusion upon the subject has not lessened, but rather increased.

Error, being the opposite of Truth, would have said, "Blessed is the ground for thy sake." And instead of saying, "In sorrow shalt thou eat all the days of thy life," Error would have said, "In pleasure shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life."

You often hear that there are many ways to the Kingdom of eternal peace and prosperity, that we can take any one of them and get there. I, for one, believe that there are only two ways

I shall now read the question: "Are we, Brother Houteff, less worthy to ordain among us The Lord's Supper?"

This afternoon I am to answer questions that have come to me from brethren in the mother church. But as you listen to the answers I want you to consider that we, too, were once in their place

Our study for this afternoon is to be from Isaiah, chapter three. But since the story, or prophecy, of this chapter begins in the preceding chapter we cannot profitably study the third chapter independently of the second.

You remember that in our last Sabbath's study, we found that the prophecy of the third chapter of Isaiah actually begins with the second chapter, continues on through the third, and ends with the fourth chapter.

A number of brethren have written to me from time to time, wanting to know what makes them eligible to receive the Seal of God. Some want to know whether they will be sealed by doing this or by doing that.

This afternoon I am to answer the question: How do I know that I am not still a Laodicean, that I am now a true Davidian? In order intelligently to discuss this question, we must first have a mental picture of what Laodiceans are like, and what Davidians must be like. I shall read

We shall turn to Zechariah, the twelfth chapter. The text of our subject is found in the eighth verse, but in order to find the time and the people to which the verse directly speaks, we must begin our study with the first verse of the chapter.

Here is a forecast of a great movement, a movement that is to carry on a work of a successful revival in many places.

In our last Sabbath's study we learned that the prophecy of Zechariah is applicable to two peoples at two different times: first to the Jews while they were returning from Babylon to Jerusalem, and second to those who in the time of the end are to come out of all nations.

This afternoon we shall resume our study of Zechariah two. Inasmuch, however, as Zechariah two is a continuation of the story that begins in chapter one, we shall commence our study with it.

This afternoon we shall start our study where we left off in our previous study of Haggai's and Zechariah's prophecies. Let us turn to

Once upon a time six brothers were building a bridge, supposedly to the god of Justice. The purpose of the bridge was to unite the east with the west.

Let us turn to the writings of the gospel prophet whom the Jews so maliciously sawed asunder.

This afternoon we shall study Zechariah 8. The first thing we need to know in the study of this chapter is whether its promises are made to the people of Zechariah's time or to the people of our time.

This afternoon we are to study the tenth chapter of Zechariah. To find the time of the fulfillent of its prophecy and of the promises it contains, we need look no further than the first verse of the chapter.

The phrase "in that day" points back to preceding events, back to the twelfth chapter. There we find that the event is the great mourning in Jerusalem

There we find that "thee" refers to Jerusalem. It is the spoil of Jerusalem, then, that shall be divided in the midst of her.

Last Sabbath we concluded our study with verse eleven of Zechariah 14, and now in order to connect today's study with last Sabbath's, we shall briefly review the events concerning Jerusalem

No matter how great and how effective a revival and reformation even God Himself may launch in His church, the Scriptures make it plain that both the sinners and the saints will be in the church until the harvest. No one need brag that the members of his church are all saints, that they are all of one accord. If they really are of one accord, then it must be that they are all tares, that there is no saint among them; that church for a certainty is not the church of which Christ speaks in His Word.

Of all the verses in this chapter, these two are the most difficult to place. Some years ago I heard a preacher give an exposition on the first three verses, isolating them from the rest of the chapter and connected them with other passages of the Scriptures.

The antecedent of the pronoun "her" is found in the thirteenth verse of the preceding chapter. In it is seen that the "city" here pointed out is Nineveh, the capital city of ancient Assyria.

This afternoon we are to study the book of Nahum. The burden of this entire book, three chapters in all, is concerning two separate people.

To continue with the theme of our previous studies -- the kingdom of Judah -- we shall turn to the book of Micah. It consists as you know, of seven chapters, and they carry a continuous story of Judah in both her early and her latter days.

This afternoon we shall continue our study of the book of Micah. Let us turn to the fifth chapter, and begin with the first verse.

First to be noted is the fact that the messenger of God is instructed to contend before the mountains, and that the hills are to hear his voice. Obviously, then, in this scripture as elsewhere in the Bible, mountains and hills must be figurative

This afternoon we are to study the seventh chapter of Micah. This chapter brings to our attention three divisions of time in which three different conditions obtain on the earth.