S97; April 26, 2018 on Thursday;

The Siege

“Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and portray upon it the City, even Jerusalem.” Ezek. 4:1. The Hebrew translation reads: “Engrave” upon it a City; namely “Jerusalem,” (the City: A symbol of the Church membership). Ezekiel was told to engrave a City, and call it Jerusalem, and it must be engraved upon a tile. Paper or skin would not do, for it would not be as durable as tile. If it is engraved on a tile it cannot be erased. The thought is that the prophecy will surely come to pass, and after it once becomes history, one cannot erase the things portrayed; it is there to stay through all ages. (The tile mentioned here is not manufactured. It is a natural luminar tile, and quarried in large, self-separated slabs which in certain sections of that country is found in a great abundance. It is being largely or exclusively used for roofing and flooring.) {SR1: 128.1}

Ezek. 4:2: “And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it, set the camp also against it, and set battering rams against it round about.” “Lay siege against it”: That is, invade the City (the Church) by an army to compel its surrender; endeavor to obtain possession of the City,–the Church. “And build a fort against it”: A fort around a City makes it secure, so “build a fort against it” means to make sure that none escape. “And cast a mount”: the word “Mount” in the Greek translation is rendered (Proho’mata), meaning “Ramparts”, which is an embankment surrounding a fort, thus making every effort and precaution to secure the City. “Set the camp also against it”: That is, make temporary lodging places. The thought is,–make preparation to remain there until you have conquered the City. “And set battering rams against it round about”: Or, as in margin, “Chief Leaders”: Meaning an instrument with which to blow or strike. “Ram” is a male sheep, which is used as a symbol of GOD’s men, and they are to batter around about until the City is taken. The instrument which they batter with is a clear, cutting, and convincing Bible Truth. {SR1: 128.2}

The “City” (Jerusalem) is GOD’s Church; namely, the Seventh-day Adventists (Israel). GOD Himself organized this Church by a Prophet(E.G.White), and there is a great deal of difference between this Church, and the Churches during the Reformation from Luther’s time onward. GOD permitted HIS people to be voted out of the Church(SDA) by the majority in times past, and they were compelled to start Aanother Movement(DSDA) until the next step they were to make, and so on. In this case, GOD is to deal with the entire body. Those(DSDA) who Sigh and Cry for the abominations that are done in the Church will be sealed by the man with the writer’s inkhorn. Those who are determined to do evil, that is, do contrary to the rules laid down by the Spirit of GOD through the Testimonies for the Church will be destroyed by the 5 men with the slaughter weapons of Ezekiel 9. None can escape, for the City is besieged fortified, and made sure. It is a fact, that in every age where GOD demonstrated HIS Truth and purpose in Clear Lines, after being rejected, that people suffered the vengeance of the All-Powerful and great GOD. For instance, the anti-diluvians, cities of Sodom, Egypt, Canaanites, Babylon, and ancient Jerusalem. {SR1: 129.1}