Who has the keys?

Who has the keys to the kingdom of Heaven today?

     Consequently, when Christ gave the Keys to Peter, He gave him the gospel AND a divine commission to preach it. And so long as Peter and his co-workers were true to this charge, just so long did they possess the Keys to lock or to unlock to men the kingdom of God, and to have sanctioned in heaven whatever they bound or loosed on earth. Accordingly, with Inspiration

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and progressive revelation, Present Truth, go the Keys. {4An:38.3} 

     Obviously, therefore, a message from heaven, proclaimed by God's chosen servants, is all-powerful, and by it man's eternal destiny is decided. {4An:39.1} 

     Plainly, then, the Keys are not the church herself, but ARE IN the message which she proclaims. So no man or set of men has power to loose or bind with Heaven's approval save at the instance of a message vouchsafed directly from Heaven for them to bear for the time then present: "Different periods in the history of the church have each been marked by the development of some special truth, adapted to the necessities of God's people at that time."—The Great Controversy, p. 609. It has been so from time immemorial. {4An:39.2}

     Thus Miller and his associates possessed them until the TIME of God's next message, the judgment of the dead, WHEN the sacred Keys passed from the Millerite Movement to the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. But if it now rejects God's pleadings to anoint its eyes with the eyesalve which He is offering to it, it too, will let [[ future tense ]] the Keys slip from its grasp and pass into the hands of those WHO ARE to [[ future tense ]] proclaim the additional message, the judgment of the living, the message of the Loud Cry. (See Early Writings, pp. 277-279).  And, tragedy of tragedies! this very thing the Laodiceans are in their blindness doing [[ not past tense, did ]], thereby repeating the history of God's people through the ages.—4An:38.3-39.2; 41.1

We are not in the TIME of the judgment of the living and neither are we proclaiming the Loud Cry before the TIME. But what we can certainly say is what the prophet published. We are calling for reformation and revealing the truth of Revelation 7.

Proof:

PREFACE

     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.…—1SR:5.1

PREFACE

     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.  As its work therewithin draws to a close, and the "servants of our God" (Rev. 7:3) are sealed, its name will be changed (Isa. 56:5; 62:2; 65:15) and its purpose and its work will become all-embracing to the gospel (Matt. 17:11; Acts 3:21, Isa. 61:4-7).  Then its Constitution and By-Laws as herein codified will become fully operative.—LEV:2.1

This is where some Davidians make a mistake as to our function among SDAs. Some are misunderstanding and misrepresenting the purpose of this message in "the pre-harvest period" (1TG21:19.2). We only need to take our time and respect the implications of every word and how the prophet used them.

So carry this thought in 4An:39.2 "…but ARE IN the message…" back into 4An:39.1 "…when Christ gave the Keys to Peter, He gave him [[1.]] the gospel and [[2.]] a divine commission to preach it.…"

When did the "gospel" begin to be preached by the first disciples of Jesus, before the third hour or after the clock had struck?

When did the first angel's message begin to be preached, was it before or after the hour had struck?

…Still further, as the first angel's message was NEVER preached before 1844, then WHEN the judgment hour came, this angel's message—the message concerning the judgment—went forth.—9Tr40:99.1  (1st Ed.)

     Counting forward 2300 years from October 457 B.C., the terminus is October, 1844 A.D. And as the angel said, "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed," the cleansing must thence have commenced in 1844, the very year in which, for the FIRST time in history, the first angel's message rang forth the proclamation: "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come" (Rev. 14:7; Dan. 7:9, 10)—the time that the Great Judge and the heavenly tribunal sit in judgment to separate the bad from the good; that is, to blot from the Book of Life the names of 

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those who have entered the service of Christ but have not endured to the end.—3Tr:41.2

That is when the keys passed from the Millerite movement to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, In 1844.

     In remarkable corroboration of this particular  phase of the prophecy, the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, after the disappointment in 1844, went forth in fulfillment of the following divine commission: "Thou must prophesy AGAIN before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings." Rev. 10:11.…—2Tr:48.2

     So it was that as soon as the disappointment in 1844 came, which is represented by the little book's turning bitter after having been eaten, the angel declared: "Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings." Rev. 10:10, 11.  The SECOND advent movement was then reorganized and the title Seventh-day Adventists given to it.  Thus the Lord charged His messengers to "cry yet," to proclaim again, to continue preaching the additional light—the Judgment for the Dead.  The cleansing of the sanctuary (Dan. 8:14), the purification of it by blotting out from the books (Dan. 7:10) the names of those who are found not eligible to come up in the first resurrection, the resurrection of the holy ones (Rev. 20:5, 6). {1TG11:10.1} 

     Here is seen that Inspiration does not at once lighten our path clear to the end, but that It does so step by step; that God's Truth is progressive; that we can never really say we have all the Truth to carry us clear through to the Pearly Gates.—1TG11:10.1, 2

Rev. 10:11—And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings. {2TG15:6.2} 

     After the disappointment they were commanded to prophesy again; that is, again to proclaim the cleansing of the Sanctuary.  This work they were to do among many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings, obviously not to all. {2TG15:6.3} 

     Thus it was that the first Advent Movement was reorganized and renamed, Seventh-day Adventists.  The Seventh-day Adventist organization, therefore, will not finish the work.  Its message does not go to all people, to all nations, tongues, and kings.  Consequently, the Church, too, is to be reorganized [[ it hasn't been reorganized yet ]] if the Gospel of the Kingdom is to be preached to all nations.  " 'A revival and a reformation must take place under the ministration of the Holy Spirit.  Revival and reformation are two different things.  Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death.  Reformation

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signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices.' "—Christ Our Righteousness, pg. 121, 1941 edition.—2TG15:6.2-4

Here is the second place in the SRod where "are in the message" appears:

   Pray for us, for our hearts and souls are in the message of the SRod, which has made a great change in our lives; and with God's help and guiding hand, we are going through to the kingdom, numbered among the 144,000—Praise God! {1SC9:6.4}

Would you say our hearts and souls is the message? We would not, right? The prophet could have written that the message IS the keys but he didn't. So we must articulate the thought in the same way and adjust accordingly.

What were the disciples preaching when he sent them two by two before Jesus was crucified?

Bro. Houteff wrote it in that way for a reason. He wrote the keys are in the message and not the message is the key. So we should repeat the matter in the same way. Some still believe that we are proclaiming the Loud Cry before we receive the commission from Christ AT the Eleventh hour. That cannot be.

The disciples are acknowledged as "the First Evangelists" in Desire of Ages chapter 37, p. 349.1. Were they or were they not preaching? To whom were they preaching? What were they preaching about?

However, Peter did not receive the "keys" until chapter 45. (See: 4An:37.4-41.1.)

In other words, there is a right way to look at this and a wrong way. Which one is correct?

Did Brother Houteff publish that the message is the key or the keys are in the message? Because if the message is the key then we are going to create problems for ourselves somewhere else.

The Loud Cry will be preached at and not before the 11th hour has struck.

And when it (the Loud Cry) shall be preached it will be proclaimed according to Inspiration's prescription:

     The Spirit of Prophecy declares that "only those who have withstood and overcome temptation in the strength of the Mighty One, will be [[ future tense ]] permitted to act a part in proclaiming this message WHEN it shall have swelled into the Loud Cry."  (R. & H., Nov. 19, 1908.)  This excerpt bears plain evidence that we are not now in the time of the Loud Cry, neither have we ever been, for the Loud Cry is to be proclaimed only by those who have overcome temptation, whereas, the message has been, and is now proclaimed by both sanctified and unsanctified ministers.  Therefore, if the message in the time of the Loud Cry is to be proclaimed only by those who have overcome temptation, there must necessarily be a reformation, and it shall sift out all the unsanctified ministers.  (5T p. 80; G.C. 424, 5.)—4SC10-12:4.8  [1938]

     So while the fainter cry is proclaimed by those who have, as well as by those who have not, overcome temptation, the Loud Cry is to be proclaimed only by those who have.—1An:83.3  [1944]

To say we are now proclaiming the message of the Loud Cry creates so much problems you don't even want to begin walking down that road. And with the proclamation goes the keys and not a moment sooner.

Observe keenly through the aid of the Holy Spirit of Truth. And we need to be honest with Him.

     The message swells to a Loud Cry by virtue of an "addition" which gives it "power and force."—Early Writings, p. 277. The only conclusion admissible, therefore, is that since the church has never accepted an additional message, and since there has never come one (other than that in The Shepherd's Rod publications) that would give "power and force" to the old message, the Loud Cry could not have begun at any time previous to this. {1An:82.3} 

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     Moreover, the "abominations" in the church have not only kept back the Loud Cry BUT have also even silenced the fainter cry which precedes it. Indeed, "the angel of the church of the Laodiceans," being unfit even to finish the proclamation of the message in its fainter cry, must be altogether unfit to proclaim it in the Loud Cry. Obviously, if he does not now quickly repent and accept the additional message which is to begin the Loud Cry, then not only will he not help proclaim it but he will even be "spued out."—1An:82.3-83.1

Which is the old message?

When did the old message begin to be preached?

Which message precedes the Loud Cry?

What DSDAs are doing in the SDA Church is sounding an alarm in God's holy mountain. Calling for a reformation. We are giving a warning about a soon-coming investigative Judgment for the living, be prepared because it begins with us.

The message is designed to reap two fruits. The way we understand it today, our portions will be in the past after the church is purified. We will not then need to teach that the first fruits need to be gathered. It will be different and we shall receive additional light for the necessities of God's people during the Loud Cry.

…The prophecy by Ezekiel [[ chp. 4 ]] gives the information in detail from the beginning of Luther's reformation to Ezekiel 9, marking of the 144,000, and unrolling of the scroll.  ("Not all in regard to this matter is yet understood, nor will it be understood until the unrolling of the scroll." Volume 6, page 17.)—1SR:116.1  [1932]

   "The light we have received upon the third angel's message is the true light.  The mark of the beast is exactly what it has been proclaimed to be.  Not all in regard to this matter is yet understood, nor will it be understood until the unrolling of the scroll; but a most solemn work is to be accomplished in our world."—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, p. 17.—3SC2:10.2  [1937]

In other words immediately after the purification of the church, we are to receive additional truth through the unrolling of the scroll for the last time before the end of probation for the world.

You will not find anywhere in the SRod that we are now proclaiming the Loud Cry message. (See: 4SC10-12:4.8; 1An:83.3.)

     Moses' decree was bound in Heaven, for "the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods." Num. 16:32. {2TG29:9.2} 

     The Keys of Kingdom you see, passed along from one generation to another—from the Patriarchs to the Prophets, to the Apostles, and on down to our day.  For instance, about three score years ago the founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Denomination declared that the General Conference was no longer Heaven's highest authority on earth (General Conference Bulletin, 34th. Session, Vol. 4, Extra #1, April 3, 1901, pg. 25, Cols. 1 & 2).  And thus it was that when the time arrived for the additional message (which gives power and force to the Third Angel's Message—"Early Writings," p. 277) to be proclaimed to the church, it came, not through the General Conference but through the laity.  This is proof positive that the Keys with which Peter was invested are at work today.—2TG29:9.3

     Plainly, then, the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven are in the hands of those who have the Truth for the day.  Consequently just as plain as Heaven can make

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it, the Truth stands out that the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven today [[ Feb. 28, 1948 ]] have passed from the hands of the General Conference to the hands of the General Association of Davidian Seventh-day Adventists, as verily as they passed from the Sanhedrin to Peter in the days of Christ's first Advent.  So it is that Truth's decree on earth today is the decree in Heaven.—2TG29:9.2-4

…like Peter, had a message, "keys,"…—1SC3:5.2

…for Moses had a message—"keys"…—1SC3:5.3

1SC3:5.4-6 carries interesting points also. Especially:

…Thus Miller and his associates possessed them until God's next message in 1844, WHEN the keys passed from the Millerite movement to the S.D.A. denomination. It is obvious then that the S.D.A. denomination was to have the "keys" during the period of the judgment of the dead, or for the time prior to the Loud Cry of the Third Angel's Message—the judgment of the living.—1SC3:5.5  [1934]

What comes between the Judgment of the dead period and the Judgment of the living?

     Finally, if we have Heaven's Truth for the hour, as Peter had It in his day, we then have the keys of Heaven and can with It bind or loose—Truth's decisions on earth are the decisions in Heaven.—2TG29:6.3

     It should be of interest to know whether the Apostle Peter was the first to be given the Keys of Heaven, or whether others had the Keys before him.  Since Present Truth committed to an individual is the Keys of Heaven, and since the teaching of It binds and looses things on earth and is so sanctioned in Heaven, then others must have had the Keys before they were passed on to Peter, for the earth, the church, and Heaven-revealed Truth existed before Peter's time.—2TG29:7.3



And what about the necessary commission to go with the possession of the keys (Present Truth)?

     In these verses we see a slaughter taking place, a slaughter which takes away the transgressors of the Truth.  Those that escape the

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slaughter of the Lord are sent to the nations who have not seen God's glory, or heard His fame, and they are to bring all their brethren out of "all nations."  Plainly, then, the slaughter is in the Church, for those who escape are sent to preach to the Gentiles that know nothing of God.  Sending the faithful to the nations, after the slaying of the unfaithful, presupposes a reorganization.  And the commission at last is to go, not to many nations, but to all nations.  If they are to bring all their brethren out of all nations, then they must be the last, the ones to finish the work, "the Mystery of God," to bring probation to a close and the world to an end.—2TG15:7.6

     Consequently, when Christ gave the Keys to Peter, He gave him [[1.]] the gospel and [[2.]] a divine commission to preach it. And so long as Peter and his co-workers were true to this charge, just so long did they possess the Keys to lock or to unlock to men the kingdom of God, and to have sanctioned in heaven whatever they bound or loosed on earth. Accordingly, with Inspiration

4 Answerer 38

and progressive revelation, Present Truth, go the Keys. {4An:38.3} 

     Obviously, therefore, a message from heaven, proclaimed by God's chosen servants, is all-powerful, and by it man's eternal destiny is decided. {4An:39.1} 

     Plainly, then, the Keys are not the church herself, but are in the message which she proclaims.…—4An:38.3-39.2


Today the SDA Church is preaching the third angel's message in its fainter cry phase. And soon after the SDA Church is purified it shall receive not only a new name but also another commission to preach in all the world.