Athen's Library

An Arrangement for Redemption

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.  Proverbs 2:1-6.

I was shown that God’s plan for our redemption contains a special arrangement and that this arrangement is revealed to us in shadows (types and symbols).  Knowledge of this arrangement is very important for those of us living in the last days because this is the truth that keeps God’s people from deception.  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  Matthew 24:24.  With Proverbs 2:1-6 in mind let’s take some time to explore the shadow in order to find the truth God has for us at this time.

One of the very first places we find a shadow and image is in the creation story.  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth”.  Genesis 1:27-28.  Adam, Eve, and by implication of the command be fruitful, and multiply, their child were created in the image of God.  In other words they were a shadow cast by the very image of God.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  Romans 1:20.  Those of us who are truly seeking after knowledge as for hid treasures will recognize that Adam is a shadow of God the Father and Eve is a shadow of God the Holy Spirit and Adam and Eve’s child was to be a shadow of The Only Begotten Son of the Father.

After Adam’s fall however a new shadow was cast for our consideration.  Our redeemer, stands between us and the Father, The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world now casts its shadow on the earth and the sacrificial system was instituted to educate mankind in the role our Creator would play in our redemption.  The sacrifices listed in Leviticus 14:10 And on the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish... are a shadow and only a shadow of the very image.  I was shown that this (Two Males and One Female) is God’s “Arrangement for Redemption”.  The shadow can not exist without the very Image, and when the leprosy of sin is banished from this world, it will be the intersession of the very Image that is acceptable to the Father, with no notice at all given to the shadow.

...Christ was the foundation of the Jewish economy. The whole system of types and symbols was a compacted prophecy of the gospel, a presentation in which were bound up the promises of redemption.  AA 14.

We see this arrangement (Two Males and One Female) again in the story of Abraham.  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.  Galatians 4:22-26.  In this story Abraham Hagar and Ishmael are a shadow, but they are a shadow of sin and as such are not important to this message, but Abraham, Sarah and Isaac are a shadow of the very image of our redeemer, providing insights into His character and work.

In the story of the Exodus, we see this arrangement again.  Moses an under leader, Aaron a high priest and Miriam a prophetess.

By examining the shadow with an unbiased mind, in each and every story where God sees fit for the image to cast its shadow, there is much information that can be garnered.  First and most obvious is the fact the image is made up of three distinct parts and these parts are male, female, and male.  Second we can see that this is a family, father, mother and son.  With a little more scrutiny we will become aware that the father figure is a king, the mother is a prophetess and the son is a high priest.  While there is much, much more to be revealed here it is important to understand that until all three of these individuals fulfill their role in the plan of salvation the Kingdom of Glory which Jesus asked us to pray for cannot be established.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.  Isaiah 11:11-12.

Isaiah 11:11-12 explains that God would recover His remnant two different times.  The first gathering transpired in accordance with the 2300 day/year time prophecy of Daniel, and it gathered the people into the Kingdom of Grace.  Every event that took place within this time period fell under the prophecy of the little book of John the Revelator that was sweet in the mouth but bitter in the belly.  And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.  Revelation 10:10.

As the end of the 2300 day/year prophecy approached, God began sending messages to prepare His people for the second gathering, the gathering into the Kingdom of Glory.  The first angel’s message brought by William Miller announced the Cleansing of the Sanctuary.  Due to the fact it took place during the time frame of the bitter book it too was destined to be sweet in the mouth and bitter in the belly.  True to the prophecy it was misunderstood and disappointing.  After the first disappointment in 1843 the second angels’ message came ...saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.  Revelation 14:8.  The second angel’s message came as an indictment to the churches and their leadership because of their refusal to accept the Spirit of Prophecy when God returned it to His church.  It was at this point that God began calling His believers out of the various churches into one church in preparation for the establishment of His Kingdom, a theocracy.

In my dream I was shown that the message announcing the Cleansing of the Sanctuary actually ushered in the time when the mysteries of God would begin to be revealed.  The Third Angel’s message came upon the scene bearing three fundamental doctrines, the Sabbath, the Sanctuary and the State of the Dead.  Not only does each one of these points of doctrine relate to the three parts of the very image of redemption, but the message itself came according to God’s Arrangement for Salvation.  God gave visions to three different people in preparation for the opening work of the third angel’s message (Two Males and One Female).  The first messenger was William Ellis Foy.  Brother Foy received his first vision in January of 1842 and his last in 1844; he did not understand his last vision and soon ceased his public speaking.  The second messenger was Hazen Foss.  Both Brother Foss and Brother Foy were afraid to stand before an audience to relate what the Lord had shown them in vision.  Brother Foy overcame his fright but Brother Foss did not.  Brother Foss refused to teach what the Lord had shown him and the message was taken from him.  The third messenger was Ellen Harmon.  She received her first vision in late 1844.  Ellen Harmon later known as Ellen White continued to teach all that the Lord lay upon her and the Lord blessed her as His messenger of the third angel’s message.

In 1888 the Lord again sent a message to His church.  And like in the past it came showing God’s Arrangement for Salvation.  This message was brought by two men, Elder Jones and Elder Waggoner, with Ellen White supporting it and testifying to its authority.  The church, leadership and laity alike, rejected God’s present truth for their time, and in an attempt to destroy the shadow, devised a plan of censure that would send one to Australia one to England and leave one here in America.  God blessed Ellen Whites’ work in Australia to the point that the General Conference had to swallow their pride and bring her home.

The Lord began again in 1955 to send this message concerning His family to the church of the Third Angel.  First came the message about the Father.  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.  Jeremiah 23:5-6.  Shortly thereafter came the message about the Mother.  In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.  Jeremiah 33:15-16.  After hearing about a mother and father one usually expects to hear about their child, so it is true in this case.  Within a few years the message was broadened to include ...Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:  Zechariah 6:12.

The prophet Isaiah gives this same information from a different perspective.  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:  Isaiah 11:1.  While this is a prophecy of a future event he does a good job of directing our minds to look at the shadow in order to understand the very image.  Here we have a picture of a family tree, Jesse, David and Solomon.  The story of Jesse and his son and grandson has the signature of God written all over it and as such is only a shadow of the very image.  David the warrior, who on the field of battle defeated the giant and routed the enemy, held the plans and gathered the materials for the temple, but was not allowed to build it because he had blood on his hands.  Solomon, world renowned for his wisdom, judgment and leadership, used the plans and materials his father provided him to built the most magnificent temple this world has ever known.

You may be asking, if this Arrangement for Salvation is so important why did not Jesus tell us about it?  The answer is that He did, but like many things even though they are right in front of us we do not notice them until someone else points them out.  You see my name is Mr. Slawson, my father’s name was Mr. Slawson and my son’s and grandson’s names are Mr. Slawson.  If I forget to sign a check my wife can do that for me because when I married her I gave her my name.  This is what the Spirit showed me and I will try to lay it out for you in the same way.  Jesus said I am come in my Father’s name...  John 5:43.  Here we see Father and Son using the same name.  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)  John 7:39.  Using the Bible to interpret itself we find ...the woman is the glory of the man.  1 Corinthians 11:7.  In other words God could not send the Holy Ghost at that time, because Jesus was not yet married.  But the Counselor [or, Helper], the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, that One will teach you* all [things] and will cause you* to remember all [things] which I said to you*.  John 14:26 ALT.  Now we have Father, Son and Son’s Wife using the same name.  And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.  Luke 9:48.  This verse when read in the light of Isaiah 53:10 ...he shall see his seed... allows us to comprehend who the second male lamb is.  Now the picture is complete, Jesus, His Wife and Their Son all perform Their official duties using Their surname.  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.  Acts 4:12.

Now that we understand the identity of the three individuals who make up the very image of the sacrificial offerings, and that each one of these individuals performs their official duties using the same name, it becomes obvious how important it is for us to comprehend God’s Arrangement for Redemption.  Without a firm foundation in all the present truths God has for His church at this time, we will not be ready to welcome our King when He comes to sit and rule on the throne left to Him in His Father’s will.

About that period Messiah was expected. By many he was looked for to come as a mighty monarch. The Jews had boasted to the Gentiles of his coming, and had dwelt largely upon the great deliverance which he would bring them, that he would reign as king, and put down all authority. Every kingdom and nation would bow to him, and the Jewish nation would reign over them. They had the events of the first and second comings of Christ confounded together.  4aSG 115.

Reading the above quote we see that the Jewish nation was expecting a glorious kingdom, a kingdom that would break any power foolish enough to stand against them.  What they were looking for can be found in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.  Daniel 2:34-35.  The Jewish nation confounded together the events of the first and second comings.  You might answer we have not made that mistake, which is true.  What we have done though is, we have crammed together all the events of the Second Advent, making each one indistinguishable from the other.  The stone kingdom that breaks all other kingdoms is one of the many events that occur during the period of the Second Advent.  The events we have been teaching as the complete Second Advent where Jesus comes to receive His Kingdom is also one of the many events but it comes at the end of the Second Advent.  The First Advent encompassed a period of years and to think the Second Advent would be different would be folly.  You see Jesus Christ came to this earth and died the death of the testator.  In doing so He left everything to His heir.  Jesus has duties elsewhere that will keep Him away until after the Kingdom of Glory (stone kingdom) has crushed and ground to powder all other authority.

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.  Acts 3:19-21.

John, the apostle in the first chapter of his gospel explains how Jesus Christ, the Word, preexisted His birth to Joseph and Mary.  Not only did He exist before the creation of this world but He existed before any creation took place, thus He did not come into existence through creation.  John also explains that it was the Word that created this world and everything in it.  Christians who do not believe Jesus preexisted His birth in Bethlehem will have a difficult time understanding what I’m about to say, but truth is truth whether one believes or not.  Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, formerly known as the Word came into this world with one goal in mind.  To redeem Earth and its inhabitants back to the banner of Heaven, and away from the tyranny of Satan the usurper.  This would require Him to veil His brilliance as Prince of Heaven in order for sinful humanity to behold Him.  He came and established legal residence in the earth, Prince of Heaven and Son of David, heir to the thrones of Heaven and Earth, in order to live and die as the testator to leave all that was His to His Son.  Meeting the requirements of both the legal system of Heaven and the legal system of Earth, He left a will that cannot be contested.  Not only is His will in writing, it was signed in the presence of a credible witness before His death.  The deity John called the “Word” is the one who spoke the law from Mt Sinai.  It was He who communed with Moses those forty days in the mountain.  Moses acting as the testator’s lawyer and notary wrote down His will in a book, and placed it in a pocket in the side of the Ark of the Covenant, for a witness.  Barnes Notes on Deuteronomy 31:24 reads,“The “book” here spoken of would contain the whole Pentateuch up to this verse, and be “the Book of Moses,” called generally by the Jews “the Law”.

Throughout the years of earth’s history, the “Word” came to His prophets and His will was expanded.  All of the prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah are part of the will.  All of the stories where we can see the hand of God working for His people contain His signature.  The stories of Abraham, Daniel, David, Elijah, Esther, Gideon, Ruth, Sampson, Samuel etc all testify of Him and are either part of His will or legal precedents showing how the law will apply in the salvation of man.  The prophecies of God’s prophets and the stories of God’s people in the Old Testament, contain instructions concerning how the will is to be executed, what the inheritance is, who the beneficiaries are and what requirements must be met.  Just as important as who will receive, is where and when the inheritance will be bestowed.  All this information is contained in the Old Testament, and a small part of the New Testament dealing with the life of Jesus before His death, because the will cannot be altered after the death of the testator.

In the writings of Paul we see clearly that the animal sacrifices found in the law were just a shadow of the very image, the Lamb of God.  For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers there unto perfect.  Hebrews 10:1.  And that He came to give His life for us in order that we may become joint-heirs of His will.  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.  Hebrews 9:16.  But many Christians read what Paul writes in Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  And they immediately begin to look for their inheritance.  Unfortunately they do not even understand who it is we are joint-heirs with.  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.  Romans 8:19.  If we are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, the one who died on the cross, then tell me when did His Father die?  If you answer like I do and say He has not died, nor will He ever.  Then I must ask how is it that Jesus can be heir to His own will and testament?  From a legal standpoint this is not possible.  At death, deed and title transfer to the person stated in the will.  Under the law of the birthright, this would be His firstborn male child.  This is the other Son of God mentioned in the preceding verse, and is the Christ with whom we can be joint heirs.  You see if one is looking to receive an inheritance that is different from, or bestowed in a different manner, then what is written in the Law/Will, one will be disappointed.  Everything concerning salvation for mankind is in the Law, written in types and symbols (shadows).  Jesus joined the travelers on the road to Emmaus and opened the scriptures for them.  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.  Luke 24:27.

Jesus warned us to beware of false Christs and false prophets that would appear and claim to have power from Heaven.  Notice He did not tell us to reject all Christs and prophets in the future because He knew there were still true Christs and prophets to come.  The only thing that can keep us from being deceived is an understanding of the will, and how the sacrifices found in it, are a shadow of Christ and His work in the redemption of His people.  In studying the shadows and becoming grounded in the truth of God’s Arrangement for Redemption, (male, female and male - father, mother and son - king, prophetess and prince) we will immunize ourselves against the deception of the false Christs and prophets. 

If anyone comes to you and claims to be a child of God; born-again Christian/Heir, and upon your acceptance of them and their message you will become joint heirs with them, know this now, they are a false Christ.  You see the true heir cannot be a servant; He must come from the loins of Jesus Christ just as explained in the shadow story of Abraham.  Jesus Christ came into this world to complete the task at which Adam failed.  Like in Adam’s shadow story, He too went into a deep sleep; and it was at this time that His mate was released from His side.  This is the line through which the true heir is to come.  Far too often we place someone or even ourselves in a position that belongs to God, not realizing there is only one Heir and it is only through His generosity that we are allowed to be joint-heirs. 

Concerning the two witnesses, the prophet declares further, “These are the two olive-trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.” “Thy Word,” said the psalmist, “is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” [REV. 11:4; PS. 119:105.] The two witnesses represent the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament. Both are important testimonies to the origin and perpetuity of the law of God. Both are witnesses also to the plan of salvation. The types, sacrifices, and prophecies of the Old Testament point forward to a Saviour to come. The Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament tell of a Saviour who has come in the exact manner foretold by type and prophecy.  GC88 267.

A Savior who has come, and a Savior who is to come; the two male lambs.

...Christ was to be uplifted before all nations, and all who would look to Him should live. Christ was the foundation of the Jewish economy. The whole system of types and symbols was a compacted prophecy of the gospel, a presentation in which were bound up the promises of redemption.  AA 14.

Athen Slawson