The Antitypical David–The Beloved

T H E  A N T I T Y P I C A L  D A V I D —T H E  B E L O V E D

W H O  I S  H E ?

By Brother Garrick D. Augustus

January 1991

When the disciples were asked by Jesus, “Whom say ye that I am?” Matt 16:15 , Peter emphatically stated without any reservation or doubt, “Thou art the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the Living God.” Matt. 16:16. And today we too, when asked, “who is Jesus?” would answer with boldne­ss “He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” But I fear greatly when most Davidians are asked, “Whom do you say that the Dav­id in the Kingdom–the antitypical David–really is?” Our answers are unsure, unclea­r, unconvincing, to say the le­ast; because we too in our in­nermost souls are uncertain of our answer, and of the truth of David. If we should say David is Brother V.T. Houteff, we fear being denounced by our brethren as here­tics, and we dare not say He is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” because the message teaches: “This, of course, cannot be Christ Him­self, for inspiration never calls Him David, but rather It calls Him the Son of David.” 2 TG 2:15.0. So, the question is continually evaded until they have been further indoct­rin­ated with the Shepherd’s Rod message. After indoctrination people are usually told that the “David” in the kingdom is Brother V.T. Houteff, or that “David” will be a human person–someone chosen from one of the Vanguard–one of the 144,000! The sad truth, though, is that the Holy Spirit does not bear wit­ness with our spirit, convinc­ing our hearers of truth on this mo­st important subject, with the result that not a few have turned away from the message–the Rod. And this they do because the Holy Spirit does not bear witness with their spirit, convincing them of truth on this most important subject, because it is not the Truth of Christ, Rom. 8:16. They, in general, recoil from this error with disgust, and condemn the message of the Rod as being error!

We Davidians are champions at proving points of faith from both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, yet these champions of present truth stumble on the subject of the King of the Davidian Kingdom . They entrench themselves behind a few statements from the pen of V.T. Houteff without any regard for the clear teaching of the Bible–the eternal Word of God, on this eternally important subject. Brethren, ever remember that “…God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bib­le only, as the sta­ndard for all doctrines and the basis of all reforms.” GC 595.1. “…there is need of a return to the great Protestant prin­ciple–the Bible, and the Bible only, as the rule of faith and duty.” GC 204.2-205.0. Are you brother, sister one of those in­dividuals, am I one of those individuals, who will sta­nd on the authority of “the Bible, and the Bible Only” as our only ru­le of faith and practice, is the great question for each present truth believer to decide for himself today. It is only by following this inviolable rule of strict adherence to “the Bible, and the Bible only” that we can learn truth and unmask error in all its disguises. Inspi­ration further propounds, “The truth and the glory of God are inseparable; it is impossible for us, with the Bible within our reach, to honor God by er­roneous opinions….If light and truth is within our reach, and we neglect to improve the privilege of hearing and seeing it, we virtually reject it; we are choosing darkness rather than light.” GC 597.2. I would venture to say that the same group of statements that we so often quote to Laodicea need to be looked upon in a real way for their applicability to Davidia. I fear that because we have been exposed to so much truth that we are now, by our actions, saying: “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;” Rev. 3:17. Friends, let us “search the Scriptures,” with the realism that “they are they which testify of [Christ].” John 5:39.

“The reproach of Christ is upon us, His people. The gospel of Christ and His love and Him crucified was a stumblingblock to the Jews, and it has been evidenced that it is a stumblingblock to many who claim to believe present truth. They are forever coming against the Rock of Offense.” 9 Manuscript Releases 184.3. This stumblingblock is more vividly evidenced among us when we discuss the transcendental role of Christ as the antitypical David. You see, even the Jews stumbled on this subject. Jesus exclaimed, “Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem , where David was? So there was a division among the people because of Him.” John 7:42,43.

Again Jesus posed the question to the Jews, “Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is He? They say unto him, The son of David.” Christ retorted, “If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer Him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.” Matt. 22:42,45,46. The message is clear, the Jews, though astute in the Scriptures, stumbled on the primary object of the Scriptures, they stumbled on the Davidic role of Christ as their King–to whit they finally pronounced to their doom, “We have no king but Caesar!” John 19:15. In the finality of their doom, they preferred a mere man (mortal) as their King in place of the Lord of Glory! Will we ever learn the solemn lessons from our ancestors?

With the previously mentioned in view, we shall there­fore proceed in the study of David, using the amplifying lens of the Holy Spirit to guide us in this search for the truth, and the truth alone, on this grand subject of David–the antitypical David. As we do so, I shall ever be mindful to, teach that only which should be taught. “And since none but the Spirit of Truth, who transmitted the mysteries of Inspiration, can interpret them, then those who attempt to teach them without this inspired interpretational Authority, inevitably fall into the forbidden practice of private interpretation (2 Pet. 1:20)–the great evil which has brought Christendom into its present almost-boundless state of schism and consequent confusion, strife, and impotency.

“As we dare not follow in such a path, we must therefore, as teachers of The Shepherd’s Rod (the official publications of the Davidian S.D.A. Association), teach only in the light of the Rod those passages which in one way or another need to be interpreted. Thus only will all Present Truth believers ever become of the same mind, seeing eye to eye and speaking the same things (1 Cor. 1:10; 1 Pet. 3:8; Isa. 52:8).” FB 35.3-36.1.

Israel ‘s Move From Theocracy to Monarchy

As students of the Scriptures, we are familiar with the history of ancient Israel , how they emancipated from Egypt to the promised land– Canaan . We know how they went over the Jordan River with Joshua as their leader, and into the promised land they came. It should be noted at this point, that all the heathen nations had their respective kings–earthly kings–in their succes­sion reigning over them. But it was not the will of Jehovah to place an earthly monarch as king over His people, instead of Himself. He placed judges to judge and lead His people, Israel , in truth and righteousness.

“Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord; but they did not so. And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corr­upted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.” Judges 2:16-19. But as time progres­sed and the elders of Israel died, their children, along with new converts, came forward and “new-modeled the cause” of truth. GC 385.1.

They soon felt that it was not enough for them to have judges ruling over them. They desired to be like the other nations–the world–and craved for an earthly king to reign over them. “And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel….Then all the elders of Israel gathered them­selves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said un­to him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” (1 Sam. 8:1,4,5.) Note that they wanted to be “like all the nations” by hav­ing an earthly king ruling over them. This was not God’s ideal plan for His people. “But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” 1 Sam. 8:6,7.

Why was Samuel “dis­pleased”? Samuel was angry with Israel because of their choice for a king. He knew the counsel of the Almighty, that from the very beginning, it was never God’s purpose to place a king of any earthly descent over His people. Jehovah wanted to be King over His people, and none other, thus He says: “I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel , your King.” Isa. 43:15.

Notwithstanding Samuel’s often entreaty to Israel to have no other king than the Lord their God, they made clear their demands in no uncertain terms. “Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel , Go ye every man unto his city.” 1 Sam. 8:19-22.

This though, was not the first attempt of Israel to demand a king. In fact, as early as the days of Gideon, after his battle with the Midianites, “…the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule [be King] over you.” Judg. 8:22,23. Yes, all the patriarchs, prophets, judges and chief rulers realized the sole kingship (rulership) of Jehovah over them. But “…the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. 8:7.

In Judges 9:8-15 we read: “The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.”

A.T. Jones: “Did anybody ever with either safety or comfort sit down in the shade of a thorn-bush? Yet that they do this very thing, or else be burnt, were the only terms of the bargain. That is, they were to put themselves in an arrangement where they were certain to be pricked; and if they refused that, then they were certain to be burnt.

“And they were so taken with the idea of their own ‘organization’ instead of God’s that they deliberately entered into that unreasonable arrangement. They did make that bramble king over them, when by every right and every sober consideration God was king over them. They rejected God and chose the bramble: and in that they rejected God’s Organization, and set up a structure of their own choice, ‘like all the nations,’ and called it ‘organization’.…

“But in spite of this frightful outcome, to both sides of the attempt at ‘organization,’ there still lingered the wish to have a king. And in the days of Samuel, again the demand was openly made. ‘Make us a king to judge us, like all the nations.’ 1 Samuel 8:5.

“The Lord by Samuel protested solemnly against it all: and out­lined before them what would be the evil of the oppressions of their king and their kingdom and their ‘organization.’ But they would not listen, and still insisted, ‘Nay, but we will have a king over us.’ Verse 19.

“The Lord let them have their persistent way. Yet He declared, ‘They have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.’ Verse 7. They rejected God, to be ‘Like all the nations.’ And speedily they became ‘like all the nations’ that rejected God: and finally sealed it all, and their doom, with the wild and desperate exclamation, ‘We have no king but Caesar!’

“What is the Meaning of all this? Is there in it any warning, or any lesson, for God’s people in this time or in any time?…Where is any difference in principle between then their call for a king, that they might be ‘like all the nations,’ and now the like call for a king?…” This Is The Church? By A.T. Jones 9.3–under heading, “Church Organization (1).”

Though clearly not His will, the Lord allowed Israel their choice of a king, instead of Himself. And so the dynasty of the kings of Israel , later the kings of Israel and Judah , began, and continued until the capitulation of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah .

The Lord finally chose David, His anointed, to preside as king over His people. “And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reign­ing over Israel ? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons….And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee….And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.” 1 Sam. 16:1,3,12,13. At the blessing of the Lord, David was victorious in his battles, “…and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies.” 2 Sam. 7:1.

While in this state of tranquility of soul and spirit, David remem­bered the ark of the Lord and the tabernacle of His presence–the temple–and aspired to build the temple unto the Lord. But though well inten­tioned, he was instructed by Heaven that he was not fit to build the temple of the Lord, because he had shed too much blood. But the Lord simul­taneously, through Nathan the prophet, spoke unto David the most sublime prophecy of:

THE DAVIDIAN KINGDOM

In 1 Chron. 17, we read: “3–And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4–Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in. 7–Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler [king] over my people Israel :

“8–And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth. 9–Also I will ordain a place for my peo­ple Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the chil­dren of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginn­ing, 10–And since the time that I com­manded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Fur­thermore I tell thee that the Lord will build thee an house.

“11–And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will es­tablish his kingdom. 12–He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne forever. 13–I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was be­fore thee: 14–But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for ever­more.” 1 Chron. 17:3,4,7-14. From this pa­ssage the following will be no­ted:

1. God has promised “a PLACE for [His] people Israel .” ver. 9.

2. God has promised to have a purified people, the opposite of whom are “the children of wickedness,” who will dwell in peace, and be freed from their enemies oppression.” ver. 9,10.

3. The government of this kingdom will be that of David’s seed–that is, the government shall rest upon His shoulders.

4. “…the Lord will build thee [David] an house”–even “the house of David” during the days of this Davidian kingdom. ver. 10, and Zech. 13:1.

5. The Lord will “raise up thy [David’s] seed after thee, which shall be of thy [David’s] sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build me an house [san­ctua­ry–church] and I will stablish his [son of David’s] throne for ever.” ver. 11,12.

6. This seed of David will be the Son of God–even Jesus–and the Father’s mercy will abide with Him. ver. 13.

7. God will settle this seed of David in His “house [in Hea­ven]” and in His “kingdom [on earth] for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.” ver. 14.

After hearing from Nathan these words, David in rap­turous joy poured forth his prayer unto the Lord: “Therefore now, Lord, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and con­cerning his house be estab­lished for ever, and do as thou hast said. Let it even be es­tablished, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God of Is­rael, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy ser­vant be es­tablished before thee. For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee. And now, Lord, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness un­to thy servant: Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O Lord, and it shall be blessed for ever.” 1 Chron. 17:23-27.

This son of David is to be:

1. A priest, by virtue of His building this house unto the Lord, and;

2. A King, by virtue of his kingdom and throne being established forever–throughout eternity.

Hence, this pro­mised seed of David, is to oc­cupy a dual office during the time of this Davidian kingdom; He is to be a priest-king [king-priest]. Indeed, He is the fitting antitype of Melchi­zedek, who himself was a priest-king, Heb. 5:5,6. “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God….being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is King of peace; Without father, without mother (pedi­gree–earthly parentage), without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.” Heb. 7:1-3.

Throughout the remainder of this presentation, there is an interesting identity to be re­alized in the ministry of the antitypical David, which is His priest-king role of administ­ra­tion. Let’s now view in depth the previously itemized points regarding this seed of David.

1. GOD HAS PROMISED A PLACE FOR HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL

This promised place (land) is none other that the kingdom proper, whose nucleus will be in the Promised Land– Canaan in Pales­tine . “For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah , saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.” Jer. 30:3. “And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:…And they shall dwell in the land I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince [King] for ever.” Ezk. 37:21,22,25. Please read PK 298-300. “At this nearing time, when the Lord’s people who have been scattered will be gathered ‘from among the heathen,’ and brought into their ‘own land,’ their hearts will be changed; then it will be said in effect: ‘whosoev­er is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.’ 1 John 3:9. Then shall the law of sin, now dominant in the natural heart, no longer exist. Thus freed from sin’s tyranny, the ‘stony heart’ shall be replaced with a ‘heart of flesh’ with the law of God inscribed upon it forever.” 9 Tr 48.3-49.0.

2. A PURIFIED PEOPLE

These are the 144,000 with the great multitude, who shall st­and “without fault before the throne of God,” Rev. 14:5, al­ong with the host of the redeemed who shall complete the kingdo­m–purified and set apart from sinners.

“Five Groups in the Kingdom. These groups are: (1) the 144,000, Israelites, the first fruits of the living, whose ‘nobles shall be of themsel­ves,’ and whose ‘governor shall proceed from the midst of them’ (Jer. 30:21): they shall return to Jerusalem, and stand on Mount Zion with the Lamb; (2) those whom John saw, after the sealing of the 144,000, gathered from ‘all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues,’ during the ‘great tribula­tion,’ the ‘time of trouble such as never was’–the great multi­tude who go to Jerusalem before the resurrection; (3) those who arise to everlasting life in the resurrection of Daniel 12:2; (4) those Israelites who shall come forth in the resurrection of Ezekiel 37:1-14; (5) all who come [up] in the resurrection of Revela­tion 20:6;–collectively, these are all the Israelites and Gen­tiles who shall return to Jerusalem, possess the promised land, and then the whole earth.” 9 Tr 65.4-66.0.

3. THE GOVERNMENT SHALL REST UPON HIS SHOULDERS

It is marvelous to n­ote that God prom­is­es to ad­mi­nis­t­rate the Dav­id­ian kin­g­dom af­ter the or­der of the judg­es and not after the or­der of the king­s. For the si­mple re­ason, that, duri­ng the times of the judge­s, God Him­self (Jehov­ah) was the king and the only king ov­er his pe­ople. 1 Sa­m. 8:7. Ne­ed I ther­efore sa­y, it was never in the pur­pose (pro­vide­nce) of God to have an ea­r­thly monarch to re­ign over His people, and kings to sit upon thr­ones in­stead of Himse­lf? Ind­eed, should the Lord at this time in the “re­stitut­ion of all th­ings” (Acts 3:21; Matt. 1­7­:11) chan­ge His plans today [Mal. 3:6], then ancient Is­rael deser­ves an open letter of apology from the Eternal I AM, declaring that He has erred in His deal­ings with them when they requested a king–an earth­ly king to reign over them, and He chastised them! And such a change­able God is not the Yahweh of the Bible!

“The first form of government over men was established by God himself, and acknowledged him as the only sovereign….He would have continued to be their king, had they been content with his paternal care.…When Israel became a distinct people, the twelve tribes, springing from the twelve sons of Jacob, had each a leader….The high priest was the visible representative of Christ, the Redeemer of his people. When the Hebrews settled in Canaan, judges were appointed, who resembled governors…but God was still the recognized king of Israel, and he continued to reveal his will to these chosen leaders, and to manifest through them his power.…The days of Israel’s greatest prosperity had been those in which they acknowledged Jehovah as their King,…’Like other nations’–the Israelites did not realize that to be in this respect unlike other nations was a special privilege and blessing. God had separated Israel from every other people, to make them his own peculiar treasure. But they, disregarding this high honor, eagerly desired to imitate the example of the heathen.” Signs of the Times July 13, 1892 ; or Signs of the Times Vol. 1, p. 308.

It would be well spoken of in Heaven, if we (Carmelite) Davidians would see eye to eye, and accept this most glorious truth, and thus vindicate our peculiarity by acknowledging Christ as our only King, our only Ruler, our only Lawgiver, instead of being like the ‘other nations’–other Davidians–in giving this office to V.T. Houteff, or some other human being. Then will it be said, “The days of Israel ’s [Davidia’s] greatest prosperity were those in which they acknowledged Jehovah as their King!…And such will be the days of any people’s greatest prosperity.” Christian Patriotism or Religion and The State 39.0, by A.T. Jones.

The King And His Kingdom

Let’s see who shall be King over His people, during the days of this Davidian kingdom:

· “The Lord hath taken away thy judge­ments, He hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel , even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.” Zeph. 3:15.

· “Surely these revelations of prophecy should en­courage every believer to shout with joy as he realizes that the day in which he shall no more see evil is right at hand, that the Lord is to be his only King.” 1 TG 23:8.7.

· “Stirred to fury over her purification, the dragon will make war ‘with the remnant of her seed.’ Against her personally, though, he will not war, because her communicants, the 144,000 (the first fruits–Rev. 7:3-8; 14:4), those who go first into the kingdom, stand with the Lamb, the King, on mount Sion (Rev. 14:1), His palace grounds.” 12 Tr 44.3.

· “And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.” Micah 4:7.

· “The day in which God’s people are gathered from all parts of the earth and brought to Zion is at hand, and the Lord will reign over them henceforth forever.” 1 TG 25:8.4.

· “I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel , your King.” Isa. 43:15.

· “And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.” Zech. 14:9.

· “The Lord reigns first over Jerusalem , and finally after the saints are gathered in from the four corners of the earth He reigns over the whole earth.” 1 TG 19:8.1.

· “And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.” Zech. 14:17.

· “The ‘rain’ will be withheld from all who do not then worship the King, the Lord of hosts, in or­der that they may fully realize their mistake. Moreover, not only those who shall fight ag­ainst Jerusalem , but even all the families of the earth shall be thus sifted.” 1 TG 20:13.6.

· “Behold, a King shall reign in righte­ousness, and princes shall rule in judge­ment. And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.” Isa. 32:1,2.

· “Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.…Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.” Isa. 33:17,20-22.

The Lord Jesus Christ will be our “all in all” with no viceroy between.

A Solemn Appeal From A.T. Jones

“‘…In Christ’s kingdom there is no lordly oppression: no compulsion of manner. The angels of heaven do not come to the earth to rule, and to exact homage, but as messengers of mercy, to co-operate with men in uplifting humanity.’

“That is precisely where I stand; and that is only what I preach from the Bible: the kingdom of God as it is in itself ‘righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost:’ the kingdom of God as Christ brought it to the world: the kingdom of God as it is in the individual soul: the kingdom of God as it is in the church of God: the kingdom of God as it is presently to be, covering the earth as the waters cover the sea: the kingdom of God in which on the part of the Governor the only principle is Government with the consent of the governed; and in which, on the part of the governed the only principle is, self-government in God and with God according to the will of God: that kingdom in which, accordingly, there being no place for any one to rule another, the only field of activity is loving service to one another: that kingdom in which the soul is left untrammeled: that kingdom in which no one seeks to control another’s mind, to judge for another, or to prescribe his duty: that kingdom in which every soul enjoys his God-given freedom to think, and to follow his own convictions: that kingdom in which everyone gives account of himself only to God: that kingdom where there is no lordly oppression, nor any com­pulsion even of manner. That is what I preach. Just that is what I have been preaching, and that is what I shall continue to preach; for it is the Kingdom of God and the gospel of the Kingdom which is to be preached in all the world a witness to all nations; then the end will come.…

“Here is Special Testimony Series B. No. 10: ‘Jehovah is our King’.…This message says these words: ‘God declar­es, “I will be glorified in My people;” but the self-confident management of men has resulted in putting God aside and accepting the devisings of men.’–Pages 16,17….

“The Kingship of Jehovah, and that each one shall find God to be his King, in the Kingdom of God , instead of any kingdom of men in the place of God–this is only what I am preaching everywhere, and what I shall continue to preach.” An Appeal for Evangelical Christianity 16.4-18.5, by A.T. Jones.

“God never intended that His people should be formed into a kingdom, or state, or government, like the people of this world….Their government was to be a theocracy pure and simple–God their only King, their only Ruler, their only Lawgiver. It was indeed to be a church organization, beginning with the organization of ‘the church in the wilderness,’ and was to be separated from every idea of a State. The system formed in the wilderness through Moses, was to continue in Canaan ; and was intended to be perpetual….’The work of Moses, of the seventy elders, of the rulers and judges, was simply to enforce the laws that God had given. They had no authority to legislate for the nation’….Thus the principles of their government were solely those of a pure theocracy.… Consequently, on the part of Israel , it was only loyalty to the principles of a pure theocracy–God their only King, their only Ruler, their only Lawgiver–that could possibly make that government a success.

“But loyalty to these principles demanded that each one of the people should constantly recognize, and court, the abiding presence of God with him as the sole King, Ruler, and Lawgiver, in all the conduct of his daily life….And ‘without faith it is impossible to please Him.’ Therefore the existence of the original government of Israel , and the existence of Israel as a nation, depended upon a living, abiding faith in God, on the part of each individual of the people of Israel . And just here, the only point where Israel could fail, Israel failed. The people did not abide in faith. They did not remain loyal to God as their King.” Christian Patriotism or Religion and The State 29-31.2, by A.T. Jones.

Brethren, with all of these proofs, from the Scriptures and Testimonies, towering forth like gigantic waterfalls, who can say that another than the Lord Himself will be King over His people, without wresting the Scriptures? Be it ever remembered that where there is an earthly king the government is a democracy, but where there is a Heaven­ly King–even the Lord our God–the government is a Theocracy. “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Isa. 6:5. “…Isaiah had seen the King, the Lord of hosts; he had heard the song of the Seraphim.” PK 310.1. Compare Isa. 44:6 and Jer. 3:17.

“‘But again there came a falling away. Again God as king was abandoned. Christ as “Leader and Commander to the people,” and as only entitled to pre-eminence, was set aside. Men “loving to have the pre-eminence” assumed His place. The Holy Spirit, as Sovereign and Guide in and of the Church, was supplanted with the devisings and machinery of men: again like “all the nations.”…But it served the ambitious clerics as a means of hoodwinking the people, and giving to themselves a show of divine sanction for their own assumed authority to reign against Christ and in the place of God….’

“The Christian and New Testament order is the order of the Kingdom of God, where God in Christ by the Holy Spirit is the one King, the one Lord, and the one Sovereign, in and over each individual.…And all that I am asking or preaching anywhere is that the place of the Holy Spirit shall be recognized in the individual and in the church: and that this place shall be given to Him wholly and absolutely.

“That is the Christian and New Testament order. And that it is in truth antagonistic to the ‘organized work’ of the [Davidian] Seventh-day Adventist denomination [Association] can not be denied so long as the ‘organized work’ is confessedly and officially stated to be the Mosaic and Old Testament order. But so long as I believe in Christ instead of Moses, and in the Christian order instead of the Mosaic order; and so long as the [Davidian] Seventh-day Adventist denomination [Association] holds to Moses and the Mosaic order, this antagonism cannot be prevented. Christ and the Christian order must stand. Christ and the Christian order must be preached. And Christ and the Christian order will prevail.” An Appeal for Evangelical Christianity 22,23,27. By A.T. Jones.

“’”From the light that I have, as it was presented to me in figures: There was a narrow compass here: there within that narrow compass is a king-like, a kingly ruling power.” “God means what He says and He says, ‘I want a change here.’ Will it be the same thing? going over and over the same ideas, the same committees–and here is the little throne–the king is in there [General Conference president], and these others are all secondary”….“the Spirit of God has been working and working, and yet the king is in there still. Now the Lord wants His Spirit to come in. He wants the Holy Ghost king”….“There are to be no kings here, and no kings in any conference that is formed, ‘All ye are brethren.’”…[GC] Bulletin 1901 69,70…

“‘In this understanding a new Constitution entire was adopted: and that such was the understanding in adopting this Constitution is plainly shown in the discussions. Under this Constitution the General Conference Committee was composed of a large number of men, with “power to organize itself by choosing a chairman,” etc. No president of the General Conference was chosen; nor was any provided for. The presidency of the General Conference was eliminated to escape a centralized power, a one-man power, a kingship, a monarchy.’” Some History, Some Experience, and Some Facts 14.1-18.2. By A.T. Jones.

“…The word that was given is that in that circle ‘a king is enthroned.’ Where ‘a king is enthroned’…the principle is the same. The word then given is, ‘The Lord wants the Holy Ghost to be King.’ That is what He wants now, and always, and forever. Will you let the Lord have what He wants? Will you let the Holy Ghost be King? On the principle of 1901,…That is all that I ask anywhere–simply that the Holy Ghost shall be allowed to be King. And that is now the one great issue of the Third Angel’s (Shepherd’s Rod) message….

“The true Kingdom of God , is God in His own place as God, all in all….That is now the great central issue, and the fast-hastening final issue, of the Third Angel’s (Shepherd’s Rod) Message and the whole world. Who shall be King–God, or man in the place of God? Which kingdom and which sign will you have? You can’t have both.” An Appeal for Evangelical Christianity 29.0-6. By A.T. Jones.

“This is why He desired that ‘the people should dwell alone.’ This is why He would have it that they should ‘not be reckoned among the nations.’ He desired that they should abide with Him, and have Him their only God, their only King, their only Ruler, their only Lawgiver–their ‘all in all.’

“God wanted not only that Israel, but that all people on the earth, should know that He is better than all other gods, that He is a better King than all other kings, that He is a better Ruler than all other rulers, that He is a better Lawgiver than all other lawgivers, that His law is better than all other laws, and that His government is better than all other governments.

“For this reason He would station Israel in Palestine , at the pivot of the highways of the nations; with the God of heaven as their only King, Ruler, and Lawgiver; With His law their only law, and His government their only government; the people dwelling alone and not reckoned among the nations–a holy, happy people; a glorious church.” Christian Patriotism 35.4-36. By A.T. Jones.

Since we have now seen that the Lord alone is to be King in this forth­coming king­dom, who then, is the “David their king” whom the Lord will “raise up unto them?” Jer. 30:9. And since “David their king” will be sitting on the throne of David, and Jesus “the son of David” is also to sit on “the throne of his father David” (Lk. 1:32), the question is clear: will there be two kings vying for the one throne of David? Or, could it be that this antitypical David is another of the names (tit­les) of Jesus our Saviour? Just like the names: “Immanuel,” “The Rose of Sharon,” “the One All together Beautiful,” “The Desire of All Nations,” etc. He­nce the need to inquire:

WHO SITS UPON THE THRONE OF DAVID REALLY?

“And speak unto him saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, 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: Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them [Father and Son] both.” Zech. 6:12,13. Please note that the one who builds this Temple of the Lord is the same one that was promised to David in 1 Chron. 17:10-12, “the Lord will build thee an house…I will raise up thy seed after thee…­He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne forever.” Also note the Melchizedekan identity in this per­sonage; “he shall sit and rule upon his throne,” showing His Kingly authority, while at the same time He is to also “be a priest upon his throne,” showing His priestly ministry. Thus the Priest-King role of Christ, “after the order of Melchizedek.” Heb. 7:17.

This same priest-king role of Christ is also evidenced in the Shepherd’s Rod Message. “Very plainly, then, the ceremoni­al system reveals that from the time Christ ‘sat on the right hand of God’ (Mark 16:19), where the ‘river of water of life’ is, to the time that He and the Father moved to the throne in the sanctuary, where ‘the sea of glass’ is (Dan. 7:9,10; Rev. 4:6), He officiated in our behalf as a high priest in ‘the holy place’ (Heb. 9:12); and that at the same time, conjointly with the Father, on the eternal sovereign throne (‘the throne of God and of the Lamb’), He ruled the sinless universe.” 3 Tr 18.2-19.0. Since priests by nature and by office, do not sit on thrones, only kings, then this Priest-King is none other than the God-Man, even Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is “the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Col. 2:9. “And now remember that John’s vision of the ‘Lamb standing on Mount Sion ‘ (Rev. 14:1) reveals Christ as a Saviour, whereas his vision of ‘the Lion of the tribe of Judah ‘ standing before the judgement reveals Him as a King. Correlated, they show that while He is then the Saviour, He is at the same time the King of kings.” 8 Tr 7.2.

“The name Davidian, deriving from the name of the king of Ancient Israel, accrues to this Association by reason of its following aspects: First, it is dedicated to the work of announcing and bringing forth the restoration (as predicted in Hosea 1:11; 3:5) of David’s kingdom in antitype, upon the throne of which Christ, ‘the son of David,’ is to sit….With the emergence of this vanguard and its army, the first fruits…the reign of antitypical David begins.” Lev. 3.2.

There are some Davidians who entertain the teaching of “Babylon” which declares that, “Since Jesus became man, He has forever lost His Omnipresence, and has now become a prisoner–entrapped within a humanoid body:” This teaching though, is not from the “Golden Bowl.” In response to the question, “How can Christ be in the heavenly sanctuary and at the same time be upon the earth,..?” Inspiration declares, “It is understood that Christ’s work will continue in the heavenly sanctuary up to the close of probation. But Inspiration also declares that He will be in the midst of His people–in the church on earth–during the time of the Loud Cry of the Third Angel’s Message, for, saith the Lord, ‘I will dwell in the midst of thee’ ‘and many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day.” (Zech. 2:11)….Therefore, whether we can with our mortal minds fully comprehend God’s ways or not, His Word is true, which in the above shows that though He will carry on His mediatorial work in the heavenly sanctuary up to the close of probation, He will also be, during the time of the Loud Cry, upon the earth in the midst of His people–the Church….Let us remember that He [Jesus] is Omnipresent as described by the prophet, saying, ‘Thus saith the Lord, the Heaven is my Throne, and the earth is my footstool.’ (Isa. 66:1)….

“Let no one suppose that Christ is like a prisoner in the sanctuary and that He must stay there, but let us rather remember that His work only is there and at His will He can come and go more conveniently than a business man can attend his business in his office and at the same time live at home….Consequently, the period of His absence ends at the purification of the church at which time He reckons with His servants [See 8 Tract 71] and, Himself, taketh charge of His flock [See V.T. Houteff’s usage of TM 300 regarding Christ’s Taking The Reins In His Own Hands, 8 Tr 98].” 1 Symbolic Code 3:3,4–excerpts.

In the last clause where “He taketh charge of His flock,” is it not strangely similar to the work of David in the kingdom, when Inspiration declares, “Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd….And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God?” Ezk. 34:22,23,31.

“As ‘God has promised that where the shepherds are not true He will take charge of the flock Himself’ (5 T 80; TM 300; Jer. 3:17), and as the descendants of Jacob, again becoming a kingdom, appoint to themselves one head (Hos. 1:11), ‘David their king’ (Hos. 3:5), ‘and seek the Lord their God,’ it is evident that the church, in the time of the Loud Cry of the Third Angel’s Message, Will Be a Theocracy.

“‘The scepter shall not depart from Judah , nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be.’ Gen. 49:10. ‘Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgement. And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.’ Isa. 32: 1,2.” 8 Tr 43.2-4.

Brethren, are these quotations of truth not convincing enough, demonstrating that Christ is the antitypical David–our Eternal King? Please brethren, let’s quit the era of human-worship, and now turn to God worship, because: “…God’s eleventh-hour servants,” says Inspiration, are to be “‘a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it.’ Joel 2:2. They know what they believe, and believe what they know. Most important of all, they know that they are led by God, not by man.” 1 TG 7:13.4.

The Fall of Shintoism

The great danger with Laodicea during 1888 and yes, even today, has been, and continues to be because: “…Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family….The uplifted Saviour is to appear in His efficacious work as the Lamb slain, sitting upon the throne [of David], to dispense the priceless covenant blessings,…The message of the gospel of His grace was to be given to the church in clear and distinct lines, that the world should no longer say that [Davidian] Seventh-Day Adventists talk the law, the law, but do not teach or believe Christ.

“…the sinner can no more be saved than Peter could walk upon the water unless he kept his eyes fixed steadily upon Jesus. Now, it has been Satan’s determined purpose to eclipse the view of Jesus and lead men to look to man, and trust to man, and be educated to expect help from man. For years the Church [Davidia] has been looking to man and expecting much from man, but not looking to Jesus, in whom our hopes of eternal life are centered.” TM 92.0-93.1.

The elect will realize that “God is everything, and the men of His appointment are only His mouthpiece.” 2 TG 27:7.1.

“It is a known fact that when people give credit of a Divine deed to a finite human being, then their hope of another as great, or greater ever coming to help them is forever gone. They do not believe that God lives, that He will raise another even greater to lead them further, but believe that there is no need of another and no need for more Truth.” 2 TG 26:16.4. This type of attitude is called, “Shintoism and Non-Progressive Christianity.” “These two sins–trust in man [woman], and desire to exalt self–are still the leading sin elements now here on earth. This was Eve’s stumbling block and to many [Davidians] even today it is still the stumbling block.” 2 TG 28:13.5-14.0.

“My brethren, make your decision on the merits of the message, itself, rather than on Brother Houteff’s good or bad deeds….Take your eyes off Brother Houteff and look unto Jesus through the message He sends….Be a student of the message instead of the messenger as you are a student of the Bible, rather [than] a student of the prophets. This is your only safety against being bitterly disappointed in the end.” 3 SC 5&6:8.12-9.5.

Yashua The Eternal King-Priest On David’s Throne

“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 judgement 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.” Jer. 23:5,6. This “Righteous Branch”–“King”–who is to be raised unto David’s throne, is the same One of whom we read in Zech. 6:12,13, “…the man whose name is The BRANCH,” yes, the priest-king, even Jesus our saviour. His name is called “The Lord Our Righteousness.” That is, when we see this King we will individually proclaim Him as “the Lord [my] righteousness,” and none other, for all others will themselves also need the rig­hteous­ness of Christ. And since this righteousness is “not tra­nsferable,” then to say to a “fellowservant” (Rev. 19:10) “The Lord My Righteousness,” is nothing short of blasphemy. Be reminded that the Lord alone is God, and His glory He will not share with another. “I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to an­other.” Isa. 42:8. “…for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.” Isa. 48:11.

Jeremiah through the Spirit of Prophecy amplified the subject of this “Righteous Branch” unto the throne of “David” as fol­lows: “In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall ex­ecute judgement 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. For thus saith the Lord; David shall never want [Lack–be without] a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel ; Neither shall the priests the Levites want [Lack–be without] a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.” Jer. 33:15-18. From this passage it should be noted that this “Righteous Branch” is to “grow up [or be raised] unto [the throne of] David,” in the days when Judah is being saved, and Jeru­salem a peaceful habitation in the earth; in short, this is the time of the pre-millennial Davidian kingdom.

This Right­eous “Branch” (Zech. 3:8) is to execute [or administer] judgement and rig­hteousness in the land [kingdom], as is seen from Isa. 11:1-5, and Isa. 42:1-8. Since the Scriptures declare that, “David shall never want [be without] a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel: Neither shall the priests the Levites want [be without] a man before me…continually,” it follows as a logical corollary that there has to be someone of a priest-king order who will be ever-present before the Eternal as a priest-king, “…upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever.” Isa. 9:7. Put another way, David’s throne will never ever be vacant nor will the priesthood ever be nullified such that there shall never be a “priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec!” Heb. 5:6. The reader will discover that one, since the death of Christ has occupied the throne of David and that one is described as “…he that hath the key of David.” Rev. 3:7.

Jeremiah further stated: “Thus saith the Lord; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.” Jer. 33:25,26. This passage clearly shows that God will take both from Jacob, and David, a “seed” whom shall rule over His people Israel . For this seed’s identity in Jacob we read, “The scepter [kingship] shall not depart from Judah , nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be.” Gen. 49:10. “With awed yet exultant spirit he searched in the prophetic scrolls the revelations of the Messiah’s coming,–the promised seed that should bruise the serpent’s head; Shiloh, ‘the peace giver,’ who was to appear before a king should cease to reign on David’s throne….the Branch from the root of Jesse.” DA 103.1,2. See also DA 205. Again we read, “And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David (ancient David): and He shall reign over the house of Jacob [ Israel ] for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Lk. 1:31-33. Thus this “seed” of Jacob, is also the “seed” of David–Jesus our King.

In summary then, it is seen that this seed of Jacob is none other than Jesus our King. Furthermore, since this “seed” of Jacob is also the “seed” of David (Lk. 1:31-33), it becomes abundantly clear that the “seed” of whom the Lord speaks in Jer. 33:25,26, is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, our King–the true antitypical David. Now read Ps. 23, and you will fall in love with Jesus all over again, only now He will be to you the Lord’s chosen “Shepherd,” David “your King.” “But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.” Jer. 30:9.

It is remarkable to note that the verb “serve” herein used means “worship.” This David our King will be a worshipful being–He will be worshipped. Since not even an angel is worthy of receiving worship (Rev. 19:10), How much clearer can Inspiration say that the David-Shepherd-King is none other than the Lord Yashua Hamasiach! This word “serve” as used by Jeremiah, is the same word “serve” that Jesus used when tempted of the Devil. He protested saying: “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve!” Matt. 4:10. Friends, we cannot serve God and mammon. This King David is a Divine being, a member of the Godhead; a mere human, or even an angel, cannot be qualified for this lofty throne.

“‘The Lord telleth thee that He will make thee an house.’ And David replied, ‘Who am I, O Lord God, and what is mine house, that Thou hast brought me hitherto? And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God: for Thou hast also spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and hast seen in me the type of the Man whom Thou hast set on high.’…There is the real ‘Tabernacle of David,’…and with David the ‘type of the Man whom God hath set on high:’ even ‘the Man whose name is The Branch,’ and who ‘shall build The Temple of the Lord:…and He shall be a priest upon His (Father’s) Throne, and the counsel of Peace shall be between them both.’” The Greater Purpose 8.7-10 by A.T. Jones. The Antitypical David is completely fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ, because David is the type of the man Christ Jesus–the Man whom God has set on High.

It is an undisputed fact that Brother Houteff applied this and other prophecies relating to the antitypical David to himself, and too, it is also an undisputed fact that he applied these prophecies unto Christ during the reign of the Kingdom. Thus the question is clear:

WHY THIS DICHOTOMY?

Ancient David (A man after God’s own heart), while a type of Jesus, he is also a type of Church “leadership in the time of the Loud Cry of the Third Angel’s Message….(For further study on the change of leadership [typified by David], see our Tract No. 2, The Warning Paradox.) As Saul, furthermore, defied God by refusing to abdicate the throne, and by seeking the life of His anointed, king David, so now [at the present time–1937 up until Ezk. 9] at the sounding of the trumpet today [at the present time–1937 up until Ezk. 9], we find the General Conference refusing to let God take the reins in His Own Hands (TM 300), their attempting to usurp His throne by determining that they are to rule the denomination until the end of this world,…” 8 Tr 47,48,53.

“In the foregoing exposition, we see that those who respond to the Good Shepherd’s voice [“…because of their having given heed to the voice of the Rod, the voice of the Good Shepherd, they are called by the name imbedded in the work of the Rod, ‘Davidian Seventh-Day Adventists’” Lev. 12.1], are typified by David’s followers.” 8 Tr 56.1. In these lines, we can clearly see the work of Brother Houteff outlined through the office of the Holy Spirit. But this is as far as Inspiration takes his very limited Davidic ministry, and not into the Kingdom!

We Will Not Have This Man to Reign Over Us

One of the clearest and most controversial statements in the Rod, identifying the work of Brother Houteff, through the office of the Holy Spirit, with that of the antitypical David, is found in 8 Tr 71.1,2. “As they ‘sent a message after Him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us,’ the only conclusion admissible is that shortly before His return [not the Second Coming], Christ shall inform His ‘citizens’ that He is taking ‘the reins in His own hands’ to set up His kingdom, and that they, upon hearing the announcement, shall refuse to submit themselves to the one through whom He is to rule….

“What they objected to was Christ’s reigning over them through someone else. Clearly, then, before He is coronated, and prior to His return to reckon with His servants [not the Second Coming, but Ezek. 9], He appoints a ‘man’ to reign over them in His stead. Whereupon they say to Him, by their attitude and stand toward His message, [the message of The Shepherd’s Rod as it pours forth through V.T. Houteff–the messenger] ‘We will not have this man [Christ in the person of V.T. Houteff–His servant] to reign over us,’ although ‘this man,’ as we now [the present time–1937 up to Ezek. 9] see, is the antitypical David (the ‘simple means’), the visible king.” 8 Tr 71.1,2.

This is as far as many Davidians read into Tract 8, however, and thus make a hasty conclusion that Brother Houteff is the antitypical David in the kingdom! They do not realize, it seems, that the remainder of the Tract is dedicated to the perfect understanding of the truth regarding the antitypical David in the kingdom. That the above passage (8 Tr 71.1,2) is not speaking of the conditions prevailing in the kingdom is clearly evidenced from the stubbornness on the part of the subjects. The people of the kingdom will never ever say, “We will not have this man [Christ in the person of His servant] to reign over us!” They could not maintain this evil spirit and still be proclaimed as children of the kingdom! Yet this is exactly what His citizens–the subjects of His kingdom–said! Should the reader continue reading over to page 72 of Tract 8, then he will happily discover the Lord’s swift punishment against these rebels. “And those who will not have Him thus reign over them, shall, at His return [Ezekiel nine’s purification of the church], be slain before Him as were those who rebelled against God’s government in olden times.” 8 Tr 72.1. Will any of the citizens of the pre-millennial Kingdom be slain before Christ at his return? Now you be the judge, dear friend.

Before we examine the rest of Tract 8 though, it is well for us to see more on the pre-kingdom applications of the antitypical David. “The credit for the message in ‘The Shepherd’s Rod’ Brother Houteff simply places it to Whom [Jesus] it belongs, and those who would like for Brother Houteff to place it on himself are not doing it because they love him or because thy like to exalt him above themselves, but because they are sanctioning the claims of the voice from beneath which hates God and the revelation of the Word, tempting Brother Houteff to exalt himself instead of God, blindly deceiving themselves and leading others away from the truth, all because they hate to submit themselves under the rule of Christ now [the present time–1936 until Ezek. 9] while He is ‘taking the reins in His own hands.’ –‘Testimonies to Ministers.’ 300. This class of workers Christ prophetically heard saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us’ (Lk. 19:14 ). For further explanation on this reference see the October, 1935, number of ‘The symbolic Code,’ p. 5.” 2 SC 3,4:12.1.

“They are saying by their actions, ‘Let me tell you how to teach your message….Those who fall in this temptation and pride of opinion are fulfilling Lk. 19:14 . At this time [before the purification of His Church] when Christ is ‘taking the reins in His own hands’ they are, by their actions, sending a message to Him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’” 1 SC 16:5.4,5.

“As a necessary and natural sequent, God will have but one mouthpiece to teach His people in the establishing of His Kingdom, as He prophetically tells us in unmistakable language: ‘And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even My servant David’….’Feed thy people with thy Rod, the flock of thine heritage.…

“For the message in The Shepherd’s Rod, we simply give the credit to Whom [Jesus] it belongs. And if there be any who desire us [Bro. Houteff and company] to give it to ourselves, they do so, not because they love us or want to exalt us above themselves,…all because they chafe at bringing themselves under the rule of Christ now [emphasis Brother Houteff’s] when ‘He is taking the reins in His own hands.’ TM. 300.” 3 AB 32.2-33.

Speaking on the subject of the one Shepherd, the message of the Rod declares: “…So it is that what a multitude of shepherds have failed to do, one shepherd, even David, will, in God’s hands, get done….Now [at the present time–1947 to Ezek. 9] is your opportunity to feast on ‘meat in due season,’ at the hand of God’s chosen shepherd, or starve on husks at the hand of a multitude of shepherds. 2 TG 2:17.2,23.3. This statement makes clear that this “chosen shepherd” feeds God’s people during a time when His people are also feeding at the hands of “a multitude of shepherds”–the ministry of today; again demonstrating that this is pre-kingdom–pre-Ezek. 9 purification of the church–thus bringing to view the very limited Davidic role of V.T. Houteff.

From the foregoing, we can clearly see how Brother Houteff applied the “David” to his prophetic office on this side of the kingdom–that is, before Ezk. 9 is executed. Remember though, brethren, that the Spirit of Christ– “The Spirit of Prophecy” was manifested through V.T. Houteff, and only as such, in this uniquely limited way did he represent antitypical David, “this man,” Whom is Christ in the person of His servant. Thus all the prophets and reformers have had antitypical David residing in them, and were thus, in this uniquely limited way, the antitypical David for their generation. As a matter of completeness of thought, this is the same principle regarding the Ever-Active, Ever-Living Spirit of Prophecy. You see friends, all the prophets and reformers, have had the Living Spirit of Prophecy, the invisible Christ–the Holy Spirit, residing in them, and were in this uniquely limited way regarded by Heaven as being Inspired. Thus “…holy men of God spake as they were moved [Inspired] by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Pet. 1:21.

Be not too hasty to make a conclusion on this premise alone, because, as you will discover, almost all the antitypical prophet’s have a dual application in Heaven’s last servant, and their mission is completely fulfilled in Christ….”Briefly summarized, the term Messenger of the Covenant means the Holy Spirit (the invisible Christ) in Heaven’s visible representative–be it Moses, John, Christ, Elijah, or some other.” 1 AB 79.2. Here we see that the “invisible Christ” has actually in-dwelt the visible Christ Himself! In like manner therefore, has the “invisible Christ” in-dwelt all the prophets, not excluding V.T. Houteff.

Who Is “This Man?”

Who is the “This Man” in the Kingdom? “In the blazing light of this symbol, intensifying the illumination from the whole series of symbols of which it is a part, and which no human mind could either have devised or thus rightly interpreted, Christ is clearly seen to be King of His people in both the Old and the New Testament periods, and the Author of the Scriptures in both the Hebrew and the Greek….And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS….

“To those, therefore, who accept Christ as their King, He is a Saviour, while to those who refuse to have Him rule over them [as “this Man”] (Lk. 19:14 ), He is a destroyer.” 5 Tr 70.1-72.1. Here the message gives a dual application to Lk. 19:14 , with the final application being in the Kingdom, thus showing “Christ as [our antitypical] King” David, who is the same one identified as “this man.”

Sister White, through the Spirit of Prophecy, also made a dual application of the phrase “this man,” in the very same way that the Rod does. “Every man who, by his actions, has declared, I will not have this Man to reign over me, will no longer have the privilege of being under that rule….They will understand in that day that they were dealing with Christ in the person of his saints. Whatever influence opposes the truth that God has made it the duty of His servants to proclaim in his name, dishonors him.” Review & Herald, Sept. 20, 1898 , Col. 3 par. 1,2. [Compare 8 Tract 71.]

“The whole wicked world stand arraigned at the bar of God on the charge of high treason against the government of heaven. They have none to plead their cause; they are without excuse; and the sentence of eternal death is pronounced against them….The wicked see what they have forfeited by their life of rebellion.…‘All see that their exclusion from heaven is just. By their lives they have declared: ‘We will not have this Man [Jesus] to reign over us.’” GC 668.2,3 Brackets supplied by Sister White. See also TM 139. Compare 5 Tr 72.

Due to time and space conservation you may review the other references on this subject. For an easy access, see Don Adair’s article, The Master Antitypical Prophet, and you will happily discover that the uniquely limited Davidic role of V.T. Houteff holds true through to the time of Ezk. 9, just prior to the kingdom! But the question still remains to be answered clearly from The Shepherd’s Rod Message as to, “Whom is the antitypical David in the Kingdom?” It is right here where the confusion comes in, and it is my aim, by the grace of Christ, to lay the axe of truth at the root of error, and weed it out! With this in view, we shall now analyze,

The Rod, The Stem, and The Branch (Isa. 11:1)–Jesse’s Family Tree

Since as Christians we are admonished by God to “prove all things;” and “hold fast that which is good” (1 Thess. 5:21), I shall do just that, by sharing with you where I personally believe most of Davidia has veered away from the centrality of Christ in their doctrines. The following is a brief overview of Isaiah chapter eleven verses 1-10, with special emphasis on verse one.

8 Tract 45.1-46.0 teaches: “In this illustration there are three persons brought to view: Jesse (the father of David), the rod (David), and the Branch (Christ). The relationship shows that David (the rod) is not Christ (the Branch) for the ‘rod’ sprang from the stem of Jesse, and the Branch from the rod–a fact that is born out in the cry of the multitude when Christ entered Jerusalem . They shouted: ‘Hosannah to the son of David.’ Matt. 21:15. Plainly, therefore, the ‘rod,’ coming from the stem of Jesse, is symbolical of David; and the Branch, coming from the rod, is symbolical of the son of David–Christ.”

You will observe that this passage says, “the ‘rod’ sprang from the stem of Jesse, and the Branch from the rod.” Please open your bibles, and see what It says, read it very carefully: Isa. 11:1 “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:” The “his roots” here mentioned, is not the “roots” of David, rather it is the “root” of Jesse! Mark this point with care. This will be seen more clearly later. Before however, let’s place these views in parallel columns, and analyze them closely:

Tract 8:44 The Bible (Isa. 11:1)

“The ‘rod’ sprang from the stem of Jesse, and the Branch from the rod.”
“A rod [shall come] out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.”

Have you noticed the twist of language here? While 8 Tr 45.1 maintains that the Branch comes from the “rod,” the Bible flatly teaches that the “Branch” grew out of Jesse’s “roots”! Please mark this point with care, because it is from this foundation that the hybrid link has been, and continues to be made of a tripartite government in the Kingdom, comprising of a mere man (V.T.H. or some other viceroy), Christ and God the Father. The Bible does not teach this! This doctrine finds its foundation in every system of false worship, it is one which says, “ye shall be as gods!” (Gen. 3:5). Please read my article, The Spirit of the Papacy in Davidia Exposed. The fact that we have previously established that this “King David” will be worshipped should cause all who continue with this false David teaching, to shudder with fear and repentance before a holy God.

First of all, when Isaiah prophesied, He did so many years after the death of King David. And, Isaiah’s prophecy in the eleventh chapter clearly projected the events into the future. Thus he uttered: “And there shall (future tense) come forth a rod…” This prophecy looks forward to the time when Christ as the antitypical David, our “All in all,” shall sit and be the only sovereign King of His kingdom, with no intermediaries between. That Christ is the antitypical Jesse is seen from the following Scripture: Rev. 22:16 “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”

For Christ to be the “root” of David means that he is the one who brought forth David, the father of David–Jesse, and at the same time also He is David, because the “root” of a tree, is also the tree itself. Also, for Him to be the “offspring” of David means that He is the Son of David–Yashua. Realizing also, that Christ not only says that He is this, but that He is the one to sit and “rule” upon David’s throne, precludes the remotest possibility of any other from the family of David and or Abraham, to be co-rulers with Him.

The gospel prophet declares: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isa. 9:6,7.

That Christ is the “root of Jesse” is clearly borne out in the very prophecy, please note: Isa. 11:10 “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.” And the Spirit of Prophecy in our day adds: “With awed yet exultant spirit he searched in the prophetic scrolls the revelations of the Messiah’s coming,–the promised seed that should bruise the serpent’s head; Shiloh, [DA 205] ‘the peace giver,’ who was to appear before a king should cease to reign on David’s throne….Isaiah’s rapt portrayal of the Messiah’s glory were his study by day and by night,–the Branch from the root of Jesse.” DA 103.1,2.

“Mary pondered the broad and far-reaching prophecy of Simeon. As she looked upon the child in her arms, and recalled the words spoken by the shepherds of Bethlehem , she was full of grateful joy and bright hope. Simeon’s words called to her mind the prophetic utterances of Isaiah: ‘There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord….Yet Mary did not understand Christ’s mission….Mary looked forward to the Messiah’s reign on David’s throne, but she saw not the baptism of suffering by which it must be won.” DA 56.2-4.

So absorbed was the Lord with this theme that Inspiration continues, “Through the promised Seed [of David], the God of Israel was to bring deliverance to Zion . ‘There shall come forth a Rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.’ ‘Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.’” PK 695.1. Friend, please note with care that Jesus is called by Inspiration in DA 103, “the Branch from the root of Jesse,” and not the “root of David,” and this is of supreme importance just now, to blow away the seed of error! It is right here where Davidia has jumped off track. This is the very truth Isaiah has been teaching from chapter 11, verse one. Please review verse one very carefully, and you will happily discover that the “his roots” there mentioned, is speaking of the “roots” of Jesse! Inspiration has not made it more simple. It is worth noting also that the nouns “Rod” and “Branch” are both capitalized by Inspiration, PK 695.1, indicating that the Branch and Rod are Deity, they are one and the same individual, even the Man Christ Jesus. With this perspective in mind, the fullness of Isaiah eleven teems forth in unparalleled beauty and excellence:

“And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.” Isa. 11:2-5.

It will be observed that all the pronouns used in the preceding verses (he, him, his), are personalized to one individual, even to the man whose name is the BRANCH–The Lord Yashua Hamasiach. The reader should ask the question, will even a glorified human be commissioned with the task of smiting “the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips…slay the wicked?” Now, it is true that the saints shall have a more dynamic moving of the Holy Spirit when the Latter rain of Power shall have fallen upon them, than that which the early apostles experienced. However, this will not vest them with the authority of speaking the world into oblivion, nor of slaying the wicked, in any way. In Ezekiel nine and other passages, the work of destruction is reserved for the Lord and His holy angels–not man!

Indeed, of the true believers, it is said: Rev. 9:5 “And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.” The work of the saints of Christ is not to “kill” but to save lives for the kingdom of God , and to leave the “judgement,” and slaying with Him. Not until we get to heaven will the saints be allowed to “judge,” and even then, theirs will not be the work of slaying.

Since ancient David will himself be in the kingdom, as seen from the resurrection of Ezk. 37, and since the Rod teaches that ancient David is not the promised one (8 Tr 13.3; 9 Tr 43.2), neither therefore can Brother Houteff be the David in the kingdom, because, to repeat, ancient David will himself be there! In other words, since it is impossible for ancient David to be the antitypical David, because he would necessarily have to come forth from the grave (9 Tr 43.2), and since Brother Houteff himself likewise is also in the grave, the truth is doubly clear that he can not be this antitypical David either. Put another way, if death and the grave were sufficient to disqualify ancient David from being this promised “David their King,” what makes anyone believe that death and the grave will qualify V.T. Houteff as this king? Why call another person David, when the real David will be there to answer to his name? Friends, you be the judge, your salvation depends on it.

There are many Davidians who are still recovering from the “knock out blow,” (WHR 33) that has knocked them senseless, so to speak. But the light is now shining brighter than ever before, and only as we yield ourselves to Christ in purity of heart and service, and recognize the inerrant authority of the Bible in our theology, will clearer views of truth be disclosed to our view. The present understanding of this kernel truth makes me know more than ever before that we are on the very borders of the kingdom, where we will nevermore be fettered by the shackles of sin, and that now God is willing to vindicate His Word through us. In effecting this climatic event in the proclamation of the Shepherd’s Rod message, God has given us our true bearing, and our true King–“The Lord Our Righteousness”–thus enabling us on that glorious day to unitedly chose (recognize) “one head,” Hos. 1:11, even the Lord Yashua as “David [our] King,” Hos. 3:5.

4. “THE LORD WILL BUILD THEE AN HOUSE”

The Lord promised that this seed of David who is to sit upon his (David’s) throne, will Himself also be the same one who shall build the house of God, the house of David,–the church–in the time of the Loud Cry of the Third Angel’s Message. Please review Zech. 6:12-15, discussed above. A.T. Jones in a most sublime manner describes, What is the Church?

“What is the Church? ‘The house of God, is the Church of the Living God.’ 1 Tim. 3:15. ‘The Apostle and High Priest of our profession was faithful to Him that appointed Him, as also Moses was faithful in all His house. And Moses verily was faithful in all His House as a servant, for a testimony of those things that were to be spoken after. But Christ was faithful over His own House: whose House are we if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of hope firm unto the end.’ Heb. 3:1-6….

“‘Ye are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God: and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. In whom, all the Building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an Holy Temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an Habitation of God through the Spirit.’ Ephesians 2:19-22. ‘Ye are God’s building.’ 1 Corinthians 3:9. ‘I will build my Church.’ Matthew 16:18.

The Church of God , then is the House of God, of His own building, through Christ His own named Builder. It is built ‘an holy Temple , in the Lord,’ ‘for an Habitation of God, through the Spirit.’…And who could be the Builder? What man or men could possibly build ‘The House of God which is The Church of the Living God,’ that shall contain so as to express ‘all the fullness of God?’ Were not men long ago challenged up on this very point? Please read: ‘Who is able to build Him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Him?’ 2 Chron. 2:6….

And they never do build Him an house. Always they build to themselves an house where in the place of God, themselves shall sit and reign and rule utterly unlike God. No. The Church is the House of God, It is built only for the habitation of God, the place which He has made for Him who is equal with God, and therefore able and capable to compass and understand and truly express the thought of God in His ‘Eternal Purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.’

“When this Eternal Purpose was purposed only in Christ Jesus, then is utterly impossible for any other than Christ in PERSON to be The Builder or the Organizer of The Church. And so only it is: ‘He shall build The Temple of the Lord; even He shall build The Temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory.’ Zechariah 6:12-13. And ‘He’ came and earned the position, and, by divine merit as well as by divine right, took the position of that Builder: ‘I will build My Church.’…There is the Builder of The Church, the Organizer of The Church, and He is only Christ the Head.” This Is The Church, by A.T. Jones, Last Chapter.

This same “House” that the seed of David is to build is the Church of God , thus, “The church in her purity is called by these Scriptures, ‘The house of David.’ Therefore, this term becomes one of the names [plural] of the church in the time of the ‘Loud Cry.’ Thus the church under this name shall be as God before the people.” 2 SR 290.2.

Come now my brethren, and let us reason together; since one of the names of the Church during the Loud Cry is, “The House of David (Zech. 13:1),” and since when we say, “The House of God,” we mean that God is the head of the House, it follows logically also that the House of David prefigures David as the head of this House. And since “The House of David” is a synonymous term for “The House of God–The Church,” it follows that the name David is an equivalent name for God, even our Lord Jesus Christ. (See Heb. 1:6-8 for Christ’s being God, though not the Father.) Brother Houteff himself realized this transcendent Divine-Human nature of Christ when he came to the crescendo of thought and exclaimed, “O how wonderfully particular is our God: the names, Obed, Jesse, and David in the Hebrew tongue mean Christ–a servant (Obed), who is to be My presence (Jesse), the beloved (David).” 8 Tr 96.2. This statement clears three points namely:

1. “Obed” describes Christ as “a Servant.” “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgement to the Gentiles.” Isa. 42:1. “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:” Isa. 52:13,14. Therefore my brethren think it not strange when the Lord says, “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them.” Ezk. 34:23,24. See Zech. 3:8.

2. “Jesse” describes Christ as “My [God’s] presence.” Says the Apostle, “For in him [Jesus] dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Col. 2:9. And Jesus defining His position says, “If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hast seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.” John. 14:7-11.

3. “David” describes Christ as the “Beloved.” So the Scripture’s declare, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” 1 John 4:8-11. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” Eph. 5:25. Have you ever wondered why the book of Solomon is thus written “Song of Songs”? It is so entitled because it is the Song of Songs being sung to the King of Kings our Lord Jesus Christ–“this man” the antitypical David, our Eternal King. Brethren the “beloved” is Jesus our king, and the church, “the House of David” is chanting a hymn of the most sublime melody to her David–her beloved, her King. The book of “Song of Songs” is regarding the experience of God’s purified Church “Clad in the armor of Christ’s Righteousness (PK 725.2),” during the Loud Cry of the Third angel’s message.

5. I WILL RAISE UP THY SEED…AND WILL ESTABLISH HIS THRONE FOREVER

In a most profound manner, under the chapter entitled, “Follow the Lamb to the Ruler of the Land,” the Rod, after quoting Isa. 16:5, says: “Since according to this scripture the establishment of Christ’s throne is yet future, and since furthermore it is to be set up in the tabernacle of David (the which did not take place at His first coming), Christ, therefore, when He comes to reign in His forthcoming kingdom, will sit on the throne of David. And as He is then to judge, seek judgement, and hasten righteousness, the entire action occurs just before the close of probation–the time in which He can hasten righteousness. So, happily, this prophecy of Christ’s genealogy and of His taking ‘the reins in His own hands,’ was given for the ‘admonition and learning’ of those who shall be living at the end of time, when ‘all these things shall come to pass.’” 8 Tr 97.4-98.0.

The above passage proves that Christ will sit upon the throne of David during probationary time–the Loud Cry. How will He then sit on the throne of David?

“Since, for God’s honor and for the prosperity of His people, both Elijah’s message and David’s reign took the lives of many (Elijah’s message, the lives of the apostate teachers in Israel–1 Kings 18:40; and David’s reign, the lives of the heathen who defied God and His armies–1 Chronicles 22:6-8), therefore the work of Elijah particularly typifies the day of slaughter in the church, and the reign of David, the destruction of the heathen and the possession of the earth [the Kingdom] (Zech. 12:8,9; Jer. 30:3,9). Whereupon Christ (the son of David) shall visibly appear, take unto Himself His kingdom (Luke 19:15 [See 6 Tr 55,56 for explanation on this reference]), and glorify it with everlasting peace (as typified by the peaceful reign of David’s Son, Solomon). And in the days of these antitypical events shall be completely realized the promise: ‘It shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou [David] must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build Me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son: and I will not take My mercy away from him, as I took it from Him that was before thee.’ 1 Chron. 17:11-13.” 8 Tr 61.3-62.1.

This passage says that Christ shall visibly appear upon the throne of David during the days of the kingdom! Did you note that this is not the second coming, but the coming to set up His kingdom? While 8 Tr 61 says that Christ “shall visibly appear” in the kingdom, it did not clarify whether or not he will be visible to the world and His church at the same time. That question, though, is cleared in the following extract:

“It is generally understood that when Christ visible appears [Second Coming], the nations will die by the brightness of His coming, and thus the wicked will have no chance for either the Lord to speak to them or they to speak to Him. Furthermore, according to the parable, He sits on the throne of His glory instead of sitting on the clouds as in 1 Thess. 4:17. Therefore, the throne of His glory is His kingdom where He, invisible to the nations, sits on the throne and gathers all the nations before Him as recorded by the prophet Isaiah also saying: [Isa. 2:2 quoted].” 4 SC 10-12:6. Correlated then, these two statements teach that during the reign of the kingdom, Christ will be visible to His purified Church on earth, though invisible to the sinful world. And in this context, Matt. 24:26 and similar passages are not violated! The saints will not be inviting the world to “come and see” Christ in His kingdom, they will know that only those who have become partakers of the Divine nature shall see Christ in his Davidic beauty.

Says the gospel prophet: “He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off….For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.” Isa. 33:15-17,22.

“Still further, as it is not we, but Christ Who ‘is taking the reins in His own hands’ (TM 300), that directs the work of God, it is not our duty to figure out which work should be done, and which should be left undone.” 2 SC 9:8.1. The Rod continues:

The condition of the servants of God in the time of the Loud Cry, as described in the preceding paragraphs, is again brought to our attention in Revelation 14:1: “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with Him an hundred forty, and four thousand, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads. And in their mouth was found no guile: and they are without fault before the throne God.” (Rev. 14:1,5)

This glorious event transpires before the close of probation, for Christ is represented as a lamb, pleading in behalf of His penitent people. Moreover, while the 144,000 stood on mount Zion, John “heard a voice from heaven,” showing that He, the “Lamb,” and the 144,000 were on the earth, were listening to the “harpers harping with their harps,” and singing “as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.” (Rev. 14:2,3)

As the elders and the beasts stand “before the throne” in heaven, and as at the same time the “Lamb” and the 144,000 stand on mount Zion upon earth, it shows that this mount Zion is upon earth, and that this event will take place while the judgment is in session–before the close of probation. The Symbolic Code, Vol. 2, No. 9, p. 9. Complements: http://www.Breadoflife.simplenet.com.

The reader will discover that Christ will be literally here on this earth during the time of the Loud Cry of the Third Angel’s message. Yes, friend, during the reign of the kingdom celestial glory will touch the kingdom on earth, and the earth shall be “lightened with his glory,” “as the waters cover the sea.” Rev. 18:1, Isa. 11:9.

Inspiration in our day exclaims: “…It is impossible to give any idea of the experience of the people of God who shall be alive upon the earth when celestial glory and a repetition of the persecutions of the past are blended. They will walk in the light proceeding from the throne of God. By means of angels there will be constant communication between heaven and earth.” 9 T 16.1. The Rod continues:

The Lamb, standing at first before the throne in heaven, stands later with the 144,000 on Mount Sion , upon earth, though the Elders and the Beasts round about the throne remain in heaven. So, correctly to understand this prophetic event in its entirety, we must carefully differentiate the part, which takes place in heaven from the part which takes place on earth.

The ‘seven lamps, (Rev. 4:5)’ being part of the sanctuary fixtures, gives conclusive evidence that the heavenly throne-scene occurs in the sanctuary, whereas the subsequent Sion-scene takes place upon Mount Sion, the King’s earthly palace grounds, not upon Mount Moriah, the sanctuary grounds, where it would necessarily have to take place were it to denote that the event occurs in the sanctuary. These scenes therefore are of two different events, in two different locations — the setting of the throne in heaven, and the standing of the redeemed with the Lamb on earth while the activities embraced in the throne-scene are still in progress. Tract No. 8, p. 5.

Complements to: http://www.shepherds-rod.org/Tracts/trac008.html.

I shall, in the fear of the Lord, make the most obvious commentary: Since Moses with his Shepherd’s Rod is a type of Brother Houteff with The Shepherd’s Rod, and as Moses died before entering the promised land, just like V.T. Houteff did, could it be that Davidians, like ancient Israel, are seeing only a human being to guide them into the kingdom? And as ancient Israel placed a golden calf in the place of God, due to Moses’ absence, so are many Davidians today placing someone other than Christ in the office of antitypical David. O brethren, let us beware of treading on grounds where angels fear to tread! There are so many self-styled prophets today who are so bold that they will not even cringe to say they are the antitypical David who will lead God’s people into the Kingdom. Brethren, Christ is the only One capable, He is the only One able, He alone is WORTHY to sit on David’s throne. Let’s not deceive ourselves by substituting Christ for a mere, redeemed human being, because Christ as King David, and Christ and the Christian order of government must, and shall prevail!

Behold The King in David’s Kingdom, in Antitype.

“The name, Davidian, deriving from the name of the king of Ancient Israel, accrues to this Association by reason of its following aspects: First, it is dedicated to the work of announcing and bringing forth the restoration (as predicted in Hosea 1:11; 3:5) of David’s kingdom in antitype, upon the throne of which Christ, ‘the son of David,’ is to sit….With the emergence of this vanguard and its army the first fruits…the reign of antitypical David begins.” Lev. 3.2.

The reader will discover that the government of the antitypical kingdom here mentioned falls squarely on the shoulders of Christ. It is clear to see that since “David’s kingdom in antitype” is to be restored with Christ presiding as the antitypical King, that this is equivalent to teaching that Christ is the antitypical King David in this forthcoming kingdom of peace. Were it not so, then the Scriptures would introduce another king. And so it shall be fulfilled that “…the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters.” Rev. 7:17.

As before, the reader will discover that the one who does the “feeding” of the flock in the kingdom, is none other than the Lord, Yashua. This is the same function of the David-Shepherd-Servant-Prince of Ezk. 34:23,24. Please compare:

Revelation 7:17 Ezekiel 34:23
“For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”
“And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.”

And Jesus Himself confessed: “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine….And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” John 10:14,16.

Heaven has made provision for but one Shepherd, one King, one Master and Lord of all! There is no room provided for an earthly monarch, no room for an earthly king, but a heavenly–what a blessed day that will be! Rouse then O present truth believer, and recognize (appoint) Christ as your King David.

As you have read the previous pages, you will also discover that one of the names of “Christ” is “David.” That is to say David = Christ. Now when the true Christ came he declared that false Christs would arise in the latter days. Indeed He said, “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.” Matt. 24:24.

The fact that our Saviour has forewarned us of these false Christs (false Davids) clearly demonstrates that there will be an increasing number of individuals posing as king David in antitype. This clearly exposes their unscrupulous actions, displaying them as mere pretenders to the throne of David. The fact also that our Lord has warned that the very elect would be deceived, if it were possible, shows manifestly that these kinglets will come in the camp of the saints, even the camp where the 144,000 elect shall be found!

I say friends, the fact that these false Christs will deceive the very elect, if it were possible, proves conclusively that they are to manifest themselves among present truth believers! These unscrupulous king Davids are summarily antichrists, whether they know it or not! Let us beware and take the warning before it is eternally too late. Let us remember David Koresh (Vernon Howell), and heed the warning today, while probation lasts.

THIS CALL FOR A MAN-KING IS A COMPACT OF THE SPIRIT OF THE PAPACY

A. T. Jones wrote: “…evidence has been given which shows how diligently the bishops endeavored to convince themselves that in the theocracy which they had framed and of which they were now a part, the kingdom of God was [to] come. But they did not suppose for a moment that the Lord himself would come and conduct the affairs of this kingdom in person. They themselves were to be the representatives of God upon the earth, and the theocracy thus established was to be ruled by the Lord through them. This was but [the] culmination of the evil spirit manifested in the self-exaltation of the bishopric. That is to say, their idea of a theocracy was utterly false, and the working out of the theory was but the manifestation of the mystery of iniquity.

“Yet this is not to say that all ideas of a theocracy have always been false. The government of Israel was a true theocracy. That was really a government of God….There he ruled them by judges, to whom ‘in diverse manners’ he revealed his will, ‘until Samuel the prophet.’ In the days of Samuel, the people asked that they might have a king. Their request was granted, but only under the following earnest protest [excerpts from 1 Sam. 8-12 quoted]….

“Although the people were allowed to have a king, and although in this movement they had virtually rejected the Lord, as Samuel told them, the Lord would not forsake them…and although they had done wrong in demanding a king, the Lord made even the kingship to be an additional element in teaching them his eternal purpose; he made it to them a reminder of the eternal kingdom which he would establish in the accomplishment of his purpose concerning the earth.

“Saul failed to do the will of God, and as he rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord rejected him from being king, and sent Samuel to anoint David king over Israel ; and David’s house, and David’s throne, God established for evermore.

“When Solomon succeeded to the kingdom in the place of David his father, the record is: ‘Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father.’ 1 Chron. 29:23. David’s throne was the throne of the Lord, and Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king over the earthly kingdom of God. The succession to the throne descended in David’s line to Zedekiah, who was made subject to the king of Babylon , that perchance the kingship with the kingdom might stand….

“And in recompensing this evil upon the head of Zedekiah, the word of Samuel to the people was fulfilled when he told them, ‘If ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.’ For to Zedekiah, and to the kingdom forever after, God gave this testimony: ‘Thou profane, wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, thus saith the Lord God: Remove the diadem, and take off the crown; this shall not be the same; exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.’ Ezk. 21:25-27….

“And then says the word, ‘It shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.’ And he whose right it is, is thus named: ‘Thou…shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.’ Luke 1:31-33.” The Two Republics , by A.T. Jones 302-307. All italics belong to quotation.

It would be an understatement to say that this was a trivial subject to the pioneers of the Advent faith. Jones was so absorbed with this subject of the Kingship of Jehovah, that in almost all of his printed works, it permeates from every angle. Thus in the closing words of one of his book, as though it were God speaking to us at this very hour, he continues:

“As Israel had cried out in sorrow, ‘We have no king,’ and had gone into captivity; so now likewise Judah was obliged to acknowledge that she had no king, and must go mournfully into captivity. Such, so far, is the fruit of their persistent cry to Samuel, ‘We will have a king.’

“With all other things only equal, how could it possibly have been worse, had they never desired any king or ruler but God; nor any government but that of God alone? But, oh, with all things in their favor, how infinitely different would have been the record, had they but been faithful in allegiance to God as their only King, their only Ruler, their only Lawgiver; and so had not been ‘reckoned among the nations!’

“And it is pertinent to inquire, even at this late day of the nineteenth century, Will mankind–yea, will the professed people of God [Davidians],–ever learn this important lesson?” The Empires of the Bible, by A.T. Jones 410.

6. THE FATHER’S MERCY WILL ABIDE WITH HIM

As we have seen thus far, this promised “seed of David” is not his son Solomon, rather it reaches forth to his son Jesus, the Son of God. And so the Scripture’s say “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” Rom. 1:3,4. David in vision saw this “son” of his, and worshipped declaring, “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion : rule thou [be King] in the midst of thine enemies.” Ps. 110:1,2. Friends, this “seed of David” will be King in the midst of His enemies; this therefore speaks to the time of the pre-millennial Kingdom.

Again we read, “For thy servant David’s sake turn not away the face of thine anointed. The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne….For the Lord hath chosen Zion ; he hath desired it for his habitation….There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.” Ps. 132:10,11,13,17,18. Friends, this Scripture teaches that the “crown” of the kingdom in Zion shall “flourish” upon the head of David’s seed, “the fruit of [his] body.” It is not reserved for another, all others are merely pretenders to the throne, they are imposters of the basest sort.

7. “HIS THRONE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED FOR EVERMORE”

“I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah….Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him….I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven….

Nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah….Blessed be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and Amen.” Ps. 89:3,4,19-21,25-29,33-37,52. This 89th Psalm actually encapsulates all the promises of God to David and his promised seed, please read Ps. 72 as well.

While I have dealt with many questions on the subject of antitypical David, as apparently taught in the Rod, in my exhaustive study, A Biblical Reply To the B.R.C–Waco, an In-session Report, I think it worth your while to deal with one of the leading objections regarding the Davidic reign of Christ. Specifically, this objection is regarding two statements from the pen of V.T. Houteff declaring that Inspiration never calls Christ David. Let’s juxtapose those statement with Inspiration’s:

The Shepherd’s Rod

1. “…Inspiration never calls Him David, but rather It calls Him the Son of David.” (2 TG 2:15.0.)

2. “…Christ is the son of David (Matt. 22:42 ), not David himself.” (2 TG 43:17.1.)

The Bible and Spirit of Prophecy

1. “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.” Isa. 55:3,4.

2. “Plain and specific prophecies had been given regarding the appearance of the Promised One…Isaiah prophesied: ‘There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.’ ‘Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given Him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people….Isa. 55:3,4’” AA 222.1-223.2.

3. “O how wonderfully particular is our God: the names, Obed, Jesse, and David in the Hebrew tongue mean Christ–a servant (Obed), who is to be My presence (Jesse), the beloved (David).” 8 Tr 96.2.

In column two, statement number one (above), the Bible flatly calls Christ “David,” whereas in statement number two, Inspiration supports that claim by referencing Isa. 55:3,4, and placing in capital letters the pronoun “Him,” which has direct reference to the antecedent “David”–“The Promised One.” From the statement in 8 Tr 96, the following can easily be verified from the Scriptures: It is Christ, Who is the “Servant”–Isa. 53:11;42:1. It is Christ, Who is His “presence”–the outshining of the Father’s glory–please read DA 19-26. It is Christ, Who is the “Beloved”–Matt. 12:18. So, from all three sources of the “Universal Dairy,” we see Inspiration calling Christ by the name “David.” This fact should now pave the way for a “broader meaning” to what the Rod has narrowly alluded to when it declared, “Inspiration never calls Him David.” The reader will now discover that not only is Christ the “son of David,” but that He is David in verity. Whatever Houteff might have thought on this subject is immaterial in the face of plain Bible teaching. Let us all honestly chose (appoint) Christ to his rightful place as King David, and Lord of all.

Is The Shepherd’s Rod An Inspired Message From God?

It is not my intention to declare the Rod as being fallacious in this analysis, however, we have been instructed to “prove all things” rather than taking them gullibly, and to “hold fast” only to “that which is good,” and that is simply my object here. If, in places, the Rod seems incorrect on this view (the Davidic Kingship of Christ), does this wholesale its message as error? God forbid! There is but one that is infallible, and that One is God! All the prophets had their flaws and theological misconceptions, not excluding V.T. Houteff.

Think of Moses, he murdered an Egyptian in his effort of liberating Israel from bondage. Then when faced with the stubbornness of the people, he took the glory of God unto himself, thus smiting the rock twice. Now think of Samuel who did not lead his household after God’s commands, yet the Lord used him mightily. Think of David, the man after God’s own heart, you know his life story of treachery and adultery, yet he became the type of the Lord Jesus Christ–the real antitypical David. Think of Elijah, after his conquest on top of Mount Carmel . He started to run away from the rage of an infuriated woman, even the woman Jezebel.

Time will not allow me to mention Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Samson, Eli and John the Baptist; all the disciples and the Reformers, not excluding Ellen G. White. These all had their theological flaws and misconceptions, yet God used them wonderfully. V.T. Houteff is no different. While yet the messenger (prophet) of God, he was still an errant human being, with his own peculiar thoughts. In order to come into the unity of the faith then, it requires all present truth believers to “prove all things” from “the Bible and the Bible only,” and “hold fast that which is good.”

In case you’ve not known, V.T. Houteff at one time believed that God was going to establish the headquarters of the Pre-millennial Kingdom right there in Waco , Texas . He not only held this as a private view, he actually taught this as truth, but that was as much light as he was permitted to see up to that time. The Lord later removed the darkness for His servant to see the light of the kingdom, and its true geographic location!

Again the message teaches that we are to stay in the church, because after Ezekiel nine’s slaughter, we, as members of the 144,000, will take over the Denominational institutions, and operate them in the way God originally intended! Nothing could be farther from the truth though. In fact, it seems he went to his grave with this belief. Yet even this, my friends does not shatter the veracity of the Shepherd’s Rod. Brother V.T. Houteff sums it best when he came to this very juncture in his theological career a mere nine years before his untimely death:

“But,” you may ask, “is this idea [of Zerubbabel’s Temple ] not contrary to our former belief?”–I admit that it is. But are we to go on by what we have believed? or by what the Word of the Lord says? And for what purpose are those prophecies if we are not to give heed to them? And why are they now unsealed and brought to our attention if this is not the time in which God is to manifest His power and accomplish all these things? It should be remembered that we are not the first and the only people who have had to change our way of thinking; we are not the first and only people to discover that God’s plans are the opposite of our plans. Moses, too, found that his plan for delivering the children of Israel from their Egyptian bondage was not God’s plan. Likewise God’s plan for the route they were to take in their journey to the promised land was not their plan. The apostles positively believed that Christ was to set up His kingdom at His first advent, but they, too, had to change their belief. Moreover, since the Hebrews, whom out of slaves God had made kings, had been promised that their kingdom was to stand forever, they were indeed astounded when it went down. And there have been other surprises all along from the dawn of history.

The pioneers of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination expected the Lord to come as soon as 144,000 converts joined the church, and expected to live to see Him come. The church membership though, already numbers several times 144,000, the pioneers are dead, and Lord is yet to come. So the question is not whether we want to change our minds or not, but whether we have to….

As Inspiration unrolls the Scroll it is, of course, but to be expected that it will find us surprisingly ignorant of many things — the very reason that It unrolls. If we, therefore, fail to exchange our ideas for the Lord’s then what hope is there for us ever to become enlightened and fitted for eternity? Our ideas are to fall flat, and the Lord’s prophecies are to stand “high and lifted up.” Our duty is to prove God’s Word correct rather than to hold tenaciously to our preconceptions and misconceptions until God Himself steps in and puts us to shame.

As Seventh-day Adventists we once boasted that we “know our Bible.” But, since this group ceased boasting it found that it knew very little in comparison to what it knows now, and still I cannot say that I have a sufficient knowledge of the Bible to carry me clear inside the pearly gates. In fact, I know that I have much more to learn. Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 13, pp. 6, 7. (Complements to http://www.shepherds-rod.org/TGvol1/1tg13.htm. All Emphases supplied.

“When Christ was on earth He had nothing to do with Zion . But in His Kingdom which He is soon to set up He is to be the precious corner stone, the sure foundation, and will sit on the throne of David in Zion . Moreover, it is Christ and His people which will constitute the beginning or foundation of the Kingdom symbolized by the stone of Daniel 2 which is to smite the image on the feet and then grow and become a great mountain.” 12 SC 8,9:10.4.

“Glorious are the promises made to David and his house, promises that look forward to the eternal ages, and find their complete fulfillment in Christ.” PP 754.7. “…and of His kingdom there shall be no end” upon the throne of David, to order it and to establish it, from henceforth and even forevermore, Amen. PP 755.4.

Friends, for a long while now, many individuals have appointed themselves, or have had their friends appoint them as King David of God’s eternal Kingdom, instead of Christ. This is so wrong! It is an organized conspiracy of the Devil against the Davidic Kingship of Christ. It is a diabolical plot to overthrow the one “whose right it is” to sit on David’s royal throne.

Truly it grieves the heart of God to see the purchased of His possession turning to clay, adoring it as king instead of Himself. If you have read thus far, I am confident that you have now seen, maybe for the first time that the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone, is the true antitypical David. Realizing this, and realizing also that there are many Davidians who are trapped in the error of teaching and yea believing that Brother V.T. Houteff, or some other redeemed human being, will preside as king in the Kingdom of Glory, demands your most urgent attention. I challenge you, by the mercies of God, to share this article with these misled souls that they may come up higher to see Christ in all His Davidic glory.

May the Lord of glory grant us the faith, and yes, the courage to appoint the Lord Yashua as King in His Kingdom, instead of placing man in the seat of Christ–lauding him as king. Brethren for your soul’s sake, and for the sake of the many other souls that will be misled with this evil teaching that V.T. Houteff, or some other redeemed human being, will be king in the kingdom of God, please correct this error now. Time is running out. May heaven guide in this most urgent plea, is my prayer.

Revised January 1998, this article is not copyrighted, and is authorized for reproduction and general circulation.

Except otherwise specified, all Italics and emphases are supplied, all criticisms and editing are solicited.