The Scriptures plainly declare that no one can possibly interpret the Word of God privately without the aid of Inspiration (2 Pet. 1:20, 21). Those who, without the Spirit of God, undertake
to interpret the messages the Lord sends to them, "will make shipwreck of faith," and will find themselves serving Satan instead of serving Christ.

Let all Present Truth believers carefully study the fourth chapter of Zechariah, and take particular notice of the method there illustrated, which God employs to reveal truth to His people.

The diligent Bible student will there see that the candlestick represents the church membership (Rev. 1:20); that the tubes from the golden bowl (the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy) to the candlestick, represent the ministry ("Testimonies to Ministers," p. 188); that the olive trees are symbolical of the Old and New Testament Scriptures ("The Great Controversy," p. 267); and that the two golden pipes, which carry the golden oil from the trees to the bowl, are the only two mediums which God has employed since 1844 A.D. to interpret the Scriptures.

(Note: who are the two mediums prophesied here? We know that since 1844 God has brought us the SOP-Ellen White, who could be the other? These two alone are authorized to interpret Scripture.
Further, as this prophecy was interpreted in 1939, it proves that it is in place for us today (our present truth).

Not one of us can even dare to compare our greatness with that of Jesus, yet He believed all the writings of the prophets, and those who consider themselves to be wise, and think it too humiliating to believe all, He calls "fools." (Luke 24:25.) God's people still err in this matter. They are stupid. They seem to be incapable of comprehending these facts, as the apostles were incapable of comprehending Jesus' teachings concerning the "kingdom" then.

There has been a multitude in all ages who, instead of being baptized in Christ and His truth, have been baptized in some man, have followed that man instead of following Christ, and have joined the multitude in the church instead of the multitude in heaven.

The same condition exists in our age. Consequently when Christ speaks, the majority think the voice to be that of a stranger, and when truth unfolds, they call it error, and instead of following Christ and obeying the truth, they follow the man and reject the truth.

This has been repeated, again and again, and as a result, the few faithful ones who have desired to follow Christ and His truth, have, by the foolish been cast out of the churches and compelled to start all over again. (Sym. Code, vol. 5, no. 1-5, p.2-3)

Note: Our Lord has sent this Zechariah prophecy to help us see that we must rely on His chosen mediums (messengers) for our "oil" (truth) and that when we as fallible humans try to bypass one of those TWO PIPES that draw the oil from the trees, and make our own interpretations, we go against God's plan for us in understanding His Inspired word.

That's quite some conclusion Houteff makes in the selection you posted.


I know EGW would not agree.
It is purely Mr. Houteff's interpretation.
He has elevated himself above all (and tries to draw EGW into the same position, though she would never make such a claim) and remember Houteff also claims EGW did not fully understand the prophecies. How many times have SR followers told me that? Many times! For Houteff contradicts EGW.

Thus, according to this conclusion, only Mr. Houteff is authorized to interpret scripture, as well as interpret EGW, placing himself as the supreme truth.



So Houteff is "infallible"?????

How is he any different than a pope?


Could it be true that SRod
"have followed that man instead of following Christ" ?

We should not take the testimony of any man as to what the Scriptures teach, but should study the words of God for ourselves. If we allow others to do our thinking, we shall have crippled energies and contracted abilities. The noble powers of the mind may be so dwarfed by lack of exercise on themes worthy of their concentration as to lose their ability to grasp the deep meaning of the word of God. The mind will enlarge if it is employed in tracing out the relation of the subjects of the Bible, comparing scripture with scripture and spiritual things with spiritual. {SC 89.3}

Any man include who?

God declares, "There is none righteousness, no, not one" [Romans 3:10]. All have the same sinful nature. All are liable to make mistakes. No one is perfect. The Lord Jesus died for the erring, that they might be forgiven. It is not our work to condemn. Christ did not come to condemn, but to save. {18MR 334.5}

All having sinful natures includes who? No one is perfect includes who?

There is only one to trust, and that is Jesus.

Those are true statements. But let us keep God's lesson Zech. 4 firmly in mind. ONLY TWO PIPES (messengers-prophets) are allowed to extract the oil from the trees. No one understood this prophecy clearly until 1939, and now that we understand it let us heed it.

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." (2 Peter 1:20)

"He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."(Matt 11:15)

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." (John 16:13)

This same principle is advocated in many religions, standing between the believer the Word.
Roman Catholicism and all her daughters teach the same.
You will be lost if you don't stay on our ship.

EGW said go directly to the Scriptures.

(...Of course Christ believed the prophets.
He gave them their message.
Christ is called the Angel (Messenger) of the LORD)
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"EGW said go directly to the Scriptures."

Yes she did say that but she also told of the coming of Elijah(Test. to Min. p.475) as did the Lord (Mal. 4:5)

You think Inspiration makes us a false promise? And if this Elijah came/come would he not have a message?

Remember brother, your attitude that we have all the light with Bible and SOP cannot be so. Why? Because the Lord said His Elijah was to come before the "great and dreadful day of the Lord". And as such THIS MESSAGE is what He refers to in Rev.3:14-22. We think we are rich (with truth) when in fact we are naked.

Whether you believe in Victor Houteff as Elijah that was to come or not, you have a duty to hear out the lesson.(Test. to Min. p.105-107)

Also remember that EGW said the Elijah would be a false "interpreter" of Scripture. Let's not be the fulfillment of prophecy, lest we get "sprued out".

So what is it you don't like about the Zech. 4 lesson? Be specific if you can, brother Gordon.

I didn't read the lesson .
Recall my earlier comment on the Zechariah 6 lesson:
"Since these horses first appear in Zechariah 1,
that might be a better launching pad for the lesson.."

It's not evident you've studied Zechariah, even a review of EGW's comments. Men commonly isolate texts from a passage, then expound. One might miss the context this way.
For example, most of Zechariah's first six chapters appear to be the vision of one day.(Zech. 1:7)
So the horses, etc. follow a pattern.

And what of the Angel of the LORD? The word malak (angel, messenger) appears more often in these six chapters than almost any other O.T. passage. Could there be a 'message' here?

Perhaps Mr. Houteff had a great mind, even inspired.
Yet he seems to have overlooked some basics - that puts his followers on shaky ground.
The same trend is seen in most SDA churches - follow this script.
I believe that's the problem you're trying to address.
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The Bible has all the light, a study for eternity.

But we do not have that light.
We fail to study & believe, groping in darkness.

EGW, Jones & Waggoner, Elijah messengers, all sent in mercy, Plan B.
Their message: Repent, study, believe My Word.
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Gordonb1-- "I didn't read the lesson"

Perhaps you should do that first, then we can discuss. This reminds me of the old timer's who condemned brother Houteff. Many didn't even read a single chapter, yet pronounced judgment. This goes for today as well.

So read that Zechariah 4 lesson. As an additional insightful study, read the thread about "Christ's final hours". This is a detailed report on His final days and hours. No one has disputed it yet, because it's hard to dispute truth.

One thing I find that we as so called "believers" need to be so careful of---that we ACKNOWLEDGE TRUTH. Pride, ego, and all kinds of carnal natures stop many from acknowledging.

When a man has studied for himself,
then he has a message.

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