he Health Message

"I am instructed to bear a message to all our people on the subject of health reform, for many have backslidden from their former loyalty to health reform principles, the light that God has given is being disregarded. A true reformation needs to take place among the believers."(Backsliding in Health Reform, Sanitarium, Cal., March 29, 1908)

The health message is a pretty simple, clear message that we are giving to the world. It is a message of reformation in our health and habits. A message that if heeded, will bring not only physical benefit - but spiritual also. But how? How can being healthy be beneficial to our spiritual life? Quite simple. We worship God and follow Jesus first and foremost in our minds. So everyone should know that if we are in poor health, then our minds are affected and we cannot give true devotion to God. Not only that, God's Word also tells us that we are not to defile our bodies, because we are the 'temple of God.'

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 ...'Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.'

So we need to make every effort in keeping healthy, because as the above Bible verse confirms, if we do not look after this 'temple of God', but allow ours bodies to be abused and become sickly, then God confirms that we will have no part in the kingdom and He will destroy us.

Please see our 'Health News' page to stay informed → →

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Babylon, Health Reform and Third Angel's Message

Revelation 14:9-12 ...'And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.'

Anyone who is deceived into following the beast and taking it's mark will receive the wrath of God and be lost. Now what kind of person will be more able to perform diligent personal study and devotion to God and detect the deception? A healthy person who has a clear healthy mind? Or a sickly, diseased person who's mind is clouded, and relies on drugs? Obviously it will be the clear healthy mind!

What else suppresses and clouds our minds? Alcohol! This needs to be eradicated completely if we are to have clear healthy minds to discern between error and truth!

Now who is it that is 'worshiped' by the world in the last days? The beast of Revelation 13 right? And this beast is the same as the beast in Revelation 17. But there is another important entity involved - BABYLON, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS! She is the harlot woman riding (or controlling) the beast. And do you know one of the ways Babylon is deceiving the nations today? Take a look ...

Revelation 18:23 ...'for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.'

Do you know what that word 'sorceries' is in the original Greek? It's 'pharmakeia', which means - 'the use or the administering of drugs'. And it is the very word where 'pharmaceuticals' came from! So the nations today have been DECEIVED by the PHARMACEUTICALS of Babylon! And oh, what a deception!

The vast majority of people around the world today have been deceived into thinking that pharmaceutical drugs are safe and are made to help us. But the reality is, these big pharma drugs do not give any healing and only severely weaken the immune system. Not only that, they cause many people to become addicted to them! Now take a look at these inspired quotes from 100 years ago ...

"Drug medication should be worked away from as fast as possible, until entirely discarded." (E.White, Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 406)

"Drugging should be forever abandoned; for while it does not cure any malady, it enfeebles the system, making it more susceptible to disease."(E.White, Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 83)

"It is the Lord's purpose that His method of healing without drugs shall be brought into prominence in every large city through our medical institutions." (E.White, Counsels on Health, p. 394)

Are you or your church/institution actively using pharmaceutical drugs? Then you are going against the Lord's will and design.

As God's people we should have health centres that treat Cancer using provennatural methods like raw juicing, high doses of good Vitamin C and reformed diet, NOT drugs and Chemotherapy. Then our health institutions would be a true witness for God and we would fulfil our true medical missionary calling. But if our first line of 'treatment' is in the use of drugs, then we look just like the world, and God is not glorified!

God created us humans from the soil. So naturally, the food we need to be consuming, should be natural food that also comes from the soil. Fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and legumes. The problem is, society today is bombarded with processed junk that on the whole isn't even real food. A lot of the foods being sold in supermarkets today have been 'made' in science labs. They are not only devoid of nutrition, but are FULL of processed sugars, fats and chemicals that are harmful to our bodies.

Add to that all the toxic chemicals which are put in the soil and sprayed onto the crops and you have a recipe for disaster!

So how can I be more healthy? 1 - Move yourself off the processed foods. 2 - Start eating more fruits, veg, seeds, nuts and legumes. 3 - Purchase organic food where possible, or grow your own. 4 - Move away from pharmaceutical drugs as soon as you can. 5 - Stop drinking alcohol. 6 - Drink more filtered water. 7 - Exercise more. 8 - Get plenty of fresh air.9 - Read the Bible. 10 - Trust in God.

"Many a mother sets a table that is a snare to her family. Flesh-meats, butter, cheese, rich pastry, spiced foods, and condiments are freely partaken of by both old and young. These things do their work in deranging the stomach, exciting the nerves, and enfeebling the intellect. The blood-making organs cannot convert such things into good blood. The grease cooked in the food renders it difficult of digestion. The effect of cheese is deleterious. Fine-flour bread does not impart to the system the nourishment that is to be found in unbolted wheat bread. Its common use will not keep the system in the best condition. Spices at first irritate the tender coating of the stomach, but finally destroy the natural sensitiveness of this delicate membrane. The blood becomes fevered, the animal propensities are aroused, while the moral and intellectual powers are weakened, and become servants to the baser passions. The mother should study to set a simple yet nutritious diet before her family." (E.White, Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, p.46-47)

And what do most people end up turning to, as a result of their poor diet? Pharmaceutical drugs! And the spiral towards a wrecked body and mind increases.

Do we really need to mention smoking tobacco, or any other substance? We all know the devastating effects of smoking. By inhaling this stuff, you are greatly defiling the 'temple of God'. And if you think you are ok by smoking these new e-cigaretts, think again, because these things also contain nicotine and other poisonous chemicals that are harmful to the body.

"With many, the appetite clamors for the disgusting weed, tobacco, and ale, made powerful by poisonous, health-destroying mixtures. Many do not stop even here. Their debased appetites call for stronger drink, which has a still more benumbing influence upon the brain. Thus they give themselves up to every excess, until appetite holds complete control over the reasoning faculties; and man, formed in the image of his Maker, debases himself lower than the beasts." (A Solemn Appeal, p.102)

Temperance

"God has written His law upon every nerve and muscle, every fibre and function of the human body. The indulgence of unnatural appetite, whether for tea, coffee, tobacco, or liquor, is intemperance, and is at war with the laws of life and health. By using these forbidden articles, a condition of things is created in the system which the Creator never designed. This indulgence in any of the members of the human family is sin. But how much more sinful is it in those who profess to be Christians, who say they are Abraham's children. They are not, because they do not practice the works of the Lord. If they were following Jesus, they would deny unnatural appetite. Every gratification of unnatural appetite produces disease in the physical system. The eating of food that does not make good blood is working against the laws of our physical organism, and is a violation of the law of God. The cause produces the effect. Suffering, disease, and death are the sure penalty of indulgence." (The Bible Echo, September 18, 1899)

Wow, that's a pretty strong message right? A message that the majority of God's professed people cannot bear, and will disregard as fanaticism! And yet if we really think about it, there is much truth in the quote above and one we need to take very seriously. There are two things to note concerning coffee, tea and alcohol. One is the clear truth that they are not good for our bodies and can do us harm. The other point is that many people become addicted to these drinks. So they could be classed as a type of drug. Now what becomes difficult to practice when we are addicted to substances? TEMPERANCE.

2 Peter 1:5-7 ...'And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.'

Temperance is an important part of our walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. But how can we practice and grow in temperance when we are addicted to substances like tea, coffee or alcohol? We cannot! Therefore, anything that gets in the way of us practicing temperance needs to be eradicated from our lives.

Are you willing to submit fully to the ways of the Lord? Jesus Christ gave His ALL for us, even while we were sinners! So if we are not willing to give up some unhealthful substances and practice true temperance for our blessed Saviour, then we are showing Him that we do not have a true faith, and our salvation is in danger. And no, we are NOT saved by 'giving up coffee', we are saved by grace through faith. BUT, the way we live PROVES whether our faith is genuine or not. Is your faith genuine?

The great subject of Godly reform is to be agitated, and the public mind is to be stirred. Temperance in all things is to be connected with the message, to turn the people of God from their idolatry, their gluttony, and their extravagance in dress and other things. The self-denial, humility, and temperance required of the righteous, whom God especially leads and blesses, is to be presented to the people in contrast to the extravagant, health-destroying habits of those who live in this degenerate age. God has shown that health reform is closely connected with the third angel's message. (Taken from 'The Elijah Prophecy', Maranatha, by E.White)

What about Meat?

"Greater reforms should be seen among the people who claim to be looking for the soon appearing of Christ. Health reform is to do among our people a work which it has not yet done. There are those who ought to be awake to the danger of meat eating who are still eating the flesh of animals, thus endangering the physical, mental, and spiritual health. Many who are now only half converted on the question of meat eating will go from God's people, to walk no more with them." (Review & Herald May 27, 1902)

Was it God's will for man to kill animals and use animal meat and produce as food? No. God's original plan was for man to be sustained by the food of the earth, which God created, fruit, nuts and grains. And this is what God is pointing us to in the three angels messages of Revelation 14. He is pointing us back to creation, and Him as the Creator. The only reason animal meat came into the diet was first, because of sin. Secondly, God allowed it after the flood because the vegetation was destroyed, and thirdly we have an account in Numbers 11, where the Israelites started moaning and desired "flesh" to eat, as they had become accustomed to in Egypt

Numbers 11:4-5 ...'And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick.'

But Jesus and His disciples ate fish right? Yes they did. Which is why this health message is a message particularly forthe end times, where we are living now.

Back 2000 years ago, "Biblically clean" fish and animal meat was far more pure and didn't contain the diseases, toxins, drugs and growth hormones that we find in the majority of animals and fish today. The earth is so polluted now, that no flesh is safe to eat. You ask any health expert or scientist who isn't afraid to speak the truth, and you will be told that the majority of animals and fish are diseased and full of toxins. Look at the KNOWN oil spills during the past 10 years alone. The seas and rivers are now full of deadly chemicals, and these chemicals get soaked into the fish that live in these waters. And the way animals are reared now, being fattened up with growth hormones and pumped with anti-biotics to combat disease, their flesh is no longer safe to eat.

Just look at this quote made back in the mid 1800's ...

"There are but a few animals that are free from disease. They have been made to suffer greatly for the want of light, pure air, and wholesome food. When they are fattened, they are often confined in close stables, and are not permitted to exercise, and to have free circulation of air. Many poor animals are left to breathe the poison of filth which is left in barns and stables. Their lungs will not long remain healthy while inhaling such impurities. Disease is conveyed to the liver, and the entire system of the animal is diseased. They are killed, and prepared for the market, and people eat freely of this poisonous animal food. Much disease is caused in this manner. But people cannot be made to believe that it is the meat they have eaten, which has poisoned their blood, and caused their sufferings. Many die of disease caused wholly by meat-eating, yet the world does not seem to be the wiser ... Their blood is highly inflamed, and those who eat of their meat, eat poison. Some are not immediately affected, while others are attacked with severe pain, and die from fever, cholera, or some unknown disease. Very many animals are sold for the city market known to be diseased by those who have sold them, and those who buy them are not always ignorant of the matter. Especially in larger cities this is practiced to a great extent, and meat-eaters know not that they are eating diseased animals." (E.G.White, Spiritual Gifts, Vol.4a, p.147)

If this was happening back in the 1800's, just imagine the poisonous state of animal flesh today!! As a matter of fact, doctors who are educated in health are now attributing many diseases to poor diet and meat eating.

Meat demand sparks dramatic rise in antibiotic use

Now remember what the first angel said? ... Revelation 14:7 ...'Fear God and give glory to Him.' ... What is one way of us giving glory to God? ...1 Corinthians 6:20 ...'For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.' ... How can we give glory to God "in our bodies" if we continue to fill it with poisonous flesh and alcohol and refined sugar, making ourselves sick, diseased and in need of Babylon's pharmaceutical drugs, which in turn makes us even worse? No. We need to "present our bodies a living sacrifice" to God (Romans 12:1) by reforming our diet and living a healthy lifestyle. After all, a healthy body will help produce a healthy mind and a healthy soul. Does God not desire this of His people? Of course He does.

Meat should be totally discarded from our diets now. Including alcohol and pharmaceutical drugs.

God has shown us many things through the prophet Daniel. Good health being one of them ...

Daniel 1:8,12,15 ...'But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself ... Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink ... And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.'

Friend, a time has come when we as the children of God need to be clear minded. Clear minded to help us discern the great deceptions that Satan is bringing upon this world. He knows his time is short, so he is going to use all his craft and power to deceive God's people during these last days. Which is why we need to do our best to build our bodies up to be able to resist disease and sickness, so that we can think clearly, discern between right and wrong and bring glory to God in our lives.

Health reform needs to be a part of our Christian growth, as we draw nearer and nearer to Christ Jesus, and as we enter (spiritually) into the most holy place of God's heavenly sanctuary, into the very presence of God.

3 John 1:2 ...'Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.'

See the 8 laws of health for info on how to live a healthy lifestyle.

Verses Used "Against" the Health Message

There are a number of Bible verses that many Christians use to "support" their meat eating (including Biblical "unclean" meat), and which they use against the health message. Let's examine the verses in question.

1. Matthew 15:11 ...'Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.'

If we simply take the whole chapter in context, it can be easily seen that what Jesus is talking about is the Pharisees rules on eating withunwashed hands. And although Jesus is not saying that eating with dirty hands is ok. He is merely pointing out that the Pharisees placed more importance on these ritual rules than they did on love. So Jesus is teaching a "heart" issue, in that what comes from the heart is that which really makes a person "evil", not what goes into the stomach.

2. Acts 10:10-13 ...'And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.'

This is such a well known misunderstood piece of scripture that many Christians use to "validate" their eating of unclean animals. And yet the meaning of the vision is clearly given within the context. Now let's say that the vision DID mean we can now eat anything. Shall we now start eating dogs, cats, rats, horses and such like? Do Christians eat such things? Of course not. And yet they use this verse to support their eating of pigs and other Biblically unclean flesh. Peter even said himself after the vision ... 'Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.' ... He was shocked and troubled by this vision. Why? Because he couldn't believe that God would now pronounce all unclean animals and insects as ok to eat.

So what does this vision REALLY mean? ... Acts 10:28,34,35 ...'And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any MAN common or unclean ... Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.'

Through this vision, God was basically showing Peter that ALL PEOPLE who fear God and do His will are accepted ("clean"). So why did God use a vision to do with eating? Maybe because as verse 10 says, Peter was very hungry before he had the vision. Also in the vision, God spokeTHREE times, saying that what He had cleansed, Peter should not call common. Why THREE times? Because THREE NON-JEWS then came to see Peter to take him to Cornelius.

3. 1 Timothy 4:4 ...'For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.'

Again, if we read in context, we can see that in verses 1-3 it says ... 'in the latter times some shall depart from the faith ... Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron ... Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats.' ... Some say that this is speaking about the Adventist church. But note, Paul is saying that these "individuals" teaching to abstain from meats also teach not to marry. The Adventist church does not forbid marriage, but rather promotes marriage between a man and woman. On the other hand, the Roman Catholic church does forbid eating foods on certain holiday celebrations and forbids marriage through it's institutions of the nuns and priests.

Please also notice this important point ... The word "meats" in verse 3 simply means FOOD. When the Bible is talking about animal meat, it says "flesh". But when talking about non-flesh food, it uses the word "meat". For example, in Genesis 1:29 God tells Adam and Eve what He has created for them to eat ... 'every herb bearing seed and the fruit of the tree yielding seed'. And what does God call this food in Genesis 1:29?MEAT. So going back to verse 3 of Timothy above, what "meat" has God CREATED to be received with thanksgiving? Food of the earth. Because God did NOT create animals to be killed and eaten. That was not His plan.

Also, did you notice that in verse 4 it says 'every CREATURE of God is good.'? The word Creature simply means "thing founded" or "created thing". So if "creature" in this verse means anything other than natural products of the earth which God created for us to eat, then people will HAVE to include every crawling thing upon the face of the earth .. INCLUDING HUMANS! So, is it ok to eat rats, spiders, dogs, cats, and people? Is cannibalism now approved? After all, Mark 16:15 says ... 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.'

The only logical conclusion is that Paul is talking about those who would forbid the eating of foods that God originally created for our diet.

1 Timothy 4:5...'For it is sanctified by the word of God AND prayer.'

How is food sanctified (made holy for us to eat)? NOT just by prayer which many Christians seem to believe. But rather by the Word of GodAND prayer. Now, where in the Bible is unclean meat like pig, camel, mice, bats, eagle sanctified? Where?!

4. Romans 14:2-3 ...'For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.'

Now let's look at what Paul said in chapter 12:1 ...'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.' ... Do you really think that Paul would plead with us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and then turn around and suggest that eating anything, even those things that HARM our bodies is ok? I don't think so. Again, if Paul IS suggesting that eating all things is ok, then you must include ALL THINGS, dogs, cats, rats, horses, etc. Would this be acceptable to God? No way! So what is Paul saying above in chapter 14?

The context of the point Paul is putting across is to do with "those who are weak in the faith". That is, one who has but a limited grasp of the principles of righteousness. He is eager to be saved and is willing to do whatever he believes is required of him. But in the immaturity of his Christian experience and probably also as the result of former education and belief, he attempts to make his salvation more certain by the observance of certain rules and regulations (ceremonial laws) that are in reality not binding upon him. To him these regulations assume great importance. He regards them as absolutely binding upon him for salvation, and he is distressed and confused when he sees other Christians about him, especially those who seem to be more experienced, who do not share his assumptions.

In Corinthians the problem is identified in the practice of eating foods sacrificed to idols. According to the ancient practice, pagan priests carried on an extensive merchandise of the animal sacrifices offered to idols. Paul told the Corinthian believers, which were converts from both Judaism and Paganism that inasmuch as an idol was nothing, there was no wrong, so to speak, in eating foods dedicated to it. However, he explains, because there were some who were beginners in the faith and still fairly weak, and could not with a free conscience eat such foods, Paul urged those who were stronger in the faith not to place a stumbling block in a brother's way by indulging in those foods. And Probably for fear of offending in this matter some Christians abstained from flesh foods (Biblically clean meat) entirely, which means that their food was restricted to "herbs", that is, vegetables.

So what is meant by "all things"? All things that are sanctified (pronounced clean, as per Levitical laws) by the Word of God. Does the Word of God pronounce dogs, cats, pigs and wild beasts as clean to eat? No.

If people would only take the WHOLE of God's Word in context, they would see the clear truth of the matter. God is trying to draw men back to the original plan in the Garden of Eden. And He wants a people in the last days who are living according to that original plan. This is the message of the three angels of Revelation 14. A message of turning away from the world and Babylon's deceptions, and returning back to God. The messages point us to our Creator. And how were we made? We were made in the image of God. So should we act and live in the image of God. This is the health message. Please bring glory to God in all you do.