Gospel Order

god's Saving Health 

  "God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; that thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations." Psalm 67:1-2

  "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.  And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and He healed them. And there followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan." Matthew 4:23-25


It is God's desire that we "prosper and be in health" 3 John 1:2. Since our body is the "temple of God" 1 Cor. 6:19-20, it is our solemn duty to keep it healthy to the glory of God.  "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Cor. 10:31.  

Yes, He wants us to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1.  

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."  1 Thessalonians 5:23

When the mind, the life, and the body - which constitute the whole man - when a person is sanctified in a Bible sense, these parts, including his emotions and spiritual faculties, are set apart to God's glory, and employed in the service of our Heavenly King.  Having a healthy body means a lot because not only we can physically help and serve our neighbor but we can also honor and serve our Creator most.    

"Health is a treasure. Of all temporal possessions it is the most precious. Wealth, learning, and honor are dearly purchased at the loss of the vigor of health. None of these can secure happiness, if health is lacking. It is a terrible sin to abuse the health that God has given us; such abuses enfeeble us for life, and make us losers, even if we gain by such means any amount of education." CD 20

GOD's True Remedies For Healing

God promise to His people in the past a disease-free body on the condition of obedience to His commandments.

"If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee." Exodus 15:26.

"Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases." Psalms 103:3.

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." Proverbs 17:22

"And He (Jesus) said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while." Mark 6:31.

"There are many ways of practicing the healing art; but there is only one way that Heaven approves. God's remedies are the simple agencies of nature, that will not tax or debilitate the system through their powerful properties." 5T 443 "Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust in divine power,--these are the true remedies." MH 127

As you will notice during the ministry of Jesus while on earth, Aside from teaching and preaching the gospel, He deals a lot on "healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." He "went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil." Matthew 4:23; Acts 10:38.

This is why God's saving health message is connected with the gospel message as the arm is connected with the body.
"The health reform is one branch of the great work which is to fit a people for the coming of the Lord. It is as closely connected with the third angel's message as the hand is with the body. The law of ten commandments has been lightly regarded by man; but the Lord would not come to punish the transgressors of that law without first sending them a message of warning. The third angel proclaims that message. Had men ever been obedient to the law of ten commandments, carrying out in their lives the principles of those precepts, the curse of disease now flooding the world would not be."  CD 69 
 


What was man’s original diet as prescribed by God in the beginning?

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.  Genesis 1:29

“And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food... ” Genesis 2:9 [1st part]

After Adam and Eve sinned and casted off from Eden, what food was added to their diet?

"Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;" Gen 3:18

From the very beginning, the Lord provided man proper food out of the ground such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts.

In Genesis chapter 5 is listed the ages of Adam to Noah who lived nearly a thousand years subsisting on this plant-based diet. 

  • Adam – 930 years old
  • Seth – 912 years old
  • Enosh – 905 years old
  • Kenan – 910 years old
  • Mahalalel – 895 years old
  • Jared – 962 years old
  • Methuselah – 969 years old
  • Lamech – 777 years old
  • Noah – 600 years old  (time of flood)

Flesh Diet—An Aftermath of Sin
639. God gave our first parents the food He designed that the race should eat. It was contrary to His plan to have the life of any creature taken. There was to be no death in Eden. The fruit of the trees in the garden, was the food man's wants required. God gave man no permission to eat animal food until after the flood. Everything had been destroyed upon which man could subsist, and therefore the Lord in their necessity gave Noah permission to eat of the clean animals which he had taken with him into the ark. But animal food was not the most healthful article of food for man.

The people who lived before the flood ate animal food and gratified their lusts until their cup of iniquity was full, and God cleansed the earth of its moral pollution by a flood. Then the third dreadful curse rested upon the earth. The first curse was pronounced upon the posterity of Adam and upon the earth, because of disobedience. The second curse came upon the ground after Cain slew his brother Abel. The third most dreadful curse from God came upon the earth at the flood.

After the flood the people ate largely of animal food. God saw that the ways of man were corrupt, and that he was disposed to exalt himself proudly against his Creator and to follow the inclinations of his own heart. And He permitted that long-lived race to eat animal food to shorten their sinful lives. Soon after the flood the race began to rapidly decrease in size, and in length of years.— CDF 373 (1864)

In Noah’s time, what was God’s instruction concerning animals he will bring in to the ark?

Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.  Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.  Genesis 7:2-3         

When the flood was over and all the vegetations were gone, what food were permitted by God for them to eat?

And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth [upon] the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.  Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. Gen 9:1-4

Flesh food was not included in the original diet of man but because of sin and the Flood, the conditions of man and the earth changed they were permitted to eat animal food to shorten their sinful lives.   Noah was aware of the difference between the clean and unclean animals since God instructed him to take by sevens for the clean and by twos for the unclean scavengers.  So when God permitted them to eat “every moving thing that liveth”, it is implying that he already understood that he can select only from the clean animals as their meat or food whose numbers were more than the unclean beasts.  However, there was still a restriction not to eat the blood thereof and even their fats! (see Leviticus 7:23)

These restrictions on diet was explained by God through Moses to the Hebrews because they were holy, chosen and peculiar people of God. - This is still indeed applicable to us!

"For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord has chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto Himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing." Deuteronomy 14:2-3.


THE CLEAN AND UNCLEAN FOODS

Separated miraculously from Egypt by God, the Israelite's as a chosen people were commanded by God thru Moses to eat only the flesh of clean animals.  The passage “every moving thing that liveth” connects to the “every living creature that moveth”, that is to say, referring  to the law of the beasts and fowls to make a difference between the clean that may be eaten and the unclean that may not be eaten.  In other words, all animals that were pronounced unclean were excluded from the diet of God's chosen people.  

“Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you. And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:  This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earthTo make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.”  Leviticus 11:8,10, 46-47

LEVITICUS CHAPTER 11 – THE CLEAN AND UNCLEAN FOODS

And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. 3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. 4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. 8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you. 9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. 10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. 12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you. 13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray14 And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; 15 Every raven after his kind; 16 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, 17 And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle19 And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you. 21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth; 22 Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind. 23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you. 24 And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even. 25 And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. 26 The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean. 27 And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even. 28 And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you. 29 These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind, 30 And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole31 These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even. 32 And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed. 33 And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it. 34 Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean. 35 And every thing whereupon any part of their carcase falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you. 36 Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean. 37 And if any part of their carcase fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean. 38 But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcase fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you. 39 And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even. 40 And he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. 41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination. 43 Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby. 44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. 46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: 47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten."

See also Deuteronomy Chapter 14 where the clean and unclean foods where repeated. 

List of animals from the Scriptures that are clean and unclean


GOD'S CHOSEN FOOD FOR ISRAEL

How long were the children of Israel ate manna or "bread from heaven" in the wilderness?

"Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you." "And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited." Exodus 16:4, 35.

"And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.  Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full." Psalm 78:24-25.

"Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst. Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, [so that] they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not."  Nehemiah 9:20-21.

"For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people [that were] men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not show them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey... And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched [corn] in the selfsame day. And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year."  Joshua 5:6,11-12.

"Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days. And the LORD spake unto me, saying, Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward. And command thou the people, saying, Ye [are] to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore: Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau [for] a possession. Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.  For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God [hath been] with thee; thou hast lacked nothing."  Deuteronomy 2:1-7.

For forty years the Israelites ate manna while they were in the wilderness.  When they arrived Canaan the supply of manna ceased after they ate the old corn and fruit of the land of Canaan.  In fact, God told them to “buy meat (Strongs #398 means food, meat, prey, victuals) of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.” 

What was God’s purpose in giving them manna as their food?

"And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know what [was] in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every [word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live."  Deuteronomy 8:2-3

"Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;"  Deuteronomy 18:16

"Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:  Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,  And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.  Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full. He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.  He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: And he let [it] fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat [was] yet in their mouths, The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen [men] of Israel. For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble."  Psalm 78:22 -33

The truth is, God wanted to prove and test them when He gave them manna if they will believe and trust in His salvation, if they will keep His commandments or not.

God promised them a blessing of health - no sickness and feeble person were found in them at all! 

"And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; I will take sickness away from the midst of thee." Exodus 23:25.

"There was not one feeble person among their tribes." Psalms 105:37.

THE COMPLAINERS - THE MIXED MULTITUDES

While in the wilderness, what kind of foods was lusted by the mixed multitude and the children of Israel?

"And the mixed 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 garlic:  But now our soul [is] dried away: [there is] nothing at all, beside this manna, [before] our eyes."  Numbers 11:4-6

Please note that aside from the fish, they also lusted the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.  Meanwhile, God sent them quails in response to their lusting.  Yet, God was very angry with the people and that while they were chewing the meat and before they had swallowed it, He struck them with a disastrous plague.

“Our habits of eating and drinking show whether we are of the world or among the number whom the Lord by His mighty cleaver of truth has separated from the world. These are His peculiar people, zealous of good works. God has spoken in His word. In the case of Daniel and his three companions there are sermons upon health reform. God has spoken in the history of the children of Israel, from whom for their good He sought to withhold a flesh diet. He fed them with bread from heaven; “man did eat angel's food.” But they encouraged their earthly appetite; and the more they centered their thoughts upon the fleshpots of Egypt, the more they hated the food which God gave them to keep them in health physically, mentally, and morally. They longed for the fleshpots, and in this they did just as many in our own time have done.” 6T 372

“After three days’ journey open complaints were heard. These originated with the mixed multitude, many of whom were not fully united with Israel, and were continually watching for some cause of censure. The complainers were not pleased with the direction of the march, and they were continually finding fault with the way in which Moses was leading them, though they well knew that he, as well as they, was following the guiding cloud. Dissatisfaction is contagious, and it soon spread in the encampment.

"Again they began to clamor for flesh to eat. Though abundantly supplied with manna, they were not satisfied. The Israelites, during their bondage in Egypt, had been compelled to subsist on the plainest and simplest food; but then keen appetite induced by privation and hard labor had made it palatable. Many of the Egyptians, however, who were now among them, had been accustomed to a luxurious diet; and these were the first to complain. At the giving of the manna, just before Israel reached Sinai, the Lord had granted them flesh in answer to their clamors; but it was furnished them for only one day.

"God might as easily have provided them with flesh as with manna, but a restriction was placed upon them for their good. It was His purpose to supply them with food better suited to their wants than the feverish diet to which many had become accustomed in Egypt. The perverted appetite was to be brought into a more healthy state, that they might enjoy the food originally provided for man—the fruits of the earth, which God gave to Adam and Eve in Eden. It was for this reason that the Israelites had been deprived, in a great measure, of animal food.

"Satan tempted them to regard this restriction as unjust and cruel. He caused them to lust after forbidden things, because he saw that the unrestrained indulgence of appetite would tend to produce sensuality, and by this means the people could be more easily brought under his control. The author of disease and misery will assail men where he can have the greatest success. Through temptations addressed to the appetite he has, to a large extent, led men into sin from the time when he induced Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit. It was by this same means that he led Israel to murmur against God. Intemperance in eating and drinking, leading as it does to the indulgence of the lower passions, prepares the way for men to disregard all moral obligations. When assailed by temptation, they have little power of resistance.” PP 377-378

"And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let [them] fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits [high] upon the face of the earth.  And the people stood up all that day, and all [that] night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread [them] all abroad for themselves round about the camp.  And while the flesh [was] yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague." Numbers 11:31-33

"They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul."  Psalms 106:13-15.

Even though God gave Israel their chosen food - a simple but wholesome nourishing food - so that they will have a healthy body, they were not contented but lusted after evil things.  And this is being repeated by many profess people of God today!   "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted." 1 Corinthians 10:6. 


PROPHETIC STATEMENTS ABOUT DIET OF GOD'S COMMANDMENT-KEEPING PEOPLE IN THE END TIMES

"The Lord would bring His people into a position where they will not touch or taste the flesh of dead animals. Then let not these things be prescribed by any physicians who have a knowledge of the truth for this time. There is no safety in the eating of the flesh of dead animals, and in a short time the milk of the cows will also be excluded from the diet of God's commandment-keeping people. In a short time it will not be safe to use anything that comes from the animal creation. Those who take God at His word, and obey His commandments with the whole heart, will be blessed. He will be their shield of protection. But the Lord will not be trifled with. Distrust, disobedience, alienation from God's will and way, will place the sinner in a position where the Lord cannot give him His divine favor." ~ Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 411.

"Among those who are waiting for the coming of the Lord, meat eating will eventually be done away; flesh will CEASE TO BE A PART OF THEIR DIET. We should ever keep this end in view, and endeavor to work steadily toward it...." ~ Counsels on Diets and Foods, p. 380-381

"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." ~ Counsels on Diets and Foods, p. 382


"True temperance teaches us to abstain entirely from that which is injurious, and to use judiciously only healthful and nutritious articles of food." Health Reformer, April 1877


... to be continued

Links For further reading and documentations...

Back to top ⇧