The Periodical Skjulte Skatter [Hidden Treasures]

The Periodical Skjulte Skatter [Hidden Treasures]

“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Luke 21:25-28.

Jesus says this about the end times, and we have never experienced His word being fulfilled more literally than now, in our time. Therefore, we also believe that Jesus’ return is at hand. For when these things begin to happen, we, who have chosen to be disciples of the Son of Man must look up and lift up our heads, because our redemption is drawing near. Jesus’ disciples never have anything to fear!

In Luke 17:20-21 Jesus explains to His disciples that “the kingdom of God is within you,” and then He speaks to them about the end times. He makes it quite clear that there will be much activity; people will build and plant; they will marry and be given in marriage.

This is also what we experience in the church world-wide in these days. Even though restrictions were suddenly imposed on us regarding in-person meetings, we have never had so many people attend our Sunday meetings as now. We also experience the same at our youth meetings, Sunday school, and other activities at which we now gather virtually.

Even though we have never lived under such restrictions as we do now, God has given us greater opportunities to spread the gospel than ever before in history. This is God’s infinite goodness toward us now, in the end times.

I believe that God wants us to experience now, in the end times, what the apostles experienced in the church’s first days: that God Himself will add to the church those who are willing to be saved. Acts 2:47.

Johan Oscar Smith received light about the way of salvation, Christ manifested in the flesh. He was willing to be saved, and so God added him to the church as a foundation stone in our age. In this way, God gained a church to which He could continue to add those who wanted to be saved from sin and walk in a completely new life. Read Romans 6. One of the first to be added as a co-worker was Johan O Smith’s brother Aksel.

These two sensed in their spirit that if they were to succeed in reaching additional people who desired to be saved, it would be by publishing a little periodical, Skjulte Skatter. You can read much about this process in the annual volumes of the periodical, as well as in Johan O. Smith’s collected writings that are being published; Volume 3 in the series will be published as an e-book this summer.

Now God has opened up new, previously unimagined opportunities for us. In the church, we have always been prepared to make use of modern technology that can help lead people to godliness,

Just as Paul worked in his days, so Johan O. Smith worked in his: “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which is according to godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior. To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.” Tit. 1:1-4.

Johan O. Smith built his entire personal life and the spiritual foundation of his work on God’s Word, the Bible. By doing this, the content of Skjulte Skatter—the periodical as well as the publishing house—became increasingly more valuable, so that we who followed could drink abundantly of it, and so that we could continue to build further until this very day.

Therefore it is important for all of us to understand that we have entered into the work of others as Jesus says in John 4:36-38: “I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

Technology has developed since 1912, especially in the last twenty years. As a result, today it is possible for us to broadcast our meetings around the world, both internally to all the friends, and externally to “all the world”—the world into which Jesus asked us to go. We will do this!

To this end the friends have many new platforms available to them in these days. In addition to the periodicals Skjulte Skatter [Hidden Treasures] (from 1912), and Mandelblomsten [Almond Blossom] (from 1939), we now have available to us (among others) activechristianity.org, mp3kilden, BMM, BrunstadTV, as well as BCC Media, which broadcasts conferences and meetings and activities worldwide via BCC Online.

All these sources derive their spiritual values from the literature that Stiftelsen Skjulte Skatters Forlag administers.

Therefore I want to make it absolutely clear with this article that no one in the church (BCC) who works with these media (or other future media which have not yet been developed), can fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission and bring the gospel to “all the world,” without drawing upon the spiritual values from that which Johan O. Smith and other pillars in the previous century by means of God’s word (see for example Romans 1:1-7) have received grace to invest in Stiftelsen Skjulte Skaters Forlag and on which I and we of later generations have received grace from God to build further.

Therefore the periodical Skjulte Skatter conveys the church’s (Brunstad Christian Church’s), spiritual power that builds on Johan O. Smith’s teaching.

The periodical Skjulte Skatter is published in fifteen languages. Mandelblomsten [Almond Blossom] is also published in English. The literature of Stiftelsen Skjulte Skatters Forlag is being translated either completely or partially into approximately twenty languages.

Stiftelsen Skjulte Skatters Forlag is especially careful to assert the rights to our intellectual property, both internally, within Brunstad Christian Church, together with its associated organizations and departments, and externally. This is necessary to be able to lead those who are apprehended of the message they hear, to the source of this spiritual property.

All our valuable, spiritual treasures that are distributed via various platforms must be traceable to BCC/SSSF/copyright owner/the church, from which the person receiving them can receive the same help and guidance that the authors of this intellectual property—both men and women—received. It is therefore especially important to have it correctly copyrighted, so that the church’s/SSSF’s intellectual property cannot be plagiarized and /or illegally copied. The copyright labeling is also meant to prevent misuse by religious leaders who pervert grace and God’s Word for personal gain. 2 Cor. 2:17. This is the spirit against which our spiritual fathers fought so powerfully, and against which we continue to fight in the spirit world.

The objective of SSSF and BCC is the correct copyright labeling of all intellectual property of our own productions on all platforms, and we are fully focused on this.

Many films are being produced, and many songs, poems, and melodies are being written! Much of this is sent into the whole world via our various channels; among others, activechristianity.org, BrunstadTV, and BMM to the joy and edification of children, young people, and the older ones among us. We can be certain that new and as yet unknown means of conveying the message will come into use in the future. However, not every piece of intellectual property produced is viable or is of such value that it is compatible with the intellectual property of Stiftelsen Skjulte Skatters Forlag. Therefore not all of it will be protected by copyright under ©Skjulte Skatters Forlag. We will also make this distinction in the future!

But I would like to ask those of you who sense that an article for Skjulte Skatter or Mandelblomsten is working in you, or that an edifying song, melody, or piece of music is born in your heart and was worked by God for the edification of Christ’s body, to send it in to Stiftelsen Skjulte Skaters Forlag. Then we can consider it for inclusion in that spiritual heritage that we through Stiftelsen Skjulte Skatters Forlag continue to preserve for our future generations. In this context, family, culture, country, gender, and age do not matter, only what God works in your heart! Write it down and send it to us; in any case, it is a good exercise for you to write down what God is working in your heart!

I want to wish all dear friends and readers of the paper a blessed future and a truly good summer with the scripture that Johan O. Smith chose as a header on the front page of Skjulte Skatter. Throughout life’s changing circumstances, this scripture is a reminder to the periodical’s readers of the value of the spiritual treasures that it has conveyed since 1912, something it shall continue to do if God gives grace:

“My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commandments within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.” Prov. 2:1-5.