The Third Angel's Message
This message is designed to put
God’s children on their guard. This third angel is saying: "They
will be brought into close combat with the beast and his image
and their lives will depend on holding fast to the truth."
The 'third angel's message' has
sped from country to country, into Asia... India... the jungles
of Burma... Australia... New Zealand... the South Sea Islands...
Papua New Guinea... on and on... spanning the world. For
this message is a world wide message. Some of the last and final
events that will take place are not easy to slot into a definite
time period. However not too many students of Prophecy would
argue with me when I say that we are right now in what is known
as the 'shaking time': the time when those who are not sincere,
who know the truth but do not obey the truth, will be shaken
out.
Never has the church gone
through such an upheaval as in the last few years. It has
been torn apart by doctrinal differences, distrust in the
leadership, rejection of the Spirit of Prophecy. Surely it is
the 'shaking time'. The Devanport affair, even the Chamberlain
business has had its effects, but the important thing is, do we
recognize it?
The Testing
Time
We often speak of the 'testing
time'. We ask ourselves "will we be able to stand to
test?" I wonder how many realize just how close the
testing time is? In
Revelation chapter 13, the prophet
John describes the great 'test' that will come upon the
inhabitants of this Earth.
Revelation 13:15 says: "And he
had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the
image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as
would not worship the image of the beast should be killed."
Sunday Laws
The time is not far distant
when the greatest test will come to every individual. The Mark
of the Beast will be urged upon us and those who have step by
step yielded in pressure, who have conformed to the world, will
give in to the Satanic powers that will try to enforce their
dogmas as indicated in
Revelation 13:15. They will do this
rather than subject themselves to derision, and to insult,
threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest will be between
the commandments of God and the commandments of men.
Time of Trouble
Next in the events of the last
days, which bring us to the grand 'finale' of this earth’s
history comes the 'time of trouble'. Just before the seven
last plagues begin to fall, the time of trouble is thrust upon
the world. As the work of salvation closes, terrible trouble
comes upon this Earth. Although still held in check by the
angels, the nations of Earth are angry and ready for the final
great battle of Armageddon.
Latter Rain
It is also at this time that
the 'latter rain' will come to give power to the 'loud cry' of
the third angel, and to prepare the people of God to stand
during the seven last plagues. Right up to the last hours
of time, God still has a people in Babylon. Before the
plagues begin to fall the faithful ones must be called out that
they might not:
"...partake not of her sins, and
receive not of her plagues."
Image to the Beast
God's holy Sabbath will be the
great test of loyalty, for the issue is between the worship of
the Beast and the keeping of the Commandments of God. There will
be only two classes at this time, those who fall in line with
the Beast and his Image, and those who are true to God and
refuse to bow the knee to Baal. It is sad to read that the first
named will be in the majority.
Revelation 13:8 (First Half)
says: "And all
that dwell upon the earth shall worship him…"
Sign to leave the
Cities
It is at this time that the
'loud cry' of the third angel is given in its fullness. It is
also at this time that the 'sign to leave the cities' will be
given. God will give us a sign so we might know the time of
departure from the cities of this world. Just as the siege of
Jerusalem by the Roman armies was a signal for flight to the
Judean Christians, so when America issues a decree enforcing the
observance of Sunday, this will be a warning to Christians that it is time to leave the large cities. God’s
people will know that the end is very near. Probation will
close.
Probation
closes
When God’s presence was finally
withdrawn from the Jewish nation the priests and the people were
unaware of it. Although they were under the control of Satan, they
still regarded themselves as the chosen people of God and when
probation closes no one will know, neither the Christians or the
persecutors of the people of God. But it will not be long before
the inhabitants of this Earth will realize that something
terrible has happened.
Daniel 12:1 says:
"And at that time shall Michael
stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of
thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble such as never
was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that
time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found
written in thy book."
Seven last
plagues
The 'four angels' of
Revelation chapter 7 now
let go the winds of strife and the world is thrown into a 'time of
trouble' the like of which has never been known
before. When the 'seven last plagues' begin to fall, the wicked
became so enraged against the people of God that they
determine to wipe them off the face of the earth. A
degree goes forth to slay them.
The time of
Jacob's trouble
We now enter what is
known as the 'time of Jacob's trouble'. Before the
Christian comes to this trying period, he must learn to have complete
trust in God. The darkening of the sun in
1780, the falling of the stars in 1833, will be nothing to
be compared with what will take place at this time.
Satan and his evil angels perform great signs and
wonders. We read about them in
2 Thessalonians 2:9: "Even
him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power
and signs and lying
wonders."
Satan's deceptions
Jesus spoke of this delusion, Satan's deceptions, and said it
would be so great that even the very elect could be deceived (Matthew 24:24)
There is a graphic description
of this remarkable happening in the book ‘The Great
Controversy.’ I would like you to notice with me this
passage:
"As the crowning act in the
great drama of deception, Satan himself will impersonate Christ.
The church has long professed to look to the Saviour’s advent
as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will
make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the
Earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being
of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of
God given by John in the Revelation. The glory that surrounds
him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld.
The shout of triumph rings out upon the air, ‘Christ has come’
‘Christ has come!’ The people prostrate themselves in adoration
before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a
blessing upon them, as Christ blessed his disciples when He was
upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of
melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the
same gracious, heavenly truths which the
Saviour
uttered; He heals the diseases of the people. This is the
strong, almost overmastering delusion."
But the people of God
will not be deceived, for the teachings of this false Christ do not harmonize with the
Scriptures. His blessings are
pronounced upon the worshippers of the 'beast' and his 'image', the very ones that God has warned about.
Just as the prophet Daniel indicated, the Christians
find themselves in the 'time of trouble such as never was…'
Death decree
A decree goes forth fixing the time when the
Commandment keepers may be put to death, but their enemies
try to take their lives before the official date. However
none are able to pass the mighty angel guards that
protect God’s people. Guns are aimed at them but they
misfire or are torn from the hands of the assailant and shattered to
pieces. Others are defended by angels in the form of men.
Voice of God
delivers
Instead of the 'death decree' being carried out the
'voice of God delivers'. Companies of armed men urged on by
the host of evil angels prepare to annihilate God’s people when suddenly a dense blackness deeper then
the darkness of night falls upon the earth. The people of God
hear a voice saying "look up", and lifting their eyes to
the heavens they see in a rift in the darkness the 'rainbow of
promise' shining with the glory from the throne of God that
encircles every praying company. Then as they lift their eyes
heavenwards they see the glory of God and the Son of Man seated
upon His throne.
It is at midnight that God
manifests his power for the deliverance of his people.
Suddenly the sun appears shining in its full strength.
Signs and wonders follow in quick succession. The
wicked look with terror upon the scene, while the people
of God behold with solemn joy the signs of their deliverance.
Tables of stones
And as they continue to gaze upward there appears against the
sky a hand holding 'two tables of stone' folded together.
Revelation 11:19 says:
"And the temple of God was opened
in heaven and there was seen in his temple the ark of His
testament: and there were lightnings and voices, and thunderings,
and an earthquake, and great hail."
The hand opens the tables revealing the
'Ten Commandments'. The words are so plain that
they can be easily read. However just before God reveals His law in the heavens the
graves are opened and all
who have died having faith in the 'third angels message' come
forth from the tomb. They have been glorified in order to
hear and see God’s 'covenant of peace' with those who have
honoured Him by
keeping His law.
In
Revelation 1:7, the prophet
John wrote about this time saying: "Behold. he cometh with clouds: and every
eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all
kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so,
Amen."
"They also which pieced Him…"
Those who wear most guilty in
Christ’s unjust trial and crucifixion, those who mocked and
derided Christ’s dying agonies, the most violent opposers of His
truth and His people:
They are raised to behold Him
in all His glory and to see the honour placed upon those who
have been loyal and obedient.
Announcing the
hour of Christ's return
Suddenly what at first seems like
thunder is recognized as a voice. It is actually the voice
of God himself announcing the hour of Christ’s
return.
Revelation 16:17 says:
"And the seventh angel poured out
his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the
temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, it is done."
This great voice is none other
than the voice of God. Testimonies V.1 p.184 says:
"Soon I
heard the voice of God which shook the heavens and the earth.
There was a mighty earthquake, buildings were shaken down and
fell on every side.
It is when this voice sounds that God’s
people are delivered and the time of Jacobs’s trouble is over.
Soon there appears in the east a small black cloud about the
size of a man's hand. It is the cloud which
surrounds the Saviour and seems in the distance to be shrouded
in darkness.
Sign of the Son of
man
The people of God know this to be the 'sign of the Son of man'. In a solemn silence they gaze upon it as it draws
nearer to the earth it becomes lighter and more glorious until
it is brilliant beyond description.
Revelation 19:11 says: "And I saw
heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him
was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth
judge and make war.
Verse 14 says:
"And the armies which were in
heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen,
white and clean."
The armies of Heaven follow
Him. The holy angels, a vast unnumbered throng accompany the Saviour.
As the living cloud comes nearer every eye beholds the Prince of
Life.
Verse 16 says:
"And He hath on His vesture and on
His thigh a name written King of King’s and Lord of Lord’s."
The King of King’s descends
upon the cloud wrapped in flaming fire. The heavens are rolled
together as a scroll, the earth trembles before Him, every
Island is moved out of its place. To those who mocked Christ in
His humiliation come to their minds the words of the Saviour,
found in
Matthew 26:64:
"…Hereafter shall ye see the
son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the
clouds of heaven."
How tragic it will be for those
who have rejected the Christ, who have spurned the offer of
Salvation. But what a day of rejoicing to God’s people, for then
will come to pass what is written in
Isaiah 25:9:
"…Lo, this is our God: we have
waited for him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have
waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his Salvation."
How will it be for
you?
What will it be? When the King
of King’s comes to gather His jewels, will you be among those who
have honoured God by keeping His commandments? There will only
be two classes on that day: those who have accepted Christ and
those who have rejected Him; those who have honoured Christ, and
those who have honoured the Beast. When the King comes in
brother, when the king comes in, how will it fare with thee and
me? When the King comes in? That is the question each one of us
will have to face. It is the decision you make today that will
decide where you stand on that great day. May our decision
enable us to join those who will stand with Christ on that day.
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