The Angel of Revelation 18 and the
Message of 1888
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THE ANGEL OF REVELATION 18 AND THE MESSAGE OF
1888"And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory." Rev. 18:1. For the finishing of His work on earth, God gave us three messages (Rev. 14) by which we are to be prepared to stand in the great day of the Lord. They are the present truth for today. The way we treat these messages determines our position before God and decides our destiny either for salvation or perdition. "The true understanding of these messages is of vital importance. The destiny of souls hangs upon the manner in which they are received." EW 258, 259. Revelation 14 is evidently a life or death question in which the great deceiver takes special interest. As a matter of fact, he is doing his best to weaken our grasp of the present truth. "Satan is constantly seeking to cast a shadow about these messages, so that the people of God shall not clearly discern their import, their time and place." 6T 18. And, unfortunately, he has had much success among the professed people of God. I-WHY THE ANGEL OF REVELATION 18 MUST COME "Satan has devised a state of things whereby the proclamation of the third angel's message shall be bound about. We must beware of his plans and methods. There must be no toning down of the truth, no muffling of the message for this time. The third angel's message must be strengthened and confirmed. The eighteenth chapter of Revelation reveals the importance of presenting the truth in no measured terms but with boldness and power.... There has been too much beating about the bush in the proclamation of the third angel's message. The message has not been given as clearly and distinctly as it should have been." Ev 230. "The third angel's message is to be given with power. The power of the proclamation of the first and second messages is to be intensified in the third. In the Revelation John says of the heavenly messenger who unites with the third angel: 'I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice.' Rev. 18:1, 2. We are in danger of giving the third angel's message in so indefinite a manner that it does not impress the people. So many other interests are brought in that the very message which should be proclaimed with power becomes tame and voiceless." 6T 60. "As foretold in the eighteenth of Revelation, the third angel's message is to be proclaimed with great power by those who give the final warning against the beast and his image: [Rev. 18:1-6 quoted]. This is the message given by God to be sounded forth in the loud cry of the third angel.... It is a solemn and terrible truth that many who have been zealous in proclaiming the third angel's message are now becoming listless and indifferent! The line of demarcation between worldlings and many professed Christians is almost indistinguishable. Many who once were earnest Adventists are conforming to the world to its practices, its customs, its selfishness. Instead of leading the world to render obedience to God's law, the church is uniting more and more closely with the world in transgression. Daily the church is becoming converted to the world." 8T 118, 119. According to E. G. White, the angel of Revelation 18 would bring the needed reinforcement: "I saw another mighty angel commissioned to descend to the earth, to unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his message." EW 277. "Satan has laid every measure possible that nothing shall come among us as a people to reprove and rebuke us, and exhort us to put away our errors. But there is a people who will bear the ark of God.... They will proclaim the word of the Lord; they will lift up their voice like a trumpet. The truth will not be diminished or lose its power in their hands. They will show the people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins." TM 411. II-MINNEAPOLIS, THE TURNING POINT 1888 marked a critical period
for the 1. The Beginning of the Light (1888) The servant of the Lord wrote: "I know that a work must be done for the people, or many will not be prepared to receive the light of the angel sent down from heaven to lighten the whole earth with his glory." TM 468, 469. "The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth." 1SM 363. "The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God." TM 91, 92. 2. Only a Few Can See the Light "We are living in the last days, and the generation that is to witness the final destruction has not been left without warning of the hastening judgments of God. Says the apostle, [Rev. 18:1-5 quoted]. The whole earth is to be lightened with the glory of this message, and hearts and minds will be prepared by its reception, for the coming of the King of kings. But this gracious message will be as generally rejected by the professed Christian world, as was the message of the Messiah by the Jewish nation. Only a few will receive the testimony of truth, for every influence that Satan can bring to bear against the reception of the truth of God will be employed.... The question of most vital importance for this time is, 'Who is on the Lord's side? Who will unite with the angel [of Revelation 18] in giving the message of truth to the world? Who will receive the light that is to fill the whole earth with its glory?' Those who cherish the light that they have, will receive more. Increasing light will shine about the souls who yield to the softening, subduing grace of Christ; and those who love the light, will be saved from the delusions of Satan." RH Nov. 5, 1889.
Commentary by Ron Beaulieu: Notice the emboldened words in the above statement: "But this gracious message will be as generally rejected by the professed Christian world, as was the message of the Messiah by the Jewish nation."
It is contended by the SDA church nowadays that it teaches the true 1888 rendition (meaning) of righteousness by faith. That is a lie. Proof that it is a lie is in the fact that the SDA church's present
day teaching of the meaning of righteousness by faith is NOT generally REJECTED by professing, mainstream Christianity, but is the same "cheap grace" teaching they imbibe. What is generally
rejected by the Christian world, is the interpretation of righteousness by faith that teaches we can overcome by faith in the righteousness of Christ's ability to overcome all sin by faith in the Holy Spirit's empowerment to overcome all evil and sin in the life this side of glorification. That is the interpretation of Righteousness by faith that is rejected by the professed Christian world. End note.
"For nearly two years we have
been urging the people to come up and accept the light and the truth
concerning the righteousness of Christ, and they do not know whether to
come and take hold of this precious truth or not.... They do not let the
Saviour in." RH March 11, 1890. "O how few
know the day of their visitation! . . . How few there are who are
truly humble, devoted, God-fearing servants.... 'Today there are few who are
heartily serving God. The most of those who compose our congregations are
spiritually dead in trespasses and sins.... They are less and less
sensible of the preciousness and value of truth, because they neglect the
practice of those things which are pleasing in the sight of God. The
stirring testimonies of reproof and warning do not arouse them. The
sweetest melodies that come from God through human lips-justification by
faith, and the righteousness of Christ-do not bring forth from them a
response of love and gratitude. Though the heavenly merchantman displays
before them the richest jewels of faith and love, though his voice invites
them to buy of him 'gold tried in the fire,' and 'white raiment that they
may be clothed,' and 'eye-salve that they may see,' they steel their
hearts against him, and fail to exchange their lukewarmness for love and zeal; but fold their hands
in complacency, make a profession, but deny the power of true godliness.
If they continue in this state, God will reject them with abhorrence. To
praise the world and God at the same time, is in
no way acceptable to God. Awake, awake, before it is
everlastingly too late." RH April 4, 1893.
Commentary by Ron Beaulieu: A prime reason why "...most of those who compose our congregations are spiritually dead in trespesses and sins..." is because they are taught that all they need
do is believe; that doing the works of Christ is not necessary for salvation. Thus, they do not feel the need to heed the Laodicean message. Some SDAs teach that Ellen White changed her mind concerning the requisites for salvation after 1888. The above statement, dated 1893, proves that she still regarded being dead in trespasses and sins as a deterrent to being in a condition to be saved. Also, praising the fallen churches, as the SDA church does, is the same as praising the world, because Ellen White said that no distinction is apparent between those churches and the and the world, Early Writings, p. 273. End note.
3. There Is a Time
Limit The counsel of the Faithful and True Witness to "The message given us by A.T.
Jones and E.J. Waggoner is the message of God to the Laodicean church, and woe be
unto anyone who professes to believe the truth, and yet does not reflect
to others the God-given rays." MS 24, 1892.
"There is yet a chance to
remedy their state [those who are lukewarm], and the Laodicean message is full of encouragement; for the
backslidden church may yet buy the gold of faith and love, may yet have
the white robe of the righteousness of Christ, that the shame of their
nakedness need not appear." RH Aug. 28, 1894. "Brethren, your own lamps will
surely flicker and grow dim until they go out in darkness unless you make
decided efforts to reform. 'Remember therefore
from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works.' The
opportunity now presented may be short. If this season of grace and
repentance passes unimproved, the warning is given: 'I will come unto thee
quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place.' . . . But His
Spirit will not always strive. His patience will wait but little longer"
5T 612 (1889).
Note by Ron Beaulieu: A continum of sinning is not commensurate with repenting and doing the first works. End note.
"It is not God that puts the
blinder before the eyes of men or makes their hearts hard; it is the light
which God sends to His people, to correct their errors, to lead them in
safe paths, but which they refuse to accept-it is this that blinds their
minds and hardens their hearts. They choose to turn from the light, to
stubbornly walk in sparks of their own kindling, and the Lord positively
declares that they shall lie down in sorrow. When one ray of light which
the Lord sends is not acknowledged, there is a partial benumbing of the
spiritual perceptions, and the second revealing of light is less clearly
discerned, and so the darkness will constantly increase until it is night
to the soul. Christ said, 'How great is that darkness!'. . . "May the Lord forbid that the
history of the children of "The Lord has seen our
backslidings, and He has a controversy with His people.... The displeasure
of the Lord is against His people. In their present condition it is
impossible for them to represent the character of Christ.... They have
refused to receive the message; they have refused to come to the light,
lest their deeds should be reproved.... The time will come when it must be
said of the impenitent, 'Ephraim is joined to his idols; let him alone.'
Will the church see where she has fallen? . . . When the members of the
church humble themselves before God by zealous, not half-hearted, lifeless
action, the Lord will receive them. But He declares, 'I will come unto
thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except
thou repent.' How long shall this warning be resisted?-The church is like
the unproductive tree . . . on which the divine search discovers nothing
but leaves. Solemn thought for our churches! solemn, indeed, for every individual! Marvelous is the
patience and forbearance of God; but 'except thou repent,' it will be
exhausted; the churches, our institutions, will go from weakness to
weakness, from cold formality to deadness, while they are saying, 'I am
rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.'" RH (EXTRA),
Dec. 23, 1890. "'Remember therefore from
whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will
come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place,
except thou repent.' What effect have these words had upon the church?
Have the professed people of God understood the import of the words, 'I
will come unto thee quickly [when you are at ease, careless, filled with
spiritual negligence], and will remove thy candlestick out of his place,
except thou repent.' When warnings come no more to the people of God, when
tender admonitions from the Spirit of God are silent, when the candle of
heavenly illumination shines no longer upon their pathway, they will be
left to kindle their own fire, and to walk in the sparks of their own
kindling." RH April 4, 1893. (The words in brackets appear in the
original.) From the foregoing quotations
we see that the presentation of Christ and His righteousness led the
church to the place where she was given: (1) a short time to decide her destiny,
(a) a genuine revival
and reformation or If the church accepted the
special help sent to her, it would not be too late for her to avert the
impending denominational disaster. But if she failed to improve the
opportunity given her for revival and reformation, the removal of her
candlestick would be marked by the cessation of God's warnings and
admonitions. III-THE CHURCH DECIDES HER
DESTINY It is not generally known
among Adventists that "the message of the other angel" was rejected.
1. The Message
Rejected-- Sister White wrote:
"Now our meeting is drawing to a close and not one confession has
been made, there has not been a single break so as to let the Spirit of
God in. Now I was saying, What was the use of our
assembling here together and for our ministering brethren to come in if
they are here only to shut out the Spirit of God from the people? . . . If
the ministers will not receive the light, I want to give the people a
chance; perhaps they may receive it." MS 9, 1888.
"If you wait for light to come
in a way that will please every one, you will wait in vain. If you wait
for louder calls or better opportunities, the light will be withdrawn, and
you will be left in darkness. Grasp every ray of light that God sends.
Men who neglect to heed the calls of the Spirit
and word of God, because obedience involves a cross, will lose their
souls." RH Dec. 18, 1888. "I have tried to present the
message to you as I have understood it, but how long will those at the
head of the work keep themselves aloof from the message of God?" RH March
18, 1890. "If they have not recognized
the Spirit of the Lord in the messages I have borne they will recognize it
less now, for I have not strength to contend with the spirit, and
resistance, doubts and unbelief which have barricaded their souls, that
they could not see when good cometh. I have far greater liberty in
speaking to unbelievers. They are interested. They feel impressed by the
Spirit of God, and say it seems those words are spoken under the
inspiration of the Spirit of God. "O, it is the hardest place in
the world, to speak where great light has come to men in responsible
positions. They have been enlightened, but have chosen darkness rather
than light...." Letter 32w, 1890. "The same spirit that actuated
the rejectors of Christ, rankles in their hearts, and had they lived in
the days of Christ, they would have acted toward Him in a manner similar
to that of the godless and unbelieving Jews." Testimonies to R & H Office, pp. 16, 17.
"I can never forget the
experience which we had in Minneapolis, or the things which were then
revealed to me in regard to the spirit that controlled men, the words
spoken, the actions done in obedience to the powers of evil.... They were
moved at the meeting by another spirit." Letter 24s,
1892. "An unwillingness to yield up
preconceived opinions, and to accept this truth, lay at the foundation of
a large share of the opposition manifested at "If Satan can impress the mind
and stir up the passions of those who claim to believe the truth, and thus
lead them to unite with the forces of evil, he is well pleased. If once he
can get them to commit themselves to the wrong side, he has laid his plans
to lead them on a long journey.... "I wish to plead with our
brethren who shall assemble at the General Conference to heed the message
given to the Laodiceans. What a condition of
blindness is theirs; this subject [the message of 1888] has been brought
to your notice again and again; but your dissatisfaction with your
spiritual condition has not been deep and painful enough to work a reform.
'Thou sayest I am rich and increased with goods,
and have need of nothing; and knowest not that
thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.' The
guilt of self-deception is upon our churches." Letter to O.A. Olsen, Sept.
1, 1892, O.19, d'92. "I saw that Jones and Waggoner
had their counterpart in Joshua and Caleb. As the children of
Commentary by Ron Beaulieu: Forty years added to 1888 reaches to 1928. What great reform occurred at that time? None! What great reform has occurred since that time? None! But great apostasy began in the early 1930s, by accepting the world's Accreditation Standards for SDA educational institutions, and accepting the central doctrine of Rome, the Trinity Doctrine. End note.
"Our own people opposed the
work of God by refusing the light of truth on the righteousness of Christ
by faith. This they should have received and reechoed with heart and voice
and pen. But when light has come to those at the center of the work, they
have not known how to treat it." TM 401, 402
(1897). "We should be the last people
on earth to indulge in the slightest degree the spirit of persecution
against those who are bearing the message of God to the world. This is the
most terrible feature of unchristlikeness that
has manifested itself among us since the "The sin committed in what
took place at 2. The Messenger
Rejected. The rejection of the message implies the rejection of the
messenger-the angel of Revelation 18. The angel of Revelation 18
symbolizes a movement. The servant of the Lord refers to "the movement
symbolized by the angel coming down from heaven, lightening the earth with
his glory" (GC 604). In this movement, both divine and human agents take
an active part. In Revelation 18 it is actually the Holy Spirit that
lightens the earth with His glory (ChS 253). He
is also to seal the sighing and crying ones (3T 267) with the seal of the
living God.
Commentary by Ron Beaulieu: What is wrong with a people who cannot understand Ezekiel 9, when it says that only those who sigh and cry for ALL the abominations in the church (Jerusalem) are saved? What is wrong with people who think that the abominations in the church are not as bad as I say they are, when those abominations are what result in the church being destroyed in another literal fulfillment of Ezekiel 9? What is wrong with a people who think that there are no abominstions to sigh and cry about and that such sighing and crying is only being critical of the church? I can answer my own question: Such is the description of all who are without spiritual discernment and who have not heeded the counsel to Laodicea in God's message to her, Rev. 3. End note.
Literal angels certainly
participate in the sealing of the 144,000 (Heb. 1:13, 14; PK 591). And
consecrated human beings have their share, too, in the closing work.
"The angels are represented as
flying in the midst of heaven, proclaiming to the world a message of
warning, and having a direct bearing upon the people living in the last
days of this earth's history. No one hears the voice of these angels, for
they are a symbol to represent the people of God who are working in
harmony with the universe of heaven. Men and women, enlightened by the
Spirit of God and sanctified through the truth, proclaim the three
messages in their order." 2SM 387. So, if "the message of the
other angel" (1888) was rejected, this means that the men who brought the
message were rejected, the angels who attended these men were rejected,
and also the Holy Spirit that used these men was rejected. Sister White
wrote: "Now, just now, is our day of
mercy and salvation. The Lord God, who dwelleth
in the holy place, sees every soul that shows contempt for the
manifestations of His Holy Spirit. God has revealed himself again and
again in a most marked manner in "The heavenly messenger has
been repulsed by the determined will. 'Thus far
shalt thou go with my students, but no farther. We need no enthusiasm in our school, no
excitement. We are much better satisfied to work with the students
ourselves.' It is thus that despite has been done to God's gracious
messenger, the Holy Spirit. "Are not the teachers in our
schools in danger of blasphemy, of charging the Holy Spirit of God with
being a deceiving power, and leading into fanaticism? . . . A succession
of showers from the living waters has come to you at The faithful few, who at that
time accepted the message, were powerless to reform the church.
Nevertheless, 1888 marked the beginning of the prophesied movement of
revival and reformation, which was more fully revealed in another crisis,
when open apostasy brought a major separation. IV-UNAVOIDABLE CONSEQUENCES
It is a pity that the
Adventist people, with few exceptions, are not properly enlightened about
the turning point brought by "the message of Righteousness by Faith" in
1888. Official church publications have given very scanty and inadequate
information on the subject. Those who have read the Spirit of Prophecy
statements quoted before, must surely be disappointed when they find
inaccurate declarations made by the leadership today. For example: in the
book The Story of Our Church, pp. 246, 247, we read: "The rank and file of the
people attending the conference accepted the message joyously, but not
some of the leaders.... "After the 1888 conference,
unity gradually came; leaders who had opposed the movement toward a
deeper, more personal faith, accepted reproof from Mrs. White and
confessed their unhappy condition of mind after the conference....
"Though the Minneapolis
Conference seemed depressing and alarming, it turned out to be a great
victory for the church.... A new experience came to the leaders, and the
church made rapid progress in all branches of the work at home and abroad,
as there was a realization of the proper emphasis which must be given to
righteousness by faith." This rosy picture which the
leaders are now trying to present contradicts the true picture shown by
the servant of the Lord in the writings quoted before and in those
transcribed hereinafter. Sister White says: "The religion of Jesus is
endangered. It is being mingled with worldliness. Worldly policy is taking
the place of the true piety and wisdom that comes from above, and God will
remove His prospering hand from the conference. Shall the ark of the covenant be removed from this people? Shall
idols be smuggled in? Shall false principles and false precepts be brought
into the sanctuary? Shall antichrist be respected? Shall the true
doctrines and principles given us by God, which
have made us what we are, be ignored? . . . This is directly where the
enemy, through blinded, unconsecrated men, is leading us." MS 29, 1890. "Formality, worldly wisdom,
worldly caution, worldly policy, will appear to
many to be the very power of God, but when accepted, it stands as an
obstacle to prevent God's light in warnings, reproof, and counsel from
coming to the world.... "Satan will insinuate himself
by little wedges, that widen as they make a place for themselves. The
specious devices of Satan will be brought into the special work of God at
this time." MS 16, 1890. "The Lord will not leave His
church without reproofs and warnings. Sins have become fashionable; but
they are nonetheless aggravating in the sight of God. They are glossed
over, palliated, and excused; the right hand of fellowship is given to the
very men who are bringing in false theories and false sentiments,
confusing the mind[s] of the people of God, deadening their sensibilities as
to what constitutes right principles. Conscience has thus become
insensible to the counsels and the reproofs which have been given. The
light given, calling to repentance, has been extinguished in the clouds of
unbelief and opposition brought in by human plans and human inventions."
News Letter, Methods No. 1 (1897). "A new order of things has
come into the ministry. There is a desire to pattern after other churches,
and simplicity and humility are almost unknown. The young ministers seek
to be original, and to introduce new ideas and new plans for labor. Some
open revival meetings, and by this means call large numbers into the
church. But when the excitement is over, where are the converted ones?
Repentance and confession of sin are not seen. The sinner is entreated to
believe in Christ and accept Him without regard to his past life of sin
and rebellion. The heart is not broken. There is no contrition of soul.
The supposed converted ones have not fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus."
Undated MS, 111. 1. Unfaithful Leaders
Denounced
"The men who close their eyes to the divine light are ignorant,
deplorably ignorant, both of the Scriptures and of the power of God. The
Holy Spirit's working is not agreeable to them, and they attribute its
manifestations to fanaticism.... "Those who entertain and speak
this belief do not know what they are talking about. They are cherishing a
love of darkness; and just as long as these Christless souls are retained in positions of
responsibility the cause of God is imperiled. They are in danger of
fastening themselves so firmly with the dark leader of all rebellion that
they will never see light; and the longer they are retained the more
hopeless is their chance of receiving Christ or of having a knowledge of
the true God. How uncertain they make everything that is spiritual and
progressive in the truth! Under the influence of their leader they become
more and more determined to work against Christ." TM
284, 285 (1896). Ron's Commentary: Folk, please be cognizant of the dates of Ellen White's statements.
2. The Banner of Christ
Destroyed
"On many occasions the Holy Spirit did work; but those who
resisted the Spirit of God at 3. The Work Receives a New
Mold
"Men who are entrusted with weighty responsibilities, but who
have no living connection with God, have been and are doing despite to His
Holy Spirit. They are indulging the very same spirit as did Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and as did the Jews in the days of Christ....
"Jesus said, 'Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise
men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of
them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to
city.' This prophecy was literally fulfilled by the Jews in their
treatment of Christ and of the messengers whom God sent to them. Will men
in these last days follow the example of those whom Christ condemned?
"These terrible predictions
they have not as yet carried out to the full; but if God spares their
lives, and they nourish the same spirit that marked their course of action
both before and after the Minneapolis meeting, they will fill up to the
full the deeds of those whom Christ condemned when He was upon the
earth.... "They began this satanic work
at "Already has the power of
darkness placed its mold and superscription upon the work.... The Holy Spirit is wanting in our work." TM 277, 278 (1896). 4. Further
Developments
"The same work that has been done in the past, will be carried forward under the guise of the
General Conference Association. The sacred character of this association
is fast disappearing. What will then be respected as pure, holy, and
undefiled? Will there be any voice that God's people can regard as a voice
they can respect? There certainly is nothing now that bears the divine
credentials.... "To a large degree the General
Conference Association has lost its sacred character, because some
connected with it have not changed their sentiments in any particular
since the Conference held at "Who can now feel sure that
they are safe in respecting the voice of the General Conference
Association? If the people in our churches understood the management of
the men who walk in the light of the sparks of their own kindling, would
they respect their decisions? I answer, No, not for a moment. I have been
shown that the people at large do not know that the heart of the work is
being diseased and corrupted at "At the center of the work
matters are being shaped so that every other institution is following in
the same course. And the General Conference is itself becoming corrupted
with wrong sentiments and principles. In the working of plans, the same
principles are manifest that have controlled matters at "The church is in the Laodicean state. The presence of God is not in her
midst." News Letter, Education No. 6,1898) Also, Notebook Leaflets, p. 99, 1998..
"The heavenly Teacher
inquired: What stronger delusion can beguile the mind than the pretense
that you are building on the right foundation and that God accepts your
works, when in reality you are working out many things according to
worldly policy and are sinning against Jehovah? . . . "Who can truthfully say,
'Our gold is tried in the fire; our garments are
unspotted by the world'? I saw our Instructor pointing to the garments of
so-called righteousness. Stripping them off, He laid bare the defilement
beneath. Then He said to me: 'Can you not see how they have pretentiously
covered up their defilement and rottenness of character? 'How is the faithful city become an harlot!' My Father's
house is made a house of merchandise, a place whence the divine presence
and glory have departed! For this cause there is weakness, and strength is
lacking. "Unless the church, which is
now being leavened with her own backsliding, shall repent and be
converted, she will eat of the fruit of her own doing, until she shall
abhor herself." 8T 249, 250 (1903). "Making no attempt to reform,
they are growing worse and worse." 7T 62 (l902).
The development of this
condition (especially 8T 250) is one of the strongest evidences that the
message of 1888 (Rev. 18:1) was rejected by the leadership and the church.
In connection with this negative experience, the following warning becomes
very meaningful: "Where the message of divine
truth is spurned or slighted, there the church will be enshrouded in
darkness." GC 378. 5. Special Efforts Made in
Behalf of the Leaders
a) Appeal of 1901 (ignored)
"At the General Conference,
held in b) Appeal of 1903 (ignored)
"When the Battle Creek
Sanitarium was destroyed, Christ gave Himself to defend the lives of men
and women. In this destruction God was appealing to His people to return
to Him. And in the destruction of the Review and Herald Office, and the
saving of life, He makes a second appeal to them." 8T
102 (1903). "After I received word in
regard to the excellent meeting of confession and unity that had been held
in Battle Creek, I was writing in my diary, and was about to record the
thankfulness I felt because a change had come, when my hand was arrested
and there came to me the words: 'Write it not. No change for the better
has taken place "' 8T 231 (l903). c) Appeal of 1909 (ignored)
"During the General Conference
of 1909 a work should have been done in the hearts of those in attendance
that was not done. . . . But, though opportunities were given for
confession of sin, for heartfelt repentance, and for a decided
reformation, thorough work was not done." 2SM 400, 401
(1909). The sad experience of 1888 was
repeated during the following General Conference sessions also. The
renewed appeals made to the leadership were rejected again and again. No
genuine revival and reformation was witnessed among them. And the church
suffered the unavoidable consequences. V-HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
"The rejection of light leaves
men in darkness, so that they know not at what they stumble. The
invitation which the Jews refused, was sent to
the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind. The terrible denunciation
was pronounced that none of those who had refused the invitation should
taste of the marriage supper. They had listened to the suggestions of
Satan, and had made excuses, and under his leadership they would be left
in the darkness of unbelief. They entrenched themselves as did Pharaoh in
stubborn resistance against the Lord Jesus and His disciples; they chose
Barabbas instead of Christ. "The precious message has come
to us in these last days. Warnings and entreaties have sounded. The
invitation has been given, 'Come; for all things are now ready.' While it
is called today, harden not your hearts. Shall men and women whom God has
blessed with great light, permit themselves to be
led astray by the flattering lies of the enemy of their souls? . . . Shall
we not arouse, and shake off the dangerous lethargy of the world, which is
lulling us to sleep in the cradle of carnal security? . . . God's Spirit
will not always strive with man.... Will you imitate the Jews, who refused
the invitation?" RH Nov. 5, 1895. "By rejecting the light that
was shining upon them, by refusing to examine the evidence to see whether
the messages were from heaven, the Pharisees sinned against the Holy
Ghost.... "The Jews pursued their course
of rejecting Christ until, in their self-deceived, deluded state, they thought that in crucifying Him they were
doing God a service.... "In this our day the sin of
the Pharisees is being repeated. Many are turning from light, refusing to
listen to the warning of God's Spirit. But by closing the heart to divine
impressions, we put away the forgiveness which our Redeemer is so
graciously offering to us. By rejecting mercy and truth, we prepare for a
course of resistance which, if followed, will continue till we have no
power to do otherwise. A point is reached where the most pointed appeals
are without effect. The desire to submit to God and to do His will is no
longer felt. The spiritual senses become dulled. Darkness is the result,
and how great is that darkness! "The Holy Spirit strives with
every man. It is the voice of God speaking to the soul. But let that voice
be resisted, and we, like the Pharisees, shall stifle conviction and
resist evidence, however plain. God will give us up, and we shall be left
to our own inclinations." RH July 27, 1897. "Satan is working that the
history of the Jewish nation may be repeated in the experience of those
who claim to believe present truth." 2SM 111
(1896). "The Jewish people were
destroyed because they rejected the message of salvation sent down from
heaven. Shall those in this generation to whom God has given great light
and wonderful opportunities follow in the trend of those who rejected
light to their ruin?" 6T 146 (1900). VI-TWO PHASES
In the evidences produced so
far, two points have been emphasized: (1) the coming of the angel of
Revelation 18 (called the fourth angel) with a specific message of revival
and reformation in 1888 and (2) the way this vital message was treated on
that occasion and during the subsequent years. We will now consider the
two phases of the work of this angel. 1. First Phase-Preparation
The Spirit of Prophecy
establishes beyond the possibility of doubt the fact that the angel of
Revelation 18 began his work with the presentation of the message of
Christ's righteousness in 1888. In 1888, the fourth angel
(Rev. 18) represented the messengers who: (1) brought the diagnosis made
by the Great Physician (Isa. 58:1; Rev. 3:14-17)
and (2) offered the only remedy prescribed for the badly needed treatment
(Rev. 3:18). He came with a message of revival and reformation to prepare
a people for the receiving of the latter rain. Sister White wrote:
"In every meeting since the
General Conference, souls have eagerly accepted the precious message of
the righteousness of Christ. We thank God that there are souls who realize
that they are in need of something which they do not possess-gold of faith
and love, white raiment of Christ's righteousness, eyesalve of spiritual discernment." COR 45.
"God has raised up men to meet the necessity of this time who
will 'cry aloud and spare not,' who will lift up their 'voice like a
trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob
their sins.' Their work is not only to proclaim the law, but to preach the
truth for this time, the Lord our righteousness." COR 47, 48. "The time of test is just upon
us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the
revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer.
This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the
whole earth." 1SM 363. "The question of most vital
importance for this time is, 'Who is on the Lord's side? Who will unite
with the angel [of Rev. 18] in giving the message of truth to the world?
Who will receive the light that is to fill the whole earth with its
glory?'" RH Nov. 5, 1889. "Mystic "All who are laborers together
with God . . . will not be turned from the present message, which is
already lightening the earth with its glory." 2SM
114. "If we would receive the light
of the glorious angel that shall lighten the earth with his glory, let us
see to it that our hearts are cleansed, emptied of self, and turned toward
heaven, that they may be ready for the latter rain. Let us be obtaining a
fitting up to join in the proclamation of the angel who shall lighten the
earth with his glory." ST Aug. 1, 1892. Commentary by Ron: Cleansed hearts imply cleansed from sin. That was Ellen White's concept of Righteousness by Faith before and after 1888.
"The prophet declares, 'And after these things I saw another angel come down
from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his
glory.' Brightness, glory, and power are to be connected with the third
angel's message, and conviction will follow wherever it is preached in
demonstration of the Spirit. How will any of our brethren know when this
light shall come to the people of God? As yet, we certainly have not seen
the light that answers to this description. God has light for His people,
and all who will accept it will see the sinfulness of remaining in a
lukewarm condition; they will heed the counsel of the True Witness when He
says, 'Be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and
knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him,
and will sup with him, and he with me.' The Church is represented as
standing in a self-satisfied, pleased, proud, independent position,
ignorant of her destitution and wretchedness.... "The gold that Jesus would
have us buy of Him is gold tried in the fire; it is the gold of faith and
love, that has no defiling substance mingled with
it. The white raiment is the righteousness of Christ, the wedding garment
which Christ alone can give. The eyesalve is the
true spiritual discernment that is so wanting among us, for spiritual
things must be spiritually discerned. "To our brethren who are
standing in this self-confident, self-satisfied position, who talk and act
as if there was no need of more light, we want to say that the Laodicean message is applicable to you." RH April 1, 1890 [emphasis supplied]. According to these statements,
the angel of Revelation 18:1 must first do an internal work of revival and
reformation among church members before he can give the loud cry under the
power of the latter rain (Rev. 18:2-4). The servant of the Lord says
that the work of this other angel began in 1888 (1SM 363), when the first
rays of his light appeared, strengthening the "third angel's message in
verity." From its small beginning, this light is to grow until it reaches
a climax: "The message loses none of its
force in the angel's onward flight, for John sees it increasing in
strength and power until the whole earth is lightened with its glory. The
course of God's commandment-keeping people is onward, ever onward. The
message of truth that we bear must go to nations, tongues, and people.
Soon it will go with a loud voice, and the earth will be lightened with
its glory." 5T 383. "The angel [of Rev. 18:1] who unites in the proclamation of the third
angel's message, is to lighten the whole earth with his glory." GC 611.
The idea that the prophesied
reformation must begin with the miraculous healing of the sick and other
signs and wonders, under the latter rain, is a false interpretation of 9T
126, which refers to the climax, not the beginning, of the reformatory
movement. We are warned: "Many who refuse the message
which the Lord sends them are seeking to find pegs on which to hang
doubts, to find some excuse for rejecting the light of heaven. In the face
of clear evidence they say, as did the Jews, 'Show us a miracle, and we
will believe. If these messengers have the truth, why do they not heal the
sick?'. . . "Could their eyes be opened,
they would see evil angels exulting around them and triumphing in their
power to deceive them. The day is just before us when Satan will answer
the demand of these doubters and present numerous miracles to confirm the
faith of all those who are seeking this kind of evidence. How terrible
will be the situation of those who close their eyes to the light of truth
and ask for miracles to establish them in deception!" Ev
594. "There must be a reformation
throughout our ranks; the people must reach a higher standard before we
can expect the power of God to be manifested in a marked manner for the
healing of the sick." MM 16. "The great reformatory
movement must begin in presenting to fathers and mothers and children the
principles of the law of God." 6T 119 (1900).
The evidences presented before
make it clear that the first purpose of the coming of the angel of
Revelation 18 is to give power to the third angel's message, which grew
weak in the hands of those first entrusted with it (Ev 230; 6T 60; 8T 118, 119; EW 277; TM 411). Only as
the third message is strengthened by the other angel can it swell to a
loud cry according to several Spirit of Prophecy statements. There can be no mistake in
what God has revealed through Sister White. Yet some try to give the
impression that they know better than the Spirit of Prophecy. They explain
Revelation 18:1 saying that the other angel has not come as yet, but when
he comes, they assert, he will lighten the whole earth directly with the
fullness of his glory. These brethren are evidently advocating, contrary
to a Thus Saith the Lord,
that the message will grow even without the only help that the Lord
has provided to make its growth possible. And this mistaken belief creates
yet another inconsistency: If the message could steadily increase in
strength and power, so that it would come to a climax by itself,
completely unaided by the fourth angel, then it stands to reason that the
coming of the fourth angel at the end would serve no purpose. Sometimes we
wonder why, for the sake of consistency, these professed believers do not
explain Revelation 14:9 in exactly the same way. They have never told us
why the "loud voice," with which the third angel comes, was not heard in
1844. As can be seen, error is inconsistent with its own conclusions.
2. Second Phase-Latter
Rain
In 1888, when the angel of Revelation 18 came, he represented
those who actually accepted his message. From the beginning to the end of
his mission, he identifies himself only with the true Adventists. In the
prophesied shaking, therefore, we find him, not with the apostatized
majority, but with the faithful minority. Prophecy says: "As the storm approaches,
a large class who have professed faith in the
third angel's message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to
the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By
uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view
matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are
prepared to choose the easy, popular side.... They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren." GC 608. Ron's Commentary: And what is the "easy, popular side?" Is it not the cheap grace belief that all one must do to be saved is believe; that commandment keeping by the empowering grace of the Holy Spirit is not necessary? This is the New Theology of the New Movement Seventh-day Adventist Church. End note.
"But [at this time] God still
has a people in "In this time of persecution
the faith of the Lord's servants [the 'former brethren' identified with
the 'movement' of Revelation 18] will be tried. They have faithfully given
the warning, looking to God and to His word alone." GC
608. To sound the loud cry, as can
be seen, becomes the responsibility of a small, faithful"remnant" which is clearly distinguished from
the unreformed mother "church" (5T 211, 213, 524). Of these faithful few,
who have been called to "bear the ark of God," it is written that "the
truth will not be diminished or lose its power in their hands." This small
"company" of "former brethren," journeying along the narrowing road (2T
594, 595), must first show the professed people of God their
transgressions "and the house of Jacob their sins" (TM 411). The giving of
the final warning, the loud cry, is the last part of their work. The
Spirit of Prophecy describes this event as follows: "The messengers of Heaven are
to be seen running to and fro, seeking in every possible way to warn the
people of the coming judgments, and presenting the glad tidings of
salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. The standard of righteousness is
to be exalted. The Spirit of God is moving upon men's hearts, and those
who respond to its influence will become lights in the world. Everywhere
they are seen going forth to communicate to others the light they have
received as they did after the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of
Pentecost. And as they let their light shine, they receive more and more
of the Spirit's power. The earth is lighted with the glory of God.
"But, O, sad picture! . . . He
will take His Holy Spirit from the church, and give it to others who will
appreciate it. "There is no greater evidence
that those who have received great light do not appreciate that light,
than is given by their refusal to let their light shine upon those who are
in darkness, and devoting their time and energies in celebrating forms and
ceremonies. Thoughts of the inner work, the necessary purity of heart, are
not entertained. The absence of harmony with God becomes apparent. The
light grows dim, goes out; the candlestick has been removed." RH July 16,
1895. "At the time of the loud cry
of the third angel those who have been in any measure blinded by the
enemy, who have not fully recovered themselves from the snare of Satan,
will be in peril, because it will be difficult for them to discern the
light from heaven, and they will be inclined to accept falsehood. Their
erroneous experience will color their thoughts, their decisions, their
propositions, their counsels. The evidences that
God has given will be no evidence to those who have blinded their eyes by
choosing darkness rather than light. After rejecting light, they will
originate theories which they will call 'light,' but which the Lord calls,
'Sparks of their own kindling, by which they will direct their steps." RH
Dec. 13, 1892. "The cause of Christ will be
betrayed. Those who have had the light of truth, and have enjoyed its
blessings, but who have turned away from it, will fight down the Spirit of
God. Inspired with a spirit from beneath, they will tear down that which
they once built up, and show to all reasonable, God-fearing souls that
they cannot be trusted. They may lay claim to truth and righteousness, but
their spirit and works will testify that they are betrayers of their Lord.
The attributes of Satan they call the movings of
the Holy Spirit." RH May 24, 1898. "There is to be in the
churches a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but it will not
move upon those who have not humbled themselves before the Lord, and
opened the door of the heart by confession and repentance. In the
manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of
God, they will see only something which in their blindness they think
dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace
themselves to resist it. Because the Lord does not work according to their
ideas and expectations, they will oppose the work. 'Why,' they say,
'should not we know the Spirit of God, when we have been in the work so
many years?' Because they did not respond to the warnings, the entreaties
of the messages of God, but persistently said, 'I am rich, and increased
with goods, and have need of nothing.' "RH Dec. 23, 1890. VII-THE OTHER ANGEL AND THE
SHAKING The statement in GC 608, which
points to a separation in the This faithful remnant company
unites with the third angel like the third angel united with the second
angel in 1844. And how did the third angel join the second angel? When the
third angel came in 1844, the truth which he brought was rejected by the
First Day Adventists (including William Miller and other leaders of the
Advent Movement) who had so far been represented by the first and second
angels. As this group of Millerite believers
refused the light of the third angel, they ceased to be represented by the
first and second angels. From that time on the representation of the first
and second angels has continued in the hands of those Adventists who have
heartily accepted the message of the third angel. It was through these
faithful believers, who turned away from their former associates and
became the pioneers of the There is a parallel between
the joining in of the third angel and the coming of the fourth angel (Rev.
18). History is being repeated. The unreformed SDA mother church, who will
receive, not the latter rain but the wrath of God (5T 211), ceases to be
represented by the first, second, and third angels when the presence of
God is withdrawn from them as a church (5T 210). Evidently, a church that
eventually becomes a "cage of every unclean and hateful bird" (TM 265) can
no longer be represented by the three angels of God. These represent the
faithful remnant company of former brethren (GC 608). It is in this
company that the fourth angel must now add power and glory to the third
angel's message, until they, as "the movement symbolized by the angel" of
Revelation 18, are prepared to give the loud cry. As SDA reformers, we hope that
if we remain faithful, we will take part in this victorious experience,
which is a challenge to all true Adventists. It is our conviction that the
SDA Reform Movement with its stand for present truth fits into the
prophetic picture pertaining to the faithful remnant company. (For details
see Study No. 2, The Church and the Remnant.) Evidences show
that, in the providence of God, this Movement was called into existence to
carry on an important work in the light of Revelation 3:18-20 and
Revelation 18:1. During the days of Christ's
earthly ministry there was much discussion among the Jews as to the
identification of the prophesied Elijah, who was to come. Even the
disciples were confused by the Pharisees, who maintained that Jesus could
not be the Messiah, because according to Malachi 4, "Elias must first
come." What a startling revelation it must have been to them to learn
"that Elias is come already, and they knew him not" (Matt. 17:12). This
explanation was readily accepted by those who recognized John the Baptist
as God's messenger. Jesus said: "And if ye will receive it, this is Elias,
which was for to come." Matt. 11:14. We would
leave the same proposition with the reader of this booklet concerning that
"other angel." All agree that he is to come, but not all will recognize
that he "is come already, and they knew him not." The problem with the Laodicean believers is that, because of their
spiritual blindness (Rev. 3:17), they fail to discern the difference
between right and wrong, truth and error. "Woe unto them that call evil~good, and good evil; that put darkness for light,
and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
Isa. 5:20. Only the eyesalve offered in the Laodicean message can give us the needed spiritual
discernment to see light in God's light. At this stage some of our
readers may say, "All this is new to us. We have never been taught these
things." As a matter of fact, not too many Adventists know the truth about
the angel of Revelation 18 and the message of 1888. Therefore, multitudes
will not be in a position to see the light. 'When light goes forth to
lighten the earth, instead of coming up to the help of the Lord, they will
want to bind about His work to meet their narrow ideas. Let me tell you
that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the
common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human
planning. There will be those among us who will always want to control the
work of God, to dictate even what movements shall be made when the work
goes forward under the direction of the angel [of Rev. 18:1] who joins the
third angel in the message to be given to the world." TM
300. Compiled by the |