We do not concentrate so much on what the various current governments will do, for they will do what Rome tells them to do. Rome will demand that all on earth will be their kind of Christians. That includes all, atheists, pagans, muslims, all . . . Unless you learned to trust in God and how He revealed Himself in the Scriptures, you will become a puppet of Rome. However, we rather focus on those things which have eternal consequences, forsaking the love of God demonstrated by the salvation He made possible leads down the wrong path. God's word warns us not to accept the Mark of the Beast or its name. Do not compromise the Law of God, but be faithful to God to the end, do not follow the false doctrines presented by those acceding to the beast power, do not become part of the persecutors, do not to do anything that is condemned in the Bible as sinful in order not to die the second death.

"God will arouse His people; if other means fail, heresies will come in among them, which will sift them, separating the chaff from the wheat." Testimonies, vol. 5, 707. More on the sifting process!

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." Exodus 20:8-11

1) a great period of the presentation of the gospel, preaching of the First Angels Message [See below], in all the world.
2) accompanied by a great period of the grace of God upon His people everywhere

The `First Angels Message' is found in Revelation 14:6-7 and quotes from the law which is being changed. [See in red below][210]

"And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O Lord, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the Lord thy God, and worship before the Lord thy God..." Deuteronomy 26:10

"For I think that God has set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." 1.Cor. 4:9.

Before presenting the judgment, the gospel must be championed. For Christians today it is important that we keep our attention on the reason for our faith; that we look outside of us to Christ, not inside of ourselves, for saving grace. Looking upon Jesus the righteous one we know that only through His righteousness can we have life. In the light of divine revelation, through the atoning Sacrifice, we may see the glorious plan of redemption whereby our sins are pardoned (Jer. 31:34), and we drawn near to the heart of infinite love. We see how God can retain all his justice, and yet pardon the transgressor of his law. And we are not simply forgiven, but we are accepted of God through the Beloved. The plan of redemption is not merely a way of escape from the penalty of transgression, but through it the sinner is forgiven his sins, and will be finally received into heaven,--not as a forgiven culprit pardoned and released from captivity, yet looked upon with suspicion and not admitted to friendship and trust; but welcomed as a child, and taken back into fullest confidence, 1.Tim. 1:15. The sacrifice of our Saviour has made ample provision for every repenting, believing soul. We are saved because God loves the purchase of the blood of Christ; and not only will he pardon the repentant sinner, not only will he permit him to enter heaven, but he, the Father of mercies, will wait at the very gates of heaven to welcome us, to give us an abundant entrance to the mansions of the blest. Oh what love, what wondrous love the Father has shown in the gift of his beloved Son for this fallen race! And this Sacrifice is a channel for the outflow of his infinite love, that all who believe on Jesus Christ may, like the prodigal son, receive full and free restoration to the favor of Heaven. {RH, September 21, 1886 par. 12} We read, "Those who are so gloomy and desponding, gathering clouds of darkness about them, would find strength and encouragement if they would spend one hour of each day in searching the Scriptures for these precious promises, gathering and treasuring them like precious pearls (Mt. 13:46). Let them dwell especially upon the mercy of God (Ps. 52:8) and his willingness to forgive sins (Ps. 103:3). Many who have all their lives walked under a cloud, would be filled with amazement as they view the channels overflowing with mercies instead of dark clouds heavy with wrath and denunciations." {Matth. 28:20; RH, September 21, 1886 par. 7}

"... The sacrifice of our Saviour has made ample provision for every repenting, believing soul. We are saved because God loves the purchase of the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28); and not only will he pardon the repentant sinner, not only will he permit him to enter heaven, but he, the Father of mercies, will wait at the very gates of heaven to welcome us, to give us an abundant entrance to the mansions of the blest (Lk. 15:20). . . . Oh what love, what wondrous love the Father has shown in the gift of his beloved Son for this fallen race!" {RH, September 21, 1886 par. 12}

That is why the Bible says this,

"For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." Colossians 1:19-20.

You see here that things must be reconciled not only on earth but also those in heaven. Sin is a universal `mess' or problem. Any remaining doubts in the minds of angels must be cleared up. The devil had used very powerful arguments against the government of God. That is why he succeeded in seducing one in three angels to follow him, Rev. 12:4. For Satan, Lucifer, was once the covering angel before the throne of God, Eze. 28:12-19. The wicked, Baal worshipping king of Tyre is used as a role player for Lucifer.

Multitude of Trafficking

Lucifer succeeded in his wicked plan by "... the multitude of thy merchandise ... the multitude of thy traffick ..." v. 16,18.

Satan is trying to get his agents in legislative positions to pass many thousands of laws, a multitude - like the Jews did in Christ's day (Lk. 11:42; Gal. 1:14) - so that people will be confused and will obey what is practiced instead of what is "written" so they won't get a ticket by the police. That is what we see today. Evil powers continually sow confusion as to a) the meaning of the law, b) how to obey it, c) which of our nation's laws are in harmony with God's law and which not, d) to help accomplish that they work trickily to replace "written" law of God with `practiced' customs of society.

Satan was a slanderer, a tale bearer, Lev. 22:9 (Hebr). He sold his lies to the angels. They were deceived by his lies about God.

In order to find a solution, which can resolve the sin problem, there must be a court procedure, a universal judgment, - and this judgment is not a day long affair or event but a lengthy process. Records kept in heaven must be examined. All those written in the Book of Life, must be processed in that judgment. We should know that this judgment comes in three stages.

Where is such a judgment taught? One more direct way is here briefly presented followed a little later by a more widely documented outline. We read,

"Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after." 1 Tim. 5:24.

Who are those men whose "sins are open beforehand?" They must be those written in the Book of Life, Rev. 3:5.[252]

The work of the investigative judgment and the blotting out of sins (Acts 3:19) is to be accomplished before the second advent of the Lord (1.Peter 4:6). Therefore the investigative phase of this judgment is separate from the final judgment. Since the dead are to be judged out of the things written in the books (Rev. 20:12), it is impossible that the sins of men should be blotted out until after the judgment at which their cases are to be investigated. . . . When the investigative judgment closes, Christ will come, and His reward will be with Him to give to every man as his work shall be (Isa. 62:11; 2.Cor. 11:15; Rev. 14:13; What the reward will be must be known before Christ comes again for He comes as King, not as the Lamb or Priest.).

While we do not know if the names of the participants on the day of atonement were written in a book, we do know that applying the blood on the horns of the altar by the priest represents such a record keeping for we read, "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars." Jer. 17:1. God had ordained to make sacrifices and we can rely on the Almighty that He will respect His own instructions and keep in memory those faithfully participating in this service and keep their record in a book.

That is why we read,

"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Rev. 20:15.

All are to be judged according to the things written in the books, and to be rewarded as their works have been. This judgment does not take place at death.

How do we know this first stage judgment takes place before the second coming? Because of Rev. 14 where it says, "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." Rev. 14:6. It answers the question because why would the gospel still be preached if the door to salvation was already closed?

With the First Angel's Message begins the pre-advent judgment. Probation has not closed. The door to salvation is still open.

We read about it as follows,

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." Rev. 14:6-7.

Does it say, the hour of his judgment will come?

Does it say that?

No. It says the hour of his judgment is or `has' come - present time, starting after about the time of the great earthquake, the moon looks like blood and the meteor (stars) shower.

So is this first angel's message to be proclaimed before the second coming of Jesus? Yes.

Why? Because after it comes the second and the third angels messages before Jesus comes again as we read about in Rev, 14:14.

Starting with Adam, the judgment judges all cases of those who believed in salvation and/or lived a life pleasing to the Lord. Where does the judgment take place?

Let us read about it:

"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit (God Father), whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." Dan. 7:9-10.

God Father opens up the great heavenly judgment and it says, the "books" - plural - were opened. Heaven keeps two types of books, `books' plural and the `book', singular. The book, singular, is the Book of Life, Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12-15.

Only names are written in this book, the names of God's faithful people, his saints. The `books', plural, contain the lives record of all other people whose names are not written in the Book of Life.

The Investigative Judgment determines which names will be retained in the Book of Life and which not; whose sins will be washed away by the blood of the Lamb and whose not because they chose not to trust in God.

We also read that this judgment in heaven does judge the Beast power (Dan. 7:11,12), a detail which certainly must happen before Christ comes the second time, because that is when the beast power will be finally broken. - The remnant church will have presented the messages (in sackcloth, 4T 594.3) of the three angels, for which they were persecuted and brought to experience untold troubles, because of the Sunday laws and being blamed for the upheavals in nature during the seven plagues, - but then vindicated when God protects them, translates them and ascends with them to heaven while the wicked perish from the brightness of His coming.

We learn that God Father is the presiding judge. He loves you very much, John 16:27. Satan is the accuser, Rev. 12:9,10. Jesus, who loves you and is your best friend, will be your attorney, judge, and witness. And He promises that judgment will be "made in favor of the saints." Dan. 7:22.

Question: I was a great sinner (1.Tim. 1:15) and didn't care about God, now I found and accepted Christ as my Saviour. Which book am I written in?

What is the answer?

At birth your name is in the Book of Life. As you live, and when sin enters without conversion, and express desire to belong to God and exercise faith, your name is written in the `Books', plural.

After your conversion during which you repented and asked for forgiveness your sin was forgiven. However, forgiveness of sin does not automatically result in blotting out of sin in the heavenly record books (overcoming does, Rev.3:5 at end of life) but the fact that the sinner repented is also recorded. When a name of the Book of Life comes up and the record reveals that this person has been forgiven then his or her entry in the "Books of Record" is deleted or washed away by the precious blood of Jesus but it is retained in the Book of Life. That we believe by faith.

Is the judgment written about in Revelation the same as in Daniel 7?

Well, let us read it,

"Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come." Rev. 14:7.

Question: Is it talking about the same judgment?

Of course it is. The same sequence of prophetic nations are reported providing a link between Revelation and the Book of Daniel.

That is important. It lets us know that all the Bible is inspired by the same Spirit. That is why we can read anywhere in the Bible. If the content agrees with one another, and no obvious discrepancies result, such portions of scripture can explain each other.

Yes, for we read, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." 2.Cor. 5:10.

We learn here that Paul confirms that this judgment takes place where Christ was at the time he wrote it, in heaven.

Who is going to be judged? Paul says the good things and the bad things of "we", that is all of us are being judged. That must mean all people will be judged. When Jesus comes in the clouds he brings his rewards with Him. From this we know that God's rewards are not awarded until the Second Coming. What application does this text have to the believer that the dead go into heaven when they die? How does heaven know if they deserve to be there? Didn't we learn that the judgment does not take place until after the 4th beast shows up?

How then could anyone before the time of the 4th beast get into heaven right after death?

Did they just skip judgment?

Ah, that is why such believers came up with the idea that since we are not under judgment (John 5:24), all get into heaven.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24.

Only trouble is, the Bible says also the following,

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." John 3:19.

In this scripture the same word, `krisis', is used as in John 5:24. Yet here it is also translated as `condemnation.' Why?

Because it is a word which has quite a number of different shades of meaning depending on the context it is used in. In both cases the translators agreed that `condemnation' was the better shade of meaning to use rather than the word `judgment' for the Greek word `krisis.'

In other words, because of a Christian's dependence on Jesus, he is not condemned but still must go through judgment so no one can say later, `This fellow's life was never properly examined before he got into heaven. He should not be here.'

Now, we might ask, while we are still here on earth, how can we be under judgment in heaven?

What is the answer to that question?

We appear in the heavenly courts at this stage by our records, not in body.

"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." Matthew 16:27.[258]

"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1.Thess. 4:15-17.

"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 2.Tim. 4:6-8.

Therefore, Paul did not believe he had innate immortality, only conditional immortality. He knew, just the same as we do not have God's omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence and immutability, so we do not have His immortality; that can only be a gift from God after resurrection.

The Bible teaches we are present in heaven only through the written records, not in the form of an immortal soul, bodily, or any other way.

The pre-advent judgment began at the end of the 2300 prophetic day/years, in 1844. That is also when the First Angels Message began.[260] God sends this world only these three messages before He comes again. We must react to them and accept them, if we want to be part of the first resurrection (if we should die before Jesus comes in the clouds), be in heaven. For the second resurrection is way too late ...

"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished...." Rev. 20:5.

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:1-3.

This then is the pre-advent judgment. It began at the end of the 2300 year period in 1844 and is still in progress. When it is finished, Jesus comes again.

How securely are the judgments of God established in history?

Very securely. We find that in the days of Noah, God stated that the Flood judgment would occur in 120 years, (Gen. 6:3,13) - and that is when it happened. God told Noah about the Flood-judgment before he was 500 years old, (Gen. 5:32, text looks forward), because his three sons were born after the announcement, (Gen. 6:10).
In the days of Daniel, God stated that His end-time judgment would begin in 2300 years, (Dan. 8:14) - and it happened. That means that the year 1844 is the last calculable prophetic date on God's calendar.

We find the information about this judgment here,

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Rev. 20:4.

Actually Revelation 20:4 refers back to the 3rd Angels Message by mentioning `worshipping the beast and his image and the mark on their forehead.' This way the Bible augments and authenticates itself repeatedly.

We read,

"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?" 1.Cor. 6:1-3.

The redeemed will be in heaven for a thousand years - on a `working' vacation. Its feasting and judging time for the redeemed and judgment time for the wicked dead in their graves and the fallen angels. No one else in God's universe will make better judges than those who were intimately familiar with the reign of sin. This millennium span of time is a time of cosmic reflection and analysis. The participants, both, the redeemed and Satan, will explore and learn the results of the great controversy after reviewing the records. Satan, confined on a desolated, voided earth, has time to reflect on his role in the rebellion he started against the government by love of the Almighty. God will open up the record books and the saints will inspect every case, every name (Rev. 3:5; 13:8), sort of in an instant replay of the entire life of those who chose a life of disobedience, and did not want to be a part of God's family. To preserve our family structure while still on earth, we must give it our greatest care for the family is the core of the nation. It is God's sacred trust for us to fulfill.[261]

That way these questions, later on, will never come up ...

`Is there anyone up here who should be down there?'

And the answer will come up, `No, you got it right.'

Or

`Is there anyone down there, who should be up here?'

And the answer will come up, `No, you got it right.'

You see, the instant replay is not doctored. It shows exactly where everyone was and what they did or thought. It shows if the penalty, the fault, is called correctly.

The scene also clarifies that the resurrection of the wicked does not take place until after the 1000 years. We read,

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls ... and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." Rev. 20:4-5.

"This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." Rev. 20:5c-6.

After the 1000 years are up and the judgment of the wicked is completed and the verdict determined [263], sentencing will take place after all the wicked and the evil angels have been shown why they are not part of those who were given eternal life. And all will acknowledge that God's judgments are right and they will suffer the second death. The first death of the wicked is their natural death which every human dies. For those wicked which are alive on the day of Christ's coming, the brightness of His Coming will slay them, which is their first death.

When and where will this final phase of the judgment take place? What new group will be present then?

By now all God's people are convinced of the righteous judgments of God. But a new group will now be present. To judge them is the work that still remains. Satan, the evil angels and the wicked need to be convinced that their sentence is just for evil not to rise again for ever more among all the beings of the universe.

"And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem. . . . Thus the Lord my God will come, and all the saints with You." "All the land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem." Zech. 14:4,10. "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell [the graves] delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works." Rev. 20:11-13.

We are in the time after the (1000 year) millennium. God's throne has come down from heaven on the earth and a loud voice calls and all the wicked rise up from their death sleep. They rise up minus their good deeds, with only their bad characteristics since the judgment struck their good works from the books as indicated that they see that their names are not found in the Book of Life, Rev. 20:11-15. There they stand, talking and acting just the way they did when death took them. There is not a smidgen of repentance. Their eyes are furtive as they survey the scene. They realize its judgment time and they will know the meaning of these words, "Among these nations you shall find no respite, and there shall be no resting place for the sole of your foot, but the Lord will give you there a trembling heart and failing eyes and a languishing soul. Your life shall hang in doubt before you. Night and day you shall be in dread and have no assurance of your life. In the morning you shall say,`If only it were evening!' and at evening you shall say, `If only it were morning!' because of the dread that your heart shall feel, and the sights that your eyes shall see." Deut. 28:65-67, ESV.

The saints look on them as they mill about, wondering what to do. The implication is that suddenly the books appear above them (Ps. 50:6; 83:15,16; Isa. 42:21; Mal. 3:16-18; Mt. 24:27 "glory ... reward"; Rom. 14:10,11; Rev. 15:3) and they look and read the story of their life. Their blood pressure rises immediately as they discover everyone can read their hearts secrets. Not the least they did is hidden away anymore. The terrible deeds many of them committed are starkly spread across the sky. Their faces flushed, they begin to shake and to squirm. The husband's wife stands next to him as his sins are revealed. Sins he did not care to ask forgiveness for. His children stand aghast on what they read. There stands Cain, and so many mighty looking antediluvians. They shake their fists and cry aloud. One can see Pharaoh, his quivering lips try to say, `I didn't let them go.' There is the man who gathered sticks on Sabbath morning, now crying, `I didn't want to believe God.' King Saul is red in his face. He tries to cover it, but can't. There is a lot of commotion now. People bump into each other and utter muffled curses. Saul grins, spear in his hand. There is Jezebel. Everyone knows its her. They saw her statue in the history books. But she has no smile. Her face is frozen in ice and her neck bedeckt with pearls. Her arms and hands waive to the crowd but her eyes spit glaring fire. Baal's priests begin to gather around her. She hardly acknowledges them but utters short and sharp commands. They gather stones. Over yonder stands Emperor Nero. Shrunk into a pitiful man, he banters around, crouching and hiding for many soldiers are looking for him. They punch him when they get close and he aches already all over. One can also see someone who looks like a Hun, tall tribes man, medicine man, witch doctors, slave drivers, poisoners, shooters, stabbers, drunks, liars, profligates, falsifiers, haters, yellers, unloving people, thieves, rapists, proud builders counting their ill gotten gains, dishonest types of all sorts, Mullahs, false prophets, murderers, Hitler and Stalin, Maotsedung, and all those who acted likewise. A sea of wickedness waves back and forth. Then quiet. Satan steps up. All eyes on him. He twitches his nose and rubs his ears. He calls, `Attention.' Everyone stiffens up. `Forward, march.' The crowds form a unified army and walk, walk and walk around the city of God. ... They consult how they could take the city. Its the generals turn to sweat. They begin to feel the heat of God's fire. Some among them begin suddenly to dry up like a leaf and fall shrunk like dead wood to the ground.

In a corner stands Pilate, close by Herod and someone who looks like a Pharisee - hunched over, gritted, inclement, incorrigible, uncouth. A sad sight. They were so close, yet are so far. None of you who read this need to be in this group. God still accepts applications for heaven.

All of them saw that their names were not in the Book of Life. They saw it instead in the Books of Record. The instant play-back said it all.

Most the time `hell' refers to the grave; in the end when the verdict is pronounced over the wicked and Satan and his angels, the Bible says that fire will fall from God upon them and burn them to ashes (Rev. 19-20). After that is over, God will recreate the earth with all the redeemed watching this time, in the way it was in the days of Adam (Rev. 21-22). Hell and destruction are not eternal, only the glory of God (Hebr. 12:29) is eternal. But there is a class of people who in their impenitence comfort themselves with the assurance that there is to be no punishment for the sinner; that all people, no matter how corrupt, will be in heaven, to become as the angels of God. But then there are also those who speak against the truths which Heaven has given to defend God's people during the troubling time, yet instead they accept the lies of Satan, the deceiving lies of spiritualism. That is the message we find in Isaiah 28:14-18. People can be so closed up and against wanting to learn the truths of God's Word, and yet are eager to accept the lies and unhelpful sayings of those who do not believe in God or have accepted false teachings about God, salvation, and what is about to come on this world. Such people disregard the law of God, as if they agree with evil, thus are they friends with what will lead them into eternal death. Nothing can wake them up and cause them to fear the coming judgment. They easily commit sins, and they are so closely bonded to what is forbidden in the word of God, that nothing can break their ties with evil to escape from death. They firmly believe in the words, "Ye shall not surely die." Gen. 3:4. Satan has not yet fully swept these firm unbelievers into his scheme of things (Rev. 16:13,14), but shall do so in the very last days of time. Way to many people are fast being lulled into a fatal security. Only the outpouring of the wrath of God will wake them up.

The Biblical Meaning of the Wrath of God and the Lamb

Is the wrath of God something like the wrath of the devil? (John 3:36; Col. 3:4-6; Rev. 14:10,19; Rev. 12:12) Or is the `wrath of God' as the wrath of man? Isn't God a God of love? So, what kind of wrath could come from love? Is God love plus something else or is He only love? What is the answer?

The answer is certainly that everything that comes from our kind heavenly Father comes because of His love for us. But this love is made up of two things, justice and mercy. It is the devil who continually tries to rip these two apart, because if God is only justice, they will hate Him because they think that God is like the devil who continually works to accuse us before God for being sinners and not worthy of salvation (Rev. 12:10), and that we ought not to be in heaven, in the place that he had to abandon. But if people think that God is only mercy, they think He is like St. Claus, which would end up in rebellion and presumptuous sinning and they would then be lost. That is why the devil always tries to rip God's justice and mercy apart, but God joined them together forever and where did He do that?

When did He do that?

At the Cross of Calvary. At the Cross justice and mercy met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other (Ps. 85:10) . . . that day, long ago when Jesus died on the Cross.

How do you see the justice of God on the cross?

By the wrath of God falling upon His own self, upon His own Son - and the Father was there too suffering with His Son, 1.Peter 2:24.

Thus, the wrath of God falls on His own self, and that was the lesser of the two evils.

What were the two evils?

One was for the wrath of God falling on Jesus.

Was that a lesser evil than something else?

Was there an alternative? Do you think for this whole world to just disappear in annihilation, would that be a greater evil than for His Son to die on a cross and die there a horrible death?

What is the answer? The answer is, `Yes!' Why?

"For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

God counted His death a lesser evil than destroying this whole world - that is love - love and mercy wrapped up in Jesus, Creator of heaven and earth.

So, we see that the wrath of God is nothing like the devil's wrath. No. That could never be, we cannot mix that up. The `wrath of God' is not caused by hot anger as we know it on this sin filled earth. The devil's wrath always seeks to destroy even his very own with no mercy at all. In fact the devil may be harder on his friends than he is on his enemies for he only loves himself. The devil and his angels don't even love each other, because love comes only from God. - Just think of the centuries of abject slavery and paganism among the many tribes on the earth; how they suffered.

The wrath of God reveals itself in for how long God has tried to reveal to man his goodness, mercy and love, yet man turned away from it. God wants to save all but he will not jeopardize the peace reigning in heaven by granting unrepentant sinners access there. That will never happen. God will not start the cycle of sin all over again, no, not ever, (Nahum 1:9). It cost the redeemed much to live their faith on earth during the reign of sin - much heart ache, self-control, love in spite of adversity, toil and hoping against many odds and exercise of faith in Jesus, the lamb who bore our sins on His Cross so we could be forgiven and receive His righteousness as a free gift.

In that sense the "wrath of God and the "wrath of the Lamb" (Rev. 6:16) are the same, - the sad realization that some men and women will reject the free gift of salvation for a short life in sin. They do not even want to consider God, His Testament for fallen humanity or faith. They do not wish to spend time with God, reading His word - and so they sadden their Creator - a reaction which is called the "wrath of God and the "wrath of the Lamb" in the Bible. The `Lamb,' "Immanuel (Mt. 1:23), which for years was ill treated, beaten and rejected by the human stewards until, finally, God goes away, leaves them alone, since that is what the stewards want, Mt. 20:8-16.

God assumes the "wrath" Himself rather than put it on Satan because otherwise man would worship in fear of the wrath of God.

It is something like this:

All heaven beholds with indignation human beings, the workmanship of God, reduced by their fellow men to the lowest depths of degradation and placed on a level with the brute creation. Professed followers of that dear Saviour whose compassion was ever moved at the sight of human woe, heartily engage in this enormous and grievous sin, and deal in slaves and souls of men. Human agony is carried from place to place and bought and sold. Angels have recorded it all; it is written in the book. The tears of the pious bondsmen and bondwomen, of fathers, mothers, and children, brothers and sisters, are all bottled up in heaven. God will restrain His anger but little longer. His wrath burns against this nation and especially against the religious bodies that have sanctioned this terrible traffic and have themselves engaged in it. Such injustice, such oppression, such sufferings, are looked upon with heartless indifference by many professed followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. And many of them can themselves inflict, with hateful satisfaction, all this indescribable agony; and yet they dare to worship God. It is solemn mockery; Satan exults over it and reproaches Jesus and His angels with such inconsistency, saying, with hellish triumph, "Such are Christ's followers!" 2.Tim. 3:12,13}

The slave master will have to answer for the soul of his slave whom he has kept in ignorance; and the sins of the slave will be visited upon the master. God cannot take to heaven the slave who has been kept in ignorance and degradation, knowing nothing of God or the Bible, fearing nothing but his master's lash, and holding a lower position than the brutes. But He does the best thing for him that a compassionate God can do. He permits him to be as if he had not been, while the master must endure the seven last plagues and then come up in the second resurrection and suffer the second, most awful death because a guilty conscience is a very heavy burden. Then the justice of God will be satisfied.

So, we should understand that finally the `wrath of God' is wrapped up in the seventh plague which is discussed here and in which the voice of God said, "it is done", Rev. 16:17, just like Jesus said on the cross, "it is finished", (John 19:30).

Thus the love of God is revealed in His justice and mercy on the Cross.

We see that the three nations which were uprooted [300], the three horns, were the Heruli, Vandals and Ostrogoths while the Alamani, Anglo-Saxons, Burgundians, Franks, Lombards, Suevi and Visigoths - seven nations - remained

As we read:

But the Bible says:

"I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. ..."
"Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way." Psalms 119:99,104

"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead (spiritual death), and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly ... redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:14-16

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." Revelation 14:6-7

"Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God ..." Ezekiel 28:2

The Biblical Account of the Image of the Beast

Openly disobeying God's Law constitutes rebellion against God. For this reason it is vital for all of us to understand these issues for there are consequences to it.

Could the `Mark of the Beast' be something as simple as professing the name of Jesus? Something like Christians proclaiming their allegiance to Jesus Chirst?

No, not really, even though that takes place. The `Mark of the Beast' (Rev. 13:16) is represented as being the opposite to the `Seal of God', Rev. 14:1.

What is the `Seal of God' [400]? "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy ... For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth ... Exodus 20:8,11.

Here we have the `Seal of God': the name ("the Lord"), his title (he "made" or Creator), his territory ("heaven and earth").

So, how does the `Seal of God' relate to the `Mark of the Beast'? Well, the `Mark of the Beast' ought to be something then which is a substitute for the `Seal of God'. Since the `Seal of God' is imbedded in the fourth commandment, the one which states to "Keep the Sabbath" day holy, what is a substitute for God's seventh day Sabbath? Do we need to be more descriptive? If so click here.

During the last 10 to 15 years Protestantism has changed to a significant degree. This change becomes noticeable when one, knowing their history, reads their creeds or browses what they claim to believe and preach today via Internet websites, radio, or television. Whereas in times past, doctrinal differences set them apart, today, they seem to emphasize all the same message. `Just love God and Jesus,' they say now. They present now a more united front emphasizing what they have in common rather than their differences. Their message dwells now on topics like

God, heaven, salvation, we are sinners, hell, Jesus, the Bible, the resurrection, tithing

While at first, such an approach may appear to be desirable, we must examine it a bit closer for pulling together to achieve a common goal may be a worthy cause, however, if the underlying reasons are suspect, we ought to listen up and exercise caution.

We find Protestantism to still engage in Evangelistic endeavors, they hold meetings to fire on their flock, they love to present topics on practical help for a Christian life, but there seems to be a deafening silence on doctrines. Speaking on doctrines, in some ways, seems to have become a matter to de-emphasize - except when it comes to directing attention to those who follow a faith outside of mainstream Protestant Christian persuasions. But among themselves, the Lutherans and Baptists, Congregationalists and Episcopalians, Pentecostals and Calvinists seem to get along better than ever before. They are in utter darkness for they do not see the far reaching plans of Rome.
The Bible teaches that doctrines are important since, through them, we get to know Jesus. 2.Tim. 3:16f; Luke 4:18.

The first time economic hardships are mentioned in the Bible is when Abraham was forced to migrate into Egypt because of `raab' translated as famine in English which amazingly has no good, one word way, to express such a simple term as can be done in German with the word `Teuerung' or the adjective `teuer.' Well, they have `expensive', but it sounds a bit strange to say, `expensive' times. Now `Teuerung' is not famine, it indicates drastically or quickly rising prices, however, perhaps because of a famine. The same happened in the days of Joseph when Jacob migrated to Egypt because of such occurrences just like father Abraham did. (Gen. 12:10; 41:54; 42:1) The next time such events are mentioned in the Bible is in 2. Samuel 24:13; 1. Kings 18:2 and Psalm 33:19. - - In the New Testament Jesus used the word `Teuerung' in a parable, Lk. 15:14 and the last we read of it in Acts 11:28. - - But we are interested if `Teuerung' is something mentioned in connection with end time events. The other German word `teuer' occurs in a prophetic context in Matthew 24:7 where it says, "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines (teure Zeit), and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places." - - `In divers places', does that apply to all of these events or just earthquakes? Well, we may find out soon how this will occur in the days ahead under the specter of rising prices (especially oil and rice), and the specter of economic hardship for masses of people.?! - - More importantly, there may be a famine for the Word of God ahead of us too. A recent visit to a major book store chain showed no Bibles on their shelves. That is what Rome likes.

Actually the Bible supports the idea that, yes,

I) Doctrines are Necessary for Salvation

1.Timothy 4:16; 2.Tim. 4:2

II) Doctrines Protect us from Deceptions

Ephesians 4:11-16

III) Following Doctrines Shows God that We Love Him

Matthew 22:34ff.

What led to this?

A View on the Prophecy in Daniel Chapter 11

A Brief Account of Pastor Bohr's view to replace what we had before: In the Bible, the North and the East are the directions of the compass of God. The West and the South are the directions of the compass of the devil. Why? It has to do with the position of the sun (as observed from south of the equator). The sun rises in the east and reaches its brightest and highest intensity when it is directly overhead in the north, because north is up. According to the Bible, God's throne in heaven is in the sides of the north (Ps. 48:2). So north is up, south is down, east is to the right and west is to the left. That is why it says, "And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it." Amos 8:12. They would not go to the west, because the west is where the darkness begins and in the south it reaches its deepest intensity. That is why in magic, the positive quadrants are east and north and the negative quadrants are west and south.[422] However, the devil has tried to usurp God's position as the King of the North, `he sits in the temple of God showing himself as if he was God.' (Isa. 14:13; Hes. 28:11-19) He was not able to do it in heaven; so, what does he do? He sets up his headquarters in the temple of God on earth, Hes. 8:14-18. So the devil is a counterfeit king of the north; and his apostate religious system, the papacy is, like ancient Babylon was, the king of the north. Since Babylon is the papacy, and so the king of the north in the end time, spiritually speaking is Babylon/ the papacy because in the Bible the counterfeit king of the north is Babylon because its army always approached Israel from the north via the fertile crescent. So we have the king of the south representing Egypt because it is, geographically speaking, in the south. What was the main characteristic of Egypt? Defiance of the true God. It did not profess the true God, it defied the true God. It represents atheism. So in the time of the end, the king of the north would be attacked by the king of the south. When did the time of the end begin? It began in 1798 (Daniel 12:1-13). It says, that in the time of the end the king of the south would attack the king of the north.

Question: What happened between 1793 and 1798 that affected the papacy negatively?

Answer: The French Revolution occurred and the taking captive of the pope in 1798. And the French Revolution was an atheistic attack of the Roman Catholic church. That is why the king of the south in 1798 is not literal Egypt but it represents the power which has the atheistic characteristics of Egypt. Between 1793 and 1798 that was France. `I do not know the Lord, and I will not let his people go.' But then it says, the King of the North arises against the king of the south and basically he overwhelms him and he controls the world. That is speaking of the healing of the deadly wound that the King of the south gave the king of the north at the time of the end.

Many of you may agree that this world has changed greatly not for the better but for difficult times ahead. In looking at events today, we are reminded of the divine prophecy given to Daniel in the eleventh chapter of his book. We understand that much of the history that has already taken place in fulfillment of the sayings in this chapter, will be repeated. At first we read of the king of the south, followed by the king of the north. Looking at our world today, before unimaginable events play out before our eyes. The `king of the south', is it the Muslim world loosely united? The `king of the north', could that be the United States? Is there going to be a showdown in the Middle East between America and the Islamic world? With these thoughts in mind let us test what is written. To aid our interpretation we use red for references to the king of the south and blue for references to the king of the north. We read:

"And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over."
He shall also enter into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom ... He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape."
"But he shall have power over the treasure of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps."
"But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many."
"And he shall plant his tabernacle of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him." [This last verse appears to combine the terrible beast powers making up Babylon.]

One important point of this story is how the Bible identifies the kings of the north and south. By comparing recorded history with the testimony of Daniel 11, historians and anyone willing to listen discover that the king of the north was the kingdom which controlled the geographical area of Babylon. They discovered that the king of the south was the kingdom which controlled the geographical area of Egypt. This principal in Daniel 11 brings together the testimony of the Bible with the record of history. This geographical key is the rule which we shall apply when we study Daniel 11:40-45, verses which illustrate things happening today with the stark recognition that it is the lamb of Revelation 13:11 who speaks like a dragon (spiritualism) who today controls Babylon. This ought to give us pause on world events today.

Through the first 13 verses of Daniel 11 we find the ebb and flow of history described, as different kingdoms rose and fell. In verse 14, we see the primary subject of all of Daniel 11 identified for the first time in the vision by the phrase, "robbers of thy people." This verse states that these "robbers," will "establish the vision" and we recognize that those who historically said the following:

"`To establish the vision.' The Romans more than any other people are the subject of Daniel's prophecy. Their first interference in the affairs of these kingdoms is here referred to as being the establishment, or demonstration, of the truth of the vision which predicted the existence of such a power." [Uriah Smith, Daniel and the Revelation, p. 244.]

We agree with those who stated that primarily the Romans are referenced in Daniel 11:1-14. Their period is followed by either pagan or papal Rome. In Daniel 11:20 we find pagan Rome summoning Joseph to pay taxes in Bethlehem. In verse 22 pagan Rome breaks "the prince of the covenant", by crucifying Jesus Christ.

In verse 24 we see pagan Rome's time of dominion related within a biblical time prophecy. The last phrase of this verse sets forth 360 years as the time when pagan Rome would rule the world by the words, "even for a time." Daniel 11:30-36 marks a transition time for Rome. Pagan Rome was about to leave the scene of action as the ruler of the earth, and papal Rome was about to step into the vacuum. Daniel 7 addresses this very same transition.

As papal Rome rises to power, three horns, or three kingdoms, had to be removed to prepare the way. This was in itself a repetition of history, for as pagan Rome came into control of the world, it first had to conquer three areas. The south, east and pleasant land.

Soon we shall see that the king of the north also shall subdue three entities, before he can take control of the world.

In Daniel 11:30-36 we see that pagan Rome is waning in power. When threatened by other powers in the past, Rome prevailed. Not so at this time. As Rome went out to do battle it was grieved by its inability to prevail. At this time period the "three horns," which were waging war against pagan Rome, were also waging a theological war against the new universal church.

The Heruli, the Goths, and the Vandals, symbolized by the three horns, embraced the Arian faith. During this time period Justinian declared the bishop of Rome to be the head of the church, and the corrector of heretics, in an attempt to restrain the Arian faith from dominating Catholic doctrines. Justinian's efforts to uphold Catholic doctrines against the Arians opened the door for the Catholic Church to restrict certain books which threatened their man made doctrines. This restriction included the Bible, for they began to teach that only the church fathers could safely read it. This attack against the Bible was "the indignation against the holy covenant," and the appointment of the bishop of Rome to the head of the church was the "intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant," of verse 30.

Verse 31 records that "shall stand on his part." As history and prophecy move forward to the next step in the sequence to set papal Rome on the throne of the world, we find that Clovis, the king of France, dedicated his sword and his country to the Papacy whose characteristics include: (1) he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; (2) he shall magnify himself in his heart; (3) by peace he shall destroy many, and (4) he shall stand up against the prince of princes (Jesus), (Dan. 8:25). France became the first Catholic nation, the first of seven kingdoms found in Europe to renounce their pagan beliefs and embrace Catholicism, and also the first to submit the nation to the service of the Papacy. This alliance provided the ways and means to defeat the three Arian horns. Prophecy taught that these three horns would be removed before that Papacy assumed authority over the world, which happened exactly.

Not only did Clovis and the other horns of Europe bring their finances and arms to bear against the three horns, they also seized (took away) their pagan resistance against Catholicism. This fact is illustrated as the "take away the daily."

[Of course we remember that the word "sacrifice" which follows after `the daily' in Daniel 8:12 was supplied by man's wisdom and is not part of the original text.]

How was the `daily', or paganism, taken away? ... The conversion of Clovis [496 A.D.] is said to have been the occasion of bestowing upon the French monarch the titles `Most Christian Majesty' and `Eldest Son of the Church.' Between that time and 538 A.D., [the other horns of Europe] were brought into subjection.

From 508 A.D. on, the Papacy was triumphant so far as paganism was concerned ... When the prominent powers of Europe gave up their attachment to paganism, it was only to perpetuate its abominations in another form; for Christianity as exhibited in the RCC was, and is, only Paganism baptized. To learn about this, study the history of Simon Magus, Acts 8:9-25. [You can see it here in German.]

The history of Daniel 11:31 is a description of the pagan royal powers of Europe coming to the aid of the Papacy to set it upon the throne of the world. The removing of the "daily," and the polluting of the "sanctuary of strength," is a description of their turning from open paganism, which previously was their confessed religion biblically symbolized as their "sanctuary of strength." The words "take away" carry a two-fold meaning as they not only teach a removal, but also a secondary definition which conveys the idea of lifting up. When paganism was set aside by the powers of Europe, through their submission to Catholicism, paganism was actually lifted up, for Catholicism embraced many of their religious ideas and incorporated them into their own religion thus making themselves into the greatest manifestation of paganism even into our days. Just one visit into the cathedral of Cologne, Germany, will underscore that.

In 508 A.D. the powers of Europe began to wage war against countries represented by the `three horns,' and by 538 A.D. the last of the three horns met defeat, and the Papacy ascended to the throne of the world. Then "the abomination which maketh desolate," symbolic of the Papacy, was set up.

In verses 32-35 we see the persecution of the `Dark Ages' illustrated, `dark' especially with respect to spiritual knowledge and lack of what the Bible teaches rather then Rome. The final phrase in verse 35 points to the end of the 1260 year period with the words, "even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed." This phrase takes us up to verse 40. But before Daniel gets to verse forty, verses 36-39, present the description of the main subject of Daniel - which is the Papacy.

"And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous (in the sense of astounding) things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done." Daniel 11:36

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." 2.Thessalonians 2:3-4

As we continue the study of Daniel 11:40-45, we will see a historical sequence within these verses which closely parallels the history we have just reviewed. Next we shall be able to recognize that Daniel 11:40 contains a description of the spiritual war between the Papacy and atheism which began in 1798 subsequent to the French Revolution. France wore the crown of the king of the south in 1798, but in 1917 that crown was passed to its successor - the Soviet Union. In 1798 the king of the north was the Papacy which is still wearing that prophetically predicted crown.

Verse 40 teaches that initially in the war between the king of the south and the king of the north, the king of the north was grieved in his ability to prevail against the southern kingdom. In fact, the war begins with the king of the north receiving the deadly wound, as his political kingdom was taken away.

Revelation 13 describes the Papacy as the head which receives a deadly wound. The deadly wound is a repetition of pagan Rome being grieved over her ability to maintain control of her former empire, Daniel 11:30. The war and the grieving of the Papacy is described when the king of the south would "push" at the king of the north in Daniel 11:40.

Not only that, to identify the power which was wounded correctly, this identifying mark occurred perhaps more than once as the following comparison shows (Rev. 17:11).

"And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space." Revelation 17:9-11

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Here is wisdom. The wisdom honed by God in those who have an intelligent appreciation of His wisdom, justice, attributes and benevolence. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six." Rev. 13:1,16

Christians everywhere are now looking for developments which may delineate the future as prophetically described in Daniel 11:40-45 and 12:1-4. There are still outstanding events which may come about even though today we cannot imagine how that would all occur. Many of these may be disasters brought about especially by environmental factors, wars and social problems (2.Tim. 3:1-5). All of these are to lead people to search the Word of God and discover how to serve Him. That is why we read, "The great I AM is vindicating his law. He is speaking to those who make it void in storms, in floods, in tempests, in earthquakes, in perils by land and by sea. Now is the time for his people to show themselves true to principle." [440] The changes in character among individuals and multitudes of people are listed as: (a) every imagination is evil, (b) the purposes of the heart are evil, (c) many opposers of God, (d) many unjust and lawbreakers, (e) no love for the truth, (f) always eager to hear tales, but not truth, (g) exulting themselves above God. As we near the end we must keep our focus on Protestantism extending its hand to Rome for whatever reasons and thus bring about long predicted change. Much of the groundwork may take place behind the scenes - even in our time. We have little time left. As Satan sees his time is running out, all stops will be pulled and one disaster will hit upon another just before Jesus comes again in might and power. Satan, has great mental ability, second only to the mental ability of Jesus Christ Himself. He has a higher intelligence than any angel in heaven. We read that the devil's deceptive power is now ten times greater than it was in apostolic times (Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 2, 277). Therefore, students of Bible prophecy will continually check to see how things will proceed from here on out for our salvation is drawing nigh, but there will be no third world war. Nuclear annihilation of humanity is not what ends the world, Christ's coming does. Although we might get close to world wide nuclear threats (we are in it now), because Satan is like a roaring lion, he will not destroy mankind. Can there be a nuclear disaster or attack? We read, "... When the third angels message closes, mercy no longer pleads for the guilty inhabitants of the earth. . . . Then Jesus ceases His intercession in the sanctuary above . . . It is done . . . The number of His subjects is made up . . . When He leaves the sanctuary, darkness covers the inhabitants of the earth. In that fearful time the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor. The restraint which has been upon the wicked is removed, and Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent. God's long suffering has ended. . . . As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old." (Perhaps, but no nuclear world war. to be deleted) - I now think it may include nuclear devices, learning what is going along those lines in the world. - Even though governments have prepared for massive deaths, in the millions, we know God reigns. Even though some world leaders would like to reduce the world's population to a billion or less, because there is wickedness in high places, God is in control. Even though people will probably be dying in masses - be it by disease (government `no' health plan), war or persecution - there is a resurrection - for it is true, if you seek to preserve your life, you will loose it; if you give up your life, you get it back. That is how we find out who really belongs to God.

Events transpiring may be cause enough to add a few more lines to this already lengthy presentation. In Europe fears are rising fast about the steady stream of settlers arriving in every country professing Islam as their faith (actually it is a vehicle for totalitarian, super-despotic government control). Everywhere one looks today, entire new neighborhoods are rising where only Muslims live. They at once take control in many ways. There are thousands of mosques all over Europe with larger attendance than in Christian churches. It looks to many that in just a short time the native population will have to decide to convert or be led to ...... . Amsterdam, Marseille and Malmo Sweden are already one quarter Muslim. In many cities the majority under 18 years of age are Muslims - a total of 54 million (date?) in Europe are Muslims, in 12 years, 25% of Europe will be Muslim. What does that mean? While all of this looks to unaided man ominous with no apparent solution on the horizon, we must realize that, yes, the time of opportunity to be faithful to God is very short - for God's true people, the half true people and God's enemies alike. All the atheists and agnostics will have no better world ahead for them, just more abject scenarios of evil arising everywhere. It appears, some very crafty and wicked plans were already set into motion to try and thwart the threat, however, it failed because people noticed something and reported it, not knowing the probable reasons behind it. Our attention must remain fixed on evidently enormous changes taking place in America and how it will respond to the problems in the world, the consequence of worshiping the sun-god. Somehow, Protestantism, now allied with Rome, will rise up and change the course of this nation in a desperate effort to do what? Give us some more time? Well, they must believe that they want to save the world from all those religious groups, not paying heed to the prophetic word or following a mistaken view of it, and become the `false prophet' of Revelation. So, let us keep looking how and where God says the final events will transpire.

Among all these events occurring, we must always remember that the fruits of God's love: patience, joy and freedom of choice are growing up right beside or near the fruits sown by Satan, how his government looks like where there is no love, patience, joy and freedom - just false, counterfeit variations of it. As the principles of evil reveal themselves more and more, and he has hidden his identity so well, that many do not believe that a devil exists, everything that goes wrong will be blamed on God and His people. The devil knows that your life style of obedience or disobedience to God will determine if you worship God or if you worship Satan. This deciding difference, despite God revealing for all to study and understand what will come upon the earth, thus showing His love, concern and mercy - for He wants none to perish and not be saved, will put people in only two camps, those who decide for God and those who decide against God. It appears to more people now that the specter of Islam is the main problem the world will have to face. Bible prophecy disagrees. That must mean that the Euphrates will dry up and no more will it flood Europe and sundry countries, or else Islam and Rome is working together directed secretly from Rome. Our concentration must be on God's Word, what He reveals, who only knows the future and not waver and despair for all these signs mean our salvation is nearing. It appears the "stirring up", the "army shall overflow", the "mischief", the "speaking of lies at one table" we read about in Daniel 11 are all attention getters, to draw away eyes from to where God's word wants us to be looking, for Satan will appear himself, masquerading as the Son of God, a lying apparition. Only knowing the truth in all its aspects can save us from falling under his spell. That is what we must focus on, to remain true to the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus. Human devised scenarios, in the end, will be swept aside. Case in point, leaders of countries which vocally defy God Almighty make their reign unhappy and shorten it for He puts up and puts down whom He wants.

I would like to study with you this evening about a topic that is developing in my mind. Actually I have studied just bits and pieces of it for a few decades and so I should know something about it and yet I feel like I am just starting to learn about it. There is going to be a sudden change in our world. Everybody is going to recognize it, and when that sudden change happens, the world will never, ever again be the same until Jesus comes.

Now this sudden change is spoken of a number of places in the Bible. And I will also read about it to you from the pen of Ellen White. For instance, in Isaiah 66 it says,

"For behold, the Lord will come with fire and with His chariots, like a whirlwind (fast, suddenly), to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword the Lord will judge (or plead) with all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many." Isa. 66: 15,16, NKJV

Now we have read many of these Scriptures for many years and we have, more or less, casually assumed without checking things out carefully, that it was talking about the second coming of Christ. Now there is no question that the second coming of Christ will be a great surprise to unbelievers in the world. But what I want to study with you tonight is a sudden change that is going to happen before the second coming of Christ, before the close of probation. Before God's people are sealed, there is going to be a sudden change. Ellen White talks about it in many places. In `Christ's Object Lessons,' in the last chapter `I'm Preparing to Meet the Bridegroom' she talks about a sudden, unlooked-for calamity that brings the soul face-to-face with death. What is that sudden, unlooked-for calamity that brings the soul face-to-face with death?

Let me read to you a couple of statements. We read,

"There will soon be a sudden change in God's dealings." {FCE, 356, 357}

Suddenly there is going to be a change. Now what is this change going to be?

"The world in its perversity is being visited by casualties,--by floods, storms, fires, (no this is not the second coming) earthquakes, famines, wars, and bloodshed. The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power; yet He will not at all acquit the wicked. (That is a quotation from the Bible, of course.) `The Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.'" Nah. 1:3.

Here is another quotation from Scripture (paraphrased).

"O that men might understand the patience and long-suffering of God! He is putting under restraint His own attributes. His omnipotent power is under the control of Omnipotence. O that men would understand that God refuses to be wearied out with the world's perversity, and still holds out the hope of forgiveness even to the most undeserving." CT, 415,416; Psalm 86:15; Rom. 2:4; Rev. 19:6; Ex. 34:6; Ps. 53:2; Dan. 9:13; 10:12; Neh. 9:17.

Do you like that? But notice the next sentence. But His forbearance will not always continue. Are we living in a time when God is exercising forbearance? Yes we are. But is there coming a time when that forbearance will suddenly be removed? Yes that will happen.

The next sentence says,

"Who is prepared for the sudden change that will take place in God's dealing with sinful men?"

Is there going to be a sudden change in the way God deals with men in this world? That is what it says. All of a sudden there is going to be a change.

"Who will be prepared to escape the punishment that will certainly fall upon transgressors? . . ." {FE, 356.2; CT 415.3}

I have been wanting to know for a long time something about this sudden change that is going to happen. But let us read another quote,

"With unerring accuracy the Infinite One still keeps an account with all nations. While His mercy is tendered with calls to repentance, this account will remain open; but when the figures reach a certain amount which God has fixed, the ministry of His wrath commences. The account is closed. Divine patience ceases. There is no more pleading of mercy in their behalf." {5T, 208}

Now when we try to understand (I am still trying to understand) the sudden change that is going to come, where are you going to notice the sudden change first? In the church. She continues like this, she talks first of all about the nations, how they have had unprecedented mercies and have not taken advantage of it.

"But that which causes me to tremble is the fact that those who have had the greatest light and privileges have become contaminated with the prevailing iniquity. Influenced by the unrighteous around them, many, even of those who profess the truth, have grown cold and are borne down by the strong current of evil. . . . As the disrespect for God's law becomes more manifest, the line of demarcation between its observers and the world becomes more distinct." {5T 209.1}

Is that happening today?

"Love for the divine precepts increases with one class according as contempt for them increases with another class." And then she says, "The crisis is fast approaching."

What is this crisis?

It is going to be a sudden change and she calls it here, "the time for God's visitation." {5T 209.2; Isa. 10:3; Jer. 8:12; 10:15; 1.Peter 2:11,12}

Now Jesus told the Jews (they met with destruction) Jerusalem was destroyed because they did not understand the time of their visitation, Lk. 19:44. But God is going to visit again, in our time. She says, "The rapidly swelling figures show that the time for God's visitation has about come. Although loath to punish, nevertheless He will punish, and that speedily. Those who walk in the light will see signs of the approaching peril; but they are not to sit in quiet, unconcerned expectancy of the ruin, comforting themselves with the belief that God will shelter His people in the day of visitation. Far from it. They should realize that it is their duty to labor diligently to save others. . ." {5T 209.2}

"The leaven of godliness has not entirely lost its power. At the time when the danger and depression of the church are greatest, the little company who are standing in the light will be sighing and crying for the abominations that are done in the land. But more especially will their prayers arise in behalf of the church because its members are doing after the manner of the world.

"The earnest prayers of this faithful few will not be in vain. When the Lord comes forth as an avenger, He will also come as a protector of all those who have preserved the faith in its purity and kept themselves unspotted from the world. It is at this time that God has promised to avenge His own elect which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with." {5T 210.1}

It is at this time, what time is that? Well, it is when He comes forth as an avenger. It is not the second coming, it is not the seven last plagues. It is these judgments she talked about, these "floods, storms, fires, earthquakes, famines, wars and bloodshed," that all of a sudden are going to get so terrible that everybody is going to recognize that something horrible is happening.

What did Ellen White mean when, in her writings, she talked about the many, thousands of cities that were going to be destroyed? That did not happen in World War II. That has not been fulfilled yet. What was she talking about when she described in her vision in the night over New York City, she saw fire come down and instantly everything was destroyed. What was she talking about? The other possibility, and which I hesitate to mention, is, that such "balls of fire" (plural) are a reference to asteroids or large meteorites. - Well, something like that, meanwhile, has happened, or has it? Dec. 26, 2012: A farmer in the region oh Hrira, Morocco, found a giant ice ball on his land, which made a half a meter diameter hole in the ground. He saved some in his freezer and had scientists examine it. They opined that it was meteoric ice from space (offline). Have balls of fire come down? Yes. Such events confirm the words of Jesus referring to celestial events, when he said, "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." Luke 21:2526; the after effects which could lead to further calamities mentioned for the end time, like anguish, terror, famines... . Such events would cancel radioactive nuclear fallout. Else, are that bombs or airplanes, or is that sulfur balls from heaven like at Sodom and Gomorra? Could it happen there again? Another attack almost did in 2010. - If we live just a little bit longer, we are going to see destruction, that we can scarcely imagine, both of property and of human life. The world has at least two witnesses of just such destruction in the days of Noah when the worldwide Flood came, Matthew 24: 37-39; Lk. 17:26-29, and in the days of Abraham, when Sodom and Gomorra were burned up. Their sins, caused their cities to be totally destroyed with no trace left. That will happen again the Bible means to say. {Isaiah 14:12-17}

"The time is near when the large cities will be visited by the judgments of God. In a little while these cities will be terribly shaken. No matter how large or how strong their buildings, no matter how many safeguards against fire may have been provided, let God touch these buildings, and in a few minutes or a few hours they are in ruins." {7T 83.2}

"I am bidden to declare the message that cities full of transgression, and sinful in the extreme, will be destroyed by earthquakes, by fire, by flood." {Ev 27}

"O that God's people had a sense of the impending destruction of thousands of cities, now almost given to idolatry." {Ev 29.4}

"The time is near when large cities will be swept away, and all should be warned of these coming judgments. But who is giving to the accomplishment of this work the wholehearted service that God requires?" {Ev 29.2}

"The time is right upon us when there will be sorrow in the world that no human balm can heal. The flattering monuments of men's greatness will be crumbled in the dust, even before the last great destruction comes upon the world. . . ." {3SM 418.4}

Things like "flattering monuments"? Could that include tallest skyscrapers, airports, rocket installations, industrial complexes, villas, etc.?

"The day of the Lord is at hand, when the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and all the cities of the earth shall be destroyed (this seems to be on the day of the second coming since it references 2.Peter 3:10-12). Christ, escorted by ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of angels, shall come in the clouds of heaven. (Rev. 5) The righteous dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and rise from their graves to immortal life, and we that are alive and remain shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and so be forever with the Lord. 1.Thess. 4:15-17. In view of these great and solemn events we are exhorted to be diligent that we may be "found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." {ST, February 10, 1888 par. 2}

"The time is near when large cities will be swept away, and all should be warned of these coming judgments.
Oh, that God's people had a sense of the impending destruction of thousands of cities now almost given to idolatry! {AH 136, 5.6; Think of the destructions in WWII, 2011 (Libya's capital. Could that be part of it? Probably. But only part of it. Cities will be "swept" away, Indonesia, Japan.}
God lets us know these coming events to give us time to prepare to meet our Lord, for nothing of sin will enter heaven.

On April 16, 1906, there passed before me a most wonderful representation. During a vision of the night, I stood on an eminence, from which I could see houses shaken like a reed in the wind. Buildings, great and small, were falling to the ground. Pleasure resorts, theaters, hotels, and the homes of the wealthy were shaken and shattered. Many lives were blotted out of existence, and the air was filled with the shrieks of the injured and the terrified.

The destroying angels of God were at work. One touch, and buildings so thoroughly constructed that men regarded them as secure against every danger, quickly became heaps of rubbish. There was no assurance of safety in any place. I did not feel in any special peril, but the awfulness of the scenes that passed before me I cannot find words to describe. It seemed that the forbearance of God was exhausted, and that the judgment day had come. {CL, 8.6-9.1}

I am bidden to declare the message that cities full of transgression, and sinful in the extreme, will be destroyed by earthquakes, by fire, by flood. All the world will be warned that there is a God who will display His authority as God. His unseen agencies will cause destruction, devastation, and death. All the accumulated riches will be as nothingness. . . . {CL 7.4}

"The time is near when large cities will be swept away, and all should be warned of these coming judgments." Ev.29.

The signs of the times give evidence that the judgments of heaven are being poured out, that the day of the Lord is at hand. The daily papers are full of indications of an intense conflict in the future. Bold robberies are of frequent occurrence. Strikes are common. Thefts and murders are committed on every hand. Men possessed by demons are taking the lives of men, women, and little children. All these things testify that the Lord's coming is near. {Mar 175.3; Think of Jan. 11, 2011 in Arizona}

The restraining Spirit of God is even now being withdrawn from the world. Hurricanes, storms, tempests, disasters by sea and by land, follow one another in quick succession. The signs thickening around us, telling of the near approach of the Son of God, are attributed to any other than the true cause. Men can not discern the sentinel angel restraining the four winds, that they shall not blow until the servants of God are sealed; but when God shall bid His angels loose the winds, there will be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture.

The time is right upon us when there will be sorrow in the world that no human balm can heal. Even before the last great destruction comes upon the world, the flattering monuments of man's greatness will be crumbled in the dust. God's retributive judgments will fall on those who in the face of great light have continued in sin. Costly buildings, supposed to be fire-proof, are erected. But as Sodom perished in the flames of God's vengeance, so will these proud structures become ashes. I have seen vessels which cost immense sums of money wrestling with the mighty ocean, seeking to breast the angry billows. But with all their treasures of gold and silver, and with all their human freight, they sank into a watery grave. Man's pride will be buried with the treasures he has accumulated by fraud. God will avenge the widows and orphans who in hunger and nakedness have cried to Him for relief from oppression. {ST, October 9, 1901 par. 2, 3}

O that God's people had a sense of the impending destruction of thousands of cities, now almost given to idolatry! . . .

Not long ago a very impressive scene passed before me. I saw an immense ball of fire falling among some beautiful mansions, causing their instant destruction. I heard someone say, "We knew that the judgments of God were coming upon the earth, but we did not know that they would come so soon." Others said, "You knew? Why then did you not tell us? We did not know." On every side I heard such words spoken. . . .

Soon grievous troubles will arise among the nations—trouble that will not cease until Jesus comes. As never before we need to press together, serving Him who has prepared His throne in the heavens and whose kingdom ruleth over all. God has not forsaken His people, and our strength lies in not forsaking Him.

The judgments of God are in the land. The wars and rumors of wars, the destruction by fire and flood, say clearly that the time of trouble, which is to increase until the end, is very near at hand, "but there shall not an hair of your head perish.", Lk. 21:18, that promise we can claim then. We have no time to lose. The world is stirred with the spirit of war. The prophecies of the eleventh of Daniel have almost reached their final fulfillment. . . .

Last Friday morning, just before I awoke, a very impressive scene was presented before me. I seemed to awake from sleep but was not in my home. From the windows I could behold a terrible conflagration. Great balls of fire were falling upon houses, and from these balls fiery arrows were flying in every direction. It was impossible to check the fires that were kindled, and many places were being destroyed. The terror of the people was indescribable.

Strictly will the cities of the nations be dealt with, and yet they will not be visited in the extreme of God's indignation, because some souls will yet break away from the delusions of the enemy, and will repent and be converted (that must mean this will take place before probation closes), while the mass will be treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath. {OFC 318.1-5}

As men depart further and further from God, Satan is permitted to have power over the children of disobedience. He hurls destruction among men. There is calamity by land and sea. Property and life are destroyed by fire and flood. Satan resolves to charge this upon those who refuse to bow to the idol which he has set up. His agents point to Seventh-day Adventists as the cause of the trouble. "These people stand out in defiance of law," they say. "They desecrate Sunday. Were they compelled to obey the law for Sunday observance, there would be a cessation of these terrible judgments." {Mar 176.2}

Calamities will come--calamities most awful, most unexpected; and these destructions will follow one after another. If there will be a heeding of the warnings that God has given, and if churches will repent, returning to their allegiance, then other cities may be spared for a time. But if men who have been deceived continue in the same way in which they have been walking, disregarding the law of God, and presenting falsehoods before the people, God allows them to suffer calamity, that their senses may be awakened. {CL 7.5}

Said the prophets of old as they beheld in holy vision the day of God: "Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty." [Isaiah 13:6.] "Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low." "In that day a man shall cast the idols of his silver, and the idols of his gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth." [Isaiah 2:10-12, 21 (MARGIN).] {GC88 638.1}

Amid the reeling of the earth, the flash of lightning, and the roar of thunder, the voice of the Son of God calls forth the sleeping saints. He looks upon the graves of the righteous, then raising his hands to heaven he cries, "Awake, awake, awake, ye that sleep in the dust, and arise!" Throughout the length and breadth of the earth, the dead shall hear that voice; and they that hear shall live. And the whole earth shall ring with the tread of the exceeding great army of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. From the prison-house of death they come, clothed with immortal glory, crying, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is the victory?" [1 Corinthians 15:55.] And the living righteous and the risen saints unite their voices in a long, glad shout of victory. {GC88 644.2}

When you read the prophecies and you read where she says thousands of cities are going to be destroyed, that could easily involve, friends, billions of people - they want to destroy some 80% on earth. That means, all or most organisations with world wide connections may be targets of the powers that move and shake the earth to infiltrate them to do their will. So, observe, when such organisations are beset with failures, it may come from the top.
And at that time, when these judgments of God are falling on the earth, it is these judgments of course that are going to bring on the final crisis, going to bring on the death decree. And it is during that time that she says here, He will also come as a protector of all those who have preserved the faith in its purity and kept themselves unspotted from the world. {Ibid.}

CIAS: Trying to think back, how many cities were destroyed in Europe during WWII? There was Bremen, Bremerhafen, Kiel, parts of Hamburg, Nurnberg and Berlin, parts of Dresden, Warsaw, London, Brussel, parts of Munich(?), cities along the Rhein, various factories, railroad ties, highways, two cities in Japan, places in France, Italy, Holland, Belgium . . . In fact, as kids in the early 50's we used to play around bomb craters, in which people threw their discards. While this was terrible, clearly it was not thousands of cities which were destroyed in all of Europe in WWI and WWII.

At the end the world will experience the powers stored inside the earth. As man slighted the account of the Flood in the days of Noah, disbelieving the plain words of God, they will see first hand how that can work.

Coal and oil are generally to be found where there are no burning mountains or fiery issues. When fire and water under the surface of the earth meet, the fiery issues cannot give sufficient vent to the heated elements beneath. The earth is convulsed, the ground heaves, and rises into swells or waves, and there are heavy sounds like thunder under ground. The air is heated, and suffocating. The earth quickly opens, and I saw villages, cities and burning mountains carried down together into the earth.

God controls all these elements; they are his instruments to do his will; he calls them into action to serve his purpose. These fiery issues have been, and will be, his agents to blot out from the earth very wicked cities. Like Korah, Dathan and Abiram, they go down alive into the pit. These are evidences of God's power. Those who have beheld these burning mountains pouring forth fire, and flame, and a vast amount of melted ore, drying up rivers and causing them to disappear, have been struck with terror at the grandeur of the scene. They have been filled with awe as though they were beholding the infinite power of God.

These manifestations bear the special marks of God's power, and are designed to cause the people of the earth to tremble before him, and to silence those who, like Pharaoh, would proudly say, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice?" Isaiah refers to these exhibitions of God's power where he exclaims, "Oh! that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, as when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence." Isaiah 64:1-3.

"The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebuketh the sea and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers. Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him." Nahum 1:3-6.

"Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them." Psalm 144:5, 6.

Greater wonders than have yet been seen will be witnessed by those upon the earth a short period previous to the coming of Christ. "And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke." Joel 2:30; Acts 2:19. "And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great." "And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great." Rev. 16:18,20,21.

The bowels of the earth were the Lord's arsenal, from which he drew forth the weapons he employed in the destruction of the old world. Waters in the bowels of the earth gushed forth, and united with the waters from heaven, to accomplish the work of destruction. Since the flood, God has used both water and fire in the earth as his agents to destroy wicked cities.

In the day of the Lord, just before the coming of Christ, God will send lightnings from heaven in his wrath, which will unite with fire in the earth. The mountains will burn like a furnace, and will pour forth terrible streams of lava, destroying gardens and fields, villages and cities; and as they pour their melted ore, rocks and heated mud, into the rivers, will cause them to boil like a pot, and send forth massive rocks, and scatter their broken fragments upon the land with indescribable violence. Whole rivers will be dried up. The earth will be convulsed, and there will be dreadful eruptions and earthquakes everywhere. God will plague the wicked inhabitants of the earth until they are destroyed from off it. The saints are preserved in the earth in the midst of these dreadful commotions, as Noah was preserved in the ark at the time of the flood. {1SP 82.1-84.4}

Dear reader, I want to be in that category (being faithful), do you? When God comes forth and there are thousands of cities destroyed and there are millions or billions of human beings destroyed in a very short time by judgments, when that time comes, she says, He is going to be the Protector of those who have preserved the purity of their faith and kept themselves unspotted from the world. Are you going to be in that category? Will you be one who has preserved the purity of the faith? Is preserving the purity of your faith important? Evidently! If you want God to be your Protector, you better have the same faith that the prophets and the apostles had. You had better keep yourself unspotted from the world, if you want to be protected when this happens.

I doubt that any of us can really imagine, or comprehend, the magnitude of what is very soon going to happen. We talk about the New World Order and we talk about Sunday laws and these things. What we do not realize is, or maybe some of you do, when these things happen, when you have national councils passing Sunday laws, God is going to do something. And I want to tell you, when God does something, millions or billions of people are going to be destroyed. It is not going to be something small. Everybody in the world is going to recognize it. It is going to look, for just a little while, like all of God's people, of course, are going to be destroyed. But when He comes as an avenger. "He will also come as a protector of all those who have preserved the faith in its purity and kept themselves unspotted from the world. It is at this time that God has promised to avenge His own elect which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them. . . . [Just think of China. They are planning to start a giant, forced re-education program. We must pray for China. How long will God forebear with China?]

"In the time when His wrath shall go forth in judgments, (notice it is the time when God's wrath is going to go forth in judgments) these humble, devoted followers of Christ will be distinguished from the rest of the world by their soul anguish, which is expressed in lamentation and weeping, reproofs and warnings. While others try to throw a cloak over the existing evil, and excuse the great wickedness everywhere prevalent, those who have a zeal for God's honor and a love for souls will not hold their peace to obtain favor of any." {Ibid.}

May I ask, what category are you in? Are you in the category of those who will throw a cloak over what is going on? Or will you not hold your peace to gain favor from any one? When you see something that is wrong, you have to speak up because your conscience will not let you be quiet.

"Their righteous souls are vexed day by day with the unholy works and conversation of the unrighteous. They are powerless to stop the rushing torrent of iniquity, and hence they are filled with grief and alarm. They mourn before God to see religion despised in the very homes of those who have had great light. They lament and afflict their souls because pride, avarice, selfishness, and deception of almost every kind are in the church. The Spirit of God, which prompts to reproof, is trampled underfoot, while the servants of Satan triumph. God is dishonored, the truth made of none effect. {Ibid., 210, 211}

So we may know we better be prepared for what she predicted will be happening. She says,

"The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over the sins of others, will be left without the seal of God." {Ibid.}

Then she talks about Ezekiel 9, how that the leaders of the church are going to be destroyed and then she says, "Here we see that the church -- the Lord's sanctuary--was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles and the marked manifestations of God's power as in former days. Times have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people in judgment. Thus 'Peace and safety' is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all perish together."

It is going to be a time of great destruction. I want to tell you, friends, it is going to happen all of a sudden. And you may be surprised at all who will be destroyed when these judgments come.

CIAS Comment: Perhaps it could happen through (a) differences in worldviews, (b) foreign terrorism, (c) the NWO (the NWO, the "Novus Ordo Seclorum," the new world order - of the 1$ bill.) wanting to drastically reduce the world's population so the few can reign over the left overs. (d) More importantly it could come directly from God as it did in the days of Abraham. It seems more widespread legislated national apostasy will be the trigger for national ruin, 2.Thess. 2:3-15.

I want to look just a little bit at the order of some events. We cannot predict order closer or more than God specifies in inspired writings. But I want to look at the order of some events.

"We are to be ready and waiting for the orders of God. Nations will be stirred to their very center."

Okay, the nations are going to be stirred to the very center. What are they going to be stirred with? There is going to be a controversy. Well that controversy is developing right now in the religious right. What is the controversy going to be over? [How about the issue of Separation of Church & State; 2]

It says, "Support will be withdrawn from those who proclaim God's only standard of righteousness, the only sure test of character." Support is going to be withdrawn from who? Those who support the law of God. Support is going to be withdrawn. What is going to happen? It says,

"All who will not bow to the decrees of the national councils and obey the national laws to exalt the sabbath instituted by the man of sin, to the disregard of God's holy day, will feel, not the oppressive power of popery alone, but the Protestant world, the image of the beast."

So there are going to be national laws instituted to enforce Sunday observance. That is the image to the beast and that is the triggering event that is going to trigger everything else that is going to happen.

Remember, we also read, that the national Sunday law will be followed by what? National ruin. Now let me tell you something, friends. When God says ruin, it means ruin for it reads, "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitanats thereof: because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant." Isa. 24:5; and "... the day of Christ is at hand ...,"2.Thess.2:3,4; so "The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev. 12:17; "... Hurt not the earth ... till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." Rev. 7:3; "And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth." Rev. 16:1. We have no comprehension what is going to happen to this country. The national Sunday law, making people attend Sunday churches on the first day of the week, will trigger the judgments of God. By the way, this is the message that we must get out to the entire United States.

If you pass a national Sunday law, it will be followed by the judgments of God and the country will be ruined. People need to know ahead of time.

Don't you think they ought to know? If you pass a national Sunday law, it will trigger the judgments of God and it will bring ruin upon this country. People need to know, they need to have an opportunity to make a choice. She also says, that we may know then

"... that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan. . ." {Ibid.}

Now when the time comes for the marvelous working of Satan, do you know what is going to happen? It is going to look like God's church is going to fall to pieces. She says, "Satan will work his miracles to deceive; he will set up his power as supreme. (This is after the national Sunday law.) The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out--the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless, it must take place. None but those who have been overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found with the loyal and true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in their mouths. We must be divested of our self-righteousness and arrayed in the righteousness of Christ." {Maran. 195}

Do you want that experience?

"The remnant that purify their souls while obeying the truth gather strength from the trying process. {Ibid.} What is this trying process? Well, it is pressure that is brought by a national Sunday law, from Protestantism and popery combined. That is the image to the beast. The pressure that is brought by a national Sunday law to disobey God's law and the appearance that everything of God's work is falling apart. It says, "All these, He says, I have graven upon the palms of My hands." Isaiah 49:16. They are held in everlasting, imperishable remembrance. {2SM , 380.1}

But I tell you, you are going to have to have faith to believe it.

What is the issue she has been describing? The national Sunday law, the image to the beast, that will be enforced that will test the people of God and you are going to find who is who and find out which people are going to remain true whether they are threatened with imprisonment or death or whatever else. And which people, when the pressure is on and they do not know how they are going to get anything to eat or any clothes to wear or any place to stay and how they are going to pay their bills, they are going to succumb to the pressure. "The great issue so near at hand, will weed out those whom God has not appointed and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain." {Ibid.}

Now that is quite a statement. Because, if you have been following the order of events, at least the greatest power of the latter rain is going to occur after the national Sunday law because the national Sunday law is going to weed out all the chaff, the tares. It is going to weed them out and there is going to be "a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain.

Would you like to be part of it?

So the greatest power of the latter rain is going to occur after the image to the beast is set up. There is going to be a series of events, Ellen White says, that will show that God is the master of the situation. And as the members of the body of Christ, grow up into Christ, as they partake largely of His Spirit and receive the latter rain, they will give the loud cry. R&H, May 27, 1862, says, "As the members of the body of Christ approach the period of their last conflict, 'the time of Jacob's trouble,' they will grow up into Christ, and will partake largely of his Spirit. As the third message swells to a loud cry, and as great power and glory attend the closing work, the faithful people of God will partake of that glory. It is the latter rain which revives and strengthens them to pass through the time of trouble. Their faces will shine with the glory of that light which attends the third angel.

Well, now what is just about to happen is going to look like the biggest trouble there has ever been, but that is just to prepare you for the real trouble. You see there is going to be a gigantic change, a national Sunday law, that image to the beast, is not only going to separate out the chaff in the church, but it is going to bring the judgments of God that will bring this country and perhaps the entire world, as they follow its example, to the brink of starvation and every kind of ruin.

And at the time that happens, God's people, the faithful and true, will receive the latter rain and will give the loud cry and God's work will be finished in a very short time. It is during that time, also, that you find many references in the Spirit of Prophecy about eleventh hour workers that God is going to raise up. I believe that He is raising some up right now, but there are going to be a lot more, from every type of background, raised up to finish God's work.

I want to tell you, friends, there is a reason the Bible says, "Take heed that no man take your crown." Be careful. If we are unfaithful to our mission--you know what the Jews thought, we read `that they were the people of God.' Ellen White says that `they defied earth and heaven to take away from them their rights.' Imagine that! John the Baptist told them straight. He said God could raise up children to Abraham from the stones. He did not need them. {COL, 294} You know, friend, we need God, but we need to remember that God could finish His work without us if we are not faithful to our mission. God can finish His work without us. He can raise up others who will be faithful, that will do the work and finish it.

But then, if that happens, you and I would lose out on the blessing that we should have. I do not want to lose out on the blessings that God wants me to have, do you? I want to be faithful. I want to go through this test and be ready to give the last message and be part of giving the last message of mercy to the world. Would you like to be part of that?

Current Terrific Events Foretold

So, what is the sequence of events? One of these days there is going to be the development to the image of the beast and as that is developed and the national Sunday law is passed, then there are going to come judgments of God on this world and on this nation that you and I cannot even imagine right now. It is going to bring it absolutely to ruin, that is what inspiration says. Then there are going to be a lot of accidents and calamities by sea and by land, conflagrations, fierce tornadoes and terrific hailstorms, tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, and earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand forms. Satan is exercising his power. He sweeps away the ripening harvest, and famine and distress follow. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestilence. These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous. Destruction will be upon both man and beast. "The earth mourneth and fadeth away," "The haughty people . . . do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant." Isaiah 24:4, 5. {CH 461.1}

The church is just going to appear to fall, like not much is left and if we go through that test, we are going to receive the latter rain and hear the loud cry. When you receive the latter rain and give the loud cry, then just before probation closes (now that is not a long period of time, by the way. When Ellen White talks about that period of time, she never uses the expression "years", she always uses the expression "months". It is not a long period of time we are talking about) just before probation closes, we will receive the seal of God and our destiny will be secure. It will not seem like it though. It will seem like we are going to be killed during the time of trouble.

Let us read this that. Ellen White wrote in 1846. She said,

"About four months since, I had a vision of events, all in the future. And I saw the time of trouble, such as never was--Jesus told me it was the time of Jacob's trouble, and that we should be delivered out of it by the voice of God. Just before we entered it, we all received the seal of the living God." {The Day Star (DS), Sabbath, March 14, 1846}

Let's look at the events we have studied. There is going to be a sudden change. The judgments of God are going to be brought upon the land. The image to the beast is going to be set up and that is going to result in absolute ruin to this country.

When our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and Republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan, and that the end is near. {5T 451.} It takes 34 states to request a Constitutional Convention. In 1982 32 states had requested it, they almost got one then, mercifully God gave us more time to repent and be counted among His people. When it comes, it will provide for those sinful influences which distinctly separate our nation from God. "`The Lord will arise to shake terribly the earth', Isa. 2:20,21. We shall see troubles on all sides. Thousands of ships will be hurled into the depths of the sea. Navies will go down, and human lives will be sacrificed by millions. Fires will break out unexpectedly, and no human effort will be able to quench them. The palaces of earth will be swept away in the fury of the flames. Disasters by rail will become more and more frequent; confusion, collision, and death without a moment's warning will occur on the great lines of travel. The end is near, probation is closing. Oh, let us seek God while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near! {FLB 343.5; The gospel of Mark uses the word "away" many times.}

The judgments of God, well, thousands of cities, she says, thousands of cities destroyed. Whole navies will go down and human lives will be sacrificed by the millions. By the way, that has never happened. We have tried to figure out if that happened in World War II. Be assured that prediction has not yet happened. There has never been a time before when whole navies (flotillas?) go right to the bottom of the sea. What kind of judgment would that be? It would be some type of natural disaster such as, at the present time, we do not have the capacity to even imagine. Because nothing like that, at least since the flood, has ever happened. A disaster of that kind did not even happen at the flood.

[CIAS Comment: Speaking of navies seems to mean not only military vessels but all kinds of sea going vessels.]

And after this time of terrible judgment has occurred, God's people are going to receive to the fullest extent, I am not saying it will not start before that time, but I know from the inspired writings that the fullest extent of the latter rain and the loud cry are going to occur after that time. And then just before probation closes, God's people are going to receive His seal. - What will happen as part of the latter rain? Those who were held back to give their heart to the Lord by family members, friends, will lose their fear and seek the truth and exalt the truth and the loud cry of the third angel and regard it as more precious than life. {1T, p. 182,183}

That is what it says here. And then, "I saw the four angels cease to hold the four winds. And I saw famine, pestilence and sword, nation rose against nation, and the whole world was in confusion. Then we cried to God for deliverance, day and night, till we began to hear the bells on Jesus' garment." {Ibid.; Ex. 28:31-33; 39:25; Zech. 14:20, horses cherubim angels} Did you know that? You are going to hear the bells on Jesus' garment. "I saw Jesus rise up in the Holiest, and as He came out we heard the tinkling of bells, and knew our High Priest was coming out." [DS, March 14, 1846, par. 2] That is exciting, isn't it?

"Then we heard the voice of God which shook the heavens and earth, and gave the 144,000 the day and hour of Jesus' coming. Then the saints were free, united and full of the glory of God for He had turned their captivity. And I saw a flaming cloud come where Jesus stood and He laid off His priestly garment and put on His kingly robe, took His place on the cloud which carried Him to the east where it first appeared to the saints on earth, a small black cloud, which was the sign of the Son of man. While the cloud was passing from the Holiest to the east which took a number of days, the synagogue of Satan worshiped at the saint's feet." {Ibid.}

Well, that is a very interesting description, isn't it? Their captivity was turned. It is at the time the captivity is turned that the special resurrection occurs. And then for a number of days, while Jesus is passing from the Holiest to the east, the wicked worshiped at the saints' feet. You can find that also in the little tract `Little Remnant Scattered Abroad' which was also written by Ellen White in 1846.

Dear reader, we must never allow ourselves to just look at the present troubles that are coming on the world. We must have faith to realize that just beyond this and this and this, the time is coming, and it is going to be soon, we are going to be out of this world, if we are faithful. Oh friend, are you preparing? Are you ready? Do you want to get out of this world? A sudden change is going to happen very soon in God's dealing with men. This sudden change is going to bring on, quickly, a series of events. God's work, after this sudden change happens, is not going to be finished anymore in years, it is going to be months. It is not going to be years that people will have to prepare for the close of probation, it is just going to be months. Right now is the time to prepare.

When we see what is happening in the world today, we ask the question that Ellen White asked. Who is prepared for the sudden change that will take place in God's dealing with sinful men? Who is prepared for the sudden change? That is why we are here. We want to be prepared. We want to pray before we go and say, "Lord, I'm surrendering myself totally to You. I want to be ready for the sudden change that is about to happen."

Here in the book of Zephaniah it talks about this sudden change that is going to happen. Zephaniah 1, we could read the whole chapter, but it says in verse 2, "I will utterly consume all things from the face of the land, says the Lord." And it shows a sequence of events that is going to happen. They will happen suddenly and speedily like fires do.

Notice what it says in verse 15, "That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess." Verse 16 says, "A day of trumpet. . . (that is of war)" Verses 17 and 18, "I will bring distress upon men, and they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like refuse. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy, for He will make speedy riddance of all those who dwell in the land." Zeph. 1:ff18.

The whole land is going to be devoured.

Now what should we do when we see this sudden change is coming that is described in chapter 1? Look at chapter 2, it says, "Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, before the decree is issued, (that is before this sudden change happens) before the day passes like chaff, before the Lord's fierce anger comes upon you. . . Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger. Zeph. 2:1-3.

Dear reader, will you be one of those who are hidden in the day of the Lord's anger? When all of a sudden there is a change in the way God deals with the human race. And once that change happens, this world will never be the same again. By fire and by sword the Lord will plead with all flesh and the slain of the Lord will be many. It will be the last call. It will be too late, by the way, for many Christians.

Ellen White is very clear on this. For those who have never heard the message, the Lord will still hold the door of mercy for them so that they can hear, while for those who refuse to go in, the door is going to be shut, Rev. 15:8.

So, when that sudden change happens, are you going to be ready? When God comes forth as an Avenger, will He be your Protector? Will you be one of those who have preserved the purity of your faith and have kept yourself unspotted from the world as it says in James 1:27? Will you be one who will be hid in the day of the Lord's anger?

There will be some people who will be hid. Here in Isaiah 26 it talks about this time as we draw right down to the end. We read, "Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past. For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain." Isaiah 26:20,21.

Are you ready for that? Up until now, when people die we always bury them, even in wartime. Sometimes we make mass graves, but we bury them. But there is coming a time when they are not going to bury them anymore. There are going to be so many people dying they will not be able to bury them anymore. It is going to happen. There are some people who are going to be hid. There are going to be some people who will be delivered.

This deliverance is spoken of again in these words, "You shall have a song as in the night when a holy festival is kept, and gladness of heart as when one goes with a flute, to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the Mighty One of Israel. The Lord will cause His glorious voice to be heard, and show the descent of His arm, with the indignation of His anger and the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, tempest, and hailstones." Isaiah 30:29,30. That is the seventh plague.

Dear reader, are you going to be hid? Are you going to be one who is protected? When God comes forth as an Avenger, will He be to you a Protector? He is going to avenge His own who cry day and night. He is going to destroy the world, but to some people He is going to be a Protector. Will you be one of those? Friends, if you are going to be, now is the time to make your calling and election sure. Now is the time to get serious with God. Do not play games, friends. Say,

"I am choosing to surrender my heart, my mind, my will, everything to You. I am choosing to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. Please work out the plan of salvation in my life."

The phrase `Here is wisdom' connects Rev.13:18 with Rev.17:9 already cited above. But we also read:

"And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." Rev. 13:3

"And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space." Rev. 17:10.

Since these kings belong in the time close to the end of time, we are interested to find out who this king is who received such a wound and we are reminded on the events of May 13, 1981. On this day the sixth of these seven kings was severely wounded by the bullets of an assassin. Even though the injury was severe and the `king' was near death for a time, he survived. The five kings who reigned before him cover the following period: 1. 1922-1938; 2. 1939-1958; 3. 1958-1963; 4. 1963-1978 and the fifth for only 33 days in 1978. The sixth reigned then between 1978-2005 and today the seventh king is ruling in the city of the seven hills, 2005-2013. Well, the eigth is seated since March 2013; are we to ignore the fifth?

But some may ask, why should we start these 7 kings with the one whose Pontificate started in 1922? Why not some later pope?

One answer may be, while it is tempting to take the 6th pope as the starting point and let the remaining ones fall into the time slot before and after him, we may say this about the first pope: The first of these seven popes happens to be the pope during whose pontificate the Vatican became a state once again (ca. 1929) after the 1798 wounding. So, in a sense that is a pivotal starting point as far as the beginning of his rise to power is concerned.

The reader may find out who these kings were, but if this scenario holds true, it seems, we are indeed close to the end of time. - Well, now I believe more than before that the scenario is holding true. Not only that, but we also can know today that the seventh ruler, being the last, also means, that he and our current ruler are the last rulers in power in their sphere (working together for how many years we do not know) before Jesus comes.

What God wants His people to realize is concisely presented in the messages to the seven churches. In these seven messages we find three statements that Jesus makes which are given to all seven churches. These statements are, (1) "I know thy works", meaning: God knows all about each one of us. We cannot deceive Him (Gen. 16:13).; (2) "To him that overcometh", meaning: `Overcoming' is imperative. It takes place only through Jesus (Rev. 12:11).; and (3) "Hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches", meaning: I, we all, must heed the voice of the Holy Spirit at all times (Jh. 16:8,13). We must learn to hear and listen to that still, small voice. How? By remaining true to God, living a godly life in harmony with the principles of God's kingdom. These three messages are addressed to every person alive today. While we read and hear much about the love of God (Zeph. 3:17; Rom. 5:5; 8:39; Eph. 2:14; 1.Jh. 4), redemption, salvation, and many similar concepts and terminology having to do with faith, few speak of probation and being sealed. For this reason we include a short explanation at this time.

The first analogy having to do with the finalisation of a decision we read about in the Book of Genesis. There is Eve and there is Adam. Once Eve decided to listen to the snake and Adam decided to partake of the same mistake, the course of sin in this world was set (Gen. 3:6-7). Next we read of Abel that he offered animal sacrifices while Cain thought it was enough to offer bloodless plant sacrifices (Gen. 4:3-4). Their minds were made up on how to worship. Then we jump ahead to the time of Noah, and thank God we have what appear to be the actual remains of the mighty ship he built as a witness for the people living at the end of time so none shall have an excuse (but really all we need is the Bible itself) - Noah spent 120 years to build it. The findings of rivets and being able to make out where the rib timbers once stood, is truly amazing and shows that Noah was a thorough workman. Of the 120 years a good amount of time must have been spent in preparation, devising the plans, forging the tools and implements. But on that last day, after all those nearby watching saw the animals walk into the ark, and the door was shut, the fate of those outside and inside was sealed. Those on the outside had ridiculed Noah, those eight people inside believed and were saved. Each group had formed their decision. They joined one or the other group, like Jesus said,

"Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." Matth. 13:30.

"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 2.Timothy 2:19

"And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" Zechariah 3:2

"... Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 2.Timothy 2:19

While it is true that the brighter the light is which we shine on us, the more we realize the continual need of the Saviour's blood to cleanse us, we should show growth in the maturity in the faith. This process we should have started yesterday. We should turn off - completely - the sin besetting us. We must spend time with God and not the newspapers and television and in idle talk. Those don't save us. God is waiting for His people to fall in line. The disciples were to become more like Jesus, so should we - so nothing separates us from the love of God. It is `heart' work inside of us which we must accomplish.

Some imagine that during the time of trouble they will have been raptured safe into heaven and won't have to endure any hardship. Is that true? Should the Lord endure everything for us so we can get into heaven unscathed? Jesus Christ compared this time of testing to Noah in the ark for seven days before the rain began, Luke 17:26. No rain fell for one week. What jesting and revilings there were on the part of the unbelieving mockers about the ark! But after six days - the one week's trial following the shutting in of the believers by an invisible hand, a week during which the fruit of unbelief, in words and acts of mockery, had been fully revealed - a steady rain set in, and continued until the whole of the unbelievers who were outside of the ark were perishing in their sins. Not a living being or a dumb animal outside the ark, was left alive. Should our faith never be tested if it is truly genuine before God translates us into people fit to live in heaven? Who ever invented this doctrine of the rapture and the seven years at the end of time? People, study and think this over. There is something wrong here - a compilation of minor, misunderstood texts is put up as something major. There will be a period of testing for all the people who confess to be God's people. His church on earth. His remnant people.[460] The elect if you please. Those who follow Jesus all the way.

"This is intended as a warning to the people of God living in the last days. A people who know that righteousness is always a term that means holiness that has confronted temptation in sinful nature and has overcome. If they follow after righteousness and true holiness, if they keep all the commandments of God, Satan and his agents will not be permitted to overcome them. All the opposition of their bitterest foes will prove powerless to destroy or uproot the vine of God's own planting. Satan understands what Balaam learned by sad experience, that there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither divination against Israel, while iniquity is not cherished among them; therefore his power and influence will ever be employed to mar their unity and defile the purity of their characters. His snares are laid in a thousand ways to weaken their power for good." [5T, 599.]

God saves a purified people, purified while they were still living on earth, not in heaven. Our minds must be made up before we can show up in heaven. We must be sealed beforehand. It is taking place all around us. The presence of God surrounds such people. We must say no to sin starting today. And if we fall we must keep on praying and believing. We must grow to maturity - quicker, the closer we get to that day - all of us, young and old. As time goes on the contrast between the world and God's people will become greater because they have purged their life and possessions of everything that reminds of sin. Compromise with sin, `feeding' on worldly pleasures, is not possible anymore for God's people.[GC, 48]

Parents, like the mother and grandmother trained Timothy for Jesus, so train your children that they don't have to do the guilty things, the sin, the bad thing. We must know, we do not have to commit that sin which presents itself. We must train us to think, Jesus be the Lord in my life. We must die to self so that the looks and oblique comments of those who do not know Christ do not affect our decision. Living a life which is close to Jesus and training our children from a young age to love the Lord, that way, if a child should die before reaching the age of accountability, the faith of the parents is needed in the child's salvation and only God knows how to decide these cases. Thank God, the sealing time is of short duration.

"I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." John 9:4

We are told, that when the third angel's message closes after the power of God had rested upon His people; they had accomplished their work and were prepared for the trying hour before them.

`They had received the latter rain, or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and the living testimony had been revived. The last great warning had sounded everywhere, and it had stirred up and enraged the inhabitants of the earth who would not receive the message.'

`The present is a time of overwhelming interest to all living. Rulers and statesmen, men who occupy positions of trust and authority, thinking men and women of all classes, have their attention fixed upon the events taking place about us. They are watching the strained, restless relations that exist among the nations. They observe the intensity that is taking possession of every earthly element, and they realize that something great and decisive is about to take place--that the world is on the verge of a stupendous crisis.'

`Angels are now restraining the winds of strife, until the world shall be warned of its coming doom; but a storm is gathering, ready to burst upon the earth, and when God shall bid His angels loose the winds, there will be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture. . . .' [473]

`A moment of respite has been graciously given us of God. Every power lent us of heaven is to be used in doing the work assigned us by the Lord for those who are perishing in ignorance. The warning message is to be sounded in all parts of the world. . . . A great work is to be done, and this work has been entrusted to those who know the truth for this time.'

`Angels are holding the four winds, represented as an angry horse seeking to break loose, and rush over the face of the whole earth, bearing destruction and death in its path.'

`I tell you in the name of the Lord God of Israel that all injurious, discouraging influences are held in control by unseen angel hands, until everyone that works in the fear and love of God is sealed in his forehead.'[474]

Salvation is a personal thing. You are saved. You cannot make your best friend to be saved unless he willingly chooses it. You are saved and those you led to Christ. Hopefully that will include your own family and those close to you.

Today it is still true: `The more we study the life of Christ with a heart to learn, the more Christlike we become.' How much longer?

" Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near." Isaiah 55:6

The following Bible passages reveal the concept of probation:

1) The story of Noah.
2) The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
3) The history of the Jewish people.
4) The wheat and the weeds, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43.
5) The fish in the net, Matthew 13:47-50.
6) The ten virgins, Matthew 25: 1-13.
7) The men with talents, Matthew 25:14-30.
8) The sheep and the goats, Matthew 25:31-46.

So we ask, `How can one uphold `the true spirit of the law' of Almighty Creator God without `the letter of the law?' The "letter" or the very "letters" of the law are the very basis for the spirit of it. - Therefore, Christianity, by altering the wording of the law to say in effect what is shown on the right side, introduces another spirit which is not of God - and we remember, because human beings are the special objects of God's tender love, they are also the special target of Satanic hatred; and only God's protecting care preserves them. And our mind goes back to the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert toward the end of which Satan came to tempt him. But Jesus repelled the advances of the fallen angel each time with a brief quotation from the Bible. Dear reader, all we need to do on this question of Sunday observance is, read the law of God and let it decide. That is what a righteous judge would do. That is what Jesus would do. That is all we need to do.

The first Sunday Law [479] constitutes the establishment of the `Mark of the Beast' and leads to the Second Angel's Message. According to the Apostle John, it will be the lamb like beast with two horns which speaks like a dragon (USA), that is exercising its power like the first terrible beast (Rome) which will "cause", that is force "the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed." (Rev. 13:12). God will use the Sunday law in the near future to allow the devil to drive us to our dear Saviour. He showed Isaiah that He will safely lead His cleansed and glorious bride through the time of trouble as He led His people through the wilderness, Isa. 4:4-6; 30:29-30. Our country, historically a Protestant nation, is rapidly changing. On both sides of the Atlantic strenuous efforts are underway for some time to reunite the estranged, once protesting and orthodox religions back into one. Historically that is never good for the people for it causes leaders to flaunt and abrogate laws as they wish and bring about persecution. This is what will happen. America, after some trigger event, will be foremost in reaching across to clasp hands with Rome and to "cause" enforced laws to be pronounced directed at minority groups. The groundwork for this to happen quickly has been laid. Rome has flirted with the eastern orthodox religions which, after the 1054 AD schism, had become estranged. Together with even the mullahs and muftis of Islam, they are primed to unite at any occasion. In 1964 Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras rescinded the mutual communication in an early effort of ecumenism (Regensburg September 2006); and before his death Pope John Paul II apologized for the sack of Constantinople. Overall then we know, as Chuck Colson stated: "In truth the gulf between Catholics and Protestants, opened by the Reformation, has been bridged," (R&H, July 26, 2007) and that is why our President addressed his visitor this April 08, "Holy Father". Dear Sabbath keepers. As it stands now, the current pope would have religious people worldwide see papal authority as the solution to the religiously motivated violence that now plagues the world. But the vehicle for all religious people to come under one common banner will be the false Sabbath. We stand at the threshold of the first law. It easily may be provoked in one of the upcoming elections when the vast majority of perhaps well meaning Christians feel compelled to vote for a moral agenda as they did in 2004. If next time a candidate and his constituents decide to make `Sunday' church going or a related item an issue, we may have pretty much arrived in the days prophecy has predicted so long ago. As the political stakes in America are pitched to a higher and higher level along the lines of abortion, the gay issues and the intensifying creation evolution debates, before unheard of developments will take place and the cry, `We will take America back', may just turn out to become a national one.[481] Unfortunately both sides are pitching anti-Godly views, one side sexual immorality and the other side religious immorality by pushing a day not ordained by God. God's faithful people will increasingly so have no place to turn to except for faith in God's Word. Openly defying a known, stated Law of God will cause Satan to increase his efforts to seduce the disobedient into still deeper disobedience. Untruths will be publicized claiming that Sunday is the original Primordial holy day when the holy Sabbath day reaches back to creation week.[482] Devils will enter the places where these anti-God efforts are originating from and work their miracles which will include to even call fire to fall down from heaven and make it look like the dead are being raised.[483] They will pull all stops and issue world wide a revised calendar in which Monday is the first day of the week and Sunday the seventh like they use them already in some countries. [The Vatican has become a member of Interpol (International Police) and they push for setting up a world wide criminal court in Rome.] Unrest will accompany these developments and Sabbath keepers must increasingly fend for themselves.

But while these changes are taking place in society around the world, the gospel will still reach people. The time of probation has not yet closed. But the faith of those believers who regard the Law of God as binding will be shaken. Those who waver and prefer their own safety in place of obedience to God's law will leave and fall by the wayside. Many have yet to learn that any expression of the gospel without resulting obedience is, of necessity, a false gospel. They learn that obedience to God's word is not optional.

As the beast and its image seek ways to get their way and hasten their goal, Satan will be brought to increased fury against those who defy him. In order to sway people to follow him, the Bible indicates that he will even transform himself into an angel of light, walk among them and speak words which will fascinate people into believing he is God.

Why would Satan make such an appearance? For the same reason that a dog would never bark unless you upset it. The only reason can be that God's people will be successful in showing the true gospel that only Jesus can save man and the three angels messages to the world, including God's holy Sabbath. That will cause Satan to go through extraordinary efforts to defeat these messages. All these happenings in divers places will take place in the midst of increased acts of war, famine and rampant diseases as the 6th Trumpet echoes these words:

"`Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.' And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were 200,000: and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these were the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. For the power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for there tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repent they of their murders, not of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." Rev. 9:14-21.

"And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornications." Revelation 14:8

"And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." Revelation 14:8

"And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him!" Matthew 25:6

And even though, God's faithful people are called merely a remnant, they know that Jesus said,

"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
Luke 12:32

And so there exists a great problem, and we remember the words of Jesus, "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened", Matth. 24:22. `When men who handle sacred things will humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, the Lord will lift them up. He will make them men of discernment - men rich in the grace of His Spirit. Their strong, selfish traits of character and their stubbornness will be seen in the light shining from the Light of the world. "I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." If you seek the Lord with all your heart, He will be found of you.'

`Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it.'

At the same time as people everywhere turn their life over to follow God, the agitation against the message will also intensify and some will waver and leave the faith, thus purging and purifying God's true church just like it happened during years of persecution. Since the laws of the land have turned against God's people, their plight will lead to the `Loud Cry'. It is the time when the woman rides the scarlet dragon openly. This unification of fallen churches and the state will also tighten the economical squeeze on God's faithful people (Isa. 41:17). The State, the Church and the Banks turn against the keepers of God's Law, and the biblical message, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen", swells on to higher levels than ever before.[485]

As the question of obedience to the Law of God has been agitated for quite some time, this presentation of truth that reproves sins and errors will excite opposition as foretold by Jesus, "Everyone that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." (Jh. 3:20) As more and more people realize that the churches cannot maintain their positions on God's holy day, Jesus predicts a change in attitude will occur. Such behavioral changes happened throughout history for we read, "The house of Israel will not hear you, for they will not listen to Me." (Eze. 3:7). Nevertheless says God: "You shall speak My words to them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear." (Eze. 2:7)

Christians everywhere realize more and more that we need to stand up for Bible truth or else become guilty of the demise of the whole world. We must speak out, but before we can do that we must live the truth ourselves. We must cleanse our own court, before we can speak and admonish people to cleanse theirs. A work of cleansing and reformation must parallel our work. As a result we shall encounter the great obstacle, both, to the acceptance and the promulgation of truth, since it involves inconvenience and reproach, rebuke and censor. This is the only argument against the truth which the defenders of it have never been able to refute. But this does not discourage the true followers of Christ. They do not expect to become popular. They know that in the school of life experiencing obstacles and difficulties means (a) Satan is riled up (Job 2:7), other times (b) they happen because of our own mistakes (2.Sam. 15:13). So we know it is a sore trial to drag ourselves away from worldly, deceiving influences. Every step that we advance we see obstacles that Satan presents, and we have to wrestle with difficulties, but an experience is being gained in having to press against these barriers, for the way opens, fresh incentives are presented from heaven, and faith becomes confirmed as we look upon Christ. Other time we may be the cause of our own difficulties. But we also read, `We shall know that infinite love ordered the experiences that seemed most trying. As we realize the tender care of Him who makes all things work together for our good, we shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.' (9T 286.2)- So which one is it that causes obstacles and difficulties? Does God order them? What does `order' mean? It means that God can put our trials and experiences in the right order (#6186, `arak'; Grk.`taxis', `diatassw or `tagma') for us so we know what caused what and so on, 2.Sam.23:5; Job 13:18; Ps. 37:23. So which agency does God use to finish us up to receive power from on high and be made ready so we can be in heaven? Easy religion does not make men and women who know God's name strong, only obstacles, difficulties, conflicts and trials can do that. What if someone does not gain power? What about the women's movements, like the `Womes Religious Right'? The Bible says that in the end, "Women rule over them," Isa. 3:12. Why, because men are mean in their homes? because Rome wants it that way? What does it take? It takes for those in difficult situations to rejoice nevertheless and count them as equipping the soul to receive the power of God, 2.Cor. 12:7-10; 1.Peter 4:12,13. Accepting trials the right way will deepen our experience with and love for God. Such, being convinced of duty they deliberately accept the cross. 2.Cor. 4:17; Hebr. 11:26. It takes people of principle, faith and daring to carry on the work of God. Please stand up and be counted in this great work of salvation.

"I saw that Jesus' work in the sanctuary will soon be finished. And after His work there is finished, He will come to the door of the first apartment, and confess the sins of Israel upon the head of the Scape Goat. Then He will put on the garments of vengeance. Then the plagues will come upon the wicked, and they do not come till Jesus puts on that garment, and takes His place upon the great white cloud. Then while the plagues are falling, the Scape Goat is being led away. He makes a mighty struggle to escape, but he is held fast by the hand that leads him. If he should effect his escape, Israel would lose their lives. I saw that it would take time to lead away the Scape Goat into the land of forgetfulness after the sins were put on his head.

The great white cloud I saw was not the holy place, but entirely separate from the holy and most holy place, entirely separate from the sanctuary.

Then the angel repeated these words, and said, "This is the time spoken of in Isaiah. He saw that there was not man, and wondered that there was no intercessor. He had no mediator between God and man, and these plagues could be withheld no longer, for Jesus had ceased to plead for Israel, and they were covered with the covering of the Almighty God, and then they could live in the sight of a holy God, and those who were not covered, the plagues fell upon them, for they had nothing to shelter or protect them from the wrath of God."

"And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him." Isaiah 59:16.

What we must know is this, when the "Loud Cry", a cry uttered by suffering saints, a cry of despair and agony, when that `Loud Cry' sounds probation also closes (Rev. 15:8) and the Seven Plagues begin while the wicked agree to issue ...

Parallel with the period during which the first six plagues work their effect God's professed followers are under a death decree [488] for which a date will be set in the time of `Jacob's Trouble', Revelation 13:15; 17:12-14; (`ten horns, one mind, make war'; Is that the European Union?).

"Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it." Jeremiah 30:7

When the opposing forces are united ("Sisera gathered together all his chariots", Judges 4:13), consolidated ("his multitude", v.7) and confederated ("all the people that were with him", v.13;Ps. 83:5), God delivers his people. Israel had not a single chariot, Sisera had 900 iron chariots (v.3) which must have gotten bogged down in the mud of the valley, and Israel (God) discomfitted, confounded, confused them and "there was not a man left" of the enemy king Jabin of Canaan after the battle, v. 16. This battle took place in the valley of Jezreel, also known as Armageddon. Later under Gideon (which means `barley bread', Jdg 7:13), whose name was also Jerub'baal, another Armageddon like battle took place in the same valley.[See Psalm 83]
Will the last battle of Armageddon be a literal battle?

Not necessarily. But we must study it.

"The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind." Isaiah 17:13

As in the earthly shadowy sanctuary services on the day of Atonement the Most Holy apartment was cleansed from the year's accumulated sins, so Christ our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary performed in reality what the earthly priests did in the shadowy services. But once the cases of all sinners who ever lived and who repented and confessed their sins before God, and whose sins the High Priest cleansed, have been decided, at some point the intercessory services of Christ - simultaneously the lamb, priest, judge and king - will come to decide the cases of the living.

This is meant by the words we read, "Thou ... hatest iniquity ... they shall perish ... they shall wax old ... as a vesture thou shalt fold them. ... (Hebr. 1:9,11,12) Wherefore holy brethren ... consider the Apostle and High Priest ... Christ Jesus. ... who was faithful ... as Moses was faithful in his house ... he was counted worthy of more glory than Moses (2:1-3) ... he became the author of salvation unto all that obey him. ... (5:9) ... And so, after ... (Abraham) ... had patiently endured, he obtained the promise ... and the oath of God ... two immutable things of God ... an anchor sure and steadfast ... which entered into that veil ... where ... entered even Jesus made high priest for ever. (6:13,15-20) ... he is able to save ... makes intercession for them ... he did once offer himself up for us ... the Son. (7:25-28) ... a high priest of the true tabernacle ... on earth ... the ... shadow of heavenly things ... now has he obtained a more excellent ministry ... a better covenant ... better promises ... put my laws into their mind ... write them in their hearts ... my people. (8:1-13). ... the first covenant ... a worldly sanctuary ... after the second veil ... the Holiest of all ... into (it) went the high priest alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people. ... and for this cause (Christ Jesus) is the mediator of the new testament. (9:1-15)

When God decides that the time is fulfilled, no more people will be swayed to place their faith in him, the time of the end has been reached and the intercession of Jesus comes to an end. God's people must now for a season be without a heavenly intercessor. Heaven can trust these now to be free from sin while the world is in deep rebellion. God's people are now without protection from governments and the true character of those who forsook God's law in favor of tradition reveals itself. Their allegiance belongs now to the god of this world and the object of their faith is found out to be rooted in man for God never published a new law which canceled the 7th day Sabbath. Most of them never followed Jesus from the altar of burned offerings into the holy apartment and from there into the Most Holy apartment. To them these services were a closed mystery. They read the Bible only in a few places and had no grasp of deep truth.

The image of `hail' (Rev. 8:7) may represent the sweeping away of false teachings by means of the power of Truth:

"Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place." Isaiah 28:17.

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass." Isaiah 40:7.

"So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him." Isaiah 59:19

Some preach that this world's history has endured for about 6000 years now - about 1600 years from Adam to Noah and about 4400 years from after the Flood to our days. Will the 7th millennium be the Bible's Millennium? God made the earth and all we see in 6 days and rested the 7th day, how can 8th day - Sunday observance - be resting on biblical grounds? Should we assume this world's history goes on for another 1000 years before Christ comes in order to accomodate the 8th day holiness? That is hardly possible and underscores the truth of the seventh day sabbath and the errors of Sunday rest.

The Sign of the Son of Man appears and the seventh trumpet sounds!

The Book of Zechariah describes those who fight against Jerusalem, as fighting against the city of God, i.e. God himself and his people. These prophecies having to do with Jerusalem are even today a prophecy of God's people. Those who thus fight against God shall waste away under grievous conditions. Interpreters have long stated that this describes the punishment on the foe, the last Antichrist confederacy
(Isa. 59:18; 66:24; Eze. 38,39; Rev. 19:17-21).[530]
Revelation chapter 11 then describes the echoing (voices) `announcement of God' when the `kingdoms are become the Lords."

"And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth."
Zechariah 14:12

"And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not."
Malachi 3:17-18

"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders ... fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks ... because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great ..." Revelation 11:15-18a. "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." Psalms 16:10. "In the day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terrible the earth." Isaiah 2:20,21. "... and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. 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."
Revelation 11:18b-19

Finally the redeemed are removed from the presence of evil in all its forms. This will lead to a new mode of existence, one permanently detached from the sphere of sin. Removed from the sinful social conditions that predominate societies and cultures, the redeemed will be restored to the conditions originally created by God for the human race.
Now there will be permanent, unhindered, and visible access to our Savior. Believers all over the world look forward to a time when they will exist in the immediate presence of the Savior, never to be separated again (1.Thess. 4:17). This permanent union with our Lord and Redeemer will enrich the quality of human life in dimensions that we cannot even begin to anticipate now.
The consummation of the Adventist hope at the Second Coming will also consist of a harmonious social interaction. That will be a moment of reunion, a re-encounter. The separation from loved ones occasioned by the power of death comes to an end through the re-creative power of the Savior (1.Cor. 15:54-57). There will be a re-encounter and reunion between the tribes of the earth and all their cultural differences. This may be symbolized by "the leaves of the tree" which "were for the healing of the nations." Rev. 22:2b. The individual hope merges here with the collective hope of those who, throughout the ages, died in Christ while embracing the promises of God. This is the consummation of our reconciliation and will not be threatened by the presence of sin.

Can we hasten the return of our Lord? The Apostle Peter gives us the answer:

"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" 2.Peter 3:11-12.

"And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." Romans 16:20.

"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev 14:12.

Dear people. That sacred ark represented Jehovah amid His people. In Noah's days God found that he could save only eight people. So it will be at the last day. In comparison to the billions of people on earth, God's people may indeed be a small group. As the judgments of God sweep over this world, be true to God who is willing and ready to save those who turn to him and will be true to him in everything they know. Do not hesitate today, to be true to God, His commandments and His calling to leave self behind and dress in the white dress He said would be the garb of His people.

For the Bible says:

"To the wicked God says: What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue in deceit. You speak continually against your brother and slander your own mother's son. These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face. Consider this, you who forgot God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue: He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." Psalm 50:16-23

The Eleventh Hour Workers

The world population is growing so fast that it seems the work will never be finished, however, the following statements from the Spirit of Prophecy based on Matthew 20:1-16, help us see that God is never short of solutions:

1st: "The laborers for the Master were His official servants, upon whom He laid the weightiest responsibilities to do His work…Some were found waiting for work at the eleventh hour, only one hour before the close of the working-day." {Review and Herald, June 28, 1898.}

2nd: "There are diligent students of the word of prophecy in all parts of the world, who are obtaining light and still greater light from searching the Scriptures. This is true of all nations, of all tribes, and of all peoples. These will come from the grossest error, and will take the place of those who have had opportunities and privileges and have not prized them. These have worked out their own salvation with fear and trembling, lest they should become deficient in doing the ways and will of God, while those who have had great light, through the perversity of their own natural heart, turned away from Christ because they were displeased with his requirements. But God will not be left without witnesses. The one-hour laborers will be brought in at the eleventh hour, and will consecrate their ability and all their entrusted means to advance the work. These will receive the reward for their faithfulness, because they are true to principle, and shun not their duty to declare the whole counsel of God. When those who have had abundance of light throw off the restraint which the word of God imposes, and make void his law, others will come in to fill their places and take their crown." {Review and Herald, June 15, 1897}

3rd: "At the eleventh hour the Lord will gather a company out of the world to serve Him. There will be a converted ministry. Those who have had privileges and opportunities to become intelligent in regard to the truth, and yet who continue to counterwork the work God would have accomplished, will be purged out, for God accepts the service of no man whose interest is divided. He accepts the whole heart, or none." {20MR 320.1}

4th: "At the eleventh hour the Lord will call into his service many faithful workers. Self-sacrificing men and women will step into the places made vacant by apostasy and death. To young men and young women, as well as to those who are older, God will give power from above. With converted minds, converted hands, converted feet, and converted tongues, their lips touched with a living coal from the divine altar, they will go forth into the Master's service, moving steadily onward and upward, carrying the work forward to completion." {YI, February 13, 1902 par. 10}

5th: "But I speak not my own words when I say that God's Spirit will pass by those who have had their day of test and opportunity, but who have not distinguished the voice of God or appreciated the movings of His Spirit. Then thousands in the eleventh hour will see and acknowledge the truth." {2SM 16.1}
"A great work is to be done in a short time." {Review and Herald, December 18, 1888}
"The bright light going among the living creatures with the swiftness of lightning represents the speed with which this work will finally go forward to completion. (Ezek. 1:13) He who slumbers not, who is continually at work for the accomplishment of His designs, can carry forward His great work harmoniously. That which appears to finite minds entangled and complicated, the Lord's hand can keep in perfect order. He can devise ways and means to thwart the purposes of wicked men, and He will bring to confusion the counsels of them that plot mischief against His people." {5T 754.2}

6th: Many Not in Our Ranks to Come to the Front. -- "There are many souls to come out of the ranks of the world, out of the churches - even the Catholic Church - whose zeal will far exceed that of those who have stood in rank and file to proclaim the truth heretofore. For this reason the eleventh hour laborers will receive their penny. These will see the battle coming and will give the trumpet a certain sound. When the crisis is upon us, when the season of calamity shall come, they will come to the front, gird themselves with the whole armor of God, and exalt His law, adhere to the faith of Jesus, and maintain the cause of religious liberty which reformers defended with toil and for which they sacrificed their lives. . . . " {3SM 386,387} The bold phrase means the 11th hour workers will keep God's seventh day Sabbath holy because God does not accept any half heartedness or holding back conversion..

7th: "Many souls will come from other denominational churches, and at the eleventh hour will obey all the truth, because they have not set themselves in array against heaven's light, but lived up to all the light they had; while those who have had great light, large privileges and opportunities, and have failed to live in the light and walk in the light, will drop out by the way. Their light will shine less and less until their lamps will go out for the want of the oil of grace in their vessels with their lamps." {Letter 36a, 1890.}

Remember, "As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the Third Angel's Message…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." {The Great Controversy, 608.}

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call." Joel 2:28-32.

And so Pastor Thomas Davai said in the Tok Pisin language of Papua New Guinea, "Tenk yu lo karim tok bilong God I kam long mipela." `Thank you for bringing God's Word to us.'

Filling the Ranks

The scenes appear to be simultaneous. While the companies leave us, whole tribes will join us. It would be rational to believe that these tribes are the eleventh-hour laborers. Soon we may expect a manifestation of the great power of God, for Ellen White says,
"The Lord can do more in one hour than we can do in a whole lifetime, and when He sees that His people are fully consecrated, let me tell you, a great work will be done in a short time, and the message of truth is to be carried into the dark places of the earth, where it has never been proclaimed." {Manuscript Releases, vol. 5, 347, 348)

As you have read these inspired quotations, I trust you have felt the divine impression that God is only waiting for an adequate number of fully consecrated people who will cooperate with Him in finishing the work. Will you be ready? I hope so, for God will soon put His hand to His final work. He will call faithful, humble people wherever He can find them. He will finish His work using only consecrated people. This work will be accomplished against incredible resistance. God will do His work quickly, and He will do it to the eternal glory of Jesus Christ.

One last observation. As Mrs. White searched for security that would apply even to the last generation, she received a heavenly response. In a vision given in 1880, I asked,

Where is the security for the people of God in these last days of peril?"

The answer was,

"Jesus maketh intercession for His people."
[Rom. 8:26,27; EGW, Diary, Oct. 30-Nov. 4, 1890, Ms 44-90.] {LS 324.1}

A list of helpful parameters to be able to know,

How can we measure our spiritual life?

Are we willing to receive correction?

Do we still have doubts about God?

Do we still have objections on how God leads His people?

When given a choice, do we chose God or an hour of amusement?

When we read admonitions of warnings do we still have unbelief?

Do we still ask, `Why are all these reproofs given?'

When we hear a testimony, do we know what is scriptural (not pastoral) or not, or can't we tell?

Do we enjoy cultivating Bible holiness or not?

Do we think we are pretty good as long as we feel good?

Do we ask us daily, `How would Jesus handle this situation?'

Do we think we are backsliders?

Do we think it is intelligent to be unbelieving and to question and quibble?

Do we believe that eternal life is of infinite value and it will cost us all that we have, and yet remain committed to it?

Do we still have feelings of impatience and jealousy?

The number seven as it is used here parallels also the seven priests leading the twelve tribes around the city of Jericho in preparation of each blowing his trumpet, Joshua 6:6. They represent a last warning call to repent before it is too late, for right after follows destruction. We are told that as we approach the end, "terrible shocks will come upon the earth, and the lordly palaces erected at great expense will become heaps of ruin." 3MR 312. "When God's restraining hand is removed, the destroyer begins his work. Then in our cities the greatest calamities will come." 3MR 314. . . . The time is near when large cities will be swept away, and all should be warned of these coming judgments." Ev.29. Even in past wars, while cities were destroyed, they were not yet destroyed numbering in the thousands. That seems to be still ahead, perhaps during the 5th trumpet. But we had some examples like the two cities in Japan in 1945, cities of Europe in bombing raids, New Orleans during a flood, etc. The trumpets mean that we not forget to take time to clean our soul temple (Jonah 2:8) of all sinful habits, Ezra 3:10-13 (implied) in cooperation with the work of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary. The trumpets historical interpretation mean, wake up, time is up, its your last call before God removes His protective shield and you are bound for destruction, therefore, today is your day of salvation. In all these images God seeks to make people aware of their need to repent and be saved, for otherwise God may punish people to allow them to punish themselves by the consequences of their actions, for your sin will find you out, Numbers 32:33. [540]

Explaining words and phrases.

The language employed in these trumpet messages is compared to how it is used in other Bible sections and is therefore based on a more scriptural foundation.

1. `Angels' are messengers or bearer of tidings, Ps. 103:20; Gen. 19:1; 32:1,
   
2. `trumpets' represent calls coming from God, Ex. 19:13,16,17.
   
3. `hail' represents the sweeping away of false doctrines through the truths found in the Word of God, Is. 28:17.
   
4. `fire and 1/3 burned away, the third part of trees and all green grass being burnt up' represents a refining, acceptance of the truth, 2.Kings 17:10,11,18; Mal. 3:3,4 (`the groves and high places, false worship, will be partially swept away). Like with the Trumpets, this would indicate, when 1/3 of a group is mentioned, they are those who will be saved for we read, "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite . . . And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God." Zech. 13:7-9. On this scripture rides quite securely the conclusion that, in the Bible, 1/3 means those who are saved. It tells us that God's Word wonderfully explains all the loose ends.
   
5. By the `mingling of hail, fire and blood', the truth of the Gospel message is presented forcefully, such that it sweeps away lies, and calls the sinner to accept the atoning blood of Jesus to take away sin, John 6:56; Hebr. 9:22.
   
6. The `earth' and the `beast' from the Earth in Revelation 13 represents apostate Protestantism based in the United States [550]. It contrasts with `the beast from the Sea', which is in the most narrow sense understood to be Catholicism, Rev. 13:11.
   
7. The `tree' is symbolic of those in a position of leadership, Daniel 4:7-19. In the First Trumpet it represents the Pastors and leaders of apostate Protestantism in the United States, Psalm 1:1-3; Dan. 4:10,11,20-22.
   
8. The color `green' represents something that has life, and is nourishing and life giving to others, Gen. 1:30; Isa. 40:6-7.
   
9. The `grass' represents the general public. In the First Trumpet it represents the laity of apostate Protestantism in the United States. The `green grass' represents those of the Protestant laity who have nourished others in the truth of the Gospel message, and so will be saved. Although not expressly stated, this may also be only one third of the laity.

Conclusion: The First Trumpet is a message directed at apostate Protestantism in the United States that sweeps away the false doctrines and calls them to the true Gospel of salvation through the blood of Christ. The indication is that only 1/3 of apostate Protestant leaders will respond to the trumpet, and the remaining 2/3rds, who take the mark of the Beast, will receive the First Plague, a grievous sore (Rev 16:2).

1. `The great mountain burning with fire' represents the giving of the law of God on Sinai, Ex. 19:18.
   
2. `The Sea' represents the densely populated region of Europe, and `the beast from the Sea' represents Catholicism and popery, Rev. 13:1.
   
3. The `third part of the sea became blood' - those who are saved. 1/3 of the Sea becoming blood represents people turning to life (the life is in the blood), turning to the atoning blood of Christ and being saved, Gen. 9:4; Lev. 17:11; Deut. 12:23; John 6:56; Hebr. 9:22.
   
4. `Ships' are the parallel of the trees in the first trumpet and represent the leadership of the Catholic Church. When it says the third part of the ships were destroyed, that means that 1/3 of Catholic leadership, recognizing God's truth and converting and following the call to come out of Babylon, will be saved.
   
5. `Creatures in the sea' are the parallel of the grass in the first trumpet and represent the laity of the Catholic Church. The `third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died'. Again, the third part represents those who "die to self" and accept Christ and will be saved.

"There are many souls to come out of the ranks of the world, out of the churches--even the Catholic Church--whose zeal will far exceed that of those who have stood in rank and file to proclaim the truth heretofore. For this reason the eleventh hour laborers will receive their penny. These will see the battle coming and will give the trumpet a certain sound. When the crisis is upon us, when the season of calamity shall come, they will come to the front, gird themselves with the whole armor of God, and exalt His law, adhere to the faith of Jesus, and maintain the cause of religious liberty which reformers defended with toil and for which they sacrificed their lives. . . . " {3SM 386.4}
Conclusion: The second trumpet represents the presentation of God's law to Catholicism, which has thought to change the Sabbath commandment of God, and make its mark of authority - Sunday worship. The indication is that only 1/3 of Catholicism will respond, and those who do not heed the call to come out of Babylon will receive the second plague, and have only blood to drink, Rev. 16:3.

The third Trumpet, 8:10-11.
The: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th.

1. `A great star from heaven' represents Jesus, Num. 24:17.
   
2. A burning Lamp, smoking furnace', is described in Gen. 15:17. It fell upon the third part of the rivers. As `waters represent a multitude of peoples', and the previous trumpets were directed to apostate Protestants and Catholics respectively, these waters represent the non-Christian religions (the -isms) and the secular world (those who profess no religion). This indicates that 1/3 of this group will heed the trumpet and be saved, Rev. 17:15.

Apparently this awakening of the `isms' shall take place in response to the world wide three angels messages (Rev. 14) being proclaimed as people see the evidence, the fulfillment of these prophecies taking place before their eyes and they return to the true Creator God and Lord of all.

Conclusion: It appears the 4th trumpet's message is to warn the world of the contents and effects of the following three trumpets. It means to say, lift your attention from earth toward heaven. That is why we must carefully know and mark the words they contain. The main idea must have to do with the closing of probation after the 4th trumpet. That must coincide with Christ's ministry in the Most Holy of the heavenly sanctuary. For us alive it must mean to cleanse our lives from sin (See here for some wonderful admonishens). Since it must have to do with the close of probation, that also means the Sunday law is now in place and God's people have been taught, as soon as they hear it, not even to go and settle their affairs but leave the cities right away for the window of opportunity is very short indeed. Plan ahead, load up your foods and means of survival, if you please, and head out right away to a place you can reach in two hours or less. Remember 70 AD as your example.

The fifth Trumpet 1st woe: Rev. 9:1-11
The: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th.

1. `A star fell from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.' This star falling to earth in the fifth trumpet is Satan, Lk. 10:18. God's people have been sealed. Probation closed after the 4th Trumpet (Rev 9:4). Satan is given power to torment those who have rejected God, but he will not be able to kill all those who trust in God, as he could not kill Job (Job 2:6). While God allows the devil to unleash his fury - calamities throughout the world - against a world that has rejected the Lord, Satan can now know that `the key' will assure that he will be the highest placed prisoner who cannot escape, and so too his chief representatives among men, 2.Peter 2:4; Rev. 20:1-3.
   
2. `Abaddon - Apollyon' represents the destroying angel, Satan and his armies of devils. These are forbidden to target with destruction "the grass of the earth, or any green thing or tree" but only "those who do not have the seal of God."
   
3. `The power to hurt men five months' means Satan and his angels will be able to torment the wicked who rejected God for five months, but will not be permitted to kill them. Many see that Islam during the time of the beginning of the reformation fulfilled this trumpet, but consider that power's influence today. With the close of probation after the fourth Trumpet, those who rejected God will be left to Satan and his angels, and receive the fifth plague of spiritual and physical blindness and darkness.
   
4. "And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power." Rev. 9:3. These are no commonly encountered locusts, but they are demons who manifest themselves in many ways and take up residence in men and women who separated themselves from God. They have the following like (comparable to): (a) heads (crowns like gold), (b) faces (like men's), (c) hair (like women's), (d) teeth (like lions'), (e) breatsplates (like iron) (perhaps they are immune to any attempts by the world's governments to resist them), (f) wings (like chariots with many horses), (g) tails (like scorpions). - - While these things may be bad, just wait until the next two woes start.

Since we are now past the time of probation, we may understand these five months as literal time. Prophetic time is now suspended, for the same reason that the millennium is not 1000 years multiplied out for the number of days in it, 360,000 prophetic day/years. All other year/day periods used days, weeks or times, not years or months.

The sixth Trumpet, 2nd woe: Rev. 9:12-21.
The: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th.

1. `The four angels bound in the river Euphrates' means, Satan, knowing his time is short, tries under the sixth trumpet to kill the 1/3 (God's people), but instead an army of the angels of God slays 1/3 of the wicked on the earth.
   
2. "For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." Rev. 9:18-21. - Their power causes great harm to 1/3 of the world's populations in other ways than death. Their "tails" are said to cause the damage which may mean that the hearts of the wicked will not be changed for they continue to refuse to repent of their sins for all along they rather believe the lies of those that hate God. In the Bible the "works of their hands" is used to describe the `worship of demons (continual wickedness)' and the constructing of idols (doing things other than pleasing God). When we do not repent and acknowledge the God of Creation, we exchange the glory of the Creator for what we ourselves design (Romans 1:21-23). Then we are the "godmakers" and deserve the judgment of God for the "works of their hands". . . . of the

   a. murders (violent crime portrayed in movies, tv, books, magazines, abortions, in the news, displaying depravity on the streets),
   b. sorceries (drugs, all paranormal activities, palm reading, cards, etc.),
   c. immorality (carelessly destroyed marriages, families, sexually transmitted diseases, pre- and extra- sexual activities bring emotional ruin),
   d. thefts (a fast growing national and international problem; it can occur through paper, checks ... manipulation of funds, embezzlement, street thefts or from people next to each other.
   e. Mankind needs a change of heart which can come only through the forgiveness and cleansing of God through His Son Jesus Christ, our world's Lord and Savior.

   goings on - an accurate picture of our days. God created us by designing man to worship, and when we refuse to worship the God who made us as the Bible teaches, the only alternative is to worship demons . . . all those false religions and their practices in our world.
   

3. During the Sixth Trumpet, the wicked realize they have been deceived by Mystery Babylon, and false miracles are performed in order to still deceive them, as indicated by the Sixth Plague (Rev. 16:12-16), but they turn on her and destroy her with fire (Rev. 17:16-18).

The 3rd woe: "The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. . . ." (Rev. 11:14) You find it continued in the next paragraph.

The Seventh Trumpet - Rev. 11:15-19.
The: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th.

The seventh trumpet: "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the 24 elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. 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." Rev. 11:15-19.
The 7th trumpet is basically the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. - - When Jesus finally is ready to rule the kingdoms of this world at the sounding of the 7th trumpet, the central theme song of the heavenly beings will focus on this great event. And when God's people finally gain the victory over the beast and his image, this will be the central topic of their song: "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest." Rev. 15:3,4.
Finally God judges the harlot who has shed the blood of His people, the song of the heavenly choirs will reflect this event as you can read it in Rev. 19:1,2. And lastly, when the redeemed are in the new heaven and the new earth, their song will reflect that as well, Rev. 21:3,4.
The point is that our worship experience today must reflect this unique message of the service of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary for it is present truth which shows Him in the most holy place. And Christ is about to begin the judgment of the living, who, He knows, has those among them who are ready and those who are not. The question churches ought to ask themselves today, is, `Should our worship reflect this truth? Should not this, our theology, determine how we conduct our services each Sabbath? Should we not be drawn often to consider Jesus serving in His high priestly capacity in heaven and what we people should be doing in parallel fashion on earth, as we examine our spiritual awareness or lack thereof? Have all of your members left the holy and entered into the worship experience of the most holy? Do the members know, that, if they behold Jesus serving in the most holy, they will be drawn to present truth, if not, they worship one they know not who, for Christ has left the holy apartment of the heavenly sanctuary? How is that reflected in worship activities here on earth? Not following where Jesus is, results in focusing on people's wants, rather than Bible truths. Such churches teach the the 70th week of the 490 year period is removed from its longtime to a time 2000 years later (because of what was taught in their theological schools). Consequently, leaving present truth aside, they may prefer drama, mimes, magic shows, pep talks, puppets, contemporary Christian music, entertainment, dance, to grow their church rather than the undiluted most holy place message of God for this time which includes: readying us for life in the presence of God in heaven. Such worshipers may give their mind over to doubts on the testimony of Jesus, they may begin to love what the world loves, may become easy pray of spiritualism and be drawn to the worship styles of the other churches, who, like they, also have not followed Jesus into the most holy. For, you see, the Bible lets us know in no uncertain terms, that there will be true and false worshipers in our days - those who follow Jesus and the synagogue of Satan. Rather then playing with fire, should we not rather fear offending God by not proclaiming the unique message we have and fulfill our mission that He has entrusted to us? Ought we not to learn to deny our own selfish wants and only regard God's truths, accept His white wedding raiment and follow all the counsels we have received to be true worshipers of our holy God in heaven.
It appears that in the end time, shortly before Jesus comes again, conditions in our world will be such that such tremendous conversions will take place in the world, but will we be part of it? While it is hard to imagine, prophecy seems to predict such sweeping changes.

Conclusion: The seven trumpets appear to be post proclaiming the three angels messages since those massive 1/3 conversions to the Lord have, as yet, never taken place. These conversions must be brought on by the world's conviction that the earth and its people is on the brink of destroying itself and, therefore, the people recall the gospel messages they have heard during the proclamation of the 3rd angel's message and they now recognize them to be true and they want to serve the Lord from then on out.
While we know that these seven trumpets have long been seen to describe long historical periods, just like the seven horses, we may say the above as a possible secondary fulfillment of these prophecies since scriptures explain much of it that way.

The Verdict of Jehovah's Jury

We are in the time frame after the Millennium at the end of which the judgment of the wicked is finished and Christ readies to return again to this earth to execute His righteous judgment and cleanse the earth from sin. For this, the Bible says, He puts on "the garments of vengeance," Isa. 59:17, which are "garments rolled in blood," Isa. 9:5. or "dipped in blood," Rev. 19:13. Why? For this is "the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompence for the controversy of Zion." Isa. 34:8. It is the day when in flaming fire, He will take "vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel." 2.Thess. 1:8.

When that happens, "He is accompanied by the host of the redeemed, and attended by a retinue of angels." GC 662.1. "His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mt. of Olives, which . . . shall cleave in the midst thereof . . . and there shall be a very great valley." Zech. 14:4,5.

As the feet of Christ touch Olivet, the mighty plain thus made is purified and made ready to receive the Holy City, the New Jerusalem which will come down from God . . . out of heaven. [GC 662.3 -663.1], and a great voice out of heaven will say the words we all know, "Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God." Rev. 21:2,3. So it is that Heaven, God's dwelling place is transferred to this earth.

When the New Jerusalem reaches this earth, the redeemed enter, and as Satan and the host of the wicked, "and the rest of the dead," Rev. 20:5, whom Christ has raised from the grave, surround the City to capture it, "by command of Jesus the gates of the New Jerusalem are closed." GC 664.3. Christ again appears to the view of His enemies. Far above the very large City, upon a foundation of burnished gold, is a throne high and lifted up. Upon this throne sits the Son of God, and around Him are the subjects of His kingdom." Here, "in the presence of the assembled inhabitants of earth and Heaven, the `final' coronation of the Son of God takes place. GC 665.1.

Christ's Final Coronation

Here we describe Christ's final coronation as "King of Eternity." Inspiration recognized three coronations of Christ during His redemptive work, and it is in connection with His 3rd and "final coronation" that this work culminates. "Satan ... who was once a covering cherub, ... sees another standing near to the Father." He sees "the crown placed upon the head of Christ by an angel of lofty stature and majestic presence, and he knows that the exalted position of this angel [Gabriel] might have been his." GC 669.1. At this coronation, both righteous and wicked are facing eternity. How fitting then that at this time Christ is crowned "The King Eternal," or "The King of Eternity" as Moffat said it! 1.Tim. 1:17.

The Eyes of the Wicked are Opened

As the unsaved view the scene of this coronation of Christ, they "See in His hands the divine law, and the statutes which they have despised and transgressed," GC 668.4. The words of Jesus addressed to many of those who say they are his disciples where, "Not everyone that says to me, `Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. - Many will say to me in that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? [i.e. Creation is true (and it is), the world is bad because of evolution, ignoring the 4th c] ... and in thy name have cast out devils? ... and in thy name have done many wonderful works? - And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." - ". . . for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." Matth. 7:21-23; Rom. 2:13; 7:8-13. - As they come face to face with the fact that "sin is the transgression of the law" (1Jh. 3:4) and "the wages of sin is death," (Rom. 6:23) as they witness the fruitage of evil on every side, and see the total failure of Satan's cause, "the arch deceiver has been fully unmasked," and God stands justified before them. GC 670.1. Too late, they see that they have been deceived, and with frenzy they turn upon their arch deceiver. "Of all ... whom he has allured into rebellion, there are none now to acknowledge his supremacy." GC 671.2. Then is fulfilled the prophecy we are reading in Ezekiel, "Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God, ... I will bring ... upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness. ... Wilt thou yet say ... I am God?" Eze. 28:6-10.

The Devil's Acknowledgment

When Satan beholds all about him, the ruin that his reign has brought upon the world, - when he sees that his own followers have turned against him and "narrowly look" upon him with hatred and scorn, Isa. 14:16-18, "his accusations against the mercy and justice of God are silenced. The reproach which he has endeavored to cast upon Jehovah rests wholly upon himself. And now Satan bows down and confesses the justice of his sentence. GC 670.2. His own works have condemned him, and "in the presence of the witnessing universe," he acknowledges "the justice of God's government and the righteousness of His law." PP 338.4.

But the same old spirit of hatred and rebellion that he has cherished and cultivated for six thousand years, still rankles in his breast, and to live among the inhabitants of Heaven and exercise a spirit of obedience and loyalty to God and a spirit of love to Christ, the angels, and the redeemed, would be to him supreme pain. GC 670.2. To one as proud as Lucifer such humiliation would be anything but joy. With this final display of determined rebellion and insubordination by Satan and his host, the evidence of God's righteousness, the love and justice of His law are clearly demonstrated before the universe.

The Evidence Is In; Its Over

When the angels watched the unjust and cruel trial of Jesus before those who were prompted by Satan; when, in spite of the insult and abuse and pain to which He was subjected, they saw Him without a protest go as a lamb to the slaughter; and especially, when they listened to the last prayer of their beloved Commander, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do," Luke 23:24, they understood the amazing love and righteousness of God. With them "the last link of sympathy between Satan and the heavenly world was broken." DA 761.2. The character of Satan was clearly revealed, and God's character and His law of love fully vindicated. Then was fulfilled this scripture: "Forever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in Heaven." Psalm 119:89.

The Verdict of Unfallen Worlds

As the unfallen worlds followed Satan in the working out of his wicked and deceitful plans, they concluded that he "abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speakesth of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." And finally, when they saw him disgracefully and exultantly put to death the Son of God, they knew that "he was a murderer from the beginning." John 8:44. Their decision for Christ and His government is forever settled.

The Verdict of the Redeemed

The redeemed who have gotten the victory over Satan and all his representatives, behold the justice and mercy of God, and with one voice declare they, "Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? for Thou only art holy; for all nations shall come and worship before Thee; for Thy judgments are made manifest." Rev. 15:4. "Every question of truth and error ... has been made plain." GC 670.3. With their own eyes the redeemed have seen the results of rebellion and disappointment; in pain, and sickness, and death; in calamities by land, and sea, and air; in war and bloodshed. They have seen "the working out of Satan's rule in contrast with the government of God," GC 670.3, a government of love. They have seen God's wisdom, His justice and His supreme goodness, and they are fully convinced. They desire no other Ruler.

The Verdict of the Universe

"In the contest between Christ and Satan, during the Savior's ministry ... nothing could so effectually have uprooted Satan from the affections of ... the whole loyal universe as did his cruel warfare upon the world's Redeemer." GC 501.1. And when the cry "Crucify Him! crucify Him!" came from the lips of those whom he inspired, their decision was forever settled. "With all the facts of the great controversy in view, the whole universe, both loyal and rebellious, with one accord declare, `Just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints.'" GC 670.3; Rev. 15:3. Everyone, "in heaven, on earth, and underneath the earth" "confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father." Phil. 2:10,11, Moffat. Before the entire universe, God's wisdom, His justice, His goodness, and the righteous character of His law stand fully vindicated.

The Verdict Completed

As the last trial of Jehovah is over; the verdict of the jury is completed; Jehovah rests in His love. Zeph. 3:17. Christ staked his life on the redemption of man. He gave His life, but through that act He lives forever more. Against the work of Christ, Satan also staked his life. He will lose his life eternally, never again to war against God and His righteous government. "That God ... renews His intercourse with the fallen race; that Christ could stoop to raise unnumbered multitudes from the abyss of ruin, and clothe them with the spotless garments of His own righteousness, to unite with angels who have never fallen, and dwell forever in the presence of God" - this is "the mystery of godliness." GC 415.2; 1.Tim. 3:16.

The Result to This Earth

"The earth itself, the very field that Satan claims as His, is to be not only ransomed but exalted. Our little world, under the curse of sin, the one dark spot in His glorious creation, will be honored above all other worlds in the universe of God. Here, where the Son of God tabernacled in humanity, where the King of glory lived and suffered and died, - here, when he shall make all things new, the tabernacle of God shall be with men, and He shall dwell with them. Rev. 21:3; DA 25,26; GC 674-676.

Here on this earth, when the City comes down "from God out of heaven," Rev. 21:2, having the throne of the Eternal, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God, Rev. 2:7, surrounded by the original garden of Eden, here at the very place where Satan caused the fall of our first parents and opened the flood gates of woe upon this world - here, on this redeemed planet, will be the throne of God and of the Lamb. The holy city will be the throne room of the universe, the center of God's universal government, the capital of His entire kingdom, around which circle all other worlds. Thus will be fulfilled the saying: "Suns, and stars, and systems, all in their appointed order, circling the throne of Deity." GC 677.3. How greatly honored will be this redeemed planet - more honored than any other spot in the universe - more glorious than if it had never felt the blight of sin! [The above few paragraphs are from Sarah Peck's, The Path to The Throne of God', ch. 37.]

[10] A list of words to study which have to do with last events: salvation, blood of Jesus, forgiveness, redeemed, ascending, unexpected, forever, sealed, probation, foreheads, vengeance of God, wrath of God, `keep them from'.
[180] The Greek word `aiwn', translated world means basically `aeon' or `eon', that is `age'. Some interpreters therefore refuse to read `world', in particular to its occurrence in Matthew 24:3. This writer's understanding would prefer translating `aiwn' as world since the intend of Jesus is to assure his followers that he will be with them not only to the day of the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple, but to the very end of time. `Aiwn' occurs 5 times in the Greek New Testament: Mat. 13:39,49; 24:3; 28:20; Hebr. 9:26. In the verse in Hebrews it becomes apparent that the disciples and authors of the New Testament, thought of their age or time as the end of the age or world. They did not perceive, like Daniel did, that time would last another 2000 years or more. Today we know that the meaning of `eon' must be expanded by the time frame which elapsed since this was written.
[200] "I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered. [See also Rev.13:10]
Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:
And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:
And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.
And the Lord God of hosts is he that toucheth the land, and it shall melt, and all that dwell therein shall mourn: and it shall rise up wholly like a flood; and shall be drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.
It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name.
Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel? saith the Lord. Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?
Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the Lord." Amos 9:1-8.
[210] What kind of writing does the Book of Revelation represent? Some have characterized the `Revelation of Jesus Christ' as a book concerned with end time events, some read it as a book explaining the plan of redemption, others think of it as a book of mysteries, and on it goes. Of these characteristics, we consider the first one as the best supported one of the stated choices. References to increasingly significant and/or cataclysmic events preceding the Second Coming of Christ abound in its pages until the final verses where the goal - being with Jesus Christ in heaven - is finally reached.
[252] While this portion of scripture has to do with church discipline as Paul advises Timothy, he certainly speaks of church officers, some faithful and some in need of correction, thus the analogy is valid, they are those written in the `book of life', they are faithful believers, once faithful believers, or once thought to be faithful believers.
[255] Connecting the non-descript beast written about in Daniel 7:3-8 to the beginning of the pre-advent judgment. It also begins after the fourth, terrible beast, sprouts a `the little horn' uprooted three previously existing horns (kingdoms or powers) begins to speak great things. We pick up this scene again in Revelation 13:2 which enumerates the three kingdoms (Greece, Medo-Persia and Babylon) and says in Rev. 13:1 that the `beast', which arose from the sea (having the characteristics of the three prior powers), has seven heads and ten horns (Europe divided in 10 parts, and by extension represents the whole world). History shows that the Roman Empire arose by warfare causing the Greek power to weaken. The history of the Roman Empire reveals the characteristics of this "beast" power very closely once we realize that "heads" are nations ruled by kings and horns are those nation powers through which the beast extended its influence. One of the heads was wounded almost to death, but survived. Until this wounding prophetic time had passed. The important connection with Daniel and the continuing account is provided by the time span, this at first little horn but now powerfully influential, does its work. The link shows that these variously stated time spans are all of the same duration, 1260 years. Of course such a span must begin when such a power reaches a point where that influence starts. Empirical Rome was surplanted by Ecclesiastical Rome, which developed a methodical way to worm its nefarious influence into all 10 powers of Europe. Under threat of expulsion from the church kings bowed down and did Rome's biddings. The horn power would endure for 42 months, the 3½ times of Daniel, which all add up to1260 years (538-1798).
[258] The phrase `Son of Man' can refer to people in the sense, the human look - upright walk, head, body, legs and arms, but is then expanded upon by inspiration of God to guide David to write in Psalm 2: "... the Lord has said unto me, Thou art my Son: this day have I begotten thee." Psalm 2:7. This phrase is used by the prophet Daniel again in Daniel 7:13 and applied to Jesus Christ who frequently uses it for himself.
[260] Question: What is the purpose of the Three Angels Messages? To proclaim eternal truths about God and His Heavenly Kingdom. Is that something real? It is as real as the stary sky above, with its galaxies and star clusters, its planets and unimaginable riches of the Creator's Glory spread out all around us. As the Bible says, `Only a hardened unbeliever could deny the Creator.' Or as the saying goes, `There are no atheists in foxholes.' The Three Angels Messages consist of the command, `Fear or Reverence God, and give glory to Him, ... and worship Him that made the heaven and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water.'
Without God having taken care of our world for millennia, we soon would have run out of the necessities for life. But there are three angels messages of ever increasing consequences. Together they cause a separation in the world, those who love God and those who don't. We may say, we are witnessing this separation today as it progresses all around us.
[261] Is there such a thing as `instant replay' in heaven? Well, since earthly courts, now a days, frequently have images - video or still- to help them place offenders at or near the place of a deed, shouldn't God much more so be able to do that in some form or fashion? Of course we don't know how heaven exactly does that, we just use terms we can understand on earth. Using the word "fashion" we also ought to be aware, how dress fashion afflicts the human race. Fashion is a tyrannical mistress. It taxes without reason and collects without mercy. Fashion has a fascinating power, and stands ready to criticize and ridicule the poor if they do not follow in her wake at any cost, even the sacrifice of life itself. Satan triumphs that his tricks succeed so well, and Death laughs at the health-destroying folly and blind zeal of the worshipers at the Shrine of fashion, for the Bible says, "Behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." Mal. 4:1. People may feel trapped by fashion. Unable to choose the simple, we feel trapped by the system. Obedience to fashion is pervading all churches and doing more than any other human show of pride to separate churched people from God. Happiness and the favor of God are laid down upon the altar of fashion - among men and women. But God will proof exactly each persons deeds, those whose sins were not washed away. We pray this will help some, to seek forgiveness and refrain from living apart from God.
[263] The verdict says, that "the saints possessed the kingdom." Dan. 7:22. That means they were cleared, washed clean of all guilt by the blood of Jesus for they followed the gospel call, accepted Him as their Savior, and lived according to His principles.
[270] Laodicea in Greek is made up of `lao' which means "people" and `dicea' comes from the Greek word `dike' (Strong's #1349) and/or `dikas' which means `judge, right, justice, a decision or execution, determine, judgment. While some may say that Laodicea means lukewarm that adjective describes more what its condition, its characteristic is according to Revelation 3:14-22. However, the Greek meaning of the word is `judging the people.' That means we must start to reform the church first in our own home.
[280] Some of the more violent persecutions during the papal period of absolute reign were directed against Sabbath keepers. The pope, having (by the 6th century) declared himself the head of the entire church and set himself above the law of God, sent his hirelings to round up those who would oppose him on the key doctrines of the church.

1. The First Plague is poured out upon the earth; subsequently the wicked die by a sore. The wicked are those who decided to follow the beast and rather receive its mark than to loose their job, their home, their way of life. Some also receive the mark because they do not want to suffer persecution, for we know, in the last days, all who will stand up for the truth and for God's government, will suffer persecution. That is why we need to make up our mind now, be sealed in our forehead now, that we will not compromise any of the truths we have come to embrace.
   
2. The Second Plague is poured out upon the sea and all creatures die because the sea turns to blood. And our minds go back to the great earthquake of 2010 in Japan and how many tons of debries are supposed to float about in the ocean. We all know that big commerce delivers its products by large ships which cross the seven seas (Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Mediterranean, North Sea, Baltic Sea and the Caribbean Sea). However, you cannot buy or sell unless you receive the mark of the beast - enter the Sunday laws - and they go about seeking those who refuse and will kill as many as the Lord allows. - But God turns the table, if you receive the mark of the beast you will have to deal with the sea water everywhere becoming blood, for innocent blood they have shed. Yet, people insist on receiving the mark because they are governed by fear instead of faith in God. Their financial situation looms larger and larger before their eyes and they are more and more unable to see these judgments of God as something coming from God. Evolution, false history lessons, the false sabbath, have blinded most in the world. - God's people are quickly learning that their faith and hope must now only rest on the promises of God in His word. That is why we must study these issues and the Scriptures daily, so we will decide rightly. All our security must rest in Christ.
   
3. The Third Plague turns even all the water in the rivers and fountains (mountain lakes) of water into blood, which may greatly affect the fifth plague. Those who want to live, some of them will receive the mark of the beast, while many others will lose their job, their financial security and their life. Yet, to remain steadfast in faith and keep remembering the promises of God can equip all sufficiently to carry out the Lord's instructions and remain faithful despite the persecution as the saints have done throughout the ages.
   
4. The Fourth Plague has to do with hot weather since it is poured out upon the sun in order to scorch men with fire, which too may greatly affect the fifth plague. Even though they are scorched with great heat, they continue to blaspheme God and keep the day of the sun holy, rather than God's holy day. Thus they declare that they are unwilling to repent and live according to the commandments of the Lord God and rather spite God and live and die by man's commandments - thus they cannot live in God's eternal kingdom. Having ignored and explained away these prophecies throughout the ages, they are unable to change their allegiance and are separated from God. - And so it is very sad, that creationists, defending mightily literal creation, at the same time are silent about the Sabbath of the Lord God, about the Law of God and just preach a stunted gospel, thinking that will be all that is needed to keep them right with God, but in the end, they will have to take sides to accept the mark of the beast or the seal of God. We pray some will decide in the last moment before probation closes for them to be faithful to God in everything and say no to the beast, the image and the mark of his name. - For you see, it appears God is saying with the 4th plague, if you want to worship the sun god, I will give you the sun and the great heat - probably greater than the world ever experienced before.
   So, the question is, why do some receive the plagues and others do not? The answer is, some do have the seal of God and thus are protected by the power of God from these plagues, while rejecters of God's ways are not. Sadly they decided to stand on traditions, on man's laws, and not on the commandments of the Lord, Ezekiel wrote what God says, "... I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them." Ezekiel 20:12. For you see, the final conflict is about who we worship. In the days of Christ on earth the issue was, will ye accept the lamb of God, Jesus? In our days, the issue is, will ye keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus? Rev. 12:17. For God IDing His people is based on "they keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12. The reason some people are victorious over the beast and his name is not because of miracles, but what Jesus Christ is doing through them. One of the signs of God's holy sabbath day is, that God can sanctify the people aligning themselves with Him in worship on His day. That phenomena is occurring today around the whole world. People ready themselves for these prophesied times, even if their life is at stake. God could never sanctify unrepenting sinners. Please, dear reader, decide for God's ways today.
   
5. The Fifth Plague is poured out upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain. What causes their pain? Probably not the darkness, but they are still afflicted by the first plague. The darkness may be exasperated by the fact that the water had turned into blood and the great heat may have dried all the rivers so that even nuclear and conventional powerplants will be non-functional, only that the plagues are not world-wide, allows people to survive these events. Thus the plagues seem to occur in quick succession, within weeks, for the pain of the previous plagues continues throughout all plagues. There will be no relief. You see, in the previous plagues, the greater numbers of people in the world thought they were standing in light, in truth, but now they find out more and more that they are standing in darkness - physical and spiritual darkness of the antichrist power for in practice they showed that they do not trust the plain words of God but rather confided in the beast's doctrines and their theologians.
   
6. The Sixth Plague is poured out over the waters of the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. On this topic we remember what was literal and local, in the end becomes spiritual and world wide. So it was that after 70 years Israel came out of literal Babylon over there in Mesopotamia, while at the end, God's commandment keeping people will have to come out of spiritual Babylon in all countries (China, India, Australia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, all), world wide. Thus Babylon drying up seems to indicate that the support system of Babylon, many of its people, will leave it and follow the Lord. Therefore, spread this message everywhere for it is good news indeed. It reminds us of the seven trumpets. In the first event it was Cyrus (Isa. 44:28; 45:1) who fulfilled the 70 year prophecy on God's prompting; thus being called God's `sheperd', he became a type of Christ.
   
7. The Seventh Plague is poured out in the air, and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight if a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great." Rev. 16. - Thus the works of man are all destroyed. How can it occur? Will it be actual hail from clouds? or could it be ice blocks like from the tail of a passing comet? We do not know the answer yet, but in early July, 2011, there was a hail storm in Armenia with hail large enough to smash a car window.

With all these plagues coming down in quick succession, because man begins to enforce their laws, defying God's laws, they ended their time of probation and the plagues begin to fall on them. - That is also the reason why the redeemed are taken up to heaven, because this world is ruined. - This information has been in the Bible for 2000 years. It is not a bad message. It is a warning message. All can be forgiven of their sins and be saved if they so choose. Satan had 6000 years to show his rule of sin. About half way through he killed the Son of God. Because Christ had no sin, He rose from the grave and became the Savior of the whole world. Now is the opportunity of your life to choose God's way. It is the hope of the ages for it ushers in the justice of God and the coming of His Kingdom.
Considering what is happening right now, we have huge quantities of raw oil from several sea floor leaks filling the Caribbean Sea basin from which it will spread into other oceans. Not only that, a similar explosion happened on a Chinese oil well in the Yellow Sea. It too is spreading out raw oil. Within the next year we should have a better idea how much of the pollutants are going to come down in rain storms thus affecting the continental subterranean water supply so that rivers will even become polluted. Well, at least that may be a plausible pathway. The first plague, we may have to wait and see if these toxic substances infiltrating the earth can cause that.

[329] What might those `principles of truth' be? We mention some in various places. You may find some in the Encyclopedia under `truth,' a number of them are found here. Careful, private study may reveal more to the reader. We must know that the Lord places only those in heaven of who it is said, "I will give him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." Rev. 21:6. Those who love to study the great topics of salvation, God's word says, will be in heaven for they love God, the way He is, loves, guides, relates, saves. The promise is only for those who are athirst. None but those who feel their need of the water of life, and seek it at the loss of all things else, will be supplied. "He that overcometh, shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son." Rev. 21:7. In order to inherit all things, we must resist and overcome sin. See Romans 2:5-9.

[330] This form of spiritualism is very subtle and may take place in most churches of any persuasion. The `emerging church' may say, `The Bible does not mean what traditional people think it means.' Basically they are saying, that God may have spoken, but He mumbled, and we're not really sure what He said. Saying that Scripture is not clear is just another way to undermine biblical authority. [John MacArthur] While this observation is relevant to the subject of spiritualism, we try to draw attention that popular churches, in disobeying the commandments of God, have muddied the waters. They reap what they sowed. We must know whenever our prayers seem to be ineffectual, it is because God is not listening to those who disobey His clear commands, Proverbs 28:9. On another note, one can also encounter spiritualism in sweet songs being sung, songs which are not found in the hymn book, but someone gathers them, presents them, without as much as a thought about the content. Since the words themselves cannot be objected against, they leave out what we should remind ourselves of daily. In this writers experience, these songs leave out any mention of denying self, they always shun the word obey or obedience, keeping God's holy law and do not present distinctions between good and evil. Do traditional hymn books have those messages? Examples may be, `Trust and obey.'; `O worship the Lord ... with gold of obedience'; `We gather together', `There were Ninety and Nine that safely lay,' etc. With these comments we merely try to encourage careful discernment on the mood and message conveyed to a congregation. Some of these songs seem to encourage people to raise and waive their hands in the manner of Pentecostal, and not only Pentecostal but also pagan Hindu traditions. It is a known fact that in other cultures music is used for the purpose to get Satan to take over a body. We must consider the long range (decades and centuries) effects and what they can lead to way down the road. That is how unsuspectingly apostasy can walk into the doors of our churches. Please read carefully, EW p. 88 ("Then he showed me the conductor, who appeared like a stately, fair person, whom all the passengers looked up to and reverenced. I was perplexed and asked my attending angel who it was. He said, `It is Satan. He is the conductor in the form of an angel of light. He has taken the world captive.'"); Maran. p. 166 ("The popular ministry cannot successfully resist spiritualism. They have nothing wherewith to shield their flocks from its baleful influence. Much of the sad result of spiritualism will rest upon ministers of this age; for they have trampled the truth under their feet, and in its stead have preferred fables.") In Maran. p. 146 we read: "Spiritualism asserts that men are unfallen demigods; that "each mind will judge itself"; that "true knowledge places men above all law"; that "all sins committed are innocent"; for "whatever is, is right," and "God does not condemn." The basest of human beings it represents as in heaven, and highly exalted there. Thus it declares to all men, "It matters not what you do; live as you please, heaven is your home." Multitudes are thus led to believe that desire is the highest law, that license is liberty, and that man is accountable only to himself." GC p. 589 ("Through Spiritualism, Satan appears as a benefactor of the race, healing the diseases of the people, and professing to present a new and more exalted system of religious faith; but at the same time he works as a destroyer. His temptations are leading multitudes to ruin. Intemperance dethrones reason; sensual indulgence, strife, and bloodshed follow. Satan delights in war; for it excites the worst passions of the soul, and then sweeps into eternity its victims steeped in vice and blood. It is his object to incite the nations to war against one another; for he can thus divert the minds of the people from the work of preparation to stand in the day of God.") and other passages. We believe that failure to study God's Word more discriminating and the SoP leads to these changes which may be what is called `strong delusions', 2.Thess. 2:10-11. These delusions are so strong that they destroy "the love of the truth", which is the reason why people are not saved. Our gaze ought to be toward heaven in all we do, for there is our hope for the longest time of our life. A principle to follow may be, use songs with care whose author is unknown or not part of God's remnant. Songs which say nothing about that this world and with it our time is coming to an end. We must take decided steps in abandoning sinful desires. How Satan uses music is demonstrated in the Bible, see Ezek. 28:13-14; Dan. 3:3-6. Churches who present individual artists instead of songs of worship by a choir, may lead that artist into thinking highly of him or herself, instead of just to glorify God. Some may feel offended when they are not asked to sing during worship. It may be a touchy subject and we must consider each case. Also the hearing of voices is of concern if it is not God's voice, "Some speak of hearing voices and of seeing sights of a supernatural character; but there is no sign in their daily course of action that the Spirit of God has wrought a change in the natural heart, for they are carnal, at enmity with God's law, and neither love God nor obey his commandments." ST, Feb 20, 1895. In these last days we must be especially weary.
[340] Non-Adventist denominations, of course, interpret the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation quite differently. What can we say about that? We would like to point out that smaller scale history repeats itself (Eccl. 3:15) in the future on a world wide scale. This is seen in the events surrounding Abraham and Isaac on the Mount of Moriah, in the Israelite sacrificial system which is a pattern of the sacrifice of Jesus on calvary and in the account of the events in the life of Queen Esther, Mordecai and Haman of Amalekite ancestry. We need to understand from the Book of Esther that literal Israel, during her time, is symbolical, spiritual Israel in the time of the end, Galatians 3:29. Bible study also lets you discover that every story in the Bible meets and ends in the Book of Revelation. Individual incidents, therefore, represent world wide systems and movements in the end of time. In other words, the Book of Esther is not only a historical book but also has prophetic application. That means the individual Mordecai, in the end, is symbolical of a world wide group of people. Esther is symbolic of someone far greater than herself. King Artaxerxes, in the end, represents not one king but kings of the whole world in the same way that Haman is symbolic of world wide, global, religious systems. Even though the name of God is not found in the Book of Esther, we can say that the multitude of events show clearly the hand of God is working for His people. The absence of the word God in it may be akin to reading the events in the life of the Patriarch Joseph and assuming, if God was not mentioned in his story, a Bible reader could see from the providential events that God's hand was guiding affairs? God is saying to Israel, I am still here, I am present. You can see me working for you, my people. We can, therefore, say, that every story in the Bible has Jesus Christ as its hero. Jesus taught that he was the theme in all the Bible, Luke 24:27 referencing Deuteronomy 18:15; Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. In the Book of Esther we find a political figure, a religious coalition, a persecuted and an intercessory figure. The issues brought out are long standing issues. If King Saul would have obeyed God's command how to deal with the Amalekites, the events in the Book of Esther would not have happened. The issues are worship and obedience to God's commandments. We find that the civil powers are going to proclaim a decree to a worship, which, when not obeyed, the religious system is filled with wrath. A small minority spread all over the kingdom will feel the brunt of the plotters anger. We notice that the Persian decree was irrevocable and unchangeable, that the king and his advisers set down to drink wine (Rev. 17:4-6) and that a time of tribulation or trouble begins in which God's people cry out and fast and plead for their cause. The intercessor then comes on stage and her interests are welded together with her people (Esther 7:1-4) as the interests of Jesus Christ will be for His people (Isa. 59:16; Rom. 8:27). Memory books are opened and the case is read, Esth.3;8; Rev. 7:10; 20:12. We notice that on the day of the battle, the 13th day of the 12th month (Esth. 3:13) angels of God protected His people, Ps. 23:4; Esth. 4:13-14; 9:26-28. The Book of Esther than teaches that in the time of the end the issue will be again worship and the claims of God's law obeyed by a small, peculiar people. We realize that for the gospel of the soon Coming of Jesus as King, in His power and with all His holy angels, to be proclaimed to all people, the power and hold of vast groups of people now held in the grasp of false religious systems, these systems must be broken.
[348] The mark of the beast is received in the hand and in the forehead (Rev. 13:15-18) whereas the seal of God is received only in the forehead (Rev. 14:1). Why is the mark of the beast also received in the hand? Because, in the Bible, the hand represents work, Eccl. 9:10. Two groups worship the beast, those who really believe the beast is right, their mind is totally given over to the beast. The other group fears not to be able to buy or sell and therefore work to make a living even on the Sabbath after the Sabbath law has been issued. Before this buying or selling is affecting individuals though, it will affect whole countries. At the same time, the Bible says, people will "eat and drink, marry and give in marriage . . . so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." (Matthew 24:38,39). This prophecy seems to preclude an economic collapse to usher in the end time. The economic stranglehold must be something orchestrated by secret (esoteric) powers to remove the middle class (catachumen) and make them either poor or rich, in order to control the world better. For a long time the RCC was planning just such an arrangement, to destroy capitalism. It may be this that is taking place now. The most powerful economic engines in the world are the big five. They hold the keys to key goods (money, food, metals, electronics, medicine, etc.) needed by all people on earth. Satan must arrange events so that people will not want to seek God, like they would in a total economic collapse, but will live ignorant of their danger. The economic hardships coming out of his scheming will affect only those who desire to be true to God's criteria for what constitutes a true man or woman of God. They will be God's remnant on earth, while those who set them up for difficult times are revealing themselves as enemies of God. This last group will receive the mark of the beast even though they know that the beast is wrong. With Adam and Eve existed the same situation. Eve was deceived by Satan; Adam knew she did wrong but ate the fruit anyway because he loved Eve more than God. At the end of time God will not have two groups of people but only one. He will not have those who worship Him only when it is convenient, but whose mind is totally given over to Him. - February 2011: How much closer are we? In the 1970's, US would pay more for oil if arabs invest profits in US; banks controlling companies in NY also controlled oil companies and still do; holding companies broke, so Arabs are broke. NWO ultimate goals: 1) make Arab nations go broke, causing riots and chaos; that is going on right now; 2) they failed to get possession of all homes, farms and land - gave subprime loans, can't be repaid, just like the developing countries went broke; 3) though they failed to get the world on credit and debit card systems, they are trying it now by issuing new drivers licenses to accomplish that same goal in the US. Satellites will handle 60% of credit card transfers, planned to lead to the same goal to make us into slaves. There will be soon a time of `no buy, no sell.' Rev. 13:17, which is hardship for God's people but ends up worse for the unfaithful.

came a conservative reaction, and in 1795 a new constitution placed the state

"When, in 1797, Pope Pius VI fell grievously ill, Napoleon gave orders that in the event of his death no successor should be elected to his office, and that the papacy should be discontinued. - But the pope recovered; the peace was soon broken; Berthier entered Rome on 19th February 1798, and proclaimed a Republic. The aged Pontiff refused to violate his oath by recognizing it, and was hurried from prison into France. Broken with fatigue and sorrows, he died ..

August 1799, in the French fortress of Valence, aged 82 years. No wonder that half of Europe thought Napoleon's veto would be obeyed, and that with the Pope the Papacy was dead."

The wounding of the horn beast has been written about quite a bit, this time we want to bring to our attention what German authors have written about these events.
What is another take at the reaction in Europe with respect to the French Revolution? What happened?
We read,
"The `Peace of Campo Formio (lg. ca. 13.1, Lt. 46), just west of Udine, northern Italy, brought the primary power of France on the continent in the foreground and so the European balance was destroyed, and thus it could be no peace between France and England. The British saw their land route to India through the build up of French forces in the Mediterranean region endangered. So it was there were the power struggle between continental and maritime preeminence was decided. This was the deeper sense why Napoleon went to Egypt. Even though they succeeded to rend Malta from the `Knights of John' and win the victory in Egypt. . . however the British admiral Nelson was able to destroy the French fleet at Abukir, Alexandria, Egypt, in 1798. That finished Napoleons expedition in Egypt. However, because of his victories on land in Europe a certain mystic surrounded Napoleon; this enhanced the inner and outer position of France while Napoleon was absent. Yet, the financial plight in France was hardly helped by the rich plunder he made in Italy. Under the influence of the young Pitt, a new coalition had formed in France. Besides of smaller states, England, Turkey and Russia belonged to it. For the first time, the two wing-powers of the European system of states, found themselves together against the third power which had pushed its way into the eastern Mediterranean. [Fernis & Haverkamp, `Grundzuege der Geschichte', p. 229. 230]
"All of Europe rose up against revolutionary France, yet despite that, when Napoleon concluded the `Peace Treaty' at Campo Formio on the 17th of October, 1797, he said, `Never for centuries has been concluded a more illustrious peace than ours.' But how marvelously things proceeded when he went against papal supremacy we learn from Leopold von Ranke (1798-1876), `History of the Popes'.
`With irresistible anger, a mixture of enthusiasm, greed and fear, which was reared up in the inner struggle, this revolutionary violence poured across the French borders. What it touched, Belgium, Netherlands, the upper Rhineland of Germany where just then the spiritual constitution had its most prominent seat, she changed in analog fashion: since the campaign of 1796 she had become master even in Italy; no wonder the Italian states rose up, already the seat of the papacy was threatened in his capital.'
`At the first occasion, brought about by a chance event among the population, Rome was invaded and the Vatican occupied. Pius IV pleaded with his enemies to let him, who had lived here, die here, since he was already more than 80 years of age. He received the answer, you can die any place. He was robbed of all the things he might need; his ring on his hand was stripped off his finger, and finally they led him into France where he died in August of 1799. And indeed, it seemed now that papal power was a thing of the past forever. Those tendencies of church sponsored opposition, which we saw start up and arise, had by now matured enough to conclude such a purpose. And indeed, how the papal apostasies from Bible truths mirrored themselves in the most Christian country of Rome! Instead to bear the pope on their shoulders like on the day of his election, bore France their goddesses of reason so; instead of bearing images of saints, a bust of Marat was born, etc. Condemned the popes evangelical Christians, so now Roman worship services were suppressed, their temples were desecrated, their goods confiscated. As the popes changed God's `times', so now his first weekdays were changed to the tenth day, and so their holy days like Christmas, `All Saints' day, `Mary's Day' were now called `dog', `buckday', `chicken day', etc. In place of their implements of torture in the inquisition, worked now the guillotine and instead fidelity to their union, they drowned now popery.
On March 10, 1798, the president of the Directorate wrote about the downfall of the papacy as follows, `She stood wholly in contradiction to the principles, which she professed to confess, she took on the name of Christ to dishonor him, she destroyed the religion which she preached, she maintained that her kingdom was not of this world, but at the same time she sought to set up her universal dominion. For 14 centuries humanity required the destruction of the violence of such a society which aforetime set up stakes in Europe and covered it with blood, forcing the conscience, she destroyed John Hus and Hieronymus at Constance, yet they lived miles away in Prague, because they honored the God of heaven, and even in India of the east and west had she caused barbaric sacrifices of the innocent. How much mayhem, murder and cruelty was perpetrated by the papacy especially too in France. How many uprisings of the people she had caused! (She does this again today everywhere.) Because of the opinions many in the world had of her, since she destroyed evidence, used others to carry out her bloodshed, the world excused Rome for a long time. But yet, the cup of her trespasses is filling up again today. Back in the days of Napoleon, the citizens of Rome invited Berthier to come. What a move in the history of the world, that the Romish consuls send a minister to Paris to thank the French for their great cooperation in the return of freedom for them in Rome, during one of their great gatherings in Paris.' After this message was read in the `Council of the Five Hundred' euphoric joy overcame everyone. In the `Council of the Elder' Bordas proceeded to hold a funerary speech for the papacy. (`Correspondent,' March 14, 1798). One falling away arose from another that power had sponsored and so it had its vengeance. It was pulled off; what prophecy had solidly predicted had taken place, exactly at the precise time in 1798. - But, yes, today that wound is nearly healed completely and the power that was wounded will set out to exact its vengeance on the whole world.

[440] We read, "In the last scenes of this earth's history war will rage. There will be pestilence, plague and famine. The waters of the deep will overflow their boundaries. Property and life will be destroyed by fire and flood. We should be preparing for the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for them that love Him." {Mar 174, 1897}{LDE 24.2} -- See SW, December 25, 1906 par. 5. See also Samuel Koranteng Pipim, `Receiving the Word' and `The Scriptures our Safeguard' chapter 39 in GC. Notice you will find about twenty warnings against the dangers to our faith from learned men (par. 6, 7, 10, 11).
[460] The mightiest words in all the Bible includes, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord. ..." Deut. 6:4. They are spoken to be heard by all those espousing polytheism and paganism in the midst of which God raised His remnant people. They were to stand as a bulwark against the legions of Satan after the split of those following Cain into false forms of religion and those who descended from Abel who had chosen to hearken unto the Lord. We have then a) a historical remnant, b) a faithful remnant, and c) the eschatological remnant, a group which remained faithful in the midst of apostasy. From a series of scriptures we learn that God chooses Himself a remnant or its equivalent throughout history. Beginning with Gen. 4:1-2, 25 the idea of a `new seed' is presented which would be God's depository of Divine truths listed below. Next we read Gen. 4:25-26; 6:5-6,12,17-18; 7:1,5; 9:1,11-12,26; 12:1-3,15:1; 17:7-9; 18:18-19; 45:4-7; Ex. 2:23-25; 3:7-8; 6:2-8; Deut. 7:1,6-8; 8:11-20; 9:6-8; 2.Kings 19:4-31; 2.Chron. 30:6ff; Ezra 9:8,14; Isa. 1:9; Jer. 23:3; Rom. 9:27; 11:5; Rev. 12:17. God's remnant church believes in and teaches about these doctrines which have come down to us from the very beginning and shall be known and followed unto the end by His remnant people:

01) the One God,
02) His Holy Seventh Day Sabbath,
03) the Ten Commandments
04) His Special Creative work to make everything we see
05) the truth of the Sanctuary
06) the truth about what happens after we die
07) how to live healthy, in harmony with God's Word,
08) the Great Controversy between God and Satan - Origin of Evil
Satan continually sows confusion as to a) the meaning of the law, b) how to obey them, c) which of our nation's laws are in harmony with God's law and which not, d) to help accomplish that he works trickily to replace "written" law of man with `practiced' customs of society.
09) in the Spirit of Prophecy, the basis of our Judeo-Christian faith today
10) the Day of Atonement - no other religion has championed this truth
11) light about the great truth about our redeemer, Messiah

[550] That the "lamb" of Revelation 13:11ff is the United States the Bible establishes this way. The first two powers, Babylon and Medo-Persia, were in Asia. Greece and Rome further west, in Europe. Rome conquered Greece, Greece conquered the Persians, the Persians conquered the Babylonians. Their progression is from east to west. These three powers came from the sea. The lamb power of Revelation 13 does not come from the sea (multitudes, tongues and peoples), it came from the earth and therefore cannot arise in Europe (no powerful nations existed where it came up). It did not war against any of the previous powers, `no beating of the sea', Dan. 7:2,3. It helped the "woman" who was persecuted in Europe, Rev. 12:16. It came out further west than the previous powers.
What is Happening in the World?
God in His wisdom has seen to it that true Protestantism at the end of time is distributed throughout the world - like salt - so that they cannot just take one country and flatten it. That they tried to do in their first World War and in the second. They took the major Protestant regions and flattened them - like in Protestant northern Germany were they used fire bombs in violation of the Geneva Convention (1864). After WWII they turned the mostly Protestant eastern parts of Germany and turned them over to the communists to force atheism on them and to harass and annihilate them until the `Wall' came down. The final war is more difficult to fight. To eradicate Protestantism now, they have to fight in every single country in the world. That is a problem for the beast power. They try to achieve it by becoming more brilliant in strategy. They raise up bad cops (people like Osama bin Laden; the Iranians and their religious friends). You have to raise them up in the religious sphere to be effective. Once they are created; they nurture them; then they arm them; fund them; and then you create them all over the world. Next you create cataclysmic events such as the world has never seen, but we see it start about now - it will lead to a clash of civilizations and worldviews. All of this has been planned long ago by clandestine powers. And then, finally, you focus the powerful, fueled hatred of all peoples of the world against that group whom you wish to target - encompassing all the many eastern and spiritualistic religions of the world; you target them through mass hypnosis of the media, and raise the ire of the people to try and blot them out. This focusing was illustrated for the world during the French Revolution. Now its supposed to involve the whole world via a pre-planned agenda coming straight out of the Babylon of secretive organizations which have put up a delusive front to hide behind. [See `Philadelphia Trumpet,' August 2006.] What can God's people do? On view of what prophecy warns us about, God's word also comforts His people for we read, "And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." Rev. 7:1-3. From this you can see that we must reach everybody with God's last message, because to them, it is a life or death question.