Revelation 14 describes God’s work on earth during the time of the judgment. Here we find His final messages to the world that prepare a people to stand through the last great crisis, and be ready for His Second Coming.
4. The 144,000 on Mount Zion (Verses 1 – 5)
In Chapter 13 we saw how at the end of time Satan would attempt to bring the entire world into allegiance to him through the beast and his image. Chapter 14 begins with a look into the future, revealing the special group that stood firm for God through this last great crisis, the one hundred and forty-four thousand standing victoriously on Mount Zion.
Verse 1
The one hundred and forty-four thousand are again brought to view, standing with Jesus (Rev. 5:6) on Mount Zion. They have overcome Satan’s final attacks and joined Jesus at the throne (Rev. 3:21). This glimpse into the future assures us that there will be a people who will stand for God when the entire world follows Satan (Rev. 13:3).
Having His Father’s name written on their foreheads – God’s name is His character (Exodus 34:5-7). His name written on their foreheads indicates that God has fulfilled His New Covenant promise to write His law in their hearts and minds (Hebrews 10:16, Rev. 7:1-4).
Verses 2,3
John hears the one hundred and forty-four thousand, singing together as one (compare with Rev. 19:6) and playing on harps. No one else can learn their song because it is the song of the experience they have just passed through. Revelation Chapter 15 tells us more about this song.
Verses 4 and 5 describe the character of the hundred and forty-four thousand.
Verse 4
These are the ones who were not defiled with women, because they are virgins – The word ‘women’ here symbolizes the fallen, apostate churches that make up spiritual Babylon (Rev. 17:1,5). The one hundred and forty-four thousand are called ‘virgins’ because they have stood faithful to Christ and His Word, and refused the false teachings of Babylon.
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes – This group is distinguished from the rest of the world because they follow Jesus instead of the beast (Rev. 13:3,8, John 10:27,28).
Firstfruits to God and to the Lamb – Firstfruits were an offering made to God in the Old Testament sanctuary (Leviticus 23:10,11). Before the grain harvest, a sheaf of grain was taken into the temple and waved before God to acknowledge that the fruit of the harvest was a blessing from the Lord. The one hundred and forty-four thousand are the firstfruits of the final harvest of humanity at the end of the world (James 1:18).
Verse 5
In their mouths was found no deceit – Another distinguishing feature of the one hundred and forty-four thousand is that they are pure in speech and motive (Zephaniah 3:13, compare with Rev. 21:8, 22:15).
They are without fault before the throne of God – God has cleansed and transformed the one hundred and forty-four thousand, and they are blameless in His sight (Ephesians 5:26,27, Colossians 1:21-23, Jude 24).
This description of the one hundred and forty-four thousand leaves us with the question, “How did they develop the kind of character that enabled them to withstand Satan’s last deceptions?” Verses 6-12 provide the answer to this question.
5. Giving of the Three Angel’s Messages (Verses 6 – 13)
The Three Angel’s Messages are God’s final messages to this world before His Second Coming (Matthew 24:14, compare with Rev. 14:6,14-16). Those who heed these messages will be ready for the final crisis and the Second Coming of Jesus.
Verse 6
Angel - The word ‘angel’ means ‘messenger.’ The angels giving these messages represent God’s people who proclaim the Three Angel’s Messages to the world. (SOP 1)
Having the everlasting gospel – These messages contain the everlasting gospel. This fact will become evident as we study them in detail.
To preach to those who dwell on the earth – to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people – These final messages will go to the entire world (compare with Rev. 10:11, Matthew 24:14).
Verse 7
The hour of His judgment has come - The first angel announces that God’s judgment has begun in heaven (Daniel 7:9,10). The First Angel’s Message began to be proclaimed to the world shortly before 1844, the date of the judgment.
When the first angel announces that the judgment has begun, he gives three urgent commands:
1) fear God 2) give glory to Him 3) worship Him
Heeding these commands is essential for those living during the judgment, because they prepare us to stand when we are judged. Notice what the Bible has to say about each of them.
FEAR GOD (also referred to as the Fear of the Lord)
· The Bible describes two different kinds of fear toward God (Exodus 20:18-21). The fear of God commanded by the first angel is not an unreasoning terror of His presence (Genesis 3:8-10), but of holding Him in awe and holy reverence (Exodus 3:1-6). We have been called to serve God with reverence and Godly fear (Hebrews 12:28).
· When we truly fear God, our first consideration will always be “what does God think?” (Matthew 10:28-30).
· Those who fear God will obey Him at any cost to themselves (Genesis Chapter 22, note especially vs. 12). In contrast, the fear of man will prove a snare (Proverbs 29:25).
· The fear of the Lord is the beginning of true wisdom (Psalm 111:10). It makes us teachable (Psalm 25:12), allows the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Psalm 25:14, 31:20), and brings the knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:5).
· Fearing God means to love Him and keep His commandments (Deuteronomy 5:29. See also Deuteronomy 30:1,2,6,19,20 for the kind of heart God is looking for.). Fearing God also means to hate and reject evil (Proverbs 8:13, Job 1:1,8).
· Fearing God enables Him to preserve our lives (Deuteronomy 6:24). He can fulfill our desires, hear our cry, and save us (Psalm 145:19). He takes pleasure in those who fear Him (Psalm 147:11).
· Fearing God is ours by choice (Proverbs 1:29). It is a fountain of life to those who choose it, because it turns them away from the snares of death (Proverbs 14:27).
When we choose to fear God, it gives Him His rightful place in our lives. It allows Him to take control, brings obedience, and enables God to save us.
GIVE GLORY TO HIM (or Glorify God)
· Before we can understand what it means to give glory to God, we must know what is God’s glory. This is because we have no glory of our own, we can only return to Him the glory He has given us in the first place. In other words, when we reflect His glory, we give Him glory.
· God’s glory is His character of love, goodness, compassion, and kindness (Exodus 33:17-20, 34:5-7).
· Christ’s miracles of mercy and love were called His glory (John 2:11). When He healed people, He glorified God (Luke 13:13, Luke 18:43). Jesus resurrected Lazarus to bring glory to God (John 11:4,40). The Father and the Son glorified one another when God gave His Son and Jesus willingly died for us (John 17:1).
· We reflect the glory of God in acts of love, mercy, kindness, goodness, and grace to those who are in need (Matthew 5:16,43-48, Luke 6:27-36).
· Giving glory to God is described as bearing fruit in our lives (John 15:8, Philippians 1:9-11). This is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), and it is manifested in our relations with other people.
· Bearing fruit is equated with keeping God’s commandments (John 15:8-10,12,13. Also compare Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 with Revelation 14:7).
· The apostle Paul exhorts us to do everything to the glory of God
(I Corinthians 10:31, 6:19,20). Nothing we do should be tainted by the sin of selfishness.
We give glory to God by revealing His character of love to those around us. When we give glory to Him, only Christ will be seen in our lives.
WORSHIP HIM
· We are called to worship God because He is our creator and we belong to Him (Psalm 95:6,7).
· The purpose of worship is to acknowledge God for His character, works, and power (Psalm 66:1-4). Worship means “worth-ship.”
· Only God is to be worshipped (Matthew 4:10). The Third Angels Message warns us against worshipping any earthly power (Revelation 14:9,10). We worship God in vain when we teach as doctrine the commandments of men (Matthew 15:9).
· We are to worship God because He is holy (Psalm 99:5), and we are called to worship God in the beauty of holiness (Psalm 96:8,9).
· Jesus told us that true worshippers will worship God in Spirit and truth (John 4:23,24). Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit (vs. 24) and truth refers to God’s Word (John 17:17).
True worship is not merely an outward act, but a reaching out of the heart to God. It is coming to God, seeking more of His Presence in our lives, and seeking to know Him more through His Word.
Imbedded in the First Angel’s Message is the essence of the gospel. Fearing God puts us in a right relationship with Him. Giving glory to God makes us like Him in character. Worshipping God gives us a greater knowledge of Him and the power to become like Him through the Holy Spirit. Obeying the First Angel’s Message prepares us to stand in the judgment.
WHO MADE HEAVEN, EARTH AND SEA
The First Angel commands us to worship Him who made heaven, earth and sea. This is a direct quote from the fourth commandment (Exodus 20:8-11, see especially vs. 11), which commands us to keep the Sabbath as a memorial of creation. By comparing these two verses, we can see that the First Angel’s call to worship God as Creator is actually a call to keep holy the Seventh-day Sabbath.
Jesus declared Himself Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28) because He is the Creator (John 1:1-3,14, Colossians 1:14-16). He made the Sabbath to be a blessing for all mankind (Mark 2:27). Those who keep the Sabbath as He intended honor Him, and will delight themselves in the Lord (Isaiah 58:13,14). Thus we see that the purpose of the Sabbath is to preserve and protect our relationship with God.
Because of this fact, Satan hates the Sabbath. All through history he has warred against it, but God has preserved the true Sabbath and has always had a people who obeyed Him and kept the Sabbath holy.
As noted above, the call to “worship Him who made heaven, earth and sea” (Revelation 14:7) is a quote from the fourth commandment (Exodus 20:11), pointing us to the Sabbath. But these words have an even further significance - they are the Seal of God! Notice the following:
Seals generally have three components:
The name of the ruling authority
His office
The territory over which he has jurisdiction
God’s seal has all three of these components (see Revelation 14:7, Exodus 20:11):
1. Name – Him (the Lord)
2. Office - Made (Creator)
3. Territory - Heaven, earth, sea
The Dictionary defines a seal as “a mark or symbol attached to a legal document as evidence of authenticity or attestation.” God’s legal document is His law, and it contains His seal (Exodus 20:11).
It is significant that the Sabbath commandment contains God’s seal, because our keeping of the Sabbath is the “evidence of authenticity or attestation” that God’s entire law is written in our minds and hearts (Exodus 31:13). Notice the following facts about the Sabbath:
· The Sabbath is a sign that God has delivered us from the bondage of sin (Exodus 20:2, Deuteronomy 5:12-15).
· God commands us to observe the Sabbath as a perpetual covenant (Exodus 31:16). God calls the Sabbath a perpetual covenant because it is the sign of His everlasting covenant of salvation. When we enter our Sabbath rest, we place ourselves under the divine everlasting covenant, and it becomes the sign of our redemption.
· The Sabbath is a sign that God recognizes us as His people (Ezekiel 20:20). When we keep the Sabbath out of love and loyalty to God, we take upon ourselves His name (character), and all the blessings He has promised are ours.
WHO MADE . . . SPRINGS OF WATER
The First Angels Message ends with a call to “worship Him who made . . . springs of water.” The term “springs of water” is a symbol of eternal life, given to us when we accept Jesus as our Redeemer (Rev. 7:17, 21:6. Note: The words ‘springs’ or ‘fountains’ are the same in the original language). Therefore, the First Angel’s call to worship Him who made springs of water is a command to worship God as our Redeemer.
The same Divine power that created all things is the power that re-creates our
souls in His own likeness. Our re-creation is a great a miracle as our creation. This is why God is worthy of our worship as Creator and Redeemer.
Earlier we learned that the Sabbath is closely linked to our worship of God as Creator. Notice how the Sabbath is equally linked to our worship of God as Redeemer:
· When God finished His work of creating this world, He commemorated the
occasion by creating the Sabbath and resting upon it (Genesis 2:1-3). In the same way, after Jesus finished His work of redemption at the cross, He rested in the tomb on the Sabbath day (Luke 23:50-56, Matthew 28:1-7). Because of this, the Sabbath is also a commemoration of Jesus’ completed work of redemption.
· The Sabbath is a sign between us and God, that He alone saves us and sanctifies us, or makes us holy (Ezekiel 20:12). Each Sabbath is another reminder of what God has done for us, without us.
· The physical rest we enjoy on the Sabbath is a symbol of the spiritual
rest we experience when we cease trying to earn our salvation and simply rest in the salvation God has already provided (Isaiah 30:15, Hebrews 4:1-4, 9,10). (Note: The original word for “rest” in Hebrews 4:9 is “sabbatismos,” which means “keeping of the Sabbath.”)
Verse 8
Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city - The Second Angel announces that Babylon is fallen. The ancient city of Babylon fell about 2,500 years ago (Daniel Chapter 5) and is used here as a symbol the end-time Christian church (Rev. 17:1, 5). End-time spiritual Babylon is like ancient Babylon in character. (SOP 2, 3)
Notice how the Old Testament describes ancient Babylon.
· The term ‘Babylon’ (or Babel) means confusion (Genesis 11:1-9).
· Babylon was proud, rebellious, and rejected God’s authority (Daniel 2:27,28,46,47, compare with Daniel 3:14,15, Daniel 5:22,23).
· Babylon rejected God’s word and sought wisdom through the occult, thereby placing herself under the control of Satan (Daniel 2:2,3, Daniel 5:7,8).
NOTE: Magicians are those who work magic and try to prognosticate the future through spells (Exodus 7:8-13). Astrologers are those who claim to be able to read the future in the stars (Isaiah 47:12,13). Sorcerers are those who claim to reveal the future through contact with the spirits (modern methods are crystal balls, palm reading, tarot cards, etc.). The Chaldeans were the scholars and priestly order of Babylonian religion, who were also known to be involved with the occult. God forbade His people to have anything to do with these practices (Deuteronomy 18:10-15,18, Leviticus 19:31,20:27), because they allow Satan and his forces of evil to control those who practice them.
· Babylon attempted to force the world to accept her authority over God’s authority by using coercion and force (Daniel 3:1-6).
Spiritual Babylon is another symbol for the beast and his image, which will attempt to force the Mark of the Beast upon the world (Rev. 13). Notice that the end-time Christian church has the very same character as that of ancient Babylon.
· Spiritual Babylon is marked by confusion, as found in the multitude of false teachings in the different churches. (SOP 4)
· Spiritual Babylon is proud, rebellious, and rejects God’s authority (Rev. 17:4, 18:7).
· Spiritual Babylon has placed herself under the control of Satan (Rev. 16:13,14, 18:2).
· Spiritual Babylon will attempt to force the world to accept her authority over God’s authority through the use of coercion and force (Rev. 13:17,15).
She has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication – Spiritual fornication is friendship with the world (Rev. 17:2, James 4:4, 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1). Babylon’s wine is her false teachings, and Babylon’s wrath is her anger toward those who refuse to accept them.
Verse 9
If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand - The Third Angels Message begins with a warning not to worship the beast and his image or receive his mark. In Chapter 13 we identified the beast as the Papacy, and the image of the beast as the United States when the Protestant Churches unite with the state to enforce the mark of the beast. Let’s identify the mark of the beast.
The mark of the beast is a counterpart of the seal of God. Notice the following:
· Those who worship God will receive the seal of God (Rev. 14:7, 7:3), while those who worship the beast and his image will receive the mark of the beast (Rev. 14:9, 13:8).
· The seal of God is placed on the forehead (Rev. 7:3). The mark of the beast is placed on the forehead or on the hand (Rev. 14:9, 13:16).
· Those who receive the seal of God are identified as keeping the commandments (Rev. 14:12). This implies that those who receive the mark of the beast will be breaking God’s commandments.
· Those who receive the seal of God are saved (Rev. 7:1-4; 14:1), while those who receive the mark of the beast are lost (Rev. 14:9,10).
From this comparison, we can see that the mark of the beast is actually a counterfeit of the seal of God. Therefore, to identify the mark of the beast we need only to identify the seal of God and then look for a counterfeit. Let’s identify the seal of God:
· God’s seal is placed on the forehead. This is a reference to God’s New Covenant promise to write His law in the minds of His people (Hebrews 8:10). God’s seal placed on the forehead indicates that God has fulfilled His covenant promise, and His people are now like Him in character (Rev. 14:1, I John 3:2). This is why God calls them saints and identifies them as commandment keepers (Rev. 14:12).
· But God’s seal is NOT the entire law. Earlier we learned that God’s seal is found in the fourth commandment, so God’s seal is the keeping of the Seventh-day Sabbath.
And what is the counterfeit of God’s seal? It is Sunday, the first day of the week. The observance of Sunday is the mark of the beast. (SOP 5)
Notice again the term “mark of the beast.” It’s the mark OF THE BEAST, or the beast’s mark. We have identified the beast as the Papacy, so it is the mark of the Papacy. The Church of Rome claims to have changed the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday, and she claims this change as a MARK of her authority in religious matters. Although this change occurred more than fifteen hundred years ago, we still have statements in contemporary church publications that confirm this fact. Notice the following account:
One day a man picked up Peter Geiermann’s Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine and read the following on page 50:
“Q. Which is the Sabbath day?
A. Saturday is the Sabbath day.
Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday”.
This man was dumbfounded and supposed there must be some mistake, so he wrote a letter to the then-famous James Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore, and asked if the Catholic Church did, indeed, change the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday. The Cardinal replied, “Of course, the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. And the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters.” C.F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons, in answer to a letter regarding the change of the Sabbath.
Now that we’ve identified the mark of the beast, let’s examine the issues more
closely:
· God’s seal is placed on the forehead (Rev. 7:3), while the mark of the beast is placed on the right hand or on the forehead (Rev. 13:16). The forehead is a symbol of the mind and the hand is a symbol of our actions (Genesis 5:29, Ecclesiastes 9:10). This reveals that God will accept our allegiance only if it is based on love, while Satan will accept our allegiance any way he can get it. Those who receive the mark of the beast in the forehead are deceived, while those who receive it in the hand are cooperating only because they are fearful of the consequences if they do not.
· The issue of the seal of God versus the mark of the beast is over worship. The higher power we give our allegiance to is the one we worship, and we show our allegiance by our obedience (Romans 6:16).
· It’s important to note that no one now has the mark of the beast. There are thousands of sincere Christians who keep Sunday and serve God as best they know how, and God accepts their service of love (Acts 17:30). Sunday observance will become the mark of the beast only when it is imposed on the people by law (Rev. 13:16,17). Then the issues will be made plain to all, and everyone will have to choose whether to obey God or men.
Verse 10
He himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation – Those who drink the wine of Babylon will also drink from the cup of God’s wrath. This refers to the seven last plagues (Rev. 15:1). (SOP 6)
He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb – This is describing hellfire at the end of the 1000 years (Rev. 20:9) that destroys the wicked. This is called the second death. The wicked will be outside the New Jerusalem when God rains down fire from heaven, while the holy angels and the Lamb will be inside the city with the saints.
Verse 11
The smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever – This is thought by some to support the doctrine of an eternally burning hell. But this description is symbolic, telling us that the terrible result of sin will always be remembered by the redeemed. There will be no reminders of sin in heaven except for the scars on Jesus’ hands and feet, but these will be enough. Through eternal ages we will never forget the high cost paid by God for our redemption.
They have no rest day or night - This does not refer to eternal torment in hellfire, but to the fact that the lost have rejected Jesus’ invitation of rest (Matthew 11:28-30, Isaiah 48:22). This resulted in their rejection of the Sabbath, the day that commemorates that rest (Exodus 20:8-11, Hebrews 4:1-4, 9).
Verse 12
After warning us against false worship and receiving the mark of the beast in verses 9-11, the third angel points us to a special group of people in verse 12 – the saints. These are the redeemed, those who have heeded the warnings given by the first and second angels.
Notice that the saints are distinguished by three characteristics:
1) Patience 2) Keep the commandments 3) The faith of Jesus
Looking more closely at these three characteristics, we find that they are describing righteousness by faith.
Patience (steadfast endurance, perseverance)
· Luke 21:19 – We possess (keep) our souls by our patience. Note that in this chapter Jesus is talking about those living near the end of the world.
· Hebrews 6:11,12 – Through faith and patience we inherit the promises.
· Romans 5:1-4 – Tribulation produces the perseverance (patience, KJV) we need.
· James 1:2-4 – Patience makes us perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
· Psalm 37:1-9 – This passage explains how to wait patiently on the Lord.
· Hebrews 10:35-39 – Through endurance (patience, KJV) we live lives of righteousness by faith.
Keep the Commandments of God
· Psalm 40:8 – God has fulfilled His New Covenant promise to write His laws in their hearts.
· John 14:15-17 – Their motive for obeying God’s law is love, and God has given them His Spirit.
· Psalm 119:11 – They have hidden God’s Word in their hearts that they might not sin against Him.
· Psalm 119:37 – They turn away from the worthless things of this world.
· Psalm 119:97-101 – Because they meditate on the law (God’s character) and keep it, they have been taught by God Himself.
The Faith of Jesus
· This phrase can be translated “faith of Jesus” and “faith in Jesus.” Both apply here. The saints not only have faith in Jesus, they have the faith of Jesus, a faith that does not fail when tested.
· Hebrews 11:1,3 – The Bible defines faith as believing in something that you cannot see.
· Hebrews 11:6 – Faith is the only way to please God.
· James 2:17-20 – True faith is a belief that acts upon that belief. Belief that does not result in action is not faith, but presumption.
· Romans 12:3 – God has given each of us a measure of faith.
· Romans 10:17 – Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
· Hebrews 11:32-40, 12:1 - Through faith we overcome the world.
· Hebrews 12:2 – Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.
The saints are those who patiently endure through the final crisis, obeying God out of love and living lives of faith. This is the Third Angels Message, a message of righteousness by faith, the everlasting gospel. (SOP 7, 8)
Verse 13
After the Three Angel’s Messages have been proclaimed, John hears a special blessing pronounced upon those who have died during their proclamation. They will rest until the resurrection, but their influence will continue as long as time lasts because of their faithfulness and labor for souls. (SOP 9)
6. The Two Harvests (Verses 14 – 20)
The Third Angel’s Message has revealed the final test that will divide the world into two groups – the saved and the lost. Next we are shown the fate of the saved and the lost using the symbol of two harvests. The grain harvest represents the reward of the righteous and the grape harvest represents the reward of the wicked.
Verse 14
Here we see Jesus sitting on a cloud (Rev. 1:7), anticipating the moment when He can come to get His people. He is wearing the victor’s crown (Rev. 3:21) and holding a sharp sickle in His hand, a symbol of the final harvest (Matthew 13:36-43).
Verses 15,16
The announcement comes from the heavenly sanctuary that the harvest is ready, and Jesus comes to get His people. (SOP 10) This is the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to His disciples in John 14:3.
Verse 17
Here the symbols change from the harvest in previous verses. The angel in this verse is probably another symbol for Christ, because he is the one holding the sickle for the grape harvest (compare with verse 14).
Verse 18
Word comes from the altar of incense (Rev. 8:3-5) that it’s time to harvest the grapes. The final punishment of the wicked was previously mentioned under the Seventh Trumpet (Rev. 11:18).
Verse 19
The symbol of the winepress comes from Joel 3:1-3,13,14 and Isaiah 63:1-6, where Jesus punishes the wicked for attempting to kill His people. The final punishment of the wicked takes place at the Second Coming (Rev. 19:15, and 19-21), and at the end of the thousand years (Rev. 20:7-9).
Verse 20
Outside the city – The city here referred to is the New Jerusalem, at the time it is surrounded by the wicked at the end of the thousand years (Rev. 20:9).
Blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles – The horses are a symbol of God’s army (Rev. 19:11,14) when He takes control and punishes the wicked.
For one thousand six hundred furlongs – This appears to be hyperbole to stress the severity of God’s wrath. In mercy God has borne long with the wicked, but the day will finally come when He must deal with them because of their persistent rebellion and refusal to come to Him for salvation (2 Peter 3:9-15).
Spirit of Prophecy Quotations
1 “In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the word of God. They have been given a work of the most solemn import – the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages. There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention.
“The most solemn truths ever entrusted to mortals have been given us to proclaim to the world. The proclamation of these truths is to be our work. The world is to be warned, and God’s people are to be true to the trust committed to them. They are not to engage in speculation, neither are they to enter into business enterprises with unbelievers; for this would hinder them in their God-given work.” – Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 9, page 19.
2 “The message of Revelation 14, announcing the fall of Babylon, must apply to religious bodies that were once pure and have become corrupt. Since this message follows the warning of the judgment, it must be given in the last days; therefore it cannot refer to the Roman Church alone, for that church has been in a fallen condition for many centuries.” – The Great Controversy, page 383.
3 “I saw that since the second angel proclaimed the fall of the churches, they have been growing more and more corrupt. They bear the name of being Christ’s followers; yet it is impossible to distinguish them from the world. Ministers take their texts from the Word of God, but preach smooth things. To this the natural heart feels no objection. It is only the spirit and power of the truth and the salvation of Christ that is hateful to the carnal heart. There is nothing in the popular ministry that stirs the wrath of Satan, makes the sinner tremble, or applies to the heart and conscience the fearful realities of a judgment soon to come. Wicked men are generally pleased with a form of piety without true godliness, and they will aid and support such a religion.” – Early Writings, page 273.
4 “The term “Babylon” is derived from “Babel,” and signifies confusion. It is employed in Scripture to designate the various forms of false or apostate religion.” – The Great Controversy, page 381.
5 “John was called to behold a people distinct from those who worship the beast and his image by keeping the first day of the week. The observance of this day [the first day of the week] is the mark of the beast.” – Letter 31, 1898.
6 “The most fearful threatening ever addressed to mortals is contained in the third angel’s message. That must be a terrible sin which calls down the wrath of God unmingled with mercy. Men are not to be left in darkness concerning this important matter; the warning against this sin is to be given to the world before the visitation of God’s judgments, that all may know why they are to be inflicted, and have opportunity to escape them. Prophecy declares that the first angel would make his announcement to “every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” The warning of the third angel, which forms a part of the same threefold message, is to be no less widespread. It is represented in the prophecy as being proclaimed with a loud voice, by an angel flying in the midst of heaven; and it will command the attention of the world.” – The Great Controversy, pages 449, 450.
7 “The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. . . . This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel’s message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure.” – Testimonies to Ministers, pages 91, 92.
8 “Just prior to the great day of God, a message is sent forth to warn the people to come back to their allegiance to the law of God which antichrist has broken down. By precept and example, attention must be called to the breach in the law. I was shown that the third angel, proclaiming the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, represents the people who receive this message and raise the voice of warning to the world, to keep the commandments of God as the apple of the eye, and that in response to this warning many would embrace the Sabbath of the Lord.” – Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, pages 76, 77.
9 “When a man dies, his influence does not die with him; but it lives on, reproducing itself. The influence of the man who was good and pure and holy lives on after his death, like the glow of the descending sun, casting its glories athwart the heavens, lighting up the mountain peaks long after the sun has sunk behind the hill. So will the works of the pure and the holy and the good reflect their light when they no longer live to speak and act themselves. Their works, their words, their example will forever live. “The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.”” – Testimonies to Ministers, page 429.
10 “The latter rain, ripening the earth’s harvest, represents the spiritual grace that prepares the church for the coming of the Son of man.” – Testimonies to Ministers, page 506.
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