CHAPTER 35 (The
Great Controversy)
The Third Message
Closed
I was pointed down to the time when the third
angel's message was closing. 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 earth,
who would not receive the message.
I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven. An angel returned from the earth with a
writer's ink-horn by his side, and reported to Jesus that his work was done,
that the saints were numbered and sealed.
Then I saw Jesus, who had been ministering before the ark containing the
ten commandments, throw down the censer.
He raised his hands upward, and with a loud voice said, It is done. And
all the angelic host laid off their crowns as Jesus made the solemn
declaration, He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is
filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous
still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
I saw that every case was then decided for life
or death. Jesus had blotted out the sins of his people. He had received his kingdom, and the
atonement had been made for the subjects of his kingdom. While Jesus had been ministering in the
Sanctuary, the judgment had been going on for the righteous dead, and then for
the righteous living. The subjects of
the kingdom were made up. The marriage
of the Lamb was finished. And the
kingdom, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, was given to
Jesus, and the heirs of salvation, and Jesus was to reign as King of kings, and
Lord of lords.
As Jesus moved out of the Most Holy place, I
heard the tinkling of the bells upon his garment, and as he left, a cloud of
darkness covered the inhabitants of the earth.
There was then no mediator between guilty man, and an offended God. While Jesus had been standing between God and
guilty man, a restraint was upon the people; but when Jesus stepped out from
between man and the Father, the restraint was removed, and Satan had the
control of man. It was impossible for
the plagues to be poured out while Jesus officiated in the Sanctuary; but as
his work there is finished, as his intercession closes, there is nothing to
stay the wrath of God, and it breaks with fury upon the shelterless head of the
guilty sinner, who has slighted salvation, and hated reproof. The saints in that fearful time, after the
close of Jesus' mediation, were living in the sight of a holy God, without an
intercessor. Every case was decided,
every jewel numbered. Jesus tarried a
moment in the outer apartment of the heavenly Sanctuary, and the sins which had
been confessed while he was in the Most Holy place, he placed back upon the
originator of sin, the Devil. He must
suffer the punishment of these sins.
Then I saw Jesus lay off his priestly attire, and
clothe himself with his most kingly robes -- upon his head were many crowns, a
crown within a crown -- and surrounded by the angelic host, he left
heaven. The plagues were falling upon
the inhabitants of the earth. Some were
denouncing God, and cursing him. Others
rushed to the people of God, and begged to be taught how they should escape the
judgments of God. But the saints had
nothing for them. The last tear for
sinners had been shed, the last agonizing prayer offered, the last burden had
been borne. The sweet voice of mercy was
no more to invite them. The last note of
warning had been given. When the saints,
and all heaven were interested for their salvation, they had no interest for
themselves. Life and death had been set
before them. Many desired life; but did
not make any effort to obtain it. They
did not choose life, and now there was no atoning blood to cleanse the
sinner. No compassionate Saviour to
plead for them, and cry, Spare, spare the sinner a little longer. All heaven had united with Jesus, as they
heard the fearful words, It is done, It is finished. The plan of salvation had been
accomplished. But few had chosen to
accept the plan. And as mercy's sweet
voice died away, a fearfulness and horror seized them. With terrible distinctness they hear, Too
late! too late!
Those who had not prized God's word were hurrying
to and fro. They wandered from sea to
sea, and from the north to the east, to seek the word of the Lord. Said the angel, They shall not find it. There is a famine in the land; not a famine
of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. What would they not give for one word of approval
from God? but no, they must hunger and thirst on. Day after day have they slighted salvation,
and prized earthly pleasure, and earthly riches, higher than any heavenly
inducement and treasure. They have
rejected Jesus, and despised his saints.
The filthy must remain filthy forever.
A great portion of the wicked were greatly
enraged, as they suffered the effects of the plagues. It was a scene of fearful agony. Parents were bitterly reproaching their
children, and children reproaching their parents, brothers their sisters, and
sisters their brothers. Loud wailing
cries were heard in every direction, It was you who kept me from receiving the
truth, which would have saved me from this awful hour. The people turned upon the ministers with
bitter hate, and reproached them, telling them, You have not warned us. You told us all the world was to be
converted, and cried, Peace, peace, to quiet every fear that was aroused. You have not told us of this hour, and those
who warned us of it you said were fanatics, and evil men, who would ruin us.
But the ministers, I saw, did not escape the wrath of God. Their sufferings were ten-fold greater than
their people's.
See Leviticus 16:10-22; Ezekiel 9:2-11; Daniel
7:27; Hosea 6:3; Amos 8:11-13; Revelation chap.16, 17:14, 19:7-16, 22:11
Lev 16:10 But
the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive
before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a
scapegoat into the wilderness.
Lev 16:11 And
Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and
shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the
bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:
Lev 16:12 And
he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before
the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within
the vail:
Lev 16:13 And
he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the
incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die
not:
Lev 16:14 And
he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon
the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the
blood with his finger seven times.
Lev 16:15 Then
shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring
his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of
the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:
Lev 16:16 And
he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of
the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins:
and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among
them in the midst of their uncleanness.
Lev 16:17 And
there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to
make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an
atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of
Israel.
Lev 16:18 And
he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement
for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the
goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.
Lev 16:19 And
he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse
it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
Lev 16:20 And
when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of
the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:
Lev 16:21 And
Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over
him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions
in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him
away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
Lev 16:22 And
the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited:
and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
Eze 9:2 And,
behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the
north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was
clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and
stood beside the brasen altar.
Eze 9:3 And
the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was,
to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen,
which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;
Eze 9:4 And
the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of
Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry
for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Eze 9:5 And to
the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and
smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
Eze 9:6 Slay
utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not
near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began
at the ancient men which were before the house.
Eze 9:7 And he
said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye
forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
Eze 9:8 And it
came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my
face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of
Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?
Eze 9:9 Then
said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding
great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for
they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.
Eze 9:10 And
as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will
recompense their way upon their head.
Eze 9:11 And,
behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported
the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.
Dan 7:27 And
the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole
heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose
kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey
him.
Hos 6:3 Then
shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as
the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former
rain unto the earth.
Rev 16:1 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 16:2 And
the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a
noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and
upon them which worshipped his image.
Rev 16:3 And
the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood
of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.
Rev 16:4 And
the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters;
and they became blood.
Rev 16:5 And I
heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and
wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.
Rev 16:6 For
they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood
to drink; for they are worthy.
Rev 16:7 And I
heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and
righteous are thy judgments.
Rev 16:8 And
the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him
to scorch men with fire.
Rev 16:9 And
men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath
power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
Rev 16:10 And
the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom
was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
Rev 16:11 And
blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and
repented not of their deeds.
Rev 16:12 And
the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the
water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be
prepared.
Rev 16:13 And
I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and
out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Rev 16:14 For
they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings
of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great
day of God Almighty.
Rev 16:15
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his
garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
Rev 16:16 And
he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue
Armageddon.
Rev 16:17 And
the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great
voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
Rev 16:18 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.
Rev 16:19 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 the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
Rev 16:20 And
every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
Rev 16:21 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 17:14
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is
Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and
chosen, and faithful.
Rev 19:7 Let
us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is
come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And
to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:
for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Rev 19:9 And
he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage
supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of
God.
Rev 19:10 And
I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I
am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus:
worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Rev 19:11 And
I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was
called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make
war.
Rev 19:12 His
eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a
name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And
he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word
of God.
Rev 19:14 And
the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine
linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 And
out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations:
and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the
fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16 And
he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD
OF LORDS.
Rev 22:11 He
that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be
filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that
is holy, let him be holy still.
No comments:
Post a Comment