(Excerpt)
THE
SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD --
(The
Times of the Gentiles)
"The
sovereignty of God involves fullness of blessing to all created
beings."(1) As the Sovereign of the Universe, He is "working
salvation in the midst of the earth."(2) In His hands are "the
times" and "the seasons.".(3) He reveals that which is
necessary to take place in an ever quickening pace.(4) Man's relationship
to this Divine Sovereignty is elemental to his redemption. The enemy of God has
suggested that because the father and mother of our race yielded to the
invitation offered in Eden, that mankind has "chosen him as their
sovereign."(5) To question the sovereignty of God has "become the
purpose of the prince of angels."(6) Thus every human being must choose to
whom he will yield full and complete allegiance. This is more than verbal; it
is reflected in life's decisions that result in action.
To
Nebuchadnezzar was revealed the history of the world from his day till the
stone kingdom which was to stand forever would fill the whole earth. In this
divine order of events, Nebuchadnezzar's place was simply "the head of
gold."(7) But this did not harmonize with his personal ambitions, so he
erected an image all of gold.(8) Still not having learned the lesson of God's
sovereignty, he boasted - "Is not this great Babylon, that I have
built."(9) The divine decree went forth taking from him his kingdom, and
his rationality "until [he should] know that the Most High ruleth in the
kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will."(10) After seven
years, upon the return of his understanding, he confessed the confession of
life: I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored Him that liveth
forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from
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generation
to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and
He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants
of earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest thou?(11)
In this
same book of prophecy, sealed -set apart - for the time of the end, we find a
lesson in the life of Daniel which speaks to the very present issues
confronting us today. To Daniel was revealed the course of human history. In
the first year of Belshazzar, Daniel had depicted for him in beastly symbols
the succession of empires from Babylon's day till the Son of man should receive
His kingdom.(12) In the third year of the same king's reign, Daniel was no
longer at Babylon but "at Shushan in the palace, which was in the province
of Elam." To him again was revealed the course of empires, but Babylon was
not included. The inference was very clear - its days were numbered!(13)
Soon the
Medo-Persian armies began pushing southward and westward. Daniel could have
given himself over to the Persian forces, and asked for political asylum. He
thus could have remained at the palace that was to become the royal capital of
the Persians.(14) Was not one of the coming personalities among the Persians -
Cyrus ? But Daniel did not do so. Even though no longer in the government, nor
under obligation to the head of State, he retreated with the Babylonian forces,
and returned to Babylon. God had not yet spoken. Circumstances indicated a
change was imminent, but until God should speak, Daniel maintained a loyalty in
harmony with God's original guidance in his life.
In the
final days of the tottering Babylonian Empire, Belshazzar made a feast and
drank wine to the gods of gold, silver, and brass. Suddenly God speaks forth -
a Hand writes - "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. Terror seizes the drunken
king and his guests. When Daniel is brought to interpret -he reads the Hand of
God as the Sovereign of the Universe. The hour had now come -the kingdom of
Babylon had been weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, and had been found
wanting.(15) Daniel could now
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move
freely, for God had moved. Though clothed in the garb of the third ruler of the
kingdom the night of the Medo-Persia take-over, within days, he was appointed
one of the three presidents of the realm of the new kingdom, and the king
sought to make him the first.(16)
Here was a
man greatly beloved of Heaven, whose life moved with the unfolding of the
Scroll of Prophecy. Until God - the Divine Sovereign -indicated a change,
Daniel was content to wait, but once the indication was given, he moved forth
fearlessly. God could use him. .He continued until the third year of Cyrus, and
saw the decree issued which fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah concerning
"the desolations of Jerusalem."(17) In this action, Daniel played a
part in the Divine purpose because his life was governed by the sovereignty of
God, "who doeth His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants
of earth: and none can stay His hand, or say to Him, "What doest
Thou?"
We today
would not find ourselves in such doubt and perplexity if we too, would simply
recognize the Sovereignty of God. Through the servant of the Lord, God has
plainly spoken: In the balances of the sanctuary the Seventh-day Adventist
church is to be weighed. She will be judged by the privileges and advantages
that she has had. If her spiritual experience does not correspond to the
advantages that Christ, at infinite cost, has bestowed on her, if the blessings
conferred have not qualified her to do the work entrusted to her, on her will
be pronounced the sentence, "Found wanting." By the light bestowed,
the opportunities given, will she be judged.(18)
This is
not a conditional prophecy, the Church is to be weighed. The conditional aspect
is the decision to be rendered. God does not make an arbitrary judgment. We
make the decision by our actions prior to the judgment.
When the
Ancient of Days began the Investigative Judgment He set up a corresponding
Movement on earth to work in harmony with His purposes and objectives. This
Movement was entrusted to the Church. "In a special sense Seventh-day
Adven-
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tists have
been set in the world as watchmen and lightbearers. To them has
been entrusted the last warning message for a perishing world. …The most
solemn truths ever entrusted to mortals have been given us to
proclaim to the world."(19) This calling of the Seventh-day Adventist
Church as the instrument entrusted with these truths was an act of the
Sovereignty of God. And until God moved no man had a right to declare
otherwise, or to dispute that Sovereign decision.
To so
recognize that Sovereignty of God does not declare that the Church, or its
leadership was perfect. In many instances -far from it! Voices of reproof and
warning were to be sounded. But who had a right, no matter what the provocation
to divorce themselves from the institution ordained by God until such time as
God would indicate that the Church had been weighed in the balances of the
sanctuary, and what the verdict of this investigation was? In our finite
judgment, we might conclude the answer long before the heart of Infinite Love
would so declare. God bore "long with the sins and transgressions of His
people in this generation."(20)
However,
prophecy does picture a time when God arises from the "cherub, whereupon
He was", and calls for the sealing of His people to begin -those who had
been sighing and crying for the abominations that were being committed in the
Church.(21) This is described as "the last work," "the closing
work for the church."(22) And lest there be any mistake, when this work
began, God permitted a sign to be fulfilled that declared clearly the verdict
of the Judgment in regard to the Church. The times of the Gentiles -the nations
of earth to whom the Church was to give its entrusted message -was fulfilled.
Thus "the closing work of the church"(23) had ended. That sign of
Luke 21:24 came to pass in 1967. As clearly as the letters were penned on the
wall of Belshazzar's palace, so clearly did God let history speak to this
generation, -and to the Church!
We who are
now living this side of 1967 can be just as guilty of disputing the sovereignty
of God in relationship to the Church, as have those who prior to
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1967
anticipating the decision of a sovereign God, and went about establishing their
own earthly spiritual kingdom. Lest this conclusion be interpreted as a call to
establish now an earthly "city" this side of 1967, keep in mind Paul
states that "here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to
come."(24)
When God
arose from the cherub, whereupon He was, He took things into His own hands. It
is He who ordered the sealing of the sighing ones of "Jerusalem." It
was He who ordered the name "New Jerusalem" placed upon their
foreheads, denoting their new citizenship.(25) Our present ties, connections,
and support tell where our allegiance is, and whether indeed we have noted the
sovereign will of God as it has spoken to us in history. Have we joined in the
"closing work for the church" or are we still supporting the work
which God has removed from the Church, considering this still to be the work of
God?
May we
have the same divine insight that Daniel had, and move as the Hand writes His
purposes in history -in the unfolding of the times and seasons which He
"has put in His own power."(3)
(1)
Ellen G. White, Patriarchs
and Prophets, p. 33
(2) Psalm 74:12 Psa 74:12 For God is my King
of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
(3) Acts 1:7 Act 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to
know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own
power.
(4) Revelation 1:1 Greek Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which
God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to
pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
(5)
Ellen G. White, The
Desire of Ages, p. 114
(6)
Ellen G. White, Patriarchs
and Prophets, p. 36
(7) Daniel 2:38 Dan 2:38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the
beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand,
and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
(8) Daniel 3:1 Dan 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold,
whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set
it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
(9) Daniel 4:30 Dan 4:30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great
Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my
power, and for the honour of my majesty?
(10) Daniel 4:25 Dan 4:25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling
shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as
oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall
pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men,
and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
(11)
Daniel 4:34-35
Dan 4:34 And
at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and
mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised
and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
Dan 4:35 And
all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according
to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and
none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
(12)
Daniel 7:1-28
Dan 7:1 In the
first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his
head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the
matters.
Dan 7:2 Daniel
spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the
heaven strove upon the great sea.
Dan 7:3 And
four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
Dan 7:4 The
first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof
were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet
as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
Dan 7:5 And
behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one
side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and
they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
Dan 7:6 After
this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it
four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to
it.
Dan 7:7 After
this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and
terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and
brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was
diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
Dan 7:8 I
considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little
horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots:
and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking
great things.
Dan 7:9 I
beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, 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.
Dan 7:10 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 7:11 I
beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I
beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the
burning flame.
Dan 7:12 As
concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet
their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
Dan 7:13 I saw
in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds
of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before
him.
Dan 7:14 And
there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people,
nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting
dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be
destroyed.
Dan 7:15 I
Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my
head troubled me.
Dan 7:16 I
came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this.
So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
Dan 7:17 These
great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the
earth.
Dan 7:18 But
the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for
ever, even for ever and ever.
Dan 7:19 Then
I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the
others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass;
which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
Dan 7:20 And
of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and
before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake
very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
Dan 7:21 I
beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against
them;
Dan 7:22 Until
the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most
High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Dan 7:23 Thus
he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall
be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread
it down, and break it in pieces.
Dan 7:24 And
the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another
shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall
subdue three kings.
Dan 7:25 And
he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints
of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given
into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Dan 7:26 But
the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and
to destroy it unto the end.
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.
Dan 7:28
Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much
troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my
heart.
(13)
Daniel 8:1-4, 20
Dan 8:1 In the
third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto
me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.
Dan 8:2 And I
saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the
palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by
the river of Ulai.
Dan 8:3 Then I
lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram
which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the
other, and the higher came up last.
Dan 8:4 I saw
the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might
stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but
he did according to his will, and became great.
Dan 8:20 The
ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
(14) Esther 1:2 Est
1:2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his
kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
(15)
Daniel 5:25-28
Dan 5:24 Then
was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
Dan 5:25 And
this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
Dan 5:26 This
is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and
finished it.
Dan 5:27
TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
Dan 5:28
PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
(16)
Daniel 6:2-3
Dan 6:2 And
over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might
give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
Dan 6:3 Then
this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an
excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole
realm.
(17) Daniel 9:2; 10: 1 Dan 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel
understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came
to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the
desolations of Jerusalem.
Dan 10:1 In
the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose
name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed
was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.
(18) Ellen
G. White, Testimonies for the
Church, Vol. 8, p. 247
(19) Ibid., Vol. 9, p.19
(20) Ellen
G. White, Letter 106,
1897 (Faith I Live By, p. 288)
(21) Ellen
G. White, Testimonies for the
Church, Vol. 3, pp. 266-267
(22) Ibid. p. 266
(23) Ellen
G. White, Spirit of Prophecy. Vol.
IV, pp. 271-272
(24) Hebrews 13:14 Heb 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to
come.
(25) Ellen
G. White, Early Writings,
p. 15.
December
1975 -
"Watchman, What of the Night? " Thought Paper. Adventist Laymen's Foundation. (Excerpt)
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