Chapter 8

Introductions to Chapter 8
This Chapter opens with document #08_01, Different Symbols – Same Power. It is a synthesis of what we have learned about the consistency of the symbols in the prophecies. Each major change of symbols (such as metals of the Image Man to “beasts”) is not a change of the historical application as we progress along the complimentary time-lines of Daniel and Revelation. Each new section merely focuses on more information about a part of that history, to enhance the picture God is revealing to us.

Daniel 2 is the full overview of the time-line. Daniel 7 replaces the metals with “beasts.” The increased information is about the 4th “beast,” revealing the “little horn power” that would develop out of it, down through history to its destruction, because of the Judgment by the Supreme Court Judge, God the Father. Daniel 8 is another change of symbolic animals, but progressing to the same “little horn power” and the same Judgment. Now a time prophecy is added that ends in the Judgment!

Chapter 9 focuses on an early part of the time-line in reference to Daniel’s concern, the return of his people to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. Daniel 10 introduces chapter 11, where almost the whole history is gone over again, very literally this time, king by king, and some queens also, so that we should not mistake the run of history it portrays. Daniel 12 focuses on the very end, just before Jesus comes! The “little horn” continues to be the same power throughout these enhancements of the picture God is revealing to us.

Scripture Text: Rev. 12:14 compared to v. 6; 13:1, 3 and 5.

Title: Different Symbols – same power!

There is one factor especially that ties “the little horn,” the “man of sin,” the “beast” and “the harlot woman” together as one and the same power – the Papacy. What is it that ties them together? It is the time prophecy. Each would be allowed to continue for 1260 “days” or, 1260 years. (See Ezekiel 4:6; Numbers 14:34.)

1st: The “little horn.” – Daniel 7:23-25. (read). Here is the first reference to the “time, times (2) and the dividing of time” (1/2 of a year), which Revelation 12 (compare v.6 with v.14 – they are parallel) revealed is 1260 prophetic days. Notice also the little horn’s “great words against the Most High,” and that he “shall wear out the saints of the Most High.” Daniel 7:25. These are secondary clues to all of them being parallel symbols.

Next: The “man of sin.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8 (read). Note v.4. Are these not “great words (and actions) against the Most High?” The “man of sin” is “taken out of the way” by God’s causing Napoleon’s army to remove the pope and “take him out of the way,” right on time at the end of the 1260 days prophecy. It is thus that he is “revealed.” – v. 8. And it is revealed that he and “the little horn” are the same power.

Further, he is called “the man of sin” because his great sin is the attempt to change the Law of God! (Daniel 7:25). What was he “taken out of the way” of? History reveals that it was that he was taken out of the way of the Bible being freely distributed. [Why do men put themselves “in the way” of Truth??] The British and American Bible Societies immediately sprang up (by Holy Spirit’s working upon men’s minds!).

At the end of the French Revolution, Napoleon took out the Papacy, giving it its “mortal wound.” Revelation 11 gives us the real history of the French Revolution, at the end of the 1260 days (years). Let’s note vs. 3 and 7 (read). It was ATHEISM that was the beast or kingdom that ascended out of the bottomless pit, and overcame them. (The two witnesses are the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, personified by Moses and Elijah). In 1793, the French people turned from religion, proclaimed that there is no God, and burned in the streets all of the Bibles they could find. In verse 11 (read) a time prophecy of 3 1/2 days is given – which is 3 1/2 prophetic years – which was fulfilled in the Revolution. After 3 1/2 years of Atheistic immorality of all sorts, the French Assembly re-instated religion to end “the reign of terror” which had resulted from rejecting the Bible and Christian religion.

In Revelation 11, back up to v. 2 and we see the “42 months” as is used in Rev. 13:5 in reference to the “beast” when he receives his “mortal wound.” (42 x 30 days-to-a-month = 1260 days, which also equals 3 1/2 years (360 day years – a time, times (2) and half a time). The “holy city” that they shall “tread under foot” for 42 months, symbolically represents God’s saints being trodden under foot. (Compare Rev. 21:9, 10; with 19:7-9).

Next: The “beast.” Rev. 13:1-8. (read) Note v. 5 again – the 1260 days is referred to as 42 months. The time prophecy continues to tie the different symbols together as referring to the Papacy. This is the “beast” warned against in Revelation 14:9-11, who has an “image” and a “mark.” His “image,” or idol (god) is the idol of Mary, and his “mark” is his assumed power to change the Commandments of God, especially revealed in worship on Sunday in place of worship on the Sabbath of the 4th Commandment. Also, the 2nd Commandment was removed, so that the people could worship his “image,” the idol of Mary.

How about the “harlot woman” – “Babylon, mother of harlots?” Revelation 17:5. A “woman” is a symbol of a church. A pure church is a pure woman, but a fallen church is a vile woman. She sits upon (rides and controls, the “beast”). She is the Papacy in her ecclesiastical (religious government) form, personified as Rome – for she sits on seven mountains – Rev.17:9; and “the woman is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.” – Rev.17:18. The city of Rome is famous for its being built on seven hills or mountains. She is, v.6, “…drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” This is reference to her persecution of the saints for the 1260 years, isn’t it?

That’s why the Second Angel’s Message of Rev.14 points her out – the Papacy has two roles: as a religious government – a church is symbolized as a woman; and as a very great civil government – symbolized as a “beast” or kingdom. Note Carefully: The woman is sitting upon (riding and controlling) “beast” number 8; “that is of the seven.” Rev.17:11. This “beast” is more directly under the complete control of Satan than any of the others were. It is really the “great red dragon” of Revelation 12, verse 3. It too has ten horns (the number ten meaning all- inclusive). The “beast” that is the Papacy (Rev.13:1,2) had ten horns that included all the countries of Europe and North Africa, and these ten horns were crowned – (only 8 are actually left) that served as kings under the Papal political system.

The “beast” that is the 8th “beast” has ten horns that include all of the countries East of Europe – non-Christian countries (“Pagan”). These are not yet serving as kings under the Papal political system, but will receive power as kings one hour with the Papal political system. All of the kingdoms of the world will make up the “beast” being ridden and controlled by the Papal church – the vile woman, “Mystery, Babylon the Great, mother of harlots.” This Papal political system of which I speak is different from that which precedes it. Thus the “woman” (think church) will not be the “beast,” but will instead ride this beast, and thus control it. The “beast” she rides will be the New World Order Holy Roman Empire! She will rule the world: both its politics and its religion!

But Satan himself will be the head of the church, after his counterfeit of the Second Coming of Christ! This false “Christ” will take to himself the position of “pope” (head of the church) instead of his “vicar of the Son of God” – the earthly pope, and will give “the keys” (political power) to the former (earthly) pope, to run the New World Order. Satan, this false “Christ,” will run the New World Church – Babylon the Great, mother of harlots! Her harlot daughters are the fallen Protestant churches, which will re-join the Papal Catholic Church, against the remnant church of God! These daughters of the Papacy have received her “mark” of her authority. They keep her Commandments – the changed Commandments – and thus keep Sunday holy in place of the Sabbath of the Creator God, Jesus Himself! Thus they worship the “beast.” And, they will worship the “image” of the “beast” as well, led by Protestant America! (Revelation 13, verses 14 and 15).

So, there you have it. The “little horn,” the “man of sin,” the “beast,” and the “harlot woman,” are all tied together as being one and the same power – the Papacy. We are the remnant people of God – His church – that keep the Commandments of God, the Creator, and have, or possess, the testimony of Jesus concerning all of this.

But many of God’s people are today still in Great Babylon, or in her harlot daughters. We must be the “loud cry” of the 3 Angel’s Messages, which will call God’s people out of Babylon, so that they will not be partakers of her sins and therefore won’t receive of her plagues – the 7 Last Plagues.

Most of you have received the materials you need so that you can know your Message to God’s people that are still in Babylon’s clutches. You received the materials in the seminar on our message. But I fear for you. Have you even read the material? Are you preparing yourself for the “loud cry,” to “prepare the way of the Lord?”

Desmond Ford is quoted in regard to his success with his heretical teachings. He said, “Adventists don’t read!” Is that your problem? That was the secret to his successful campaign against God’s Messages! That is the reason many of you could be lost! You must read! You must study to know your message! Jesus wants to walk with you as you proclaim His Messages! Will you today commit yourself to make those Messages your own? Jesus is holding back the winds of the time of trouble, waiting for you! Can’t you see that the time of trouble is almost upon us?

Let us pray. Jesus, save us from our Laodicean condition! Please, make us hot instead of luke-warm, that we may prepare the way for You to come and take us home! Amen.

The next document, #08_02, Sequence of Events, does not refer to the events from the study, Different Symbols – Same Power. It is instead a possible sequence of events as Daniel 12 opens before us. What is our time to unfold from prophecy??

Sequence of Events

Since 1917, Satan has generated appearances of an “unclean spirit” (Rev.16:13) to gather the whole world, by deceptive miracles, to his side of the conflict between Christ and himself. For five months, in 1917, five appearances of a spirit posing as Mary, the mother of Jesus, were documented at a little village called Fatima, in Portugal. The last one, foretold widely through those who saw the other appearances, was witnessed by upwards of 75,000 people, including journalists from far and wide.

On that day, at noon, there was a miraculous event. The sun was seen to spin, move erratically (dubbed “the dance of the sun”) and finally plummet toward the earth, causing great fear that it would collide with earth and end its existence! But suddenly it stopped and returned to its place in the sky and became normal once more. All this to prove to the world that the apparition of Mary of Fatima was real! (Also, though not stated in the account, the miraculous event showed her “divine” power to control our sun as she pleased!) NOTE: nowhere else on earth was the sun anything but normal!

Since then, nearly 2,000 appearances of Mary, world wide, have been documented throughout the rest of the 20th Century! Moving, speaking, ghostly apparitions of Mary, moving, bleeding or weeping statues of Mary, and prophecy given by her to people across the globe, have been documented and investigated.

By her prophecy given in 1917, the pope of Rome, John Paul II, was, for just over 20 years, directed in his agenda as pope! According to a Vatican insider, Malachi Martin, in his book, The Keys of This Blood (all about this pope’s quest to become the leader of the New World Order) he wrote that this pope was waiting, for Mary to “split the immediate past from the oncoming future,” “an event that will fission human history.”

Mary is to appear, according to her prophecy, as the woman of Rev.12, verse 1, “a woman clothed with the sun [eclipsing the sun?] and the moon under her feet…who would bring forth ‘a man child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron.'” p. 639, The Keys of This Blood. “And God shall send them (allow) strong delusion, that they should believe a lie” (2 Thessalonians 2, verse 11) – that the “man of sin” – the pope, is truly the “vicar of the Son of God” and that the “beast” is the true church of God in the earth. Belief of this lie will gather all nations to join with the “beast” against God’s true church in the battle of Armageddon!

A Possible Sequence of End-of-the-World Events

1. The Grand Appearance of Mary of Fatima, in the heavens above, for the whole world to witness! A Satan-generated appearance of an “unclean spirit” posing as Mary, the mother of Jesus, who will proclaim the day and the hour of Jesus’ Second Coming or Advent! Thus she will, according to Catholic prophecy, “bring forth the man child.” [But NOTE carefully: Only the Father knows the day and hour of Jesus’ Advent, according to the Bible!]

American Protestantism, then, according to Rev.13:12-14, says to all who dwell on the earth, that they should worship the beast and make an image to the beast, an idol of Mary to be worshipped like all Catholics do!

2. The “Loud Cry” by Adventists begins – initially emphasizing the 2nd Commandment – against idol worship! Through her idol “speaking,” literally, (Rev.13:15) American Protestantism will begin to enforce worship of idols of Mary.

3. Protestant America, (the most free Protestants in the world) propose a test, like Elijah did, to decide who are the true church of God. This “False Prophet” calls down fire from heaven – not to burn a sacrifice, like in the story of Elijah (the true prophet) but rather tongues of heavenly fire (like at Pentecost) on the heads of the worshippers of the “beast” and his “image!” (supposedly proving that the “beast” is the true church of God!).

4. The pope goes to Jerusalem to set himself up as the leader of the NEW WORLD ORDER. His trump card, that makes him the choice of the world over the other two contenders, Russia; or NATO (America allied with Europe), is that the religions of the world, because of the Grand Appearance of the unclean spirit posing as Mary, receive him as also the leader of all religions! Jesus Himself foretold this event in Mt. 24, verse 15, and Mark 13, verse 14, referring to Daniel 11, verse 45. WATCH OUT!! As the result of the Jews allowing this to happen, which they “ought not” to have allowed to happen, “the Time of Trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time,” (Daniel 12:1) shall begin:

5. The First Trumpet: Revelation 8:7 – Jerusalem and Judea (Israel) are totally destroyed by “an act of God;” most likely, (because of what the other Trumpets most probably are) by a meteorite shower (fire and brimstone) such as wiped out Sodom and Gomorrah! – which will be proclaimed as a Judgment of God against Sabbath keepers by the “beast!” and the “false prophet” (the pope and American Protestantism).

6. Proclamation of national Sunday worship by American Protestantism causes the rest of Christianity (all of Europe) to follow their lead!

7. The Second Trumpet: an asteroid hits the Atlantic Ocean (most likely – though maybe the Pacific – as a Judgment against the wicked cities of the coasts as well as against the above proclamation of universal Sunday worship, honoring the “beast” – the Papacy, above God’s Law). This Judgment totally destroys wicked cities of the coasts, and, 1/3 of ships. (The latter tells us that this wording is to be taken literally, not figuratively.) The religious powers suggest that this is only a Judgment of God upon the wickedness of these cities, and call for deeper devotion to Mary and the “beast.”

8. The Third Trumpet: a comet almost collides with earth. In passing close to the earth on its trajectory around our sun, its tail, made up of mainly ice meteorites, is pulled into earth’s atmosphere by earth’s gravitational pull. As the ice meteorites (by the thousands) burn up and explode in our atmosphere, the result, according to the scientists who have studied what would happen, will be a terrible nitric acid rain across a broad band around the earth. The acid rain will cause the waters to become bitter (poisonous) in the third part of fresh water sources and rivers. This Judgment of God will be blamed, by the religious leaders, on Sabbath keepers who won’t worship the “beast” and the “image of the beast” and must thereby be offending God!

9. The Fourth Trumpet: (NOTE: literal time) this is the shaking of the heavens. It causes another “dark day” like in 1780. Fearful darkness envelops the earth from 2 to 6 P.M. and from then till 10 o’clock at night: (1/3 of the day – 4 hours; 1/3 of the night – another four hours) possibly followed by the moon appearing blood red. This will be seen by the world as the sign foretelling the soon coming of Jesus. Fanatical religiosity develops!

10. The Fifth Trumpet: (also literal time) War lasting 150 days – helicopters with biological warheads – their sting makes people terribly sick with painful sores like unto that of a scorpion sting. Those affected won’t die – death escapes them. Rev. 9, verse 4 – This Trumpet (warning) doesn’t affect plant life – “green things” signals that this is to be taken as literal plant life – and this Trumpet only affects those men “which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.” Who is the attacker in this war? – a hard-line unbelieving people that were ruled, unwittingly, by Satan, the “star (angel) that had fallen unto the earth” (Rev. 9, verse 1 – compare with verse 11) and unleashed from “the bottomless pit” – seemingly out of the underworld – likely a Communist, ATHEIST power – China? It is probable that this people are against the NEW WORLD ORDER: but it is a Judgment against Babylon – the NEW WORLD CHURCH!

11. The Sixth Trumpet: Rev. 9:13-21. Here, four angels (human messengers from God, with this message of Judgment) that “are bound in the Great river Euphrates” – a people from that area – likely Iran, Iraq, Pakistan (with all of the other “-istans”) and Turkey – hard-line Islamic peoples – also against the NEW WORLD ORDER under the leadership of the Papacy. This again is a Judgment against the NEW WORLD CHURCH. This war takes (literal time again) 391 days plus an hour (“an hour, a day, a month, and a year:” 1+30+360+an hour). Before it is over, according to Rev. 11 up to verse 14, where this Trumpet ends, and which was illustrated in history by the French Revolution, it will be followed by anarchy, atheism, and a reign of terror. Finally, like what happened in the French Revolution, the people will turn back to God. Rev. 11:13.

12. The Seventh Trumpet: because of the biological warfare of the Fifth Trumpet having only affected “those who have not the seal of God in their foreheads;” the “loud cry of the Three Angels” of Rev. 14; and this last turning of men back to God – people around the world “give glory to the God of heaven.” Satan is losing it! He knew it would come to this (he reads and understands Scripture better than we ever could) and so he has prepared himself for a desperate attempt to regain control of the world. He himself will counterfeit the Second Coming of Christ – right on time according to “Mary’s” prediction! This is the “overmastering delusion” above all other delusions, including Mary’s “ghost!” All the world takes Satan’s side against the true believers (just like they turned against Jesus before the crucifixion). American Protestants and Catholics, Atheistic groups, Islamics, even the many Jews that are left in the world, all join the ranks of the worshippers of the “beast!” Because of Satan’s claim to have changed the Sabbath Commandment to the keeping of Sunday holy, in his role as Christ, a universal death decree is issued against those who stubbornly refuse receive this “mark of the beast” or to worship the “image of the beast.”

Probation has closed. The “loud cry” has finished its work. The Seven Last Plagues begin to fall on those who worship the “beast and his image.” – all the world, except for the “remnant people of God!” God’s people are delivered, by the voice of God the Father Himself! He proclaims “the day and the hour of Christ’s Coming,” and the “sign of the Coming of the Son of Man” is soon seen in the heavens! – Early Writings, by the prophet of the last days, Ellen White: the chapter God’s People Delivered. The Coming of Jesus ends the seventh trumpet, the third war, Armageddon! – Revelation 16: 15 to 21; Rev. 19: 11 to 21. Even so, Lord Jesus, come! Amen and Amen!

Document #08_03
The next few documents chronicle our involvement in this momentous time, if we would serve God! Document #08_03, The Final Elijah, puts you and I in prophecy! The Kingdom of Jesus is developing before our very eyes!

Scripture: Malachi 4:5,6.

Title: The Final Elijah

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” You, every Seventh-day Adventist Christian, you, and I, are that Elijah of the final days of the end time; very, very, soon now. And this may also surprise you; you, at least most of the adults, are already prepared for the job! What is that job? Do you know? Are you preparing for it? Let’s explore it and see how ready we are!

Turn to 1st Kings, chapter 18. The writer of the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, is referring us to this Bible epic. As you find 1st Kings, chapter 18, allow me to refresh your recollection of the story with a few previous verses: “And Ahab (who was the next one in the line of the kings of the ten tribes called Israel) the son of Omri, did evil in the sight of the Lord, above all that were before him…He took to wife Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal and worshipped him, and reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal which he had built in Samaria.”

“And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Giliad, said unto Ahab, ‘As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.'” Chapter 18, then, begins this way: “And it came to pass after many days, that the Word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.”

So now we arrive at our text: 1st Kings 18:17 to 21 (read). Many of you have read and shown this Bible Story to your children from the Bible Story Books. Children, isn’t this story a vivid one in your memory? Remember how Elijah made the so-called prophets of Baal build an altar and put on wood for a fire, and a sacrifice animal on it, but made them call on their so-called god to light the fire? Wasn’t it funny, later in the day, how Elijah taunted them when nothing happened? “Cry aloud,” he said; “maybe Baal is busy, or perhaps sleeping, and must be awakened!”

Finally, near the end of the day, at the time of the evening sacrifice at Jerusalem, in the Temple there, Elijah asked God to burn his prepared sacrifice, even though it was first soaked with water, three times, at his own request! Look to vs. 36 to 39 (read).

Then Elijah went up to the top of the mountain, and prayed for the rain to come, and the sign that we know will appear when Jesus comes back to earth, was given – a small cloud like a man’s hand arose on the horizon and very soon filled the whole heavens; and boy did it rain!

Now don’t close your Bible on this story yet. We must note a couple of things before we go back to Malachi. Verse 18 (read). As had the king, what had the people done? They had all forsaken the 10 Commandments of the Lord, and followed Baalim. They had been led into idol worship! Idols of Baal and worship places called groves had been put everywhere for the people to worship Baal, a Pagan god. Now: please turn to Exodus chapter 20. What are God’s first two Commandments? Let’s say them together, shall we? Exodus 20, V.3. “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them, for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me: But showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My Commandments.”

Why are you certain that you are attending the right church, out of so many denominations? Why aren’t you a Baptist, or a Pentecostal, or any of the other denominations? It’s because Jesus says, in Revelation, that His remnant people who truly follow Him keep His Commandments, and have His testimony to guide them (Rev.12:17). And again, yes twice, Jesus identified His true followers. In Rev.14:12, Jesus says, “Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the Commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” – that is, faith in the Word of God, the Bible.

Would you worship any idol? Never! You know that they are false gods, made by men to draw you away from worshipping God the Father and Jesus, our Creator, and will cause people to worship the “beast” and his “image,” and receive his “mark” of his power. The whole world is drawn after the “beast” even now. His idol, those little idols of Mary all over our land and everywhere in the world, Jesus has told us in Rev. 13, will be received by all of these denominations very soon, especially right here in North America, where so many Protestants think it will never happen in their denomination!

I myself was astounded, when a lady who was an Anglican, which is the church of Protestant England, revealed to me that that church now openly worships Mary! The woman reads her Bible, and she left her church because she refused to worship “that idol,” because of the first two Commandments!

People in all of these denominations don’t even know that they have for many centuries been receiving the “mark of the beast.” A recent poll of the people who live in the so-called Bible belt of America, revealed that, in general, the people can bring to mind only three of the Commandments of God – Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery, and thou shalt not steal. The Commandments, all of them, define sin! (1st John 3:4) How can they avoid being led into sinning against God if they don’t know the Commandments?

Do you and I have a job to do for Jesus? Who will tell them that Babylon, the deceiver church, and her daughters, all the other churches that are breaking God’s fourth Commandment, are fallen spiritually? They actually aren’t worshipping the true God, because those who worship the Creator keep His Commandments, don’t they? (1 John 2, verse 4). Those who worship the Creator remember the Sabbath, set aside by Jesus to commemorate His identity as Creator God! It is His sign, and the sign of our loyalty to Him, our Creator God!

Who, like Elijah, will call these deceived people to keep God’s Commandments, all of them, and turn their hearts back again to Jesus the Creator? When Elijah prayed to God to burn the sacrifice on his altar, they all found out who was truly God! Let’s read it in 1st Kings 18: 37 and 38. (read) Wait a minute: look at the end of verse 37 again. “…thou hast turned their heart back again.” Where have we read of “turning hearts back again?” It was Malachi, wasn’t it?

Let’s leave 1st Kings now, and go to Malachi chapter 4. This time, we will include v.4. Malachi 4: 4-6 – the last page of the Old Testament (read). Notice v.4. In this context, the time just before the great and dreadful day of the Lord, what Law should we remember? The Commandments of God, given to Moses on Mount Sinai, here called Horeb. That is an important part of our message to God’s people who are still in Babylon.

Now let’s focus in on v.6 (read). Fathers, how long has it been since you read the Bible Story of Elijah to your children? Children, how long has TV taken all of your time, and kept you from sitting beside your Dad, asking him to read to you the story which must be the focus of your job for our Saviour and Friend, Jesus?

I, in Christ’s stead, am exhorting all of you to turn your hearts, once again. Fathers, turn your hearts away from those TV programs and sports, and focus your heart on Jesus and on your children. Children, turn your hearts to your fathers. Ask them to prepare you for your job, so that you will be able to serve Jesus as Elijah did. The great and dreadful day of the Lord is close at hand!

Parents, this church has prepared you. Prepare your children. In so doing, your job will also be made more clear to you. Tell them the story of Elijah, again and again. Each time, tie to it the testimony of Jesus from Revelation and Daniel, a different part each time. Emphasize how they must teach people to remember God’s Commandments. Reveal to them the 4 “beasts” of Daniel and the fifth of Rev. 13. There is the “beast” they must not worship, nor his “image,” and must not receive his “mark” (the sign of his power) the change of the Sabbath Commandment.

Reveal to them America in prophecy in the latter half of Rev.13. And take them through the warnings of Jesus in Rev.14 and Rev.18. Jesus asks each one of us to do this, both fathers and children: and even also mothers, where they are a single parent.

Mothers, all of you who have your children’s father at home, Jesus wants you to encourage your husband to do this, to turn his heart to his children. And children, don’t let dad refuse you. This may be the means of turning his heart to you, especially if you have felt distance between you and your Dad.

The day of the Lord Jesus is close at hand. We are to “prepare the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight.” We are those who will “lay the axe to the root of the trees not of His planting.” (See Isaiah 61:3, Mt.15:12-14). Yes, we are to be the Elijah God sends just before the great and dreadful day of the Lord, when He comes.

We are to challenge the people of our area of this land, saying, “How long do you intend to vacillate between two opinions? If the Bible is not fully the Word of God, then go ahead and keep the commandments of the “beast” and worship his “image.” But if the Bible is fully the Word of God, then keep God’s Commandments, as they are written in the Bible. By the faith Jesus had in “it is written,” refuse to bow down and worship the “image of the beast,” as is expressly forbidden in God’s Law. Receive the Sabbath truth, the sign of loyalty to the Creator, who made heaven and earth and the sea.

Refuse to receive the “mark” or sign of the “beast,” the changed Sabbath, changed by the “beast” to the Pagan Sunday.” Brothers and sisters, this will lay the axe to the root of the trees not of the Lord’s planting – the churches of Babylon and her daughters, who have been and are being deceived by Satan into idol worship! The whole idol worship sin of ancient Israel came to its climax with Elijah, and was shown to be a hoax! There is no God but the Creator, and He is Jesus Himself, according to Scriptures such as Hebrews Chapter 1, verses 1 to 3!

So there’s our job. Are you ready? Are you ready to be the Elijah God has called, to challenge your friends and neighbours? The time of the “loud cry” is almost upon us. When are you going to gather the gems of truth for these days together and make them yours, so that you personally can be an Elijah? Jesus has called all of us out of Babylon and into His marvelous truth for that purpose!

You have been to many evangelistic meetings, and have been shown the many parts of our Message. But you must be able to explain each part to others. You will be calling people out of Babylon, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen! and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird!” (No dove there!).

People, the apparition of Mary at Fatima in Portugal, in 1917, and nearly 2000 times since, world-wide, are the work of the devil, and are foul spirits, by which the “beast” is deceiving the whole world! You will be calling people out of Babylon, in Christ’s name, saying, “Come out of her, My people, says the Lord, so that you won’t partake of her sins, and so that you won’t have to receive of her plagues!” – Rev. 18:1-4.

It is my prayer that Jesus will turn your hearts to your children, and the hearts of your children to their fathers, even this Sabbath afternoon. There’s no better time to begin to make the Elijah message your own, as well as their own.

I have spent some years organizing our Message into a series of pamphlets that can be photocopied for your self-education. If you have today become serious, in your heart, about preparing yourself to be an Elijah, and would like copies of this series for yourself, simply access www.propheciesofjesus.com. It is #1 on Google! If you don’t generally use Google as your search engine, just type in Google in your search engine, then www.propheciesofjesus.com on it. If you don’t have access to a computer and the internet, go to the Library. They have computers there for your use, and will show you how to access propheciesofjesus.com to download (or simply read) each document of prophetic truth.

Now, answer yourself. Hasn’t this church, through the evangelistic campaigns you have gone to, prepared the way for you to take up the work of being an Elijah of the last days? If you teach the Message to your children, they too will be prepared to serve Jesus as Elijah prophets! Turn your heart to your children! It’s what Jesus wants you to do!

Father God: Help us to be real parents to our children, the way you are our loving Father. Help us to be families first, above anything else. Get our priorities straight! In the name of Jesus we ask it, and for the sake of His developing kingdom in our lives. Amen, and Amen.

Document #08_04
The Ten Virgin Parable, puts our own church in prophecy! We make up the 10 Virgins – all of them. Are we the 5 wise, or are we the 5 foolish virgins? What makes them wise, and more importantly, what makes them (or us) foolish?

The Ten Virgin Parable – Fleshed out in parallel passages.

Great Controversy pp. 426-432.
Parallel Passages:
Daniel 8:14 – The Coming of Christ as the High Priest to the Most Holy Place for the cleansing of the Sanctuary.
Malachi 3:1 He shall come suddenly to His Holy Temple.
Daniel 7:13 Coming of the Son of Man to the Ancient of Days. and also:
Matthew 25 The Coming of the Bridegroom to the Marriage. The Ten Virgin Parable. Matthew 22 The Parable of the Wedding Reception.

In 1844 – the two classes of virgins (wise and foolish) developed: the wise – diligently preparing to meet Jesus; the foolish – influenced by fear, satisfied with theories of truth – not diligently preparing to meet Jesus. What preparation? The “loud cry” prepares the Way of the Lord.

The righteous will turn to keeping the Commandments of God. They will refuse to worship the “beast” by keeping his commandments – will keep the Sabbath Commandment. – refuse to worship the “image” of the “beast” – MARY – keep the 2nd Commandment. – refuse to receive the “mark” of the “beast” – keep the 4th Commandment.

The wicked and the lost (including those who can be forced to disobey God’s Commandments) will not refuse to do the above. They that were ready – end of the parable, end of probation – went in with Him to the marriage (reception) – and the door was shut. Great Controversy, p. 426.

The next sentence is not referring to the statement “They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage.” “The coming of the Bridegroom, here brought to view…” refers back to “the coming of the Lord to His Holy Temple,” in Malachi, (previous paragraph) not to the coming of the Bridegroom to the marriage feast, when “they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage; and the door was shut.” Mt.25:10. The end of the sentence makes that clear. This coming [to His holy Temple] “here brought to view, takes place before the marriage.”

The form of the eastern wedding is revealed by Mrs. White’s statement that the virgins “hear the voice of the Bridegroom and the voice of the bride,” along with her introductory statements: (p.405 Christ Object Lessons). “By torchlight the bridal party proceed from her father’s house [the wedding is done there] to His own, where a feast is provided for the invited guests.” The Coming of the Bridegroom to the marriage (itself) takes place at the end of the work of Jesus in the Most Holy Place, when Jesus comes before the Ancient of Days to receive His kingdom. “The marriage represents the reception by Christ of His kingdom.” Great Controversy, p. 426 btm. “…following Christ by faith as he enters in before God to perform the last work of mediation, and at its close to receive His kingdom.” p. 428 top. His bride has made herself ready. “They were not to be personally present at the marriage; for it takes place in heaven, while they are upon the earth. The followers of Christ [the true church] are to wait for their Lord, when He will return from the wedding. Luke 12:36. But they are to understand His work, and to follow Him by faith as He goes in before God. It is in this sense that they are said to go in to the marriage.” (G.C. 427 middle) Two explanations of this last sentence are given. The whole paragraph at the bottom of page 427, ends at the top of p. 428, with the statement, “…all these are represented as going in to the marriage” (feast).” See Mt.25:10 NIV.

The next paragraph cites Matthew 22 (read). The 144,000 are “virgins,” (Rev. 14:4 ) and, having become Philadelphian – brotherly love – like the carriers of the messages of 1844 were, will have written on them the name of “My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem” (Rev.3:12). They are the Lamb’s bride. “…the bride represents the Holy City, and the virgins that go out to meet the Bridegroom are a symbol of the church. In the Revelation the people of God are said to be the guests at the marriage supper (Rev.19:9). If guests, they cannot be represented also as the bride.” (top p. 427, G.C).

Now: let’s use our sanctified imagination, with this information in correct order. Jesus comes to His holy Temple – the beginning of the work in the Most Holy Place, in 1844. This represents the coming of Jesus to the Investigative Judgment by the Father, preparatory to the marriage. (The parable of Mt.22 and “the Judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Daniel 7:10b).

Jesus is then still working for the living saints, as well as pleading for the dead saints to be accepted by the Father through His blood. (See G.C. 429, end of top paragraph). The parable of Matthew 22 is the illustration of this work. The king – the Prince’s (Jesus’) Father, comes in to see if all of the guests are attired in the wedding garment – “the spotless robe of character washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Mt.22:11, Rev.7:14). “The investigative Judgment is clearly represented as taking place before the marriage.” (Underline that in paragraph 1, page 428).

Those who, from 1844, even till the marriage, follow Jesus in His Most Holy Place work, and prepare themselves to meet Jesus by:

1. – allowing Holy Spirit to cleanse their soul Temple of all sin, (see G.C. p.425, middle of the page, “While the investigative…”) so that they will be prepared to meet Jesus without sin. (Heb.9:28). “This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Rev. 14.” (p. 425, cited just above).

2. When we know our Message, in all its detail, in order to proclaim it in the “loud cry,” its messages will sanctify us (John 17:17!) and allow Jesus to, through Holy Spirit, cleanse our soul Temple of all sin! “When this work shall have been accomplished, the followers of Christ will be ready for His appearing!” (p. 425.2). Those who succeed to this perfection of their character are sealed! RE-READ THIS PARAGRAPH!

This is the teaching of the call, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh!” The 5 wise virgins will have allowed Holy Spirit to work with them to teach them the details of their Message, which will give them “oil in their vessels [extra oil] with their lamps.” They shall joyously join the procession, helping to light the way to the marriage feast! Of those of that order, some will live through the time of trouble. They will refuse to worship the “beast” or his “image” or receive his “mark” and will live to see Jesus come. These will be the bride, the Lamb’s wife. They will receive upon their forehead the name of the city of God, New Jerusalem! They will become the Bridegroom’s wife at the marriage in heaven, at the close of Jesus’ last work of mediation. (G.C. p.428 top). They will have become one with Jesus by what they suffer in “the time of Jacob’s trouble” – baptized with the baptism of fire, as Jesus Himself was – fully obedient to the will of Holy Spirit in their mind.

The rest of the saved will be the guests at the wedding. (p.427 top). Christ receives both groups as His kingdom – His loyal subjects all! All who have truly followed Jesus into the Most Holy Place, seek to prepare to meet Him, without sin. They allow Jesus to cleanse their soul Temple by His atoning work in us. We put Him on the throne in our mind, and refer all decisions to His perfect will, doing only those things that please Him, and refusing to sin against Him. Our submission to His will (rather than our works by our will) makes Christ our righteousness and we become clothed in His perfect robe of righteousness.

Each new believer, in following Jesus into the Most Holy Place, finds the true Ten Commandments there, and finds that there is also a work for them to do during this time of His Judgment. Finding out how the Commandments were changed, and by whom, they discover Revelation 14’s 3 angels and their messages for the Hour of His Judgment. Attached to these messages, for our time, we find the 4th angel of Revelation 18:1-5, and, by Holy Spirit’s work in us, we also find many warnings of what is coming on the earth, to keep us from being deceived into false worship. All of this is the extra oil we need for our lamps!

In the plan of Jesus, true sanctification is developed by Jesus living through you. Jesus wants to save other souls through using you. You will only really develop His character fully when you proclaim His Messages, which will swell into the “loud cry!” We need to be zealous for His kingdom, (read Rev.3:14-19) and by our testimony, to bring many into His kingdom. This is His perfect will, that we would be fully like Him! Therefore He counsels us to buy of Him, no matter what the price (persecution) three essentials: Gold tried in the fire (your experiences giving Bible studies of our messages), white raiment (the righteousness of saints) and the eye- salve of the Holy Spirit to help us to see the many messages for us!

Document #08_05: The Marriage of the Lamb, clarifies our understanding of who are the wedding guests (the five wise virgins) and who make up the bride of Jesus! How will the bride “make herself ready?” and why will she be granted “that she should be arrayed in pure and white linen, which is the righteousness of saints?” Which group will you be found in? The 5 foolish? (sadly, LOST!) or, the 5 wise? (who carry the 4 Angel’s Messages till they die) or, the Lamb’s Bride? (who, readied by preparation, are severely tested and proved, keeping themselves virgins for Jesus until He Comes in the clouds of the angels of heaven to take her to His father’s house for the wedding celebration!)

Scripture Text: Revelation 12:1-6, 14-17

Title: The Marriage of the Lamb

Today I’d like to carefully consider the Marriage of the Lamb with you. We must go all the way back to Adam and Eve to lay the right foundation for our study. Here is that foundation. Listen: After the fall of Adam and Eve into sin, God chose repentant Eve to be symbolic of the church, throughout the existence of the earth under the influence of fallen human nature. Genesis 3:15 says that there was to be “enmity” between Satan and the woman, meaning between Satan and the church, throughout the history of the earth.

This truth unveils the true interpretation of Revelation 12, which we read together for Scripture reading. Revelation 12 is a brief history of the church, looking from the other end of time, even our time. The church, personified as a woman, brought forth the Son of God, and He was taken up to God and to His throne. Jesus won the war between Satan and Himself, for heaven and the rest of the universe, at His death. Rev.12:10 says that then came salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for Satan was then cast out of all of the rest of the Universe, no longer having any access to it (such as is revealed in the book of Job) because the murder of Jesus revealed Satan as a murderer.

Satan was cast out into the earth, where sin is quarantined, till it can be safely destroyed. After Jesus was caught up to the throne of His Father, the church Jesus instituted was forced to flee into the wilderness, but now, with the power of love for Jesus, able to reject Satan’s dominion. The pure woman overcame Satan in each member of the body, by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony – faith in the truth of the Bible.

But: in Revelation 17, Jesus reveals another church, a fallen church. Turn to Revelation 17, verses 1 to 6 (read). Her fornication with the kings of the earth, verse 2, refers to her courting their wealth and power, instead of God’s, while professing to be married to Christ! Yes, she is a church, a great church, in the earth, but she is not God’s church, in her heart! Only the church of Revelation 12 is Jesus’ church in her heart – keeping His Commandments and having His testimony to her in her mind and heart.

I want you to notice carefully the word used in Rev.17 which describes the fallen woman’s relations with the political powers of the earth as God sees them in His heart. It is the word “fornication.” This word is defined in the dictionary with only one, distinct definition: “Voluntary sexual intercourse between unmarried persons.” The fallen church, this fallen woman, professes that it is married to God. But by this one word, God says she is not His wife, but rather is unmarried. He never took her as His wife! Why? Because she prostitutes herself, having relations with other lovers, symbolically, and God will not accept her as His wife!

NOTE also verse 5 of Revelation 17 (read). This fallen woman (this fallen church) has illegitimate children, who also became harlots as they grew up! After the historical period known as the Reformation, these other churches began to act as she acted, having relations with political powers of the earth to enforce their dogmas, like their mother did: yet they also profess to be married to Christ.

Now, really take note of this: The marriage of the Lamb (Biblically) is not till the time of the Judgment of “the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication.”

Turn to Revelation 19. Revelation 19:2, and 7-9, are in the same time-frame (read). The true church, in contrast to these harlot churches, has betrothed herself to God, and wishes to be true only to Him. She is, in today’s word, engaged (betrothed) to Him, and He to her! Remember? Jesus refers to Himself as the Bridegroom in symbolism: see Mt.9:15. She is keeping herself from any relations with anyone else, especially with false gods! She is a pure woman, by choice. And God tells us He will marry her! This will be the Marriage of the Lamb!

Now we must look at an especially important point, and emphasize it. The pure woman of Revelation 12 represents the ongoing church of true believers, continually, throughout the history of the earth. What some go through, is made part of the experience of the members in following times, even though they did not suffer those same things. For example, Luther began the Reformation by proclaiming that “The just shall live by faith,” not by works. We accept his teaching as our own. Is it not true that although we did not suffer the Great Disappointment in 1844, we accept by faith, as our own, the triumph of the faith of our Adventist pioneers, and go on from there? We accept the light of the past true movements, all of them, and go forward to complete the plan of God. Thus, the pure woman continues all the way from Eve, down through Moses’ time, then the time of Jesus, and on through the New Testament era, as if only one woman was experiencing all that the church has gone through. At the end of the era, at the end of all things, when she is fully reformed, and tested, she will marry Jesus, the Lamb of God!

Now: Revelation 19: verses 6 to 9 (read). The Lamb’s wife-to-be will finally have made herself ready! She is the remnant church of Revelation 12:17. “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.” (They fully understand His testimony to her). When will the true church marry Jesus? When she has made herself ready and when God has granted to her that she should be arrayed in pure white linen, which is the righteousness of saints (through Christ living in her members). This can only be after she has survived the yet coming war with the alliance of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. (Rev.16:13, 14). That is her final test.

Who, then, will make up the church, the symbolic woman Christ shall marry? It can only be the fully tested woman, the 144,000, those who refuse to keep the mark of the “beast”, which is intimate relations (by worship) with the Sun-god, the god of Sun-day, which the “beast” has deceived all the world into worshipping. This “beast” is the fallen woman, along with her harlot daughters! The 144,000 will also refuse to worship the beast’s “image,” the idol of Mary, which WILL be worshipped by all the world! See Rev. 13, verses 14 and 15!

The final remnant, the pure woman, keeps the Commandments of God, including the Sabbath Commandment, despite the war with the three allied powers: Satan, with the unbelieving nations; the “beast,” with the fallen professed Christian nations; and the false prophet, fallen Protestant America.

The true remnant stand firm:

1. by their love for Jesus:
2. by the faith of Jesus in the written Word of God, and:
3. by the testimony of Jesus to His church, especially Daniel and the book of Revelation! These are the keys to our success as the remnant church! Let me list them again. (repeat above paragraph). All who stand firm for Jesus are invited to the wedding feast, the marriage supper of the Lamb. [Remember Mt.22]. But only those who survive the war with Satan’s alliance and live to see Jesus come, will marry Him.

Only they go through the baptism that only the 144,000 can go through, enduring against the power of every alliance against God’s church that Satan can muster! They are not defiled with women. Rev.14:4. This is not in reference to male sexual relations with women. The 144,000 are the final true church, the symbolic “woman!” Do you see the real meaning of “they are not defiled with women?” The remnant are not defiled by becoming harlots like the rest of the symbolic women. The remnant are keeping themselves “virginal,” refusing to have relations with political powers or other gods, even though surrounded in the world by harlot churches, and despite ridicule and persecution. They keep themselves pure virgins by decisive action.

They follow the Lamb whithersoever He goes. They follow the Lamb into the Most Holy, and there discover the Judgment Hour Message, and the neglected Law of God. The rest of the verse says that these were redeemed from among men, just as you and I are; brought out of the error and deceptions of the “beast” by believing the testimony of Jesus.

Further, they become the first-fruits unto God and to the Lamb, finally without fault before the throne of God, having been fully tested by trial and suffering in the warfare with the trinity of evil!

Allow me now to illustrate the need for the baptism of trial by reading from Early Writings, pages 235 and 236. This describes the time of the end of the 2300 days: “I saw,” says the prophet, “that if professed Christians had loved their Saviour’s appearing; if they had placed their affections on Him, and felt that there was none upon the earth to be compared with Him, they would have hailed with joy the first intimation of His Coming. But the dislike which they manifested, as they heard of their Lord’s coming, was a decided proof that they did not love Him. Satan and his angels triumphed, and cast it in the face of Christ and His holy angels, that His professed people had so little love for Jesus that they did not desire His second appearing.

I saw the people of God [however], joyful in expectation, looking for their Lord. But God designed to prove them. His hand covered a mistake in the reckoning of the prophetic periods. [Daniel’s 2300 days – Daniel 8:14 – there is an extra year to add, by adding together part-year time at the beginning and end of the prophecy.] Those who were looking for their Lord did not discover this mistake; and the most learned men who opposed the time also failed to see it. God designed that His people should meet with a disappointment. The time passed [1843] and those who had looked with joyful expectation for their Saviour, were sad and disheartened; while those who had not loved the appearing of Jesus, but embraced the message through fear, were pleased that He did not come at the time of expectation. Their profession had not affected the heart and purified the life. The passing of the time was well calculated to reveal such hearts. They were the first to turn and ridicule the sorrowful, disappointed ones who really loved the appearing of their Saviour. I saw the wisdom of God in proving His people, and giving them a searching test to discover those who would shrink and turn back in the hour of trial.”

The year later, when the time period of 2300 years actually ended, and after “the Midnight Cry,” – “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him,” are these words from Early Writings, page 243: “They expected Him to come and longed for His appearing. They did not cast one lingering look to earth. But again a cloud settled upon the waiting ones, and I saw them turn their weary eyes downward. I enquired the cause of this change. Said my accompanying angel, “They are again disappointed in their expectations. Jesus cannot yet come to earth. They must endure greater trials for His sake. They must give up errors and traditions received from men and turn wholly to God and His Word. They must be purified, made white, and tried. Those who endure that bitter trial will obtain an eternal victory.”

And now, for us, I read from Early Writings, page 254: “As the ministration of Jesus closed in the Holy Place, and He passed into the Holiest, and stood before the ark containing the Law of God, He sent another mighty angel with a third message to the world [Revelation 14: 9-11 – – The 3rd Angel’s Message!]. A parchment was placed in the angel’s hand, and, as he descended to the earth in power and majesty, he proclaimed a fearful warning, with the most terrible threatening ever borne to man! This message was designed to put the children of God upon their guard [avoid the mark of the beast and worship of his image!] by showing them the hour of temptation and anguish that was before them. Said the angel, “They will be brought into close combat with the beast and his image. Their only hope of eternal life is to remain steadfast. Although their lives are at stake, they must hold fast the truth.”

But friends, rejoice! Close to the end, we shall have the promise of God of the Latter Rain! Listen to this amazing SUPPLEMENT by Mrs. White on pages 85 and 86 of Early Writings. “Dear Christian Friends: As I have given a brief sketch of my experience and views, published in 1851, it seems to be my duty to notice some points in that little work, also to give more recent views. On page 33 is given the following: “I saw that the holy Sabbath is, and will be, the separating wall between the true Israel of God and unbelievers; and that the Sabbath is the great question to unite the hearts of God’s dear, waiting saints. I saw that God had children who do not see and keep the Sabbath. They have not rejected the light upon it. And, at the commencement of “the time of trouble,” [Daniel 12:1 – my emphasis] we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully.” …”The commencement of that time of trouble,” here mentioned, does not refer to the time when the plagues shall begin to be poured out, but to a short period [the Trumpets!- warning that the close of probation, and the final day of Judgment – the Day of Atonement, will follow, just before the Plagues are poured out] while Christ is [still] in the Sanctuary. At that time, while the work of salvation is closing, trouble will be coming on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in check [by the Trumpets!] so as not to prevent the work of the third angel. At that time the “latter rain,” or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come, to give power to the loud voice of the third angel [the “loud cry!”] and prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out.

Also, from p.272 I read: “Great power was with these chosen ones. Said the angel, ‘Look ye!’ My attention was turned to the wicked and unbelievers. They were all astir. The zeal…and power…with the people of God had aroused and enraged them. Confusion, confusion, was on every side. I saw measures taken against the company who had the light and power of God. Darkness thickened around them; yet they stood firm, approved of God, and trusting in Him. I saw them perplexed; next, I heard them crying unto God earnestly. Day and night their cry ceased not: ‘Thy will, O God, be done! If it can glorify Thy name, make a way of escape for Thy people! Deliver us from the heathen around about us. They have appointed us unto death; but Thine arm can bring salvation.’ These are all the words which I can bring to mind. All seemed to have a deep sense of their unworthiness and manifested entire submission to the will of God; yet, like Jacob, every one, without an exception, was earnestly pleading and wrestling for deliverance. Soon after they had commenced their earnest cry, the angels, in sympathy, desired to go to their deliverance. But a tall, commanding angel suffered them not. He said, ‘The will of God is not yet fulfilled. They must drink of the cup. They must be baptized with the baptism.'”

It is during this time, that the Marriage of the Lamb will take place. It is this final trial of faith, the baptism with which Jesus Himself was baptized (in the Gethsemane experience) that makes them one with Him. They feel that the full guilt of their own past sins may crush out their life! (the real “Jacob’s trouble”). This baptism consummates the marriage. Christ becomes one with His people! What is marriage? It is when two people become one in spirit! When, because of love, and by set choice, they unite in common purpose, sealed by a covenant of marriage.

“I saw,” says Ellen White, “that while Jesus was in the Most Holy Place, He would be married to the New Jerusalem; and after His work should be accomplished in the Holiest, He would descend to the earth in Kingly power and take to Himself the precious ones who had patiently waited His return.” Page 251. These are His Bride!

Those who are resurrected from the dead, at His Advent or Coming, will be the innumerable multitude who are “called unto the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!” They will be the “guests” at the wedding feast. Those who went in with Him, by faith, into the Most Holy Place, as the light of the third angel’s message was received by them and they began to keep all of the Commandments of God, will have gone one giant step further. They overcome all sin in their lives by submitting fully to the Spirit of Jesus on the throne in their minds, refusing to do anything but that that will please Him. (Read Philippians 2:12-16, which will thus be fulfilled in them!)

The way to this experience, I believe, is to study to understand all of your Message, everything to do with the 3 Angel’s Messages, from the books of Revelation and Daniel, through the teaching of Holy Spirit – the Spirit of prophecy. We must use Holy Spirit’s prescription for Bible Study in this work, in order to fully discern truth from errors and traditions. Isaiah 28, vs. 9 and 10 says, “Whom will He (Holy Spirit) teach knowledge, and make to understand doctrine? …line upon line, line upon line, (repeated for emphasis) here a little, there a little,” like William Miller did!

Then we will shine as lights in the world, and can be prepared of God to be among the 144,000! Strive to be among the 144,000, if you would at least be called unto the Marriage Supper! Jesus will marry those who can pass the final terrible test! By the special trials we might endure for Jesus’ sake, those who endure to the end will prove their oneness with Jesus, their full commitment to His will. Holy Spirit will be fully and continuously on the throne in their minds – thus, “Christ in you, the hope of glory!”

The stakes for us in this are very high. Those who fail to stand for Jesus against the trinity of evil (Rev.16:13, 14) will lose their eternal inheritance. Those who succeed, however, will achieve the greatest level of character development ever witnessed in history. They will have gained perfect knowledge of the ways of the God they serve. They will have partaken of the nature of Christ and will have become one with Him in all things. The Covenant will thus have its full effect in their mortal lives. All sin will be overcome by choice and by Christ’s power from the throne in their minds!

Do you want that experience? Like it or not, we are in the time of the Sealing! We can only choose now which side we will be on. Soon it will be too late to try to choose. Will you choose, today, to stand for Christ and the truth, or will you betray your Lord and Saviour for a few pieces of money?…or for worldly position?…or for possessions?…or for freedom from persecution by the powers of evil? I set before you, and myself, what Jesus sets before us. CHOOSE! Will it be life eternal, or death eternal? Choose now, and keep choosing day by day.

I want eternal life with Jesus in His kind of Kingdom. I’m making that choice day by day. Will you?

Let’s kneel before our Maker, and pray together:

Our Father in heaven, we have received the light from the 1844 movement that You ordained to carry the messages of the 3 Angels (and the 4th angel also) to this dark world that doesn’t know that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand and they must make themselves ready! By the Spirit of prophecy, we know that the greatest test of Your people is almost upon us. Jesus is able to carry us through to the Marriage of the Lamb! Father, give us the zeal that we need now to carry the messages of Revelation 14 to our friends, relatives, and neighbours, before it is too late, both for them and for us! Amen.

Document #08_06: Virgins Undefiled, identifies the Remnant people of God, as virgins, those not defiled with women. Unpacking this prophecy reveals again, from another perspective, the importance of learning and sharing our Present Truth Message from Rev. 14:6-12 and Rev. 18:1-4.

Scripture Text: Revelation 14:4

Title: The 144,000 – virgins not defiled with women.

We have here two key-words to explore, using the Concordance to search the Bible for answers. How are the 144,000 virgins, and, what women defile many?

First, consider this: the 144,000 are neither all men..nor are they all women. Therefore, the wording here must be symbolically understood.

Secondly, however, the women here referred to must still refer to bad women, [symbolic women] who defile many. They corrupt the purity of many. A symbolic “woman,” in the Bible, represents something. What is it, everyone? …A church: that’s right. You are good Adventist Bible students. A pure woman; example – Revelation 12:1, represents God’s church. A vile woman; example – Revelation 17:3, represents a church invaded by Satan and his host.

Before we read Revelation 17, I must share a Bible study principle with you that is an invaluable tool to correct Bible study. I was taught that I must always, and I say again, always, read the context of whatever I look up in the Concordance. As our pastor says, “A text taken out of context, is simply a pretext!” I usually read a section the size of an average chapter around a key-word. Thus, in verse 5 of Revelation 17, we find that the bad woman, called Babylon the Great, is “the mother of harlots.” According to verse 1, she is the great whore that sits upon many waters. So, the daughters of this woman must also be, to put it Bible bluntly, “whores” – what we today call prostitutes. This means that the daughters also must defile many. They are bad “women,” not pure “women.”

Through historicist interpretation, which means that we apply the appropriate history to prophecy, Adventists know who Great Babylon and her daughters are. The whore, a great church in the world, sits upon many waters – which represents many nations and tongues and peoples. She is…the Papal, Roman church- state. Her daughters are, therefore…the Protestant churches that developed out of her in the Reformation.

In 1844 to 1846, all, Catholic and Protestant churches that call themselves Christian, were Judged by God, and found fallen! – defiled, corrupted from their purity by Satan and his host who have invaded them. At that time, the Advent believers, people who were proclaiming the soon Advent or Coming of Jesus, were being thrust out by all of the denominations. They had proclaimed the First Angel’s Message of Revelation 14, and now added the Second Angel’s Message, proclaiming against the Protestant churches, as well as against the Papal system: “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, because she made all nations drink of her false doctrines.” The other churches were found fallen with her. [Breaking the 4th Commandment, by continuing to keep the Papal Sunday!]. It is therefore not a stretch to say that the 144,000 are virgins (a pure church) who are not defiled with, or along with, “women,” – Catholic and Protestant “women,” who had prostituted themselves with the god of this world, Satan, instead of keeping themselves pure for their Creator and Saviour!

We now have found that true believers are virginal – referring to a pure church, and they are not defiled along with vile “women” (churches) of whatever persuasion. By the Papacy’s changing the 4th Commandment to make it refer to the 1st day of the week, Sunday, and the acceptance of this false doctrine by the Protestant churches, all of them cause God’s people in them, to sin!! What is the Bible definition of sin? Sin is the transgression or breaking of the Law – the 10 Commandments.

Many are defiled – their purity corrupted, with these “women” – these fallen churches. Thus, after 1844, the Third Angel’s Message began to be proclaimed and that Message is beginning to sweep across the world today! I’ll bet you are thinking, by this point, that this is too harsh criticism of the other Christian churches. Well, consider this. In 1844 to 1846, the messages from Jesus were the Three Angel’s Messages of Revelation 14. As we approach the real Day of Atonement, the final day when all of the Judgment by God is finished in heaven, and the decree given that closes probation (Revelation 22, verse 11) we, you and I, are to proclaim the 4th Angel’s Message, from Revelation 18, verses 1 to 5! It repeats the 2nd Angel’s Message, but wow, it is really harsh criticism of the fallen churches!

Have you turned to Revelation 18? Rev.18:1-5. Let’s read it together (read). Yes, God says that all of these Christian churches have been invaded by Satan and his host. They are fallen, defiled, corrupted from their purity by Satan and his host of devils, who have infiltrated them! They “have become the habitation of devils and the hold of every foul spirit!”

With this much settled, and since I will supply each of you with a transcript of what we study here today, we need to complete the study, and connect the “virgins” in the Bible texts, by using the key-word “virgins.” Did Holy Spirit just now connect the dots for you? Did a text immediately come to your mind? Where is that text, everyone? Turn to Matthew 25, the 10 Virgin Parable. Already you are thinking inspired thoughts of what it all means. Matthew 25, the 10 Virgin Parable. Matthew 25. Jesus here says that the Kingdom of Heaven (that is developing here on earth) is like unto 10 virgins, which gathered together at a house near the bride’s home, to join the procession of the bride and groom to the reception at the groom’s Father’s home. I won’t “beat around the bush” with this. I don’t need to take that much time to explain it fully, in detail. I have a document that does that, that you can ask me for later. The 10 virgins are the Adventist church of today. We are the only ones who have access to a great body of true knowledge of the prophecies of Jesus. We keep the Commandments, all of them, and are not defiled with the harlot churches. We are the 10 virgins – all ten.

But this means that Jesus is warning us not to be among the 5 foolish virgins! Do you get that? The whole parable is Jesus warning us not to be among the 5 foolish virgins! What makes them foolish is what we must look for. The book Christ Object Lessons is the source of understanding of the cultural setting here in the parable. The girls are the friends of the Bridegroom. They are the church , the people, male and female, who are the friends of the Bridegroom, Jesus. The actual girls that Jesus sees aren’t invited to the wedding at the bride’s father’s house. Maybe that’s because they are former girlfriends of the Groom? Or, they might simply not be direct friends of the bride who would be invited to the wedding ceremony at the bride’s father’s house [bridesmaids]. When the ceremony is over, the Bride and Groom walk to the house of the Groom’s Father, to officially meet Him as husband and wife, and enjoy the reception the Father has prepared for them and their entourage.

The 10 virgins are the church here on earth, and all of these people are waiting for the Bridegroom to come and gather His people to bring them to the reception for His wedding to the 144,000! We, the church, don’t know when all of the 144,000 are made up, but we do know that Jesus will marry them. They all will be “one with Him,” fully prepared to be His pure Bride. Revelation 19:7-9 (read). Thus we are waiting for the procession from the Bride’s home (on earth) to come by on the way to the Bridegroom’s Father’s house for the reception in heaven. We know in our heart that we are not yet perfectly “one with Him,” and so will probably be the guests at the wedding, rather than the Bride herself, the 144,000, who will have fully overcome sin, here on this earth, by becoming “one with Him” through the atonement and the cleansing of their soul Temple from sin.

And so, we wait. It is night in the world (the world is full of iniquity around us). We have our lamps (we have light in this world). The “Loud Cry” of 1844, that Jesus is Coming, and that it is the Judgment Hour that is come, is the light that is behind our light today. All of the true interpretation of prophecy from then to now has become our light, from our lamps. We are waiting for the Bridegroom to come from the wedding and then bring His bride to the reception at His Father’s house in heaven. We want to join that procession to His Father’s house! We are to help light the way to the Father’s reception banquet! But five are foolish. Jesus has tarried, not willing that one should perish. It is our own fault that He is tarrying. We have fallen asleep, unable to watch and pray in our own strength, just like the disciples were while Jesus prayed in Gethsemane.

We need Holy Spirit fully active in our lives, to give us power to prepare the way for our Lord and Saviour to come! Just here, we have the key to how we can receive Holy Spirit fully in our lives. Listen up now. This is extremely important, and is the answer to avoiding being among the five foolish virgins! We profess, by Revelation 12, verse 17, that we “keep the Commandments of God, and have “the testimony of Jesus Christ.” All 10 virgins profess that we “have (personally possess) the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Search “line upon line.” What is “the testimony of Jesus Christ?” You know the answer. It is Adventist teaching. The Concordance takes us to Revelation 19, verse 10. “…the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy.” Holy Spirit is the Spirit of prophecy. I repeat: Holy Spirit is the Spirit of prophecy. He is our teacher as we study prophecy! “Spiritual things are Spiritually discerned!” “…the Comforter,” Jesus said in John 14, verse 26, “which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” With these, I put also, “Whom shall He [Holy Spirit, as above] teach knowledge, [see the connection?] and whom shall He make to understand doctrine? …line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little.” Isaiah 28, verses 9 and 10 and their context. (KJV)

Now we are ready to answer the question. How can we avoid being among the 5 foolish virgins? What did the 5 wise have in their vessels (in their minds)? They possess extra oil – the symbol of Holy Spirit working to produce light in each of us! They have entreated Holy Spirit, the Spirit of prophecy, to give them that which they must personally possess, in order to be among those that fulfill Revelation 12, verse 17. – They “have the testimony of Jesus,” which is “the Spirit of Prophecy!” If you are not making the study of all 4 Angel’s Messages, and all of the parts of those messages, your priority in life, you will not be ready for the Latter Rain, and you will not be ready to “prepare the Way of the Lord, and make His paths straight.” Only if you know your Message, including all of its connected prophecies, in detail, for yourself, will you possess the Spirit of prophecy! I know, that you don’t know, your Message. You know about it, yes. But you don’t know it, in detail, for yourself. You don’t possess the Spirit of prophecy, or the Latter Rain would be being manifested in the whole world! Jesus is waiting for you, and every Adventist wise virgin, to trim your lamps and add the needed oil so that you can join the procession to the wedding reception at Jesus’ Father’s house, and help light the Way!! I am one of the ones in the house on earth, that is crying, “Arise, and trim your lamps, the Bridegroom is Coming! Make ready your lights, so that you may join the procession and joyfully light the Way to the Father’s house!”

Pray with me.
Jesus, we have indeed been asleep, even though we have been trying, in our own power, to watch (as prophecy unfolds before our eyes) and pray (for strength to endure what is coming). With what we have learned today, we now pray for the Spirit of Prophecy to come to us, as we zealously study our Message and its details. Fill us, Lord, that we may personally possess the testimony of Jesus. Amen, and Amen.

The next document, #08_07, Temperance, is a necessary piece about how to stay
strong, healthy, and able to be wise unto salvation, in the warfare against Satan and his host. He has a very great army: not only a third of the angels who fell from heaven with him, but a huge number of those humans he possesses, whether they know it or not. All of the worldly are liars and makers of lies, who mislead the children of God into more and more sin. Are you afraid to fight such an army against you? “Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world!” We are more than conquerors through Jesus! The foe is already defeated in his own mind! Put on the whole armor of God, and enter the fray boldly! Jesus is our captain of the host, and we are not so few as we think!
Be a good soldier, and eat and drink for strength and health and energetic clarity of mind. These are necessary to battle strategy, and defense against their many darts. We cannot overcome if we are weakened by bad habits – laziness, fat, gluttony, partying, drug and alcohol abuse, or even overwork!

“And every man that striveth for the mastery (of self – the fallen human nature) is temperate in all things. Now they (athletes – context) do it to obtain a corruptible crown: but we an incorruptible.” I Corinthians 9, verse 25

Temperance: from the book “The Sanctified Life,” by Ellen White.

“Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul,” is the language of the apostle Peter in 1st Peter 2:11. Many regard this text as a warning against licentiousness only, but it has a broader meaning. It forbids every injurious gratification of appetite or passion. Let none regard with indifference the health of the body, and flatter themselves that intemperance is no sin, and will not affect their spirituality. A close sympathy exists between the physical and the moral nature. Any habit which does not promote health degrades the higher and nobler faculties.
Paul wrote, “Every man that striveth for the mastery [of self] is temperate in all things…I therefore…keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (1st Corinthians 9:25-27).
Paul also wrote, “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1st Corinthians 6:19,20).
When the apostle writes to the believers, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service,” (Romans 12:1), he sets forth the principles of true sanctification. It is a living, active principle, entering into the everyday life. It requires that our habits…be such as to secure the preservation of physical, mental and moral health, that we may present to the Lord our bodies, not an offering corrupted by wrong habits, but, “a living sacrifice; holy, acceptable unto God.”
Peter’s admonition to abstain from fleshly lusts is a most direct and forcible warning against the use of all such stimulants and narcotics as coffee, tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. These indulgences may be classed among the lusts that exert a pernicious influence upon moral character.

They will lower the standard of spirituality.

Bible teaching will make but a feeble impression upon those whose faculties are benumbed by such self-gratification. Thousands will sacrifice not only their health and life, but their hope of heaven before they will wage war against their perverted appetites for these things.

Every depraved appetite becomes a warring lust. Everything that conflicts with natural law creates a diseased condition of the soul. The heart cannot preserve consecration to God while such appetites are indulged at the expense of health and life. Says Paul, “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2nd Corinthians 7:1).

In this age of Christian light, how often the lips that take the precious name of Christ are defiled by tobacco and the breath polluted with the stench. Surely, the soul that can enjoy such uncleanness must also be defiled! As I have seen men who claimed to enjoy the blessing of sanctification, while they were slaves to tobacco, polluting everything around them, I have thought, How would heaven appear with tobacco users in it? God’s word has plainly declared that “there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth.” (Rev.21:27). How, then, can those who indulge this filthy habit hope to find admittance there? Men professing Christianity who indulge this habit, offer their bodies upon Satan’s altar, and burn incense of tobacco to his satanic majesty! Does this statement seem severe? Certainly, the offering is presented to some deity. As God is pure and holy, and will accept nothing defiling in its character, He must refuse this expensive, filthy, and unholy sacrifice; therefore we conclude that Satan is the one who claims the sacrifice!

An enormous sum is yearly squandered for this indulgence. Professed Christians rob God in tithes and offerings while they offer on the altar of destroying lust, in the use of tobacco, more than they give to supply the wants of God’s cause. The Christian is to overcome every hurtful lust. Then this needless expense will be turned to the Lord’s treasury, and they will have treasure in heaven!

The user of tobacco and other stimulants has a hungering of body and soul, not for God’s presence, but for his cherished idol.

“Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life… knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin… Let not sin, therefore, reign in your mortal body,that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof… For sin shall not have dominion over you…Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?… As ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness… even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.” (Romans, the 6th chapter).

Self-centered thinking [mind – the fallen nature of man] must be submitted to the Divine nature [“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2, verse 5)] Join the good fight of faith, NOW!