Thundering Event #3Please note: It is very important in this portion of the study to understand that the bottom-half of the Mirror Chart is covering the events and times of the literal 2300 days, i.e. during the fulfillment of the last-day events, ending with the cleansing of forgiven sin in the Heavenly Sanctuary by our High Priest —Christ. 
Further Study 1 Who is modern Israel? The Scenes Surrounding the Cross will be Repeated! “As the message of Christ’s first advent announced the kingdom of His grace, so the message of His second advent announces the kingdom of His glory. And the second message, like the first, is based on the prophecies. The words of the angel to Daniel relating to the last days were to be understood in the time of the end. At that time, “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” “The wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” Daniel 12:4, 10. The Saviour Himself has given signs of His coming, and He says, “When ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.” “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:31, 34, 36. {DA 234.4} “We have reached the period foretold in these scriptures. The time of the end is come, the visions of the prophets are unsealed, and their solemn warnings point us to our Lord’s coming in glory as near at hand.” {DA 235.1} “The Jews misinterpreted and misapplied the word of God, and they knew not the time of their visitation. The years of the ministry of Christ and His apostles, —the precious last years of grace to the chosen people, —they spent in plotting the destruction of the Lord’s messengers. Earthly ambitions absorbed them, and the offer of the spiritual kingdom came to them in vain. So today the kingdom of this world absorbs men’s thoughts, and they take no note of the rapidly fulfilling prophecies and the tokens of the swift-coming kingdom of God.” {DA 235.2} “The forces of darkness will unite with human agents who have given themselves into the control of Satan, and the same scenes that were exhibited at the trial, rejection, and crucifixion of Christ will be revived.” (RH April 14, 1896) {7BC 974.7} “The sin of ancient Israel was in disregarding the expressed will of God and following their own way according to the leadings of unsanctified hearts. Modern Israel are fast follow-ing in their footsteps, and the displeasure of the Lord is as surely resting upon them.” {PH117 79.2} “I saw, that those who had no experience in the first and second angels’ messages must receive them from those who had an experience, and followed down through the messages. As Jesus was crucified, so I saw that these messages have been crucified.” {1SG 75.1} “In like manner those who have had no experience in the first and second angels’ messages must receive them from others who had an experience and followed down through the messages. As Jesus was rejected, so I saw that these messages have been rejected. And as the disciples declared that there is salvation in no other name under heaven, given among men, so also should the servants of God faithfully and fearlessly warn those who embrace but a part of the truths connected with the third message, that they must gladly receive all the messages as God has given them, or have no part in the matter.” {EW 188.2} A Course Directly Opposite! “There is need of a Sabbath reform among us, who profess to observe God’s holy rest-day. . . Those who are careless in their observance of the Sabbath will suffer great loss. “The Lord has a controversy with his professed people in these last days. In this controversy men in responsible positions will take a course directly opposite to that pursued by Nehemiah. They will not only ignore and despise the Sabbath themselves, but they will try to keep it from others by burying it beneath the rubbish of custom and tradition. In churches and in large gatherings in the open air, ministers will urge upon the people the necessity of keeping the first day of the week. There are calamities on sea and land: and these calamities will increase, one disaster following close upon another; and the little band of conscientious Sabbath-keepers will be pointed out as the ones who are bringing the wrath of God upon the world by their disregard of Sunday.” {RH March 18, 1884 par. 7-8} “The unbelief and sins of ancient Israel were presented before me, and I saw that similar wrongs and iniquity exist among modern Israel. The pen of inspiration recorded their crimes for the benefit of those who live in these last days, that we [modern Israel] might shun their evil example.” {4T 491.1} “Had not the Lord been slow to anger, and mercifully considerate of the ignorance and weakness of the children of Israel, he would have destroyed them in his wrath. He exercises the same pitying tenderness toward modern Israel. But we [modern Israel] are less excusable than was ancient Israel. We [modern Israel] have had every opportunity to elevate and ennoble our characters, which they did not have. We [modern Israel] also have their history, recorded that we [modern Israel] may shun their example of unbelief and impatient murmuring and rebellion.” {ST April 15, 1880 par. 13}  The top-half of the above chart shows the course ancient Israel pursued. A few months after they crossed the Red Sea they came to the river boundaries of Canaan and thought it best to check out the land they were to receive for their home. The report of giants in the land stripped away their trust in the way God had led and so they were sent into the wilderness until the unbelieving generation passed off the scene and the new generation had learned trust in their Leader. It was the second generation that followed the ark of God across the river Jordan into Canaan. Ancient Israel was in Canaan in just over 40 years. The bottom-half of the above chart shows the course modern Israel has pursued. The Red Sea experience (test) was given to modern Israel in the year 1844. In fact, it appears that they did not even cross the Red Sea, for crossing the Red Sea (passing the test) was accepting the third angel’s message and proclaiming it in the power of the Holy Spirit. That failed event started our wandering, but not the wandering in the wilderness, for if they have not crossed the Red Sea then modern Israel is still in Egypt! What? Still captives of Egypt? That actually makes a lot of sense, considering the condition of the church today! (Note the two paragraphs below from the book Great Controversy, GC 457.2-458.1.) Nevertheless, after establishing an organization in 1848, Adventists wandered for 40 years when we, again came up to the same test in 1888. “The message of justification by faith . . . is the third angel’s message in verity.” (See quote #1 below.) With this test was added a proposed Sunday Law. And again, if we “had received the third angel’s message and proclaimed it in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord would have wrought mightily with their efforts. A flood of light would have been shed upon the world.” When modern Israel refuses to follow her Leader, she has nowhere to go, but to wander —1928; and to wander —1968; and wander even more —2008. How many times must we be tested? Why must modern Israel push the boundaries of wandering, God forbid, —to 2048? Prophecy says modern Israel has wandered over four generations (40 yrs=generation; Ex 20:3-5), over 160 years! Ancient Israel wandered 40 years and crossed the Jordan into Canaan, yet modern Israel still wanders in Egypt. Will modern Israel, as an organization, ever accept our commission and complete the message to the world? Rev 10:8-11 (Or will things get worse before they get better? Prophecy says very hard times are coming for modern Israel!) In Revelation 11:1 the Mighty Angel directs us to “Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.” The judgment shows that those that worship God in His Temple are His witnesses, His olive trees, and His candlesticks. “It was not the will of God that the coming of Christ should be so long delayed and His people should remain so many years in this world of sin and sorrow. But unbelief separated them from God.” (See quote #1 below.) In many respects I have a hard time writing about these failures of modern Israel, worse yet that they continue; on the other hand, until we own the failures of our forefathers and pass the tests they failed, we may never pass over Jordan into the Heavenly Canaan, collectively or individually.  The above chart shows that modern Israel need not wander another forty years, —2048. “The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning . . .” {1SM 362.4} (See below.) “The history of ancient Israel is a striking illustration of the past experience of the Adventist body. God led His people in the advent movement, even as He led the children of Israel from Egypt. In the great disappointment their faith was tested as was that of the Hebrews at the Red Sea. Had they still trusted to the guiding hand that had been with them in their past experience, they would have seen the salvation of God. If all who had labored unitedly in the work in 1844, had received the third angel’s message and proclaimed it in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord would have wrought mightily with their efforts. A flood of light would have been shed upon the world. Years ago the inhabitants of the earth would have been warned, the closing work completed, and Christ would have come for the redemption of His people. {GC 457.2} “. . . It was not the will of God that the coming of Christ should be so long delayed and His people should remain so many years in this world of sin and sorrow. But unbelief separated them from God. As they refused to do the work which He had appointed them, others were raised up to proclaim the message. In mercy to the world, Jesus delays His coming, that sinners may have an opportunity to hear the warning and find in Him a shelter before the wrath of God shall be poured out.” {GC 458.1} “His word will bring as serious consequences upon God’s people today as did the same sin upon ancient Israel. There is a limit beyond which He will no longer delay His judgments. The desolation of Jerusalem stands as a solemn warning before the eyes of modern Israel, that the corrections given through His chosen instruments cannot be disregarded with impunity.” {4T 167.1} “In this experience of backsliding from the principles of reform, our people [modern Israel] have been repeating the experience of the children of Israel in the wilderness during the forty years of travel. Those who continue to follow their own course in this respect, eating, drinking, as they please, will gradually grow careless of the instructions the Lord has given regarding other phases of the present truth; they surely reap as they have sown.” {PH128 1.2} (March 29, 1908) “From that scene of rejoicing on the shores of the Red Sea, when Israel went forth with song and dance to celebrate Jehovah’s triumph, to the wilderness grave which ended a lifelong wandering —such had been the fate of millions who with high hopes had come forth from Egypt. Sin had dashed from their lips the cup of blessing. Would the next generation learn the lesson?” {PP 410.2} (1890) Further Study 2 Miscellaneous Quotes Quote #1 “Several have written to me, inquiring if the message of justification by faith is the third angel's message, and I have answered, “It is the third angel's message in verity.” The prophet declares, “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.” Brightness, glory, and power are to be connected with the third angel’s message, and conviction will follow wherever it is preached in demonstration of the Spirit. How will any of our brethren know when this light shall come to the people of God? As yet, we [modern Israel] certainly have not seen the light that answers to this description. God has light for his people, and all who will accept it will see the sinfulness of remaining in a lukewarm condition; they [modern Israel] will heed the counsel of the True Witness when he says, “Be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” {RH, April 1, 1890 par. 8} Quote #2 “The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth. For it is the work of every one to whom the message of warning has come, to lift up Jesus, to present Him to the world as revealed in types, as shadowed in symbols, as manifested in the revelations of the prophets, as unveiled in the lessons given to His disciples and in the wonderful miracles wrought for the sons of men. Search the Scriptures; for they are they that testify of Him.” {1SM 362.4}  Further Study: Related Topics: |
