Thundering Event #3
This study is from thebottom-half of the Mirror Chart.
Index to this page.
In a Few Words— Further Study page 1 Further Study page 2 In a Few Words— The seven thunders (last-day events) are based on Daniel’s fulfilled prophetic events of the past. In the order of Daniel’s literal time prophecies, the third thunder would be: The Third Thunder —In the midst of the seventieth week the professed church of God turns against its Savior. Could this be so? Ancient Israel turned against its Savior! Are we better than they, or is our transgression worse than theirs? Surely, in the light of this repeated prophecy, the last-day professed people of God will not make the very same mistake that ancient Israel made! Surely, thunder and an earthquake would not be repeated? And what mistake was that? The rejection of Christ, His character, His Law, His Sabbath day of redemptive rest! God forbid that anyone should give the details of this repeated prophecy; No, no! —how could this prophecy come true under such explicit warning? But not all is lost; for as a new, stronger church emerged out of the shaking of ancient Israel, so also will those who follow their Savior in preaching the Sabbath more fully, and this time, they will take advantage of completing the seven-fold covenant with their Creator, —with the early and latter rain of the Holy Spirit working among them and completing the harvest. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1Cor 1:10 Ellen White writes— “There is a boundary to the mercy of God, for He does not always strive with men. A record is kept of all the blessings offered and how those blessings are treated; and if we neglect our duty we shall soon see, as did the Jews, that the anger of God is not withheld but we shall be given over to the power of Satan. While it seems astonishing to us that the Jews rejected Christ, we ourselves will act out the same thing if we refuse the light for this time.” {3MR 79.1} “I am filled with sadness when I think of our condition as a people. (Ellen White is writing to the Seven-day Adventist Church.) The Lord has not closed heaven to us, but our own course of continual backsliding has separated us from God. Pride, covetousness, and love of the world have lived in the heart without fear of banishment or condemnation. Grievous and presumptuous sins have dwelt among us. And yet the general opinion is that the church is flourishing and that peace and spiritual prosperity are in all her borders. {5T 217.1} “The church has turned back from following Christ her Leader and is steadily retreating toward Egypt. Yet few are alarmed or astonished at their want of spiritual power. Doubt, and even disbelief of the testimonies of the Spirit of God, is leavening our churches everywhere. Satan would have it thus. Ministers who preach self instead of Christ would have it thus. The testimonies are unread and unappreciated. God has spoken to you. Light has been shining from His word and from the testimonies, and both have been slighted and disregarded. The result is apparent in the lack of purity and devotion and earnest faith among us. {5T 217.2} “Let each put the question to his own heart: “How have we fallen into this state of spiritual feebleness and dissension? Have we not brought upon ourselves the frown of God because our actions do not correspond with our faith? Have we not been seeking the friendship and applause of the world rather than the presence of Christ and a deeper knowledge of His will?” Examine your own hearts, judge your own course. Consider what associates you are choosing. Do you seek the company of the wise, or are you willing to choose worldly associates, companions who fear not God and obey not the gospel? {5T 217.3} “The watchmen are responsible for the condition of the people. While you open the door to pride, envy, doubt, and other sins, there will be strife, hatred, and every evil work. Jesus, the meek and lowly One, asks an entrance as your guest; but you are afraid to bid Him enter. He has spoken to us in both the Old and the New Testament; He is speaking to us still by His Spirit and His providences. His instructions are designed to make men true to God and true to themselves. {5T 235.2} “Jesus took upon Himself man’s nature, that He might leave a pattern for humanity, complete, perfect. He proposes to make us like Himself, true in every purpose, feeling, and thought —true in heart, soul, and life. This is Christianity. Our fallen nature must be purified, ennobled, consecrated by obedience to the truth. Christian faith will never harmonize with worldly principles; Christian integrity is opposed to all deception and pretense. The man who cherishes the most of Christ’s love in the soul, who reflects the Saviour’s image most perfectly, is in the sight of God the truest, most noble, most honorable man upon the earth.” {5T 235.3; written May 30, 1882.} (Emphasis supplied.) Mirror Event: Historical Event #3, In the Midst of the Week, 31 AD Further Study: Who is modern Israel? Related Topics: 62 Weeks, 434 Days 70 Weeks, 490 Days |