Vol. 60. No. 6

At the Brink of Eternity

Week of Prayer, December 6–15, 2019 The Week of Pr ayer On a long journey, it’s easy to become weary in our longing for the ultimate arrival. Sometimes the destination seems to be so, so far away that Volume 60, Number 6 we just tend to think about other things instead. Yet, as we are finally approaching the goal, there’s a new determination and a stronger sense of urgency—and of hope. The people of God today are on a spiritual Editorial journey of much greater importance than any travels on earth. We are actually at the brink of At the Brink of Eternity 3 eternity. The signs of the times are fast fulfilling around us and the Lord is soon to descend with Friday, December 6, 2019 a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the Preparation for the Last Crisis trump of God. 4 Our merciful Lord and Saviour has seen fit to sustain us another year to see another Week of Sabbath, December 7, 2019 Prayer. Will this one really have an impact on us? The Imminent Crisis of the Centuries “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, 8 and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is Sunday, December 8, 2019 the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). The Last Message of Mercy 12 This year’s readings, “At the Brink of Eternity,” are to inspire and remind us of the tremendous Wednesday, December 11, 2019 privilege we have to walk with the Master of land, sea, and sky before probation closes for our fallen A Prophecy and a Promise 16 planet. Let us each prayerfully consider these read- Friday, December 13, 2019 ings, sharing them also with others who may be The Last Act of the Drama isolated or homebound, and keep in mind the 20 following dates: Sabbath, December 14, 2019 Prayer with fasting: Sabbath, December 14 When Christ Leaves the Sanctuary 24 Offering for missions: Sunday, December 15 It is our prayer that the Spirit of Christ may Sunday, December 15, 2019 imbue us with new vitality in eager anticipation for our Lord’s return—and fortify our hearts to The Blessed Hope 28 soon be able to greet Him wholeheartedly with the words, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Poem him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his The Signs of the Times 32 salvation” (Isaiah 25:9). Amen!

Official Church Publication of the THE REFORMATION HERALD® (ISSN 0482-0843) Subscription rates: Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement features articles on Bible doctrine that will enrich the United States: $18.00 spiritual life of those who seek to know more about God. Foreign (air mail): $16.00 + Shipping “The age in which we live calls for reformatory action.” It is published bimonthly by the Seventh Day Adventist —Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 488. Single issue: $4.00 + Shipping Reform Movement General Conference, P. O. Box 7240, www.subscriptions.reformationherald.com Roanoke, VA 24019-0240, U.S.A. Editor D. P. Silva POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Reformation Assistant to the Editor B. Montrose Printed and distributed by Reformation Herald Publishing Herald, P. O. Box 7240, ROANOKE, VA 24019. Layout and Design G. Melnychuk Association. Manuscripts, inquiries, address changes, Vol. 60, No. 6; Copyright © 2019 November–December issue. Web: http://www.sdarm.org subscriptions, payments, and donations should be mailed Illustrations: Adobe Stock on front cover and on E-mail: [email protected] to the address below. Periodical postage paid at Roanoke, Virginia 24022. pp. 3, 4, 7, 8, 15, 19, 24, 28, 32; Adventist Digital on p. 12; art by Sidney King on p. 16; Standard Publishing on p. 18, 20; Sermon View on p. 27. EDITORIAL At the Brink of ETERNITY

he Israelites were nearing the eat and drink, and rose up to play. charms of beauty, by pleasure seeking, Promised Land—their final Neither let us commit fornication, as mirth, feasting, or the wine cup, he Tdestination, their ultimate goal. some of them committed. . . . Now all tempts to the violation of the seventh Forty years of travel in the wilderness these things happened unto them for commandment. . . . was now behind them. Because of ensamples: and they are written for “It was when the Israelites were their constantly rebellious attitude, our admonition, upon whom the ends in a condition of outward ease and most of them had been left behind, of the world are come” (1 Corinthians security that they were led into sin. dead in the desert. 10:6–8, 11). They failed to keep God ever before Satan was not happy. He would do We are living at the brink of them, they neglected prayer and his most to hinder God’s people from eternity. This is a very solemn and cherished a spirit of self-confidence. entering Canaan. Now he would use perilous time when we expect to see Ease and self-indulgence left the an apostate prophet to cause great the Lord very soon, and Satan will citadel of the soul unguarded, and damage to that multitude in order to use his most powerful weapons to debasing thoughts found entrance. It make God displeased with them, that hinder God’s people from entering the was the traitors within the walls that they might be destroyed. heavenly Promised Land. overthrew the strongholds of principle Balaam in time past had “Satan well knows the material and betrayed Israel into the power of been God’s prophet, but then he with which he has to deal in the Satan. It is thus that Satan still seeks apostatized. Now the former prophet human heart. He knows—for he has to compass the ruin of the soul. A of God presented to Balak a devilish studied with fiendish intensity for long preparatory process, unknown to plan as to how to destroy God’s people thousands of years—the points most the world, goes on in the heart before exactly when they were at the very easily assailed in every character; and the Christian commits open sin. The borders of Canaan. In his plan he through successive generations he has mind does not come down at once included friendship with pagans, wrought to overthrow the strongest from purity and holiness to depravity, sensual music, dancing, sensuous men, princes in Israel, by the same corruption, and crime. It takes time women and wine to becloud their temptations that were so successful at to degrade those formed in the image senses and entice them into gross and Baalpeor. All along through the ages of God to the brutal or the satanic. By degrading idolatry. there are strewn wrecks of character beholding we become changed. By the The Bible sums it up saying that that have been stranded upon the indulgence of impure thoughts man “Israel abode in Shittim, and the rocks of sensual indulgence. As we can so educate his mind that sin which people began to commit whoredom approach the close of time, as he once loathed will become pleasant with the daughters of Moab. And they the people of God stand upon the to him.”1 called the people unto the sacrifices of borders of the heavenly Canaan, “Wherefore let him that thinketh their gods: and the people did eat and Satan will, as of old, redouble he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 bowed down to their gods” (Numbers his efforts to prevent them from Corinthians 10:12). 25:1, 2). entering the goodly land. He lays May the Lord be gracious and God sent a severe plague that his snares for every soul. It is not the merciful with His people as we destroyed 24,000 Israelites. ignorant and uncultured merely that approach the heavenly Canaan! ‰ Reviewing this terrible moral disaster need to be guarded; he will prepare his and its immediate consequences, temptations for those in the highest References Paul wrote: “Now these things positions, in the most holy office; if he 1 Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 457–458. were our examples, to the intent can lead them to pollute their souls, [Emphasis added.] we should not lust after evil things, he can through them destroy many. as they also lusted. Neither be ye And he employs the same agents now idolaters, as were some of them; as as he employed three thousand years it is written, The people sat down to ago. By worldly friendships, by the

The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 3 Friday, December 6, 2019 4 vision sobering A water that were about to fall. I was Iwas were aboutwater fall. to that of drops many would so they than world no more them the regarded who haveupon no shelter; those yet out poured be to were soon plagues do to it. which in time but little work agreat do to for and them was died yet ever have ye world the to death than a greater ready,get get ready. have Ye todie will ready, angel, “Get the Said message. angel’sof third late embraced the who have among those ready getting would a have tobe there saw that and earth the to pointed Thenwas I youlovely should of as Jesus image the Do youreflect finished. almost is “Time said, angel accompanying Then I saw that the seven last last the seven that Thensaw I June given 27, aview In 1850, my .” I saw that there there Isaw that ?”

who shall worship the beast and his his and beast worship the who shall ungodly the come on all shall declares Word that which plagues the escape how to toknow carefully, of God Word the of searching importance the as before, never Thenrealized, I dreadful. me, too forfrom it was removed, tohide it be sight to the cause to of him begged and angel the uponme, Ifell before and my face Terror by them. destroyed be seized but would find no deliverance, they would come upon and that them, plagues withering and sores incurable from orhadnever would been, suffer they worldthe though as would be of anger, it in inhabitants the or lift hand, His forth Heif should stretch and terrible, and dreadful was anger His Isaw that of God. wrath the plagues, last seven sight of the awful made then capable the of enduring Preparation Last Crisis for the were against them. were against denunciations and threatenings awful holy His when Sabbath, suchdown tread and law of the God transgress wondergreat could for any me that a It was hands. their foreheads or in their in mark his receive and image A greater preparation treasure in heaven, where no thief can heaven, can in where no thief treasure enterto glory. up for Lay yourselves all take will It sacrifice. aliving all, property, and upon altar—self, His all Lay God. to all .Sacrifice live. ye may sake? so, that If ye must die for His suffer to willing are and Him who love for those prepared has God that enjoy and all ye go glory to Will plagues? last ye seven shun the “Will them, angelto Thesaid earth. on the Compiled the writings from . . . I was pointed to the remnant remnant the to pointed . Iwas T he Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 No. Vol. 60, Herald, he Reformation of G. E. White 1 approach or rust corrupt. Ye must be have learned its first principles, and error of their ways and pulling souls partakers of Christ’s sufferings here if who are forward to take the place out of the fire. ye would be partakers with Him of His of teachers and reprove those who I saw that God’s people are on the glory hereafter. for years have stood stiffly for the enchanted ground, and that some have Heaven will be cheap enough, if we truth, plainly show that they have lost nearly all sense of the shortness of obtain it through suffering. We must no understanding of the truth, and time and the worth of the soul. Pride deny self all along the way, die to self know none of its effects; for if they has crept in among Sabbathkeepers— daily, let Jesus alone appear, and keep knew any of the sanctifying power, pride of dress and appearance. Said His glory continually in view. I saw they should yield the peaceable fruits the angel, “Sabbathkeepers will have that those who of late have embraced of righteousness and be humbled to die to self, die to pride and love of the truth would have to know what it under its sweet, powerful influence. approbation.”3 is to suffer for Christ’s sake, that they They would bear fruit to the glory of would have trials to pass through that God, and understand what the truth Getting our priorities straight would be keen and cutting, in order has done for them, and esteem others that they may be purified and fitted better than themselves. Truth, saving truth, must be through suffering to receive the seal of I saw that the remnant were not given to the starving people who the living God, pass through the time prepared for what is coming upon are in darkness. I saw that many of trouble, see the King in His beauty, the earth. Stupidity, like lethargy, prayed for God to humble them; but and dwell in the presence of God and seemed to hang upon the minds of if God should answer their prayers, of pure, holy angels. most of those who profess to believe it would be by terrible things in As I saw what we must be in order that we are having the last message. righteousness. It was their duty to to inherit glory, and then saw how My accompanying angel cried out humble themselves. I saw that if much Jesus had suffered to obtain with awful solemnity, “Get ready! get self-exaltation was suffered to come for us so rich an inheritance, I prayed ready! get ready! for the fierce anger in, it would surely lead souls astray, that we might be baptized into Christ’s of the Lord is soon to come. His wrath and if not overcome would prove their sufferings, that we might not shrink is to be poured out, unmixed with ruin. When one begins to get lifted at trials, but bear them with patience mercy, and ye are not ready. Rend the up in his own eyes and thinks he can and joy, knowing what Jesus had heart, and not the garment. A great do something, the Spirit of God is suffered . . .2 work must be done for the remnant. withdrawn, and he goes on in his own Some, I saw, have not a realizing Many of them are dwelling upon little strength until he is overthrown. I saw sense of the importance of the truth trials.” Said the angel, “Legions of evil that one saint, if he were right, could or of its effect, and moving from angels are around you, and are trying move the arm of God; but a multitude the impulse of the moment or from to press in their awful darkness, that together, if they were wrong, would be excitement, often follow their feelings ye may be ensnared and taken. Ye weak and could effect nothing. and disregard church order. Such suffer your minds to be diverted too Many have unsubdued, unhumbled seem to think that religion consists readily from the work of preparation hearts, and think more of their own chiefly in making a noise. Some who and the all-important truths for these little grievances and trials than of have but just received the truth of last days. And ye dwell upon little the souls of sinners. If they had the the third angel’s message are ready trials and go into minute particulars glory of God in view, they would feel to reprove and teach those who have of little difficulties to explain them to for perishing souls around them; been established in the truth for the satisfaction of this one or that.” and as they realized their perilous years, and who have suffered for its Conversation has been protracted for situation, would take hold with energy, sake and felt its sanctifying power. hours between the parties concerned, exercising faith in God, and hold up Those who are so puffed up by the and not only has their time been the hands of His servants, that they enemy will have to feel the sanctifying wasted, but the servants of God might boldly, yet in love, declare the influence of the truth and obtain are held to listen to them, when the truth and warn souls to lay hold upon a realizing sense of how it found hearts of both parties are unsubdued it before the sweet voice of mercy them—“wretched, and miserable, and by grace. If pride and selfishness should die away. Said the angel, “Those poor, and blind, and naked.” When the were laid aside, five minutes would who profess His name are not ready.” truth begins to purify them and purge remove most difficulties. Angels have I saw that the seven last plagues were away their dross and tin, as it surely been grieved and God displeased coming upon the shelterless heads of will when it is received in the love of it, by the hours which have been spent the wicked; and then those who have the one who has this great work done in justifying self. I saw that God stood in their way will hear the bitter for him will not feel that he is rich and will not bow down and listen to reproaches of sinners, and their hearts increased in goods and has need of long justifications, and He does not will faint within them. nothing. want His servants to do so, and thus Said the angel. “Ye have been Those who profess the truth and precious time be wasted that should picking at straws—dwelling upon little think they know it all before they be spent in showing transgressors the trials—and sinners must be lost as a

The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 5 consequence.” God is willing to work Are the people of God now so firmly Though enemies may thrust them for us in our meetings, and it is His established upon His word that they into prison, yet dungeon walls cannot pleasure to work. But Satan says, “I would not yield to the evidence of their cut off the communication between will hinder the work.” His agents say, senses? Would they, in such a crisis, their souls and Christ. One who “Amen.” Professed believers in the cling to the Bible and the Bible only? sees their every weakness, who is truth dwell upon their petty trials and Satan will, if possible, prevent them acquainted with every trial, is above difficulties which Satan has magnified from obtaining a preparation to stand all earthly powers; and angels will before them. Time is wasted that can in that day. He will so arrange affairs come to them in lonely cells, bringing never be recalled.4 as to hedge up their way, entangle light and peace from heaven. The Many do not realize what they them with earthly treasures, cause prison will be as a palace; for the rich must be in order to live in the sight of them to carry a heavy, wearisome in faith dwell there, and the gloomy the Lord without a high priest in the burden, that their hearts may be walls will be lighted up with heavenly sanctuary through the time of trouble. overcharged with the cares of this life light as when Paul and Silas prayed Those who receive the seal of the living and the day of trial may come upon and sang praises at midnight in the God and are protected in the time of them as a thief. Philippian dungeon.6 trouble must reflect the image of Jesus As the decree issued by the fully. various rulers of Christendom against The essence of our religion I saw that many were neglecting commandment keepers shall withdraw the preparation so needful and were the protection of government and “Love to God and our neighbor looking to the time of “refreshing” and abandon them to those who desire is the very essence of our religion. the “latter rain” to fit them to stand in their destruction, the people of God No one can love Christ and not love the day of the Lord and to live in His will flee from the cities and villages His children. When we are united sight. Oh, how many I saw in the time and associate together in companies, to Christ, we have the mind of of trouble without a shelter! They had dwelling in the most desolate and Christ. Purity and love shine forth neglected the needful preparation; solitary places. Many will find refuge in the character, meekness and truth therefore they could not receive the in the strongholds of the mountains. control the life. The very expression refreshing that all must have to fit Like the Christians of the Piedmont of the countenance is changed. them to live in the sight of a holy God. valleys, they will make the high places Christ abiding in the soul exerts a Those who refuse to be hewed by of the earth their sanctuaries and transforming power, and the outward the prophets and fail to purify their will thank God for “the munitions of aspect bears witness to the peace and souls in obeying the whole truth, and rocks.” Isaiah 33:16. But many of all joy that reign within.” 7 who are willing to believe that their nations and of all classes, high and We must be in Christ and He in us; condition is far better than it really is, low, rich and poor, black and white, then the defects will disappear from will come up to the time of the falling will be cast into the most unjust and our characters. The closer we live to of the plagues, and then see that they cruel bondage. The beloved of God Jesus, the more we shall reflect in needed to be hewed and squared for pass weary days, bound in chains, words and character His image. And the building. But there will be no shut in by prison bars, sentenced to the farther we separate from God, the time then to do it and no Mediator to be slain, some apparently left to die farther we live away from the light of plead their cause before the Father. of starvation in dark and loathsome life, and, as the sure result, become . . . I saw that none could share the dungeons. No human ear is open to perverse, dictatorial, hard-hearted. “refreshing” unless they obtain the hear their moans; no human hand is We should make it a life work to gather victory over every besetment, over ready to lend them help. up the divine rays of light that come pride, selfishness, love of the world, Will the Lord forget His people from the throne of God, and scatter and over every wrong word and action. in this trying hour? Did He forget them upon the pathway of others. . . . We should, therefore, be drawing faithful Noah when judgments were nearer and nearer to the Lord and be visited upon the antediluvian world? Bearing fruit earnestly seeking that preparation Did He forget Lot when the fire came necessary to enable us to stand in the down from heaven to consume the It is in this time of probation that battle in the day of the Lord. Let all cities of the plain? Did He forget we are to prepare either for eternal remember that God is holy and that Joseph surrounded by idolaters in life in glory, or for perdition. It is here none but holy beings can ever dwell in Egypt? Did He forget Elijah when the that we are engaged in the work of His presence.5 oath of Jezebel threatened him with character-building; and if we succeed, the fate of the prophets of Baal? Did we shall merit from the Master the The testing time He forget Jeremiah in the dark and welcome, “Well done, thou good and dismal pit of his prison house? Did faithful servant.” Christ has gone To all the testing time will come. He forget the three worthies in the into the most holy department, and By the sifting of temptation the fiery furnace? or Daniel in the den has left us word to watch and pray, genuine Christian will be revealed. of lions? . . . lest He return suddenly and find us

6 The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 sleeping. The character which we are now making will come in review before God before Christ leaves the sanctuary. Here God will see what characters we have been building for the songs of glory, saying, “Worthy, time and eternity. How shall we stand worthy, is the Lamb that was slain, before the great Eternal? How many and liveth again.” No one shall go into sheaves will we have brought to the the city unless he is pure in heart. . . . Master through our earnest efforts? The greatest conquest for every To every man is given his work, one of us will be to overcome self, to and that work is not to be looking for bring self into obedience to the law of faults in others, nor to be seeking to God. This is our work; are we doing imitate the world. Says the apostle, it? Are we working to save others by “Ye are dead, and your life is hid with our influence? . . . The truth will burn Christ in God.” This means more in your hearts so that you cannot than we think it does; dead to worldly keep still, you are obliged to give it interests, dead to worldly ambitions. utterance; you must advocate it to all What a position is this! . . . who will hear you. All have defects of character to There never was a more solemn overcome, and therefore no human and important time than this present being can be your pattern. You should period. . . . The lay members of the not feel content to do merely as others church especially are not doing one do. If they do not live out the truth, fiftieth part of what they might and will it excuse you for disobedience? ought to do. . . . You should not imitate their example; Satan will work to divide and you should try to help them by a separate God’s people one from the right course of living before them. other. And while he is doing this kind Individually you stand before God as of work, be careful that none of you though Christ died for you alone; and are found helping him. We want to when the Master comes to reckon with you must render your account to him put away our cold-heartedness, and his servants, you may receive from for yourself. But not only for yourself let love, tender compassion, true him the crown of life laid up for the alone are you responsible, but for that courtesy, and the spirit of tenderness overcomer, and rejoice with Him in soul over whom you have an influence, come into our midst. Here we are in His kingdom.8 ‰ and for whom God has paid such a the waiting time, in the day of God’s price. If you neglect your duty in this preparation. Here in this world we References matter, what will be your portion in are to fit up for these great trials that 1 Early Writings, pp. 64, 65. the day of God? How do you think are soon coming upon us. And yet 2 Ibid., pp. 66, 67. the unfaithful ones will feel to see the some of us act as though we had a 3 Ibid., pp. 118–120. 4 nations of the saved walking within whole millennium before us in which Ibid., pp. 120, 121. 5 Ibid., p. 71. the portals of the city of God, and they to accomplish the work. But, says the 6 The Great Controversy, pp. 625–627. themselves shut out? But how shall text, “Watch and pray; for ye know not 7 Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 337. we feel, if we can look around and see when the time is.” And what Christ 8 The Review and Herald, August 18, 1885. many in the kingdom as the results of said to His disciples, I say unto you, our labors? We shall be able to swell “Take ye heed, watch and pray,” that

The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 7 The Imminent Crisis of the Sabbath, December 7, 2019 December 7, Sabbath, Centuries

By Edgar Ramos — Bolivia

“Alas for the day! for the day of the shall not be left here one stone upon The prophecies of Jesus are Lord is at hand, and as a destruction another, that shall not be thrown fulfilling from the Almighty shall it come” (Joel down” (Matthew 24:2). 1:15). “Christ’s words had been spoken “Today the signs of the times “The prophecies which the great I in the hearing of a large number of declare that we are standing on AM has given in His word, uniting link people; but when He was alone, Peter, the threshold of great and solemn after link in the chain of events, from John, James, and Andrew came to events. Everything in our world is in eternity in the past to eternity in the Him as He sat upon the Mount of agitation. Before our eyes is fulfilling future, tell us where we are today in the Olives. ‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when shall the Saviour’s prophecy of the events procession of the ages and what may these things be? and what shall be to precede His coming: ‘Ye shall be expected in the time to come. All the sign of Thy coming, and of the end hear of wars and rumors of wars. . . . that prophecy has foretold as coming to of the world?’ Jesus did not answer Nation shall rise against nation, and pass, until the present time, has been His disciples by taking up separately kingdom against kingdom: and there traced on the pages of history, and we the destruction of Jerusalem and the shall be famines, and pestilences, may be assured that all which is yet to great day of His coming. He mingled and earthquakes, in divers places’ come will be fulfilled in its order.”1 the description of these two events. (Matthew 24:6, 7). The present is a Had He opened to His disciples future time of overwhelming interest to all The disciples ask Christ about events as He beheld them, they would living.”3 His return have been unable to endure the sight. In mercy to them He blended the False prophets Referring to the magnificent description of the two great crises, temple in Jerusalem, Jesus declared leaving the disciples to study out the One of the signs of the destruction that the day will come when “there meaning for themselves.”2 of Jerusalem that Christ had

8 The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 announced was: “Many false prophets distress of nations” (Luke 21:25). See the loss of many lives that might be shall rise and shall deceive many” also Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24–26; saved.”9 (Matthew 24:11). and Revelation 6:12–17. “There will be suffering ones, “False prophets did rise, deceiving “There shall be famines, and plenty of them, who will need help, not the people, and leading great numbers pestilences, and earthquakes, in only among those of our own faith, but into the desert. Magicians and divers places” (Matthew 24:7). largely among those who know not the sorcerers, claiming miraculous power, “In those days, after that truth.”10 drew the people after them into the tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, “Our world is a vast lazar house, mountain solitudes. But this prophecy and the moon shall not give her light” a scene of misery that we dare not was spoken also for the last days. This (Mark 13:24). allow even our thoughts to dwell upon. sign is given as a sign of the second What is meant by “those days”? Did we realize it as it is, the burden advent.”4 The prophecy of the 1260 years of would be too terrible. Yet God feels “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, the time of papal supremacy, lasted it all. In order to destroy sin and its that in the latter times some shall from the year a.d. 538 to a.d. 1798. results He gave His best Beloved, and depart from the faith, giving heed The tribulation ended at least 25 years He has put it in our power, through to seducing spirits, and doctrines of before the year 1798. Around that cooperation with Him, to bring this devils” (1 Timothy 4:1). time, the following signs occurred as a scene of misery to an end. ‘This gospel Every day the sad evidence fulfillment of prophecy.6 of the kingdom shall be preached in increases that faith is diminishing The great earthquake on November all the world for a witness unto all in the sure prophetic word, and that 1, 1755. nations; and then shall the end come’ in its place superstition and satanic Signs in the sun and the moon on (Matthew 24:14).”11 sorcery captivate the intellects of May 19, 1780. “The Christian world have shown many, including, ironically, a number Signs in the stars on November 13, contempt for the law of Jehovah, of religious leaders. Others are misled 1833. and the Lord will do just what He by the mysticism of theosophy and “When ye shall see all these things, has declared that He would—He will other Eastern religions based on know that it is near, even at the doors” withdraw His blessings from the earth spiritualism. “The doctrine of man’s (Matthew 24:33). and remove His protecting care from consciousness in death, especially the those who are rebelling against His belief that spirits of the dead return Approaching an even greater law and teaching and forcing others to to minister to the living, has prepared do the same. Satan has control of all the way for modern spiritualism.”5 crisis whom God does not especially guard. Spiritualism today is amalgamated “The present is a time of He will favor and prosper some, in with nominal Christianity, performing overwhelming interest to all living. order to further his own designs; and miracles and lying wonders. Through Rulers and statesmen, men who he will bring trouble upon others and spiritualism, the sick appear to be occupy positions of trust and authority, lead men to believe that it is God who healed as Satan counterfeits the thinking men and women of all classes, is afflicting them. blessing of the Holy Spirit. have their attention fixed upon the “While appearing to the children In this way Spiritualism, events taking place about us. They are of men as a great physician who can Catholicism and apostate watching the relations that exist among heal all their maladies, he will bring Protestantism increasingly work the nations. They observe the intensity disease and disaster, until populous together, just as John the Revelator that is taking possession of every cities are reduced to ruin and described when he “saw three earthly element, and they recognize desolation. Even now he is at work. In unclean spirits like frogs come out that something great and decisive is accidents and calamities by sea and by of the mouth of the dragon, and out about to take place—that the world is land, in great conflagrations, in fierce of the mouth of the beast, and out on the verge of a stupendous crisis.” 7 tornadoes and terrific hailstorms, in of the mouth of the false prophet” “Soon grievous troubles will rise tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, (Revelation 16:13). The prophetic word among the nations—trouble that will and earthquakes, in every place is thus fulfilling before our eyes. not cease until Jesus comes.”8 and in a thousand forms, Satan is “And no marvel; for Satan himself exercising his power. He sweeps away is transformed into an angel of light” Mortality and hunger the ripening harvest, and famine and (2 Corinthians 11:14). distress follow. He imparts to the air a “Perilous times are before us. deadly taint, and thousands perish by Signs in the heavens and the The whole world will be involved in the pestilence. These visitations are to perplexity and distress, disease of become more and more frequent and earth every kind will be upon the human disastrous. Destruction will be upon Jesus foretold that “there shall family, and such ignorance as now both man and beast. . . . be signs in the sun, and in the moon, prevails concerning the laws of health “Some will be tempted to receive and in the stars; and upon the earth would result in great suffering and these wonders as from God. The sick

The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 9 will be healed before us. Miracles will the generalship of Satan. In every mob but faint representations of what will be performed in our sight. Are we wicked angels are at work, rousing be in the near future.”20 prepared for the trial which awaits men to commit deeds of violence.”15 A moral plague us when the lying wonders of Satan “The trades unions will be one of shall be more fully exhibited? Will the agencies that will bring upon this As of this writing, according to not many be ensnared and taken? By earth a time of trouble such as has not the Pew Research Center, there are departing from the plain precepts been since the world began.”16 30 nations that perform marriages and commandments of God and of individuals of the same sex, and giving heed to fables, the minds of Earthquakes and floods 4 more countries recognize such many are preparing to receive these marriages. Remember the pleading lying wonders. We must all now seek “In fires, in floods, in earthquakes, of Abraham in Genesis chapter 18 to arm ourselves for the contest in in the fury of the great deep, in that God might spare the inhabitants which we must soon engage. Faith in calamities by sea and by land, the of the wicked cities in his day. God’s word, prayerfully studied and warning is given that God’s Spirit will “There is a strange abandonment of practically applied, will be our shield not always strive with men.”17 principle, a lowering of the standard of from Satan’s power and will bring us Tremendously catastrophic morality; the sins are fast increasing off conquerors through the blood of earthquakes have marked the 21st which caused the judgments of God Christ.”12 century. Over 806,000 people have to be poured upon the earth in the lost their lives in earthquakes since Flood and in the destruction of Sodom An age of violence the year 2000. Indeed, the Spirit of by fire. We are nearing the end. God Prophecy explains, “The time is now has borne long with the perversity of “The earth also was corrupt before come when one moment we may be on mankind, but their punishment is no God, and the earth was filled with solid earth, the next the earth may be less certain. Let those who profess to violence. And God looked upon the heaving beneath our feet. Earthquakes be the light of the world depart from earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for will take place where least expected.”18 all iniquity.”21 all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth” (Genesis 6:11, 12). Signs in nature The last sign that will announce “In the days of Noah the overwhelming majority was opposed “The earth mourneth and fadeth the end of God’s grace to the truth, and enamored with a away, the world languisheth and “[The second beast] had power to tissue of falsehoods. The land was fadeth away, the haughty people of the give life unto the image of the beast, filled with violence. War, crime, earth do languish. The earth also is that the image of the beast should murder, was the order of the day. Just defiled under the inhabitants thereof; both speak, and cause that as many so will it be before Christ’s second because they have transgressed the as would not worship the image of the coming.”13 laws, changed the ordinance, broken beast should be killed” (Revelation “The terrible reports we hear of the everlasting covenant” (Isaiah 24:4, 13:15). murders and robberies, of railway 5). “With unerring accuracy the accidents and deeds of violence, tell “Satan is working in the Infinite One still keeps account with the story that the end of all things is atmosphere; he is poisoning the the nations. While His mercy is at hand. Now, just now, we need to atmosphere, and here we are tendered, with calls to repentance, be preparing for the Lord’s second dependent upon God for our lives—our this account remains open; but when coming.”14 present and eternal life. And being in the figures reach a certain amount the position that we are, we need to be which God has fixed, the ministry Actions of the trade unions wide awake, wholly devoted, wholly of His wrath begins. The account is converted, wholly consecrated to God. closed. Divine patience ceases. Mercy The prophet Joel foresaw a But we seem to sit as though we were no longer pleads in their behalf.”22 prevailing attitude in the last days: paralyzed. God of heaven, wake us “For her sins have reached unto “Beat your plowshares into swords, up!”19 heaven, and God hath remembered and your pruninghooks into spears: let “God has not restrained the powers her iniquities” (Revelation 18:5). When the weak say, I am strong” (Joel 3:10). of darkness from carrying forward is this time? “The labor unions are quickly their deadly work of vitiating the air, “God keeps a record with the stirred to violence if their demands one of the sources of life and nutrition, nations: the figures are swelling are not complied with. Plainer with a deadly miasma. Not only is against them in the books of heaven; and plainer is it becoming that the vegetable life affected, but man suffers and when it shall have become a law inhabitants of the world are not in from pestilence. . . . that the transgression of the first harmony with God. “These things are the result of day of the week shall be met with “No scientific theory can explain drops from the vials of God’s wrath punishment, then their cup will be the steady march of evil workers under being sprinkled on the earth, and are full.”23

10 The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 The coming events are in the Lord’s hands What are some current signs of the times? “The world is not without a ruler. 1. A sign that Jesus will come again soon is the choice of the The program of coming events is in people of the world to seek pleasure instead of God. the hands of the Lord. The Majesty of “In the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of heaven has the destiny of nations, as their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to well as the concerns of His church, in parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, 24 His own charge.” false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of Conclusion God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and My beloved brethren, through the lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, fulfillment of the signs, God has a ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” purpose in allowing these calamities (2 Timothy 3:1–7). This passage describes the world of our time and to occur. They are one of His means to its problems. People openly place pleasure above God and His claims. call men and women to reflection and They are always in search of “truth.” But when truth requires humility, repentance. recognition of God, a compassionate love for our “neighbors,” a respect As another year draws to a close, for authority, and gratitude, then truth is ignored. Our world is fast should not these judgments cause us, sacrificing truth for what they experience as pleasure. In a supposed the people of God, to consider our search of truth, they can never come to it. ways? “The end is near, probation is 2. A sign that Jesus will come again soon is the opportunity for closing. Oh, let us seek God while He the gospel to be preached in all the world as never before. may be found, call upon Him while “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a He is near! The prophet says: ‘Seek witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14). ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, Recent changes in travel and communication provide the opportunity which have wrought his judgment; to spread the gospel in more of the world than ever before. Now is the seek righteousness, seek meekness: it time when the resources are available to fulfill this prophecy. Who will may be ye shall be hid in the day of the accept the challenge to cooperate with God to do what God said will be 25 Lord’s anger’ [Zephaniah 2:3].” done? It is our prayer that we may have a sincere experience of repentance and 3. A sign that Jesus will come again soon is the opposition to confession to our Saviour Jesus Christ. the message of the everlasting gospel as given by the three angels Amen. ‰ of Revelation. References First angel’s message: “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and 1 Prophets and Kings, p. 536. 2 The Desire of Ages, p. 628. earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters” (Revelation 14:7). 3 Prophets and Kings, pp. 536, 537. Lie used to oppose this message: God did not create this world and 4 The Desire of Ages, p. 631. therefore worship should be made to humanity and glory given to the 5 The Great Controversy, p. 551. 6 (See The Great Controversy, pp. 304–308, 333, creature rather than the Creator. 334.) Second angel’s message: “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great 7 Prophets and Kings, p. 537. city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her 8 Maranatha, p. 174. 9 Ibid., p. 185. fornication” (Revelation 14:8). 10 Ibid. Lie used to oppose this message: The world is not fallen, but rather 11 Education, p. 264. progressing to the highest achievements and perceptions of truth. 12 Counsels on Health, pp. 460, 461. 13 The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Third angel’s message: “If any man worship the beast and his Comments], vol. 1, p. 1090. image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same 14 Last Day Events, p. 23. shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without 15 The Upward Look, p. 334. 16 Maranatha, p. 182. mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with 17 The Upward Look, p. 340. fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence 18 Testimonies to Ministers, p. 421. of the Lamb” (Revelation 14:9, 10). 19 Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 52. 20 Ibid., bk. 3, p. 391. Lie used to oppose this message: God is so loving that He would 21 Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 601. not punish or destroy us. 22 Prophets and Kings, p. 364. 23 The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 910. These are indeed some current evidences of our Lord’s soon return! 24 Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 753. 25 Maranatha, p. 37.

The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 11 The Last Message of Mercy Sunday, December 8, 2019 December 8, Sunday,

By Alonso Amaya — Honduras

Introduction Likewise, in our generation, this people submerged in darkness and message of mercy is no less important impenitence until the mediatorial God’s message of mercy to than in the past. We are the town work of the Saviour is finished and fallen man has been offered to each criers of the last generation because there is no more sacrifice for sin. successive age. The Sovereign of the to us has been revealed the final “The great controversy between universe has raised up self-denying hour in which God’s mercy is being Christ and Satan, that has been men and women to woo with “bands manifested. carried forward for nearly six of love” (Hosea 11:4), using them as thousand years, is soon to close.”1 a blessing in every generation. In The 6,000-year timetable “For six thousand years, faith has His great mercy, He sent angels on builded upon Christ. For six thousand a special mission to save three souls The great controversy between years the floods and tempests of with the simple message, “Escape Christ and Satan, now underway for satanic wrath have beaten upon the for thy life” (Genesis 19:17). And our nearly 6,000 years, is about to close. Rock of our salvation; but it stands beloved Saviour also came to save an Satan is redoubling his efforts to unmoved.”2 extreme yet valuable man with the sabotage the work of Christ in behalf Divine inspiration thus reveals startling appeal, “Why persecutest of humanity and to bind souls in to us that the time period for our thou me?” (Acts 9:4). their bonds. His aim is to have the planet and the acts to unfold in this

12 The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 drama—either in its favor or in its antediluvian generation perished not the Lord hath sent us to destroy it” destruction—span approximately because of any neglect on God’s part to (Verses 12, 13). 6,000 years. inform them and offer His grace. No, 3. The instrument of Having this clear evidence with God in His great mercy placed their destruction. “Then the Lord rained respect to time, certain events entire salvation within reach. But they upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah have been determined in the great refused it. This is why the word of God brimstone and fire from the Lord out controversy. The building of faith in refers to the antediluvians as those of heaven” (Verse 24). Christ, the unshakable Rock of Ages, “which sometime were disobedient, 4. The solution. When Lot’s has remained the only Source of when once the longsuffering of God family had been mercifully led out salvation in the face of every storm. waited in the days of Noah, while the by the angels, they were warned, ark was a preparing, wherein few, “Escape for thy life; look not behind Grace for the antediluvians that is, eight souls were saved by thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; water” (1 Peter 3:20). The patience escape to the mountain, lest thou be 1. A time of probation. In the of God lingered while the ark was consumed” (Verse 17). early period of earth’s history, when being prepared—and any could freely God never fails to give in His word the world was still young, “God saw enter. But sadly, the vast majority everything that is essential to be that the wickedness of man was rejected that last invitation because accomplished. He had a specific aim in great in the earth, and that every they had no faith, and thus their own the flames that shot from the sky. At imagination of the thoughts of his disobedience sealed their destiny. the request of Lot, God did not direct heart was only evil continually” His punishment toward Zoar, which (Genesis 6:5). The last night for Sodom and was also in the plain. Amid this scene The Eternal One declared, “My we see the supreme love and mercy of spirit shall not always strive with Gomorrah God in saving that small city of Zoar— man, for that he also is flesh: yet his 1. The time of probation. The along with Lot and his daughters. days shall be an hundred and twenty people established in the cities of The above illustrations from the years” (Verse 3). the plain had been richly prospered. book of Genesis are only in the past. 2. The call for destruction. The Unfortunately, an abundance of bread Now we need to engage in an analysis Almighty warned of the destruction brought with it selfish idleness and of our own present and future: of man, beasts, reptiles, and birds. sin despite the fact that God sent “And the Lord said, I will destroy man His messengers with the purpose of Our opportunity in these last whom I have created from the face of saving and not destroying them. These the earth; both man, and beast, and messengers appealed fervently that days the creeping thing, and the fowls of night. They explained clearly their 1. The time of probation. The the air; for it repenteth me that I have divinely-appointed purpose, for “the time allocated for this planet is made them” (Verse 7). Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom limited. The Lord Jesus Christ is soon 3. The instrument of and Gomorrah is great, and because to issue the solemn proclamation: “He destruction. The instrument of their sin is very grievous” (Genesis that is unjust, let him be unjust still: destruction was to be a worldwide 18:20). This grievous sin was to be the and he which is filthy, let him be filthy flood: “Behold, I, even I, do bring a cause of their destruction. still: and he that is righteous, let him flood of waters upon the earth, to “And there came two angels to be righteous still: and he that is holy, destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate let him be holy still. And behold, I of life, from under heaven; and every of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up come quickly; and my reward is with thing that is in the earth shall die” to meet them; and he bowed himself me, to give every man according as his (Verse 17). with his face toward the ground; and work shall be” (Revelation 22:11, 12). 4. The solution. The solution he said, Behold, now, my lords, turn In this case, to some extent the time was to enter the ark: “And the Lord in, I pray you, into your servant’s specified is partly determined by our said unto Noah, Come thou and all house, and tarry all night, and wash own behavior: thy house into the ark; for thee have your feet, and ye shall rise up early, “It was not the will of God that I seen righteous before me in this and go on your ways. And they said, the coming of Christ should be thus generation” (Genesis 7:1). Nay; but we will abide in the street all delayed. God did not design that His Notice that for this pre-Flood night” (Genesis 19:1, 2). That was the people, Israel, should wander forty generation, the last message of mercy final night for the city. years in the wilderness. He promised specified the period of time to remain; 2. The call for destruction. The to lead them directly to the land of it also determined the creatures that angels warned, “Whatsoever thou Canaan, and establish them there a would be destroyed, the instrument hast in the city, bring them out of this holy, healthy, happy people. But those of destruction that would be used— place: For we will destroy this place, to whom it was first preached, went and finally the way the people could because the cry of them is waxen not in ‘because of unbelief’ [Hebrews be saved. Hence it is clear that the great before the face of the Lord; and 3:19]. Their hearts were filled with

The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 13 murmuring, rebellion, and hatred, and until finally, “Behold, they shall be as not succeed in this but two or three He could not fulfill His covenant with stubble; the fire shall burn them; they times. They chose to go to their rooms them.”3 shall not deliver themselves from the and have their conversation and “We may have to remain here in power of the flame . ..” (Isaiah 47:14). prayers by themselves. There did not this world because of insubordination 4. The solution. Follow the Lamb seem to be any opportunity to break many more years, as did the children wherever He goes. “These are they down the prejudice that was so firm of Israel; but for Christ’s sake, His which were not defiled with women; and determined, no chance to remove people should not add sin to sin by for they are virgins. These are they the misunderstanding in regard to charging God with the consequence of which follow the Lamb whithersoever myself, my son, and E. J. Waggoner their own wrong course of action.”4 he goeth. These were redeemed from and A. T. Jones.” 7 “In mercy to the world, Jesus among men, being the firstfruits unto Yet she also related a more positive delays His coming, that sinners may God and to the Lamb. And in their subsequent experience: “I have never have an opportunity to hear the mouth was found no guile: for they seen a revival work go forward with warning and find in Him a shelter are without fault before the throne such thoroughness, and yet remain so before the wrath of God shall be of God. . . . Here is the patience of free from all undue excitement. . . . poured out.”5 the saints: her are they that keep the “There were many who testified 2. The call for destruction. commandments of God, and the faith that as the searching truths had been In the last days, the spiritual crisis of Jesus” (Revelation 14:4, 5, 12). presented, they had been convicted in at hand is the worship of the beast the light of the law as transgressors. and his image. The third angel of 1888, at the threshold of the They had been trusting in their own Revelation 14 warns, “If any man righteousness. Now they saw it as worship the beast and his image, and Kingdom filthy rags, in comparison with the receive his mark in his forehead, or At the General Conference of righteousness of Christ, which is alone in his hand, the same shall drink of Seventh-day Adventists in 1888, acceptable to God. While they had not the wine of the wrath of God, which is “the Lord in His great mercy sent been open transgressors, they saw poured out without mixture into the a most precious message to His themselves depraved and degraded cup of his indignation; and he shall be people through Elders Waggoner and in heart. They had substituted other tormented with fire and brimstone in Jones. This message was to bring gods in the place of their Heavenly the presence of the holy angels, and more prominently before the world Father. They had struggled to refrain in the presence of the Lamb: and the the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice from sin, but had trusted in their own smoke of their torment ascendeth up for the sins of the whole world. It strength. We should go to Jesus just as for ever and ever: and they have no presented justification through faith we are, confess our sins, and cast our rest day nor night, who worship the in the Surety; it invited the people to helpless souls upon our compassionate beast and his image, and whosoever receive the righteousness of Christ, Redeemer.”8 receiveth the mark of his name” which is made manifest in obedience (Revelation 14:9–11). to all the commandments of God. Reconversion and rebaptism a 3. The instrument of Many had lost sight of Jesus. They destruction. John the Revelator, who needed to have their eyes directed to privilege for anyone was shown in vision the closing scenes His divine person, His merits, and “The Lord calls for a decided of earth’s history, writes, “I heard a His changeless love for the human reformation. And when a soul is truly great voice out of the temple saying family.”6 reconverted, let him be rebaptized. to the seven angels, Go your ways, What were the effects of the Let him renew his convenant with and pour out the vials of the wrath of last message of mercy on the angel God, and God will renew His covenant God upon the earth” (Revelation 16:1). of the church of the Laodiceans? with him. . . . Reconversion must take As a result of the seven last plagues The reactions were mixed. Strong place among the members, that as that follow, the Eternal One declares, opposition developed in Battle Creek God’s witnesses they may testify to the “The whole land shall be desolate; yet and the Lord’s messenger supported authoritative power of the truth that will I not make a full end” (Jeremiah Elders Jones and Waggoner in taking sanctifies the soul.”9 4:27). Ultimately, with regard to the message to the churches. the enemies of God, the Revelator Sister Ellen G. White testified, “I A revival among the workers was given a prophetic view that “fire became the subject of remarks and came down from God out of heaven, criticism, but no one of our brethren “. . . The workers in the cause need and devoured them. And the devil came to me and made inquiries or now to be wide awake. Many need to that deceived them was cast into the sought any explanation from me. We be converted anew and rebaptized. lake of fire and brimstone, where the tried most earnestly to have all our When they learn to drink of the beast and the false prophet are, and ministering brethren rooming in the Spiritual Rock which followed the shall be tormented day and night for house meet in an unoccupied room army of Israel in the wilderness, when ever and ever” (Revelation 20:9, 10) and unite our prayers together, but did they partake daily of the heavenly

14 The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 manna, how their experience will work for eternity. I have seen the message—with actions continuously change! What the food we eat is to irreligion and the self-sufficiency wrought through the Divine channel. our physical needs, Christ is to our cherished, and I have heard the Following the Lamb wherever He goes, spiritual necessities.”10 words spoken, ‘Except ye repent and I will not hesitate to give a childlike be converted, ye shall never see the jump into His loving arms, obeying Those who thirst for supremacy kingdom of heaven.’ There are many His every word as a child does with who will need rebaptizing, but let his father who loves him. Following must be reconverted them never go down into the water the Lamb wherever He goes means “I speak to our leading brethren, until they are dead to sin, cured of not to be passively strolling year after to our ministers, and especially to selfishness and self-exaltation; until year on the same path, because “there our physicians. Just as long as you they can come up out of the water to is a way which seemeth right unto a allow pride to dwell in your hearts, live a new life unto God.”13 man, but the end thereof are the ways so long will you lack power in your of death” (Proverbs 14:12). To follow work. For years a wrong spirit has Are we preparing for the the Lamb wherever He goes means been cherished, a spirit of pride, a to move upward (vertically) because desire for preeminence. In this Satan global event soon to start? “the way of life is above to the wise, is served, and God is dishonored. The We should not despair when that he may depart from hell beneath” Lord calls for a decided reformation. considering the vast territory around (Proverbs 15:24). This last message of And when a soul is truly reconverted, the world where we are not yet mercy that God has granted us does let him be rebaptized. Let him renew represented as a church. Our God not allow us to stay and move on a his covenant with God, and God will is well aware of this reality, and He horizontal plain—no, every day He renew His covenant with him.”11 wants us to have a victorious Christian elevates us as He did with Enoch and experience in our lives and thus be soon we will be closer to heaven and Repenting and doing our first fitted for the latter rain. Only then will farther away from this world. ‰ we actually be in a position to go to works the whole world as promised in God’s References “Have not many in this ministerial Holy Word, the Bible, and in the Spirit 1 The Great Controversy, p. 518; school seen their mistake of not of Prophecy. (See Isaiah 66:18–21.) 2 The Desire of Ages, p. 413. abiding in Christ? Can not they have “Clad in the armor of Christ’s 3 Evangelism, p. 696. 4 Ibid. the privilege of repenting, and of doing righteousness, the church is to enter 5 The Great Controversy, p. 458. their first works? Who shall condemn upon her final conflict. ‘Fair as the 6 Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 91, 92. this work of repentance, of confession, moon, clear as the sun, and terrible 7 Selected Messages, bk. 3, p. 173. of baptism? If some conscientiously as an army with banners’ (Song of 8 The Review and Herald, March 5, 1889. 9 Evangelism, p. 375. feel that their first duty is to repent Solomon 6:10), she is to go forth 10 Manuscript Releases, vol. 7, p. 273. of their sins, confess them, and be into all the world, conquering and to 11 Ibid., p. 262. baptized, is not this the first works conquer. 12 Ibid., p. 261. 13 that they must do?”12 “The darkest hour of the church’s Ibid., pp. 266, 267. 14 Prophets and Kings, p. 725. struggle with the powers of evil is Rough ministers and apostate that which immediately precedes the day of her final deliverance. But none churches need rebaptism who trust in God need fear; for ‘when “So much coarseness, such a lack the blast of the terrible ones is as a of Christian politeness, has come storm against the wall,’ God will be to into the lives of men who stand in His church ‘a refuge from the storm’ official positions that my heart is sick (Isaiah 25:4).”14 and sore, and I can but weep to see how little of the tenderness of Christ Conclusion they bring into their dealing with the children of God, the purchase of the Esteemed and beloved people of blood of His only begotten Son. . . . God who are scattered throughout “It is this baptism of the Holy Spirit many parts of the planet: The period of that the churches need today. There divine mercy is almost over for us, and are backslidden church members and as God’s people, our preparation time backslidden ministers who need re- is almost over. The situation is very converting, who need the softening, urgent. With all that we know and subduing influence of the baptism love, we need to act now at all levels of the Spirit, that they may rise in of God’s work, and also as members newness of life and make thorough and supporters of this great final

The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 15 A Prophecy and a Promise Wednesday, December 11, 2019 December 11, Wednesday, by Alwin Vedhasingh — India

The Holy Spirit the blood of Christ, who through nor ear heard, neither have entered the eternal Spirit offered himself into the heart of man, the things The Holy Spirit is the third person without spot to God, purge your which God hath prepared for them of the Godhead. In Acts 5:3, 4, we read conscience from dead works to serve that love him. But God hath revealed that the apostle Peter said, “Ananias, the living God?” (Hebrews 9:13, 14). them unto us by his Spirit: for the why hath Satan filled thine heart to [Emphasis added.] Spirit searcheth all things, yea the lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back The Holy Spirit is omnipresent. deep things of God. For what man part of the price of the land? Whilst it In Psalm 139:7–10, King David reveals knoweth the things of a man save the remained, was it not thine own? and that God’s Spirit is everywhere. spirit of man which is in him? even so after it was sold, was it not in thine “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or the things of God knoweth no man, own power? why hast thou conceived whither shall I flee from thy presence? but the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians this thing in thine heart? thou hast If I ascend up into heaven, thou art 2:9–11). not lied unto men but unto God.” Here there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, The Holy Spirit is omnipotent. the Holy Spirit, to whom Ananias had thou art there. If I take the wings “And the angel answered and said lied, is referred to as God. of the morning, and dwell in the unto [Mary], The Holy Ghost shall The Holy Spirit is eternal. “For uttermost parts of the sea; even there come upon thee, and the power of if the blood of bulls and of goats, and shall thy hand lead me, and thy right the Highest shall over shadow thee: the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the hand shall hold me.” therefore also that holy thing which unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying The Holy Spirit is omniscient. shall be born of thee shall be called of the flesh: How much more shall “As it is written, Eye hath not seen, the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).

16 The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 The prophecy and the promise In Psalm 51:11, King David prays The prophecy of the prophet Joel of the Holy Spirit in the Old to God, “take not thy holy spirit from (Joel 2:28, 29) about the Holy Spirit me” indicating that he, too, had the was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. Testament era Holy Spirit. In 1 Samuel 16:13, the In Isaiah 44:3–5, God promised In the time of the Old Testament, Spirit of the Lord came upon David to pour out His Spirit upon Israel’s the Holy Spirit was active in when the prophet Samuel anointed descendants. The promise of the Spirit individual human beings chosen by him in the midst of his brethren. This will be poured out upon him who is God for specific purposes. The Holy was not only an anointing with power thirsty. In Isaiah 32:15–17, the result Spirit came upon people to enable but an anointing also of wisdom and of the outpouring of the Spirit is them to accomplish God-given tasks. grace, enabling him to live a true life. justice, righteousness and peace. Hence the prophets used the words, King Saul was anointed as king In Ezekiel 36:26, 27, God promises “Thus saith the Lord” to attest to by the prophet Samuel. In 1 Samuel to put His Spirit “within you.” It will the divine thoughts on which their 10:11, when he was in the company of then cause one to walk in His statutes proclamation of both judgment and the sons of the prophets, the Spirit of and keep His judgments. salvation were based. prophecy came upon Saul virtually In Ezekiel 39:29, the Lord God In Genesis 20:7, Moses revealed unsought and apparently without any promised that He will not hide His that Abraham was a prophet. Prophets spiritual preparation. It was the Spirit face from Israel, for He had poured were men of the Spirit. They were of God given for service, power to out His Spirit upon their nation. spokesmen, for “holy men of God prophesy, to conquer and to rule. In Zechariah 12:10 the Spirit of spake as they were moved by the Holy Samson was a man filled with the grace and supplication was to be Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). Holy Spirit from the womb. God had a poured out on the inhabitants of It is evident that the Holy Spirit purpose for his life—to use this human Jerusalem, prompting people to look has been at work throughout both the to bring deliverance to the people of upon Jesus whom they have pierced history and redemption of mankind. Israel. In Judges 13:25 we read that and to mourn because of Him. The Holy Spirit is active in every the Spirit of the Lord began to move instance of creation, as Psalm 104:30 upon Samson. The key to his victories The prophecy and promise points out: “Thou sendest forth thy over the Philistines may be found in a of the Holy Spirit in the New spirit, they are created: and thou single phrase: “The Spirit of the Lord renewest the face of the earth.” came upon him.” Testament era Genesis 1:2 states that the Spirit of The success of the ministry of the The New Testament, like the Old God moved upon the face of the waters prophet Elijah was not due to any Testament, was written under the at the time of creation. inherited qualities he possessed, but direction of the Holy Spirit. When mankind sinned, the human to his submission to the Holy Spirit, John the Baptist baptized people by race was cut off from fellowship which was given to him as it will be submersing them in the river Jordan with God. But in mercy, God’s Spirit given to all who exercise living faith to symbolize their repentance for sin. continued to deal with humanity after in God. The prophet Elisha received a He told them that Jesus would baptize the fall. This is brought out in Genesis double portion of the Spirit that had with the Holy Spirit and with fire, 6:3 where “the Lord said, My spirit rested on Elijah. In him, the power (Matthew 3:11). shall not always strive with man, for of Elijah’s spirit was united with Jesus told the disciples, “the that he also is flesh: yet his days shall the gentleness, mercy, and tender Comforter, which is the Holy be an hundred and twenty years.” compassion of the Spirit of Christ (2 Ghost, whom the Father will send Joseph and Daniel were men Kings 2:9). in my name, he shall teach you all of prayer and faith. They devoted In Judges 6:33, 34, we find that things, and bring all things to your their lives to God. When Joseph Gideon had been appointed by God as remembrance, whatsoever I have said interpreted the dream to Pharaoh the judge who was to deliver Israel. He unto you” (John 14:26). The Spirit in Genesis 41:37–40, the monarch was empowered by the Holy Spirit for would be given as “living water” to observed plainly that Joseph had the the task of driving out the Midianites. all who would thirst and come to Spirit of God and there was no one The Holy Spirit led the prophet Him in faith (John 7:37–39). Jesus as discerning and wise as Joseph. Nehemiah to weep, pray and fast for promised His disciples the “Spirit When Daniel was able to interpret the the needs of his people (Nehemiah of truth” who would be a helper and dream of Nebuchadnezzar, that king 1:4). The Holy Spirit led Nehemiah to would abide with them (John 14:16, said that he knew that the Spirit of praise God amidst great difficulties 17). The Lord told His apostles to the holy gods was in Daniel (Daniel (Verse 5). The Holy Spirit led him to wait in Jerusalem until they would 4:9). Joseph and Daniel prospered confess personal and national sins receive the “promise of the Father” in foreign lands after interpreting (Verses 6, 7). The Holy Spirit led him (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4). This He clearly dreams for their rulers and both of to remind God and his people of the connects to the baptism of the Spirit them were elevated to high office as a Lord’s promises, perspectives and spoken of by John the Baptist, through result of their faithfulness to God. plans (Verses 10, 11). which they would receive power and

The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 17 be eyewitnesses (Acts 1:5, 8). The Holy Spirit is for all who repent and are The apostle Jude advised the Spirit descending upon Jesus as a baptized (Acts 2:38). The promise was believer to have holy faith and pray in dove is a sign of His divine anointing received by Christ and now poured out the Holy Spirit (Jude 20). (Matthew 3:16, 17). The visible descent by Christ (Acts 2:33). John the Revelator continued his of the Spirit upon Jesus served as the The apostle Stephen reproached relationship with Jesus and the Holy God-given sign by which the Baptist the Jewish authorities as stiffnecked Spirit. We read that he was “in the would know that this was the long- and uncircumcised in heart and ears Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Revelation awaited coming One (John 1:32–34). because they always resisted the Holy 1:9–10). The apostle Peter, baptized Ghost as their fathers did (Acts 7:51). by the Holy Spirit, suddenly had Note that they not only resisted Jesus The role of the Holy Spirit supernatural boldness and authority while He was on earth but they also beyond himself when he stood and resisted the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit plays a vital role lifted up his voice, addressing the The apostle Paul spoke of the in God’s plan of redemption, from crowd on the day of Pentecost, blessing that the Holy Spirit “might creation to eternity. As mentioned, in explaining that they were not drunk come on the Gentiles through Jesus Genesis 1:2, the Spirit of God, that is but were experiencing a fulfillment Christ; that we might receive the the Holy Spirit, moved upon the face of that which had been uttered by promise of the Spirit through faith” of the waters, when the earth was the prophet Joel (Acts 2:14–17). In (Galatians 3:14). without form and void. In the last the course of his sermon, Peter spoke The apostle James exhorted the chapter of Revelation, the Holy Spirit of the outpouring of the Spirit as a fellow believer to be patient until he invites humanity to partake in God’s promise Jesus had received from the receives the early and the latter rain redemption (Revelation 22:17). Father (Acts 2:33). The gift of the (James 5:7). In Matthew 1:20 an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph to explain that his betrothed wife had conceived through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in the believer and causes our body to become the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16). The Holy Spirit grieves with our actions and language (Ephesians 4:30). He intercedes for us with groanings, prompting us to pray (Romans 8:26). He searches our hearts (Verse 27) and He talks to us (Acts 13:2; 16:6, 7; Revelation 2:7). He teaches all things and reminds us of scriptures (John 14:26). God has revealed Himself to us through His Spirit, who spoke through the prophets. The Holy Spirit reveals light to us and leads us so that we can understand the Word. The Holy Spirit has a twofold part in redemption; first the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, then leads us to repentance for sin. Therefore, we rely on God’s righteousness and mercy and are led to redemption. We can have victory over the flesh because of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives the power to accomplish the Lord’s work beyond our abilities if we yield to His power. The Holy Spirit also gives each of us our own gifts (1 Corinthians 12:3–5). He gives us the power to accomplish His will (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit is our Teacher, guiding us into all truth

18 The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 (John 14:26). He gives us joy and enlightening and soul-winning results falling on hearts all around us, but we peace (Galatians 5:22, 23). He gives of great magnitude (Joel 2:28). shall not discern or receive it.”5 power (Ephesians 3:16), including “Near the close of the earth’s Receiving the Spirit is an power to live godly lives (Ezekiel harvest, a special bestowal of spiritual indication that we are the children 36:27). He helps us to pray (Ephesians grace is promised to prepare the of God and joint heirs with Christ 6:18). He gives wisdom and revelation church for the coming of the Son of (Romans 8:14–17). Through obedience (Ephesians 1:17, 18). He gives boldness man. This outpouring of the Spirit is to the word of God and faithful to witness (1 Timothy 3:13). God the likened to the falling of latter rain.”2 prayer, we will be led by the Spirit to Father speaks through us by the Spirit Without God’s Spirit we are blind produce His fruit in our lives. To grow (Matthew 10:20). to Jesus. Personal pride and glory spiritually, we need to submit our lives prevent the seeker from finding to the words of the Spirit which is the The Holy Spirit in the last days Christ. But through His Holy Spirit, word of God. we can gain power over our flesh if We must play an active role in “Thine ears shall hear a word we repent and are baptized. When we seeing God’s prophetic word manifest behind thee saying, This is the way, receive and cherish the word of God in in our lives. While believing the word walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right our hearts, this Holy Spirit acts as the of the Lord will come to pass in our hand and when you turn to the left” indwelling Guest of the church and the lives, we must allow the promises (Isaiah 30:21). Christian life will be our portion. of God to give us hope and stability. “It was by the confession and “When trials overshadow the Do not allow the enemy to sow seeds forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and soul, remember the words of Christ, of discouragement while waiting for consecration of themselves to God remember that He is an unseen the fulfillment. The same Jesus who that the early disciples prepared for presence in the person of the Holy promises us the fullness of the Holy the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Spirit.”3 “The promise of the Holy Spirit is also able to preserve our the day of Pentecost. The same work, Spirit is not limited to any age or to whole spirit, soul and body blameless only in greater degree, must be done any race. Christ declared that the until His coming. “Jesus comes to you now. Then the human agent had only divine influence of HIS Spirit was as the Spirit of truth; study the mind to ask for the blessing, and wait for the to be with His followers unto the of the Spirit, consult your Lord, follow Lord to perfect the work concerning end. From the day of Pentecost to His way.”6 ‰ him. It is God who began the work, the present time, the Comforter has and He will finish His work, making been sent to all who have yielded References man complete in Jesus Christ. But themselves fully to the Lord and to 1 The Review and Herald, March 2, 1897. there must be no neglect of the grace His service.”4 2 The Acts of the Apostles, p. 55. represented by the former rain. Only “Unless we are daily advancing 3 Daughters of God, p. 185. 4 The Acts of the Apostles, p. 49. those who are living up to the light in the exemplification of the active [Emphasis added.] 1 they have will receive greater light.” Christian virtues, we shall not 5 Testimonies to Ministers, p .507. God’s promise is sure. He will recognize the manifestations of the 6 Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, p. 337. pour out His Spirit on all flesh with Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be

The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 19 Friday, December 13, 2019 December 13, Friday,

The Last Act of the Drama

by Marian Sirbu — Canada

With regard to the present age, the to redeem tomorrow, for yesterday cause us to lose focus on God’s way of apostle Paul bids us to be “redeeming is gone! We alone are responsible for life. the time, because the days are evil” using what God has given to each of Most people do not meditate on the (Ephesians 5:16). us—time—to prepare for our spiritual temporary state of human existence or The word “redeeming” in Greek vocation. the fact that our days are numbered. means “to buy up, ransom, or rescue Building a holy, righteous character The days are evil. This simply from loss.” We need to rescue from is becoming ever more difficult as we means that we live in a sinful world loss the time that remains in our life. live in the last days. Many paths of where sinful choices are made each We can only redeem today and plan wrongdoing and wrong thinking can day, and each of those choices defile

20 The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 God’s good gift of time. Because the We must rely on His wisdom and trust rejection of one portion or to question days are evil, God urges you to be His leading hand. another statement, they too often careful how you live your life. The end will be sudden and end up considering their judgment The American poet and biographer unexpected, and most people will superior to the Word of God. In that Carl Sandburg observed: “Time is the be unprepared. Just as in the days case, the authority of the Scripture is coin of your life. It is the only coin you of Noah’s flood, a catastrophe will destroyed. have, and only you can determine how suddenly overtake the earth, and by Do we remember who first started it will be spent. Be careful lest you let then it will be too late to repent and to question the word of God? What other people spend it for you.” turn to God. were the results? So, how do you redeem your time? Let us ponder on this amazing How do you make sure that you are thought: Recognizing the tactics of the spending the coin of your life wisely? “The world is a theater; the actors, Every day, every hour, and every its inhabitants, are preparing to act enemy moment should be used to serve God. their part in the last great drama.”2 It was Satan who was the one As much time as possible should be Considering the significance of who started the great controversy in used to better ourselves by learning this statement, a question appears: Do heaven, because he hated the law of from the Word of God, and this in turn people know what their role is? Are God. will benefit us in knowing how to serve they aware that this is not fiction but We know that his rebellion against Him. By not making this a priority, real life? the Creator caused him to be cast out much of our time will be wasted. At the present, for modern society, of heaven. But he has continued his As we already noticed, the apostle the media has become a part of daily diabolic plan to destroy God’s law Paul describes the necessity of making life. Statistics show that even though upon the earth. In order to deceive the most of our time. However, the people are all aware that television men, and drive them to transgress process primarily depends on us and films are not real, a lot of their God’s law, he is not losing any and our perspective on the matter. TV and film heroes and heroines have opportunities. Satan’s ways to fulfill Considering King Solomon’s words: become the majority of their role his plan are by casting aside the law “To every thing there is a season, and models. altogether, or by rejecting one of its a time to every purpose under the On the other hand, the Bible precepts. heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Therefore, teaches us that we have one role “Satan’s policy in this final we should examine our lives, and model, the Lord Jesus Christ as the conflict with God’s people is the upon closer inspection see whether we Author and Finisher of our faith—and same that he employed in the really apply this principle or not. to follow His example is the most opening of the great controversy The world we live in has seen many important thing. Therefore, we should in heaven. He professed to be seeking more changes in a very short period be more careful about knowing for to promote the stability of the divine of time than in ages past. It is a great sure who is the designer of our role government, while secretly bending mistake to believe that we will only be and who is our role model. The enemy every effort to secure its overthrow.”3 standing on the sidelines, watching of God has been preparing for over There is a universal concept that the last events unfold before our eyes. 6,000 years especially for these last God never forces the will or the “We are standing on the threshold moments in history. conscience; but Satan’s untiring effort of great and solemn events. Prophecies How is it with our preparation for is to gain control of those whom he are fulfilling. The last great conflict these last events? cannot otherwise deceive. will be short, but terrible. Old “To accomplish this, [Satan] controversies will be revived. New The facts that call our works through both religious and controversies will arise.”1 secular authorities, moving them attention to the enforcement of human laws What are our expectations? “Beware lest any man spoil you in defiance of the law of God.”4 through philosophy and vain deceit, The Bible teaches us that the after the tradition of men, after the Perilous times shall come . . . great controversy between good and rudiments of the world, and not after evil will continue to the end, after Christ” (Colossians 2:8). We are living in the fulfillment of which the kingdom of heaven will In present-day standards, the vital the perilous times written about in 2 be established. Based on this, many truths of God’s word are set aside for Timothy 3:1–5. Moreover, the apostle Christians have created their own human theories, speculations and Paul has stated that many people will replicas of how this world will come to tradition. It is remarkable that many not have any pleasure or disposition an end. church people and many professed to hear sound doctrine: “For the time We cannot claim to know when the ministers of the gospel don’t recognize will come when they will not endure world will come to an end and how the entire Bible as the inspired Word sound doctrine; but after their own God will take action in the final days. of God. Starting from a standpoint of lusts shall they heap to themselves

The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 21 teachers, having itching ears; and they Eden. After God had made the world, preferred even death rather than to shall turn away their ears from the and created man upon the earth, he commit an offense toward God. But truth, and shall be turned unto fables” made the Sabbath for man. After this kind of devotion is not preserved (2 Timothy 4:3, 4). Adam’s sin and fall, nothing was taken without a struggle. It is well known One day, I had a Bible study from the law of God. The principles of that a test was brought on the three with a man from another religious the ten commandments existed before friends of Daniel when they were denomination—and at that Bible study, the fall, and were of a character suited required to worship the great image he agreed with the teachings of the Bible to the condition of a holy order of set up by King Nebuchadnezzar about the Sabbath day. Not long after, beings. After the fall, the principles of on the plain of Dura! They knew he came back and said to me: “If what those precepts were not changed, but from the scriptures that only God you are saying about the Sabbath is additional precepts were given to meet is worthy of adoration and worship. true, then why have I never heard this man in his fallen state.”6 Their faith and trust in God was from one of my leaders before? And why “Had the Sabbath always been so strong that it presented a great are there so many Christians who can’t sacredly observed, there could never lesson to all the inhabitants of the understand it?” He concluded by saying: have been an atheist or an idolater. Babylonian empire. “I think that if the majority of people “The Sabbath institution, which Daniel and his friends let the word believe that Saturday isn’t the day of originated in Eden, is as old as the of God develop their faith in God. worship, then they are probably right.” world itself. It was observed by Nebuchadnezzar previously heard the What we should call that: sincerity all the patriarchs, from creation word of God in the explanation of the or ignorance? (Or neither?) down. During the bondage in Egypt, image in his dream. How different People in responsible positions the Israelites were forced by their would the history of the world be if will not only ignore and despise the taskmasters to violate the Sabbath, Nebuchadnezzar, under the divine Sabbath themselves, but from their and to a great extent they lost the instructions, understood his role pulpits will urge upon the people the knowledge of its sacredness. When in the plan of God! Sadly, however, observance of the first day of the week, the law was proclaimed at Sinai Nebuchadnezzar turned the divine pleading tradition and custom in the very first words of the fourth plan from its purpose, letting his behalf of this manmade institution. commandment were, ‘Remember knowledge nourish his pride and “The substitution of the laws the Sabbath day, to keep it holy’— vanity instead of learning the lessons of men for the law of God, the showing that the Sabbath was not of truth. exaltation, by merely human then instituted; we are pointed back “By the height and beauty of his authority, of Sunday in place of for its origin to creation. In order image, by the material of which it was the Bible Sabbath, is the last act in to obliterate God from the minds of formed, the king sought to make error the drama. When this substitution men, Satan aimed to tear down this and false doctrine magnificent and becomes universal, God will reveal great memorial. If men could be led to attractive, more powerful, seemingly, Himself.”5 forget their Creator, they would make than anything God had given.”9 no effort to resist the power of evil, All false religion has its origin in a God’s Eternal Law and Satan would be sure of his prey.” 7 corruption of the truth. “ ‘Till heaven and earth pass,’ It is easy to observe the similarities It has often been said that if you said Jesus, ‘one jot or one tittle shall between how Satan worked in the past want to know the truth you have to in nowise pass from the law, till all and how he works to deceive people search for its origins. How was it in be fulfilled.’ The sun shining in the in the same way in the present. Satan the beginning? Where can we find the heavens, the solid earth upon which sought to make God-given light serve answer? you dwell, are God’s witnesses that his own purposes, by leading the king John Wycliffe declared: “Holy His law is changeless and eternal. to work for his own glory instead of Scripture is the highest authority for Though they may pass away, the divine working for the glory of God. every believer, the standard of faith precepts shall endure. ‘It is easier for “History will repeat itself. In this and the foundation for reform in heaven and earth to pass, than one age the great test will be upon the religious, political and social life.” tittle of the law to fail’ (Luke 16:17). point of Sabbath observance. . . . “The law of God existed before The system of types that pointed to A rival sabbath is exalted, as was man was created. The angels were Jesus as the Lamb of God was to the great golden image in the plain governed by it. Satan fell because he be abolished at His death; but the of Dura. Leaders claiming to be transgressed the principles of God’s precepts of the Decalogue are as Christians will call upon the world government. After Adam and Eve were immutable as the throne of God.”8 to observe the spurious sabbath that created, God made known to them His they have made. All who refuse will law. It was not then written, but was History will repeat itself be put under oppressive laws. This is rehearsed to them by Jehovah. the mystery of iniquity, the devising of “The Sabbath of the fourth Daniel and his companions loved satanic agencies, carried into effect by commandment was instituted in God with all their heart and they the man of sin.”10

22 The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 There is a universal principle made We ought to obey God rather or the state. The crown of Christ is known that God will honor those who than men to be uplifted above the diadems of honor Him. Through the way that God earthly potentates.”11 has delivered His faithful servants in In the 20th century, as a part of the past, He demonstrates how He will atheistic education, communist states Testing time be with all of His people in their trials published and widely disseminated for His glory—and rebukes all earthly counter-Christian literature. This was “The time is not far distant when powers that rebel against the authority particularly true for Romania, even the test will come to every soul. of Heaven. before the dictatorship of Nicolae The observance of the false sabbath Ceaușescu. Soon after the communist will be urged upon us. The contest will Examples for our learning system collapsed, I remember that in be between the commandments of Bucharest, I had the chance to meet a God and the commandments of men. “Now all these things happened very faithful brother from our church. Those who have yielded step by step unto them for ensamples: and they His name was Stefan Ungureanu. It to worldly demands and conformed are written for our admonition, upon was a privilege to hear the real life to worldly customs will then yield whom the ends of the world are come” experiences that the believers went to the powers that be, rather than (1 Corinthians 10:11). through during the communist era. subject themselves to derision, insult, There’s no way to overestimate As a Union president of the church, threatened imprisonment, and death. the importance of learning from the one day this brother was called by the At that time the gold will be separated people around us. Learning from authorities and interrogated as to why from the dross. True godliness will others is not a passive process, but one the religious books used by our church be clearly distinguished from the that requires work and commitment did not have a portrait of the leader of appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star on our part. Observing others’ life the country. It was mandatory for all that we have admired for its brilliance experiences and understanding God’s books to have a picture of him on the will then go out in darkness. Those ways from Holy Scripture will be of front page. Then our brother’s answer who have assumed the ornaments of great benefit to us. was: “Please, don’t misunderstand the sanctuary, but are not clothed with The lessons to be learned from the us; we respect the Government and Christ’s righteousness, will then appear experience of the Hebrew youth on recognize it as an ordinance of divine in the shame of their own nakedness.”12 the plain of Dura are very important. appointment, but to show reverence “The powers of darkness must In the future, many of God’s servants, and adoration to a human being would be met by every soul. The young, as though innocent of wrongdoing, will not be right in the sight of God. We do well as the old, will be assailed, and be fortified to endure humiliation not change our principles according all should understand the nature of and abuse at the hands of those who, to a different government party, but the great controversy between Christ inspired by Satan, are filled with envy rather we have always prayed for all of and Satan, and should realize that it and religious bigotry. The wrath of them. We have been the same in the concerns themselves. All are actors in men will be especially aroused against past as we are today and will be the the scene, sharers in the conflict.”13 those who hallow the Sabbath of the same for the future. We love God and Dear reader, God desires to use fourth commandment, and at last a love our neighbors.” After many years you in His service. There is a place for universal decree will denounce these it has been proven that the people of you to fill in this world. Every one of as deserving of death. God have upheld these principles. us will have a role in the last act of the “The people of drama. If you are faithful in filling the God will recognize place the Lord desires you to fill, He human government will work in your behalf, and you will as an ordinance of see of the salvation of God. ‰ divine appointment and will teach References obedience to it 1 Selected Messages, bk. 3, p. 419. as a sacred duty 2 Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 27. within its legitimate 3 The Great Controversy, p. 591. sphere. But when its [Emphasis added.] 4 Ibid. [Emphasis added.] claims conflict with 5 Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 141. [Emphasis added.] the claims of God, the 6 The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, p. 261. word of God must be 7 Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 336. 8 recognized as above The Desire of Ages, p. 308. 9 The Signs of the Times, April 29, 1897. all human legislation. 10 Christ Triumphant, p. 178. ‘Thus saith the Lord’ is 11 Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 402. [Emphasis added.] Heroes of the faith in Romania. not to be set aside for 12 Prophets and Kings, p. 188. [Emphasis added.] 13 Thus saith the church The Review and Herald, September 25, 1883.

The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 23 When Christ

Sabbath, December 14, 2019 December 14, Sabbath, Leaves the Sanctuary

by Peter Cay-ohen — Philippines (Emphasis added throughout.)

We are living in the last period to appear in the presence of God for uttermost that come unto God by of the Christian era, known as the us” (Hebrews 9:24) to intercede for him.” What encouragement should Laodicean period. This time since us. “It is Christ that died, yea rather, this truth give to us? “We have not an 1844 is also referred to as the that is risen again, who is even at the high priest which cannot be touched antitypical Day of Atonement. Christ right hand of God, who also maketh with the feeling of our infirmities; our High Priest is now ministering in intercession for us” (Romans 8:34). but was in all points tempted like the most holy place of the heavenly Does the intercession of Christ as we are, yet without sin. Let us sanctuary, pleading His blood before have anything to do with our therefore come boldly unto the throne the Father in our behalf and making salvation? Certainly! of grace, that we may obtain mercy, atonement for our transgressions. It “The intercession of Christ in and find grace to help in time of need” is the second phase of His work as our man’s behalf in the sanctuary above (Hebrews 4:15, 16). “high priest, who is set on the right is as essential to the plan of salvation “Now Christ is in the heavenly hand of the throne of the Majesty as was His death upon the cross,”1 sanctuary. And what is He doing? in the heavens; a minister of the for “he is able also to save them to Making atonement for us, cleansing sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, the uttermost that come unto God by the sanctuary from the sins of the which the Lord pitched, and not man” him, seeing he ever liveth to make people. Then we must enter by faith (Hebrews 8:1–2). intercession for them” (Hebrews into the sanctuary with Him, we What is Christ doing in the 7:25). must commence the work in the heavenly sanctuary? Paul tells us that We have such an high priest who sanctuary of our souls. We are to Christ entered “into heaven itself, now “is able also to save them to the cleanse ourselves from all defilement.

24 The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 We must ‘cleanse ourselves from place, laid off His priestly attire, and terrible and extensive judgments all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, clothed Himself with the garments of which are to fall upon the world perfecting holiness in the fear of God’ vengeance. Then Jesus will step out just before the final deliverance of (2 Corinthians 7:1). . . . Why, come and from between the Father and man, God’s people. Says the revelator, in humble your hearts in confession, and and God will keep silence no longer, describing those terrific scourges: by faith grasp the arm of Christ in but pour out His wrath on those who ‘There fell a noisome and grievous sore the heavenly sanctuary. Believe that have rejected His truth. I saw … when upon the men which had the mark Christ will take your confession and our High Priest has finished His of the beast, and upon them which hold up His hands before the Father— work in the sanctuary, He will stand worshiped his image’ (Revelation hands that have been bruised and up, put on the garments of vengeance, 16:2).”4 wounded in our behalf—and He will and then the seven last plagues will make an atonement for all who will be poured out. The destiny of all is forever come with confession.”2 “I saw that the four angels would We should take this call “to hold the four winds until Jesus’ fixed cleanse ourselves from all defilement” work was done in the sanctuary, When Christ leaves the sanctuary seriously while “Christ is in the and then will come the seven last and the wrath of God is being poured heavenly sanctuary . . . making plagues. These plagues enraged the out upon the rejecters of the truth, atonement for us,” for the time is wicked against the righteous; they will there still be any people who will coming when Christ will leave the thought that we had brought the start to feel genuine sorrow for sin sanctuary and there will be no one to judgments of God upon them, and and by faith turn to God for mercy atone for our sins. Looking forward to that if they could rid the earth of us, and salvation? We may be tempted to that hour, the prophet Daniel wrote, the plagues would then be stayed. A think that there may be some wicked “And at that time shall Michael stand decree went forth to slay the saints, who will be penitent when suffering up, the great prince which standeth which caused them to cry day and severe judgment, as has sometimes for the children of thy people: and night for deliverance. This was the occurred throughout history. But the there shall be a time of trouble, such time of Jacob’s trouble.”3 Bible informs us that even the wicked as never was since there was a nation It is said that God will pour out who will be suffering with “noisome even to that same time: and at that His wrath on those who have rejected and grievous sores” and are being time thy people shall be delivered, His truth. What shows that they have “scorched with great heat” inflicted every one that shall be found written rejected the truth? It is the mark of by the first through fourth plagues, in the book” (Daniel 12:1). the beast that they will have received “repented not to give [God] glory” in their foreheads or in their hands. (Revelation 16:2–9). There shall be a time of While Jesus still is in the sanctuary, The wicked cannot experience the warning of the third angel is to be genuine repentance in the time of trouble given to the inhabitants of the earth. trouble because probation will have Comparing Daniel 12:1 with Jude (See Revelation 14:9–11.) already closed and all will have and Revelation 12:7; 1 Thessalonians Those who reject the truth of the made their irrevocable decision 4:16 with John 5:25, we understand third angel’s message will have the either for eternal life or eternal that Michael is none other than Christ. mark of the beast in their forehead death. Henceforth there will be no The time He stands up for His people or in their hands as proof of their crossing over or switching between will be when He has finished His work rejection of God and their decision the righteous and the wicked. It is no in the sanctuary, Revelation 22:11, 12. to worship the beast instead of their longer possible for a wicked individual He will stand up, put on the garments Creator as demanded by the first to be converted to become righteous. of vengeance, and then the wrath of angel. For he is “saying with a loud The wicked will remain wicked, and God, the seven last plagues described voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; the righteous and holy will remain in Revelation chapter 16, will be for the hour of his judgment is come: righteous and holy forever. (See poured out in the time of trouble. and worship him that made heaven, Revelation 22:11.) Ellen While was given a view of and earth, and the sea, and the When does probation close for this time of trouble. She wrote: “I fountains of waters” (Revelation 14:7). the world? This event will take place was taken off in vision to the most Thus “when Christ ceases His just before the coming of Jesus in the holy place, where I saw Jesus still intercession in the sanctuary, the clouds of heaven. This is evident by the interceding for Israel. . . . Then I unmingled wrath threatened fact that the solemn announcement saw that Jesus would not leave the against those who worship the beast that the righteous and the wicked will most holy place until every case and his image and receive his mark remain as they are is immediately was decided either for salvation or (Revelation 14:9, 10), will be poured followed by Jesus’ statement, “Behold, destruction, and that the wrath of out. The plagues upon Egypt when I come quickly; and my reward is with God could not come until Jesus had God was about to deliver Israel, were me, to give every man according as his finished His work in the most holy similar in character to those more work shall be” (Revelation 22:12).

The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 25 “When the work of the investigative appreciated the movings of His Spirit. saints had nothing for them. The last judgment closes, the destiny of all will Then thousands in the eleventh hour tear for sinners had been shed, the have been decided for life or death. will see and acknowledge the truth.” 7 last agonizing prayer offered, the last Probation is ended a short time “The time of God’s destructive burden borne, the last warning given. before the appearing of the Lord in judgments is the time of mercy for The sweet voice of mercy was no more the clouds of heaven.”5 those who have no opportunity to to invite them. When the saints, and learn what is truth. Tenderly will the all heaven, were interested for their The exact date when probation Lord look upon them. His heart of salvation, they had no interest for mercy is touched; His hand is still themselves. Life and death had been closes is not revealed stretched out to save, while the door is set before them. Many desired life, but The Lord has revealed to us that closed to those who would not enter. made no effort to obtain it. They did our probation will end when Christ Large numbers will be admitted who not choose life, and now there was no leaves the sanctuary before Christ in these last days hear the truth for atoning blood to cleanse the guilty, no comes in the clouds of heaven. But the the first time.”8 compassionate Saviour to plead for exact date when probation closes is them, and cry, ‘Spare, spare the sinner not revealed. Probation will end suddenly, a little longer.’ All heaven had united “God has not revealed to us the with Jesus, as they heard the fearful time . . . when probation will have unexpectedly words, ‘It is done. It is finished.’ an end. Those things that are revealed “Silently, unnoticed as the The plan of salvation had been we shall accept for ourselves and for midnight thief, will come the decisive accomplished, but few had chosen to our children; but let us not seek to hour which marks the fixing of every accept it. And as mercy’s sweet voice know that which has been kept secret man’s destiny, the final withdrawal of died away, fear and horror seized the in the councils of the Almighty. . . . mercy’s offer to guilty men. . . . While wicked. With terrible distinctness they “Letters have come to me asking the man of business is absorbed in heard the words, ‘Too late! too late!’ me if I have any special light as to the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure “Those who had not prized God’s the time when probation will close; lover is seeking indulgence, while Word were hurrying to and fro, and I answer that I have only this the daughter of fashion is arranging wandering from sea to sea, and from message to bear, that it is now time to her adornments—it may be in that the north to the east, to seek the work while the day lasts, for the night hour the Judge of all the earth will Word of the Lord. Said the angel, cometh in which no man can work. pronounce the sentence: ‘Thou art ‘They shall not find it. There is a Now, just now, it is time for us to be weighed in the balances, and art found famine in the land; not a famine of watching, working, and waiting. . . . wanting’ (Daniel 5:27).”9 bread, nor a thirst for water, but for But there is no command for any “When the irrevocable decision of hearing the words of the Lord. What one to search the Scripture in the sanctuary has been pronounced would they not give for one word of order to ascertain, if possible, and the destiny of the world has been approval from God! but no, they must when probation will close. God has forever fixed, the inhabitants of the hunger and thirst on. Day after day no such message for any mortal earth will know it not.”10 have they slighted salvation, prizing lips. He would have no mortal tongue earthly riches and earthly pleasure declare that which He has hidden in A time of famine for the Word higher than any heavenly treasure or His secret councils.”6 inducement. They have rejected Jesus This, of course, is referring to the of God and despised His saints. The filthy general close of probation for the The Bible prophesies of a famine of must remain filthy forever.’”11 world. However, we must also keep the word of God that is coming. (See in mind that “judgment must begin Amos 8:11, 12.) No second probation at the house of God” (1 Peter 4:17) When will be this famine of and our individual close of probation hearing the words of the Lord? The “We are to make the best of our does not necessarily coincide with the spirit of prophecy tells us that it will present opportunities. There will moment Christ leaves the sanctuary. be after Christ leaves the sanctuary, be no other probation given to us in Probation will close for those who after probation has already been which to prepare for heaven. This have known the present truth before it closed, and while the plagues are is our only and last opportunity to closes for those who have never before being poured upon the earth. The form characters which will fit us for heard the testing truths for this time. vision was shown: the future home which the Lord has The Lord’s messenger explains: “The plagues were falling upon the prepared for all who are obedient to “I speak not my own words when inhabitants of the earth. Some were His commandments. . . . I say that God’s Spirit will pass by denouncing God and cursing Him. “All will be tested and tried those who have had their day of test Others rushed to the people of God according to the light they have had. and opportunity, but who have not and begged to be taught how they Those who turn from the truth to fables distinguished the voice of God or might escape His judgments. But the can look for no second probation.

26 The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 There will be no temporal millennium. nation rose against nation, and the Christ. Not even by a thought could If, after the Holy Spirit has brought whole world was in confusion.”13 our Saviour be brought to yield to conviction to their hearts, they resist the power of temptation. Satan finds the truth and use their influence Our only safety in human hearts some point where to block the way so that others will he can gain a foothold; some sinful not receive it, they will never be The seal of the living God is the desire is cherished, by means of which convinced. They did not seek for covering of the Almighty over His his temptations assert their power. transformation of character in the people to protect them in the time of But Christ declared of Himself: ‘The probation given them, and Christ trouble that they be not hurt of the prince of this world cometh, and hath will not give them opportunity to plagues. Ellen G. White said, “I saw a nothing in Me’ (John 14:30). Satan pass over the ground again. The covering that God was drawing over could find nothing in the Son of decision is a final one.”12 His people to protect them in the time God that would enable him to of trouble; and every soul that was gain the victory. He had kept His Our protection in the time of decided on the truth and was pure Father’s commandments, and in heart was to be covered with the there was no sin in Him that Satan trouble covering of the Almighty.”14 could use to his advantage. This is We have seen that when Christ “I saw that Satan was at work the condition in which those must leaves the sanctuary and probation in these ways to distract, deceive, be found who shall stand in the closes, the unjust and filthy have in and draw away God’s people, just time of trouble.”17 their foreheads or hands the mark of now in this sealing time. . . . “Not one of us will ever receive the the beast and they will drink of the Satan was trying his every art to seal of God while our characters have wine of the wrath of God, the seven hold them where they were, until the one spot or stain upon them. It is left last plagues, which is poured out sealing was past, until the covering with us to remedy the defects in our unmingled with mercy; and they shall was drawn over God’s people, and characters, to cleanse the soul temple be tormented with fire and brimstone they left without a shelter from the of every defilement. Then the latter in the presence of the holy angels, and burning wrath of God, in the seven rain will fall upon us as the early rain in the presence of the Lamb. last plagues.”15 fell upon the disciples on the Day of How about the righteous and holy? This means that our only safety in Pentecost.”18 Will they be scourged with the plagues the time of trouble is to have the seal Note that the conditions for the together with the wicked? Certainly of the living God in our foreheads so sealing and for the latter rain are the not! Before probation closes that usher that we can be protected from the same. John tells us that those who in the time of trouble they were sealed scourge of the plagues. To be sealed receive the seal of God are holy: “And in their forehead with the seal of the is to be settled in the truth so “that in their mouth was found no guile: living God. we henceforth be no more children, for they are without fault before the The Lord’s messenger describes: “I tossed to and fro, and carried about throne of God” (Revelation 14:5). To saw the time of trouble, such as never with every wind of doctrine, by the be sealed therefore, we must, by the was—Jesus told me it was the time of sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, grace of God, overcome sin now before Jacob’s trouble, and that we should be whereby they lie in wait to deceive” Jesus leaves the most holy place of the delivered out of it by the voice of God. (Ephesians 4:14). heavenly sanctuary. ‰ Just before we entered it [the time of “Just as soon as the people of God trouble], we all received the seal of the are sealed in their foreheads—it is not References living God. Then I saw the four angels any seal or mark that can be seen, 1 The Great Controversy, p. 489. cease to hold the four winds. And I but a settling into the truth, both 2 The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, p. 127. saw famine, pestilence and sword, intellectually and spiritually, so they 3 Early Writings, pp. 36, 37. 4 16 The Great Controversy, pp. 627, 628. cannot be moved.” 5 Ibid., p. 490. Moreover, to be sealed we must 6 The Review and Herald, October 9, 1894. depart from iniquity. It is written, 7 Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 16. 8 “Let every one that nameth the name The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 979. of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 9 The Great Controversy, p. 491. Timothy 2:19). 10 Ibid., p. 615. For us to be sealed, sin must 11 Early Writings, pp. 281, 282. 12 “become exceeding sinful” (Romans Last Day Events, pp. 236, 237. 13 Day-Star, March 14, 1846. 7:13) in our perception so that we shun 14 Early Writings, p. 43. it. We must no more be indifferent to 15 Ibid., p. 44. sin. (See Ezekiel 9:4.) 16 The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White “Now, while our great High Priest Comments], vol. 4, p. 1161. 17 The Great Controversy, p. 623. is making the atonement for us, we 18 Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 214. should seek to become perfect in

The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 27 Sunday, December 15, 2019 December 15, Sunday, The Blessed Hope

by Abel Morales — Argentina

It is interesting to visit the • Different representations of the All this pointed to the center of renowned Royal Tombs of Sipán god Al Paec, the main divinity that he his spiritual hopes, namely: living Museum located in the city of worshiped. eternally with his objects and the most Lambayeque, Peru, where the • A gold and silver necklace made precious people to him. mortuary trousseau of the Lord of of twenty peanuts, symbolizing Sipán, an ancient ruler of the Moche the sun and the moon, that is, the A vain hope culture, is exhibited. This ruler perfect spiritual balance between the dominated the north of the current darkness and the light that it wanted “They that observe lying vanities territory of that country during the to reach. forsake their own mercy” (Jonah 2:8). third century A.D. To live in this world as the Lord of In 1987, a team of specialists • Some pieces on his face, Sipán did, striving to obtain power excavated this archaeological site, displaying anatomical forms such as and eternal youth, constitutes the recognized as the main pre-Inca nose, eyes, teeth and earmuffs, all most vain of hopes. But even more discovery of the 20th century in South forged in fine gold, evidencing the regrettable is the case of those who, America. desire to immortalize his face. being aware of the eternal gospel, With the mummified body of the • The depiction of the funeral incur such folly: Lord of Sipán can be found some procession with what is understood “Solomon sat upon a throne of insights into his personal life and to be his wife, two concubines, the ivory, the steps of which were of solid hopes: military leader, a lookout, a soldier, as gold, flanked by six golden lions. His • His royal dress, revealing the well as a child, a dog and two llamas eyes rested upon highly cultivated presumptuous desire to perpetuate his (an indigenous animal of the Andean and beautiful gardens just before dominion beyond death. region sacrificed in his favor). him. Those grounds were visions of

28 The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 loveliness, arranged to resemble, as presented. A patient in a similar signed the contract and now your far as possible, the garden of Eden. health condition—a man who did not houses are property of the State, so Choice trees and shrubs, and flowers even get the blessing of visitors— you will be allowed to continue living of every variety, had been brought behaved very differently. Every time in them for some time, until the day from foreign lands to beautify them. we entered to apply a treatment, he you must permanently leave the zone.” Birds of every variety of brilliant filled the room with expressions of This was a nice town, but from that plumage flitted from tree to tree, joy and hope. His attitude exercised a time on, it began to deteriorate. People making the air vocal with sweet songs. healing power in his whole being, and no longer repaired their homes or took Youthful attendants, gorgeously also in those who assisted him. care of their gardens—and what was dressed and decorated, waited to Can you imagine the end? One once a pretty town became a miserable obey his slightest wish. Scenes of day we entered the room according neighborhood. Why did such a change revelry, music, sports, and games to our routine and we noticed an happen? They had lost hope. were arranged for his diversion at an unusual situation. The patient was Many Christians, who have stopped extravagant expenditure of money. in the bathroom, but we could not studying prophecy, no longer have a “But all this did not bring understand his persistent silence. genuine hope for the glorious future of happiness to the king. He sat upon Finally we entered to see what had the church. Their loss of hope results in his magnificent throne, his frowning happened to him. We discovered that an inactive and miserable life. countenance dark with despair. he had something in the oral cavity “The coming of the Lord has Dissipation had left its impress upon that prevented him from speaking. been in all ages the hope of His true his once fair and intellectual face. He It was a deformed mass the size of a followers. The Saviour’s parting was sadly changed from the youthful medium orange. Following the order promise upon Olivet, that He would Solomon. His brow was furrowed with of the professional on duty, he was come again, lighted up the future for care and unhappiness, and he bore taken immediately to the laboratory His disciples, filling their hearts with in every feature the unmistakable of the Hospital de Clínicas in the joy and hope that sorrow could not marks of sensual indulgence. His lips center of the city of Curitiba, where quench nor trials dim. Amid suffering were prepared to break forth into it was found that it was a cancerous and persecution, the ‘appearing of reproaches at the slightest deviation tumor in its entirety, naturally and the great God and our Saviour Jesus from his wishes. miraculously removed from the root. Christ’ was the ‘blessed hope.’ . . . “His shattered nerves and wasted The day they told him the news, “From the dungeon, the stake, the frame showed the result of violating we were at his side and watched his scaffold, where saints and martyrs Nature’s laws. He confessed to a impressive leaps of joy. He hugged witnessed for the truth, comes wasted life, an unsuccessful chase us and used an expression that will down the centuries the utterance of after happiness. His is the mournful never be erased from my memory. He their faith and hope. Being ‘assured wail, ‘All is vanity and vexation of exclaimed: “From the very first day, I of His personal resurrection, and spirit.’ ”1 had hope in these natural methods!” consequently of their own at His I never saw that young man coming, for this cause,’ says one of Live hopeful! again, but we can be sure that hope these Christians, ‘they despised death, moved the divine arm and triggered a and were found to be above it.’ ”2 At the “Ebenezer Missionary physiological response that flooded his “‘Hasten, O Lord, this blessed School” in Brazil, the students assist organism with health—so surely, the day!’ Such was the hope of the at the Oasis Paranaense Naturist tumor had no environment in which to apostolic church, of the ‘church in the Hospital. On one occasion, two develop. wilderness,’ and of the Reformers.”3 patients were admitted with terminal If we learn to live with hope, we From ancient times the Scriptures cancer. One of them was visited will fill the air with expressions of have declared the certainty of the periodically by his wife and children. victory that would infect even the second coming of Christ, stimulating In their conversations, the patient most hopeless. His church to stay active. Moreover, saturated the air with laments and the prophecies also outline the signs so negative expressions. Observing the An active hope that everyone can know the time and face of his wife whenever he expressed prepare. distrust in simple natural treatments, In New England region of the his bad attitude was clearly obvious. United States, the people needed Signs of hope She asked us: “How can I encourage to build a very important dam to this man who is doomed because of generate electricity. In the projected “The revelator thus describes the his own negativity?” Some months terrain there was a village with first of the signs to precede the second later, this patient died in unfortunate beautiful houses. The government advent: ‘There was a great earthquake; circumstances. communicated to the inhabitants: and the sun became black as sackcloth At the other end of the same room, “The execution of this project will take of hair, and the moon became as a diametrically opposite picture was many years, although we have already blood’ (Revelation 6:12).

The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 29 “These signs were witnessed before Revelation 9, predicting the fall of And every man that hath this hope in the opening of the nineteenth century. the Ottoman Empire. According to him purifieth himself, even as he is In fulfillment of this prophecy there his calculations, this power was to pure” (1 John 3:2, 3). occurred, in the year 1755, the most be overthrown. . . . ‘It will end on “And the very God of peace sanctify terrible earthquake that has ever been the 11th of August, 1840, when the you wholly; and I pray God your whole recorded. Though commonly known as Ottoman power in Constantinople spirit and soul and body be preserved the earthquake of Lisbon, it extended may be expected to be broken. And blameless unto the coming of our Lord to the greater part of Europe, Africa, this, I believe, will be found to be the Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). and America. It was felt in Greenland, case.’—Josiah Litch, in Signs of the Wherever the word of God has in the West Indies, in the island of Times, and Expositor of Prophecy, been faithfully preached, those Madeira, in Norway and Sweden, Aug. 1, 1840. who were converted brought forth Great Britain and Ireland. It pervaded “At the very time specified, Turkey, fruit meet for repentance. “They an extent of not less than four million through her ambassadors, accepted believed and were baptized, and square miles. In Africa the shock was the protection of the allied powers of rose to walk in newness of life—new almost as severe as in Europe.”4 Europe, and thus placed herself under creatures in Christ Jesus; not to “Twenty-five years later appeared the control of Christian nations. The fashion themselves according to the the next sign mentioned in the event exactly fulfilled the prediction. former lusts, but by the faith of the prophecy—the darkening of the sun When it became known, multitudes Son of God to follow in His steps, to and moon. . . . On the 19th of May, were convinced of the correctness reflect His character, and to purify 1780, this prophecy was fulfilled. . . . of the principles of prophetic themselves even as He is pure. The “Fowls retired to their roosts and interpretation adopted by Miller things they once hated they now went to sleep, cattle gathered at the and his associates, and a wonderful loved, and the things they once loved pasture bars and lowed, frogs peeped, impetus was given to the advent they hated. The proud and self- birds sang their evening songs, and movement.”8 assertive became meek and lowly bats flew about. But the human knew of heart. The vain and supercilious that night had not come.”5 But why are many indifferent? became serious and unobtrusive. The “After midnight the darkness profane became reverent, the drunken disappeared, and the moon, when first “When the Saviour pointed out to sober, and the profligate pure. The visible, had the appearance of blood. His followers the signs of His return, vain fashions of the world were laid “May 19, 1780, stands in history He foretold the state of backsliding aside.”10 as ‘The Dark Day.’ Since the time of that would exist just prior to His Beloved, if our hope is genuine, Moses no period of darkness of equal second advent. There would be, as we will not only long for Christ to density, extent, and duration, has ever in the days of Noah, the activity and return to earth the second time, but been recorded.”6 stir of worldly business and pleasure our chief aim will be that He will “In 1833, two years after Miller seeking—buying, selling, planting, return definitively to our own lives began to present in public the building, marrying, and giving in and, as a result, to the church. Our evidences of Christ’s soon coming, the marriage—with forgetfulness of God desire should be to banish the enemy last of the signs appeared which were and the future life. For those living of souls from our midst along with his promised by the Saviour as tokens of at this time, Christ’s admonition is: distractions of the world that divert His second advent. Said Jesus: ‘The ‘Take heed to yourselves, lest at any us away from Jesus in our daily lives. stars shall fall from heaven.’ Matthew time your hearts be overcharged with Satan takes possession of the heart 24:29. . . . This prophecy received a surfeiting, and drunkenness, and by sending demons with specific striking and impressive fulfillment cares of this life, and so that day come commissions to trigger the various in the great meteoric shower of upon you unawares’ (Luke 21:34).”9 tendencies to evil that separate us November 13, 1833. That was the Spiritual blindness, greed, from our Lord. most extensive and wonderful display apostasy, gluttony and unrighteous of falling stars which has ever been sensuality are the sure result of Specific demons? recorded.” 7 a life without hope—a life which inevitably becomes careless and Let us consider some passages of Principles of interpretation indifferent. I would like us to analyze the Spirit of Prophecy with respect to the contrasting results that the true the demons that specifically attack our that confirmed hope “Blessed Hope” will have on my life weak points. “In the year 1840 another and yours: “Evil spirits, in the beginning remarkable fulfillment of prophecy created sinless, were equal in nature, excited widespread interest. Two years The effects of true hope power, and glory with the holy beings before, Josiah Litch, one of the leading that are now God’s messengers. ministers preaching the second “When he shall appear, we shall be But fallen through sin, they are advent, published an exposition of like him; for we shall see him as he is. leagued together for the dishonor

30 The Reformation Herald, Vol. 60, No. 6 of God and the destruction of men. “The arm of Christ can reach to the desire to be a popular church lead United with Satan in his rebellion, the very depths of human woe and us to put that solemn day in the future and with him cast out from heaven, degradation. He can give us help to when the current order of things will they have, through all succeeding conquer even [the] terrible demon of end? ages, cooperated with him in his intemperance.”17 Let us exclaim with the messianic warfare against the divine authority. In 1927 the submarine S-4 sank prophet: “Oh that thou wouldest rend We are told in Scripture of their in the Gulf of Mexico. Many ships the heavens, that thou wouldest come confederacy and government, of their responded quickly to save the crew. down, that the mountains might flow various orders, of their intelligence During the rescue maneuvers, a down at thy presence” (Isaiah 64:1). and subtlety, and of their malicious tactical diver heard a sound on the Brethren, may this vehement designs against the peace and metal walls of the ship; it was a desire take us individually and as a happiness of men.”11 message in Morse code. He deciphered people to live as true Christians! “The demon of jealousy entered the the code and transmitted the message “The early Christians were indeed heart of the king [Saul]. He was angry immediately: “The crew of the a peculiar people. Their blameless because David was exalted above submarine is asking a question, they deportment and unswerving faith himself.”12 say: “Is there any hope? Is there any were a continual reproof that When Jesus came to the earth, “the hope?” That is what this world wants disturbed the sinner’s peace. Though bodies of human beings, made for the to know and it is our turn to remind few in numbers, without wealth, dwelling place of God, had become them that we also live in the same position, or honorary titles, they the habitation of demons. The senses, way: were a terror to evildoers wherever the nerves, the passions, the organs At one time “ye were without their character and doctrines were of men, were worked by supernatural Christ, being aliens from the known.”18 agencies in the indulgence of the vilest commonwealth of Israel, and Then the world will not be able lust. The very stamp of demons was strangers from the covenants of to deny that the Reform Movement impressed upon the countenances of promise, having no hope, and without is that people who are “looking for men.”13 God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). that blessed hope, and the glorious The passsages quoted are very “For we ourselves also were appearing of the great God and our clear. Satan organizes his agents sometimes foolish, disobedient, Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). to hammer on our weak points to deceived, serving divers lusts and Amen and amen! ‰ confirm us in indolence. If I am pleasures, living in malice and envy, greedy, a gossiper, dishonest, selfish, hateful, and hating one another. But References intemperate, lascivious, impatient, after that the kindness and love of God 1 The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White a liar, lazy, superficial, vain, etc., our Saviour toward man appeared, Comments], vol. 3, p. 1165. certainly some of his evil agents are not by works of righteousness which 2 The Great Controversy, p. 302. 3 Ibid. p. 304. commissioned to prey heavily on some we have done, but according to his 4 Ibid. of my shortcomings. The old saying mercy he saved us, by the washing 5 Ibid., pp. 306, 307. is: “What you do not overcome, will of regeneration, and renewing of 6 Ibid., p. 308. overcome you.” the Holy Ghost; which he shed on 7 Ibid., p. 333. 8 Ibid., pp. 334, 335. us abundantly through Jesus Christ 9 Ibid., p. 309. Is there any hope? our Saviour; that being justified by 10 Ibid., pp. 461, 462. his grace, we should be made heirs 11 Ibid., p. 513. 12 If we possess some of these according to the hope of eternal life” Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 650. 13 The Desire of Ages, p. 36. undesirable traits of character, we (Titus 3:3–7). 14 Ibid., p. 38. should not be discouraged, for the 15 Ibid., p. 294. Spirit of Prophecy says that: “None 16 Ibid., p. 568. What kind of hope do I have? 17 but Christ can fashion anew the Child Guidance, p. 401. 18 The Great Controversy, p. 46. character that has been ruined by sin. Observing the majority in the He came to expel the demons that had church today, a question arises. Will controlled the will.”14 ours be a frivolous hope like that of the Even in the case of Judas Iscariot: Lord of Sipán? Am I squandering the “If he would open his heart to Christ, benevolence of God like King Solomon divine grace would banish the demon did? Has the active and fervent hope of selfishness.”15 of the apostolic church and of the Ultimately, Mary, “who had fallen, reformers been extinguished in us? and whose mind had been a habitation What is happening in our lives— of demons, was brought very near have we cooled down? Is the absorbing to the Saviour in fellowship and devotion for the gain of money ministry.”16 replacing my personal devotion? Did

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The Signs of the Times

“Ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?” (Luke 12:56).

The rustling leaves were falling Behold! He quickly cometh! All around me where I sat; Lo, the Bridegroom draweth nigh! The sunny days were passing by The signs are all around us, And waning—what of that? In the earth and sea and sky. The summer, with its sunshine And the fragrant flowers, is dead; Are you ready for the supper, And the autumn, in her kindness, For the marriage of the Lamb? Has now strewn the ground with red. Or is it all to you a farce, A theory, and a scam? It needs no seer to tell us You say, “I’ve heard that story When the summer passes by; Oh, so many times before.” It needs no prophecy to say And so you do not realize That winter’s drawing nigh. The Bridegroom’s at the door. We know the signs of summer, And of autumn, winter, spring; His day of preparation, But do we know the signs that tell And His day of clouds and gloom, The coming of the King? His day of awful darkness, And His day of awful doom, The signs are written plainly, The day of dread perdition hastes If we will only but look Of all ungodly men, Into the blessed pages Who’ll seek a shelter in the caves, Of the grand, old-fashioned Book. Or any refuge, then. The day of His appearing Now is surely drawing nigh— O, quickly come, Lord Jesus! The signs are all around us, As we wait from day to day. In the earth and sea and sky. “Behold! He quickly cometh,” Now I hear the Spirit say. His bride is getting ready; We have not long to tarry; As she dons her robes of grace; In the earth and sea and sky; She waits to see the glory The signs are surely telling And the smiling of His face. That His kingdom draweth nigh.

—Adapted from an anonymous source