Third Angel’s Message October 2, 2009

1.  What is the core content of the third angel’s message?

 The mediation of Christ and the perpetuity of the law of God is the core content of the third angel’s message.

“Those who had accepted the light concerning the mediation of Christ and the perpetuity of the law of God, found that these were the truths brought to view in the third message.” {4SP 275.2}

2.  When did Jesus send the third angel’s message?

 The third angel’s message was given to Christ’s servants to proclaim when He entered the heavenly sanctuary to begin the work of atonement. Christ entered the Holy Place in 1844. Therefore, the third angel’s message first started to be proclaimed in 1844, and will continue to be proclaimed until Christ’s second coming.

 When Christ entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to perform the closing work of the atonement, he committed to his servants the last message of mercy to be given to the world. Such is the warning of the third angel of Revelation 14. Immediately following its proclamation, the Son of man is seen by the prophet coming in glory to reap the harvest of the earth.  {4SP 273.1}

 As foretold in the Scriptures, the ministration of Christ in the most holy place began at the termination of the prophetic days in 1844. To this time apply the words of the Revelator, “The temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.” [REV. 11:19] The ark of God’s testament is in the second apartment of the sanctuary. As Christ entered there, to minister in the sinner’s behalf, the inner temple was opened, and the ark of God was brought to view. To those who by faith beheld the Saviour in his work of intercession, God’s majesty and power were revealed. As the train of his glory filled the temple, light from the holy of holies was shed upon his waiting people on the earth.  {4SP 273.2}

 

 

3.  How did the third angel light up the past, the present, and the future to the early advent believers after the passing of the time in 1844?

 When the third angel’s message was given, it gave light to the disappointed believers and showed them where they had been wrong. This showed them light from the past. The message also was given to them about the Sabbath, which showed them light for the present. When the final note of the message is proclaimed with great power about the wrath of God, this will give us light to guide our decisions in the future.

After Jesus opened the door of the most holy, the light of the Sabbath was seen, and the people of God were tested, as the children of Israel were tested anciently, to see if they would keep God’s law. I saw the third angel pointing upward, showing the disappointed ones the way to the holiest of the heavenly sanctuary. As they by faith enter the most holy, they find Jesus, and hope and joy spring up anew. I saw them looking back, reviewing the past, from the proclamation of the second advent of Jesus, down through their experience to the passing of the time in 1844. They see their disappointment explained, and joy and certainty again animate them. The third angel has lighted up the past, the present, and the future, and they know that God has indeed led them by His mysterious providence.  {EW 254.2}

 Men are not to be left in darkness concerning this important matter; the warning against this sin is to be given to the world before the visitation of God’s judgments, that all may know why they are to be inflicted, and have opportunity to escape them…   The warning of the third angel…   will command the attention of the world.  {GC 449.2}

 

 

4.Why does the evangelical Christian world not accept the truth of Christ’s change of ministration from the holy place to the most holy place in 1844?

 If they accept that Christ started His ministration in the most holy place in 1844, they will have to accept that it all centers around His law. This would require them to keep the Sabbath, something they have fought for a long time.

We hold no doctrine that we wish to hide. To those who have been educated to keep the first day of the week as a sacred day, the most objectionable feature of our faith is the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. But does not God’s word declare that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God? And although it is not an easy matter to make the required change from the first to the seventh day, this change must be made. It involves a cross; it clashes with the precepts and practises of men. Learned men have taught the people till they are full of unbelief and prejudice; and yet we must say to these people, “Come and see.” God requires us to proclaim the truth, and let it discover error.  {PH089 22.1}

“As foretold in the Scriptures, the ministration of Christ in the most holy place began at the termination of the prophetic days in 1844… While God gave to Moses a copy of his law, he preserved the great original in the sanctuary above. Tracing down its holy precepts, the seekers for truth found, in the very bosom of the Decalogue, the fourth commandment, as it was first proclaimed…”{4SP 2This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel’s message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure. –Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 91-93. (1896) {Ev 190.4}

 

5.  How is the message of justification by faith the third angel’s message?

The third angel’s message showed the world that Christ was sacrificed for their sins, and it invited them to receive Christ’s righteousness.

5. How is the message of justification by faith the third angel’s message?

The third angel’s message deals with Jesus’s work in the Most Holy place which is where the marriage takes place. We come to the judgement in filthy garments representing our defective characters. Jesus gives us His white robe of righteousness, which we accept by faith. This shows us the message of justification by faith.

Several have written to me, inquiring if the message of justification by faith is the third angel’s message, and I have answered, “It is the third angel’s message in verity.”– Review and Herald, April 1, 1890.  {Ev 190.3}

This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ…”–Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 91-93. (1896) {Ev 190.4}

 

6.  What is the purpose of the numbering system for the angels’ messages of Revelation 14?

The three angel’s messages were numbered separately because they are given at different times, but the messages all go hand in hand with each other and are inseparable.

THE IDEA IN REVELATION 14:8, 9 IS NOT SIMPLY THAT THE SECOND AND THIRD ANGELS FOLLOWED THE FIRST IN POINT OF TIME, BUT THAT THEY WENT WITH HIM. THE THREE MESSAGES ARE BUT ONE THREEFOLD MESSAGE. THEY ARE THREE ONLY IN THE ORDER OF THEIR RISE. BUT HAVING RISEN, THEY GO ON TOGETHER AND ARE INSEPARABLE.  {GC 693.1}

 

7.  How do the first, second, and third angels’ messages all blend into one?

The first angel rises and give his message, and then the second, and then the third. The words used in the Bible actually mean “together” or “to accompany”. The messages all compliment each other and all point to the work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary.

THE WORD HERE RENDERED “FOLLOWED” MEANS “TO GO ALONG WITH,” “TO FOLLOW ONE,”… “GO WITH HIM.” THE IDEA INTENDED TO BE CONVEYED IS THAT OF “GOING TOGETHER,” “IN COMPANY WITH.” FORD: CLARENDON PRESS, 1940), VOL. 1, P. 52. IT ALSO MEANS “TO ACCOMPANY.” THE IDEA IN REVELATION 14:8, 9 IS NOT SIMPLY THAT THE SECOND AND THIRD ANGELS FOLLOWED THE FIRST IN POINT OF TIME, BUT THAT THEY WENT WITH HIM. THE THREE MESSAGES ARE BUT ONE THREEFOLD MESSAGE. THEY ARE THREE ONLY IN THE ORDER OF THEIR RISE. BUT HAVING RISEN, THEY GO ON TOGETHER AND ARE INSEPARABLE.  {GC 693.1}

 

8.  How can you show that the mediation of Christ and the perpetuity of the law of God are the truths of the third angel’s message?

At the end of the prophetic days in 1844, Christ entered the sanctuary to minister on the sinner’s behalf. The inner temple was opened and the ark  was shown containing the Ten Commandments. The believers were able to see that God had kept His commandments the same throughout the ages and that they were still valid for today.

While God gave to Moses a copy of his law, he preserved the great original in the sanctuary above. Tracing down its holy precepts, the seekers for truth found, in the very bosom of the decalogue, the fourth commandment, as it was first proclaimed: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: {4SP 273.3}

As foretold in the Scriptures, the ministration of Christ in the most holy place began at the termination of the prophetic days in 1844. To this time apply the words of the Revelator, “The temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.” [REV. 11:19] The ark of God’s testament is in the second apartment of the sanctuary. As Christ entered there, to minister in the sinner’s behalf, the inner temple was opened, and the ark of God was brought to view… {4SP 273.2}

Those who had accepted the light concerning the mediation of Christ and the perpetuity of the law of God, found that these were the truths brought to view in the third message. {4SP 275.2}

9.  Where is the “here” in Revelation 14:12: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God” “and their faith in Jesus.”

The “here” in the third angel’s message refers to the heavenly sanctuary.

The third angel closes his message thus: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” As he repeated these words, he pointed to the heavenly sanctuary. {EW 254.1}

 

10.  What is the “action step[s]” for the third angel’s message?   [In other words, How do I apply this to my own life?]

I can apply the third angel’s message to my life by daily humbling myself before God, confess my individual sins, seek pardon for my transgressions, and cooperate with Jesus in perfecting my character to enter the heavenly sanctuary. Also important is for me to keep the Sabbath.

In place of wrapping about us the garments of self-righteousness, we should be found daily humbling ourselves before God, confessing our own individual sins, seeking the pardon of our transgressions, and cooperating with Christ in the work of preparing our souls to reflect the divine image. Unless we enter the sanctuary above, and unite with Christ in working out our own salvation with fear and trembling, we shall be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, and shall be pronounced wanting (MS 168, 1898).  {7BC 933.14}

The worshipers of God will be especially distinguished by their regard for the fourth commandment…  {9T 16.2}

 

 

11.  What are the two purposes for the warning against the beast and his image contained in the third message?

The purposes of the warning in the third message was to warn men against receiving the mark of the beast and to put the children of God on guard.

 The third angel’s message has been sent forth to the world, warning men against receiving the mark of the beast or of his image in their foreheads or in their hands. {7BC 979.12}

This message was designed to put the children of God upon their guard, by showing them the hour of temptation and anguish that was before them. {EW 254.1}

 

12.  What does it mean to receive the mark of the beast?

To receive this mark means to come to the same decision as the beast has done, and to advocate the same ideas, in direct opposition to the Word of God. Of all who receive this mark, God says, “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.” . . .  {7BC 979.12}

13.  Identify the following elements and how they relate to each other:  (1) fully ripe grapes  (2) winepress  (3) God’s wine  (4) God’s wrath  (5) [Babylon's own] cup  (6) trodden without the city  (7) blood came out of the city

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