Preparation for the Days Ahead

Introduction

  Christians should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise, and this preparation they should make by diligently studying the Word of God and striving to conform their lives to its precepts.--PK 626 (c. 1914).  {LDE 66.2} 

     None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict.--GC 593, 594 (1911).  {LDE 66.3} 

     Only those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures and who have received the love of the truth will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the world captive.--GC 625 (1911).  {LDE 66.4} 

     Our people need to understand the oracles of God; they need to have a systematic knowledge of the principles of revealed truth, which will fit them for what is coming upon the earth and prevent them from being carried about by every wind of doctrine.--5T 273 (1885).  {LDE 66.5}

1848 Sealing Message – Interrupted

In 1848 when the Sabbath keeping Adventists discovered that the Sabbath was the sealing message a great conflict erupted in the world to disrupt the spreading of the message.

Confusion of Nations in 1848

On the 21st day of February, 1848, when the courtiers of Louis Phillippe, of France, were gathered around him, he said: “I was never more firmly seated on the throne of empire than I am to-night.” In the twilight of the next evening, wearing a “pea jacket,” disguised as a hackney coachman, he fled outside the walls of the city of Paris seeking a refuge for his personal safety. The cause of this great and sudden change is said to have been the result of some movement on his part favoring the papal usurpation, which offended his subjects and his soldiers. He had on that day completed, in the city of Paris, a grand military review of the French army; and when their arms were stacked, he retired to the palace, when suddenly a small boy jumped upon a cannon, waving a tricolored flag, crying, “DOWN WITH THE POPE! DOWN WITH THE POPE!!” The soldiers taking up the cry, it passed swiftly up and down the lines, gaining strength as it went, until connected with it was the cry, “AND DOWN WITH THE KING!” In a few hours all Paris was a scene of wild confusion. The soldiers, with guns in hand, accompanied by a mob, were rushing for the king’s palace. He, on being informed of the turmoil, hastened to escape under disguise.

Nations that were Involved in the Struggle

The commotion and unrest of France spread rapidly to other countries. Prussia, Hanover, Sardinia, Sicily, Naples, Venice, Lombardy, Tuscany, and Rome caught the same mob spirit. Within three months all Europe was astir, and over thirty empires and kingdoms were in the greatest disorder. Thrones were burned in the streets, kings and emperors were fleeing and hiding for fear of losing their lives. Politicians predicted that there would be a general revolution of the governments of the world. Many of the Adventist ministers who had not as yet heard of the third angel’s message, saw this confusion, and supposed it must be the rallying of the nations for “the battle of the great day of God Almighty.”

Sealing Message Discovered

Just at this time the Seventh-day Adventists were learning from the Scriptures that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment was the sign, or seal, of the living God, and that the time had arrived for the proclamation of the sealing message of Rev. 10:1-4, and they were devising ways and means of getting this message before the people. While the seventh-day people were preparing for this work, the First-day Adventists were saying, “You are too late with your sealing message, for the battle of the great day and the Lord’s actual coming are right upon us.”

Turmoil Suddenly Quieted Down

Some three months later, the outburst among the nations quieted down; not, however, by a settlement of their grievances, but in a manner that journalists themselves could not explain. Of this trouble, Horace Greeley, in the New York Tribune, said: “It was a great wonder to us all what started so suddenly that confusion among the nations; but it is a greater wonder still what stopped it.”

1888 Message Impacted by Sunday Law crisis

1888 message came just before A.T. Jones presented our religious liberty points to the United States Congress as they were considering Sunday closing laws legislation due to the Chicago world fair. The church was facing an impending Sunday Law.

But the 1888 message was the beginning of a message that would lead to the full outpouring of the latter rain.

We have been working systematically together through the Word of God for several years now. The framework for truth is coming to us. We are preparing to present our wonderful Father and His Son to the world. Now we are facing some challenges to impede our ability to spread this message but our Father will open the door for us at the right time. We will be patient.

Much more to take in and comprehend. We must not rest on what we have so far.  

The following is taken from February 2019 Newsletter

"Especially should the book Daniel and the Revelation be brought before people as the very book for this time. This book contains the message which all need to read and understand." 1MR 61 (1899)

The book by Uriah Smith on Daniel and Revelation is not the last word on this subject but it is the first and foundational word on this subject. Any system of prophecy that lays aside this foundation is working on a wrong foundation. Any voice that places this book in a negative light is working against the foundations laid by the Spirit of God in this book.

I wish to lay before you some simple realities on this subject. There is a passage in Daniel 12 that many are referring to and it relates to the 1290 and 1335 day prophecy as well as the subject of the Daily.

Dan 12:10  Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise [H7919] shall understand. 

What shall they understand?

Dan 12:11-13  And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.  (12)  Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.  (13)  But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

Who are the wise? Verse 3 of the same chapter tells us.

Dan 12:3  And they that be wise [H7919] shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

The verse for wise in verse 10 is the same as the word for wise in verse 3 so I think there is a strong connection here. What do the wise do in verse 3? They turn many to righteousness. Where do we find the message of righteousness for these last days?

The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. 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, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. TM 91,92

The wise are those who have received the message of righteousness by faith found in the 1888 message given by Waggoner and Jones. The framework for this message was the subject of the two covenants. Ellen White was shown that Waggoner had the truth on the covenants. 

"Night before last I was shown that evidences in regard to the covenants were clear and convincing. Yourself, Brother B, Brother C, and others are spending your investigative powers for naught to produce a position on the covenants to vary from the position that Brother [E. J.] Waggoner has presented." Letter 59, 1890, p. 6. (To Uriah Smith, March 8, 1890.)

"Since I made the statement last Sabbath that the view of the covenants as it had been taught by Brother Waggoner was truth, it seems that great relief has come to many minds."--Letter 30, 1890, p. 2. (To W. C. White and wife, March 10, 1890.)

For more on this subject look at the booklets Stand by the Landmarks as well as Discarding Augustine's Covenant Glasses. See also Gospel in Galatians by E.J Waggoner; The Two Covenants in Galatians by A.T. Jones and Calvary at Sinai by Paul Penno

Those who reject the teachings of Waggoner and Jones on the Covenants cannot be considered the wise who bring many to righteousness because this is the message that lays the foundation to receive the latter rain to receive righteousness. 

We should also mention that to be wise you need to believe in the Wisdom of God? The Wisdom of God is the begotten Son of God. 

1 Cor 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom [G4678] of God.

1 Cor 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind [G3563] of Christ. 

Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. [G4678] Let him that hath understanding [G3563] count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Dan 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise [G3540 LXX] shall understand.

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds [G3540] through Christ Jesus.

In order to have wisdom you need the mind of Christ and therefore you must be a worshipper of the only begotten Son of the Father. If one worships the god of Babylon then Daniel will have these words to say to them

Dan 2:27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;

Therefore those within Adventism that do not confess the name of the begotten Son can't have the mind of Christ sufficiently as expressed in these Scriptures and therefore can't have His wisdom to the point to have revealed the prophecies of Daniel 12 to them. A word to the wise!

Ellen White connects Daniel 12 to Hosea 14. It specially addresses the issue of coming out of Idolatry. A confession of any god that denies that Christ is begotten or brought forth from the Father is idolatry and such a mind is not one that can have wisdom required to unlock the prophecies of Daniel 12. The good news here is that Hosea 14 indicates that many will come out of their idolatry.   

"Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." "I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein." [Hosea 14] Those who dishonor God by transgressing his law may talk sanctification, but it is of that value, and just as acceptable, as the offering of Cain. Obedience to all the commandments of God is the only true sign of sanctification. Disobedience is the sign of disloyalty and apostasy.* {HM, July 1, 1897 par. 14}