Object of the Third Angels Message

Posted Jan 28, 2017 by Adrian Ebens in Character of God

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Here are the sermon notes

What is the desired outcome of the three messages of Revelation 14?

I want to read the first part and the last part:

Rev 14:7 Fear God, and give glory to him;

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

How do we give glory to God? How does Jesus give glory to God?

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,

If Jesus is the express image of the Father then He knows the Father

Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Jer 9:23-24 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: (24) But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

So what does it mean to give glory to God?

It means to know Him. It means to know His character and to reveal His character.

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

What is another word for God’s glory?

Isa 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Prov 22:1 A good name (character) is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

So giving glory to God is revealing his name or character.

Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

So to have the Father’s name in your forehead is to have the Father character. This is the object of the Three Angels to give us the character of our Father.

So how do we know God’s character?

Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

What Did Jesus do? Glorify His Father. Which means that Jesus revealed the Father’s character. He says it again in verse 6

Joh 17:6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

Jesus manifested the Father’s name which is the same as saying the He glorified the Father.

Where did Jesus glorify the Father? On Earth – Verse 4

What does this mean, On earth? Verse 6

I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world.

Who are these men? The disciples

Joh 14:7-9 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. (8) Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

So Christ revealed the character of His Father to the men that God gave him out of the world which were His disciples. When Christ had done this what did Christ say of His work

Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

Christ exalted the character of God, attributing to him the praise, and giving to him the credit, of the whole purpose of his own mission on earth,—to set men right through the revelation of God. In Christ was arrayed before men the paternal grace and the matchless perfections of the Father. In his prayer just before his crucifixion, he declared, “I have manifested thy name.” “I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” When the object of his mission was attained,—the revelation of God to the world,—the Son of God announced that his work was accomplished, and that the character of the Father was made manifest to men. {ST January 20, 1890, par. 9}

So in finishing this work of revealing God’s character does this mean that Christ revealed all of God’s character on Earth?

The whole character of God was revealed in his Son, the whole range of the possibilities of heaven is displayed for the acceptance of man in the Son of the Infinite One. The way for man’s return to God and heaven has no barriers. The matchless depths of the Saviour’s love have been demonstrated; and if this manifestation of God’s love for the children of men does not prevail to draw men to himself, there is nothing that ever will. — Signs of the Times, December 30, 1889, par. 6 - Ellen G. White

So when Jesus cried on the cross It is finished what was it that he finished?

Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

What did God provide for us in this finished work?

God has left nothing undone that He could do for us. He gave a perfect example of His character in the character of His Son; and it is the work of Christ's followers, as they behold the incomparable excellency of His life and character, to grow in His likeness. As they look unto Jesus and respond to His love, they will reflect the image of Christ (Review and Herald, Feb. 15, 1898).

Christ is our pattern, the perfect and holy example that has been given us to follow. Man 65, 1894

Again, lets get this clear – when was the pattern set?

I have glorified thee ON EARTH, John 17:4
I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gave me – The 12 disciples.

Christ alone could represent the Father to humanity, and this representation the disciples had been privileged to behold for over three years. DA 664

In how many years did Jesus reveal the character of the Father fully? Over 3 years. The 3 and half years of his ministry.

Joh 17:12 While I was with them [the disciples] in the world, I kept them in thy name: [character] those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; [Judas]that the scripture might be fulfilled.

So the earthly life of Jesus is our perfect pattern to copy and is the full and complete revelation of the Father. This is the work that Jesus came to fulfil on earth. This is how we receive the a Father’s name in the forehead. We study the life of Christ on earth and behold it and pray for it and believe we receive it.

2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Those who are workers together with God will just as surely represent the character of Christ as Christ represented the character of His Father while in this world.—Medical Ministry, 24. {CME 8.1}

So our work is to study through the Scriptures the character of God through the earthly life of Christ for this is the complete revelation of the Father

When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own. {COL 69.1}.

So what do we learn of Christ while on Earth?

In describing His earthly mission, Jesus said, The Lord "hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." Luke 4:18. This was His work. He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by Satan. There were whole villages where there was not a moan of sickness in any house, for He had passed through them and healed all their sick. His work gave evidence of His divine anointing. Love, mercy, and compassion were revealed in every act of [12] His life; His heart went out in tender sympathy to the children of men. He took man's nature, that He might reach man's wants. The poorest and humblest were not afraid to approach Him. Even little children were attracted to Him. They loved to climb upon His knees and gaze into the pensive face, benignant with love. {SC 11.2}

Jesus did not suppress one word of truth, but He uttered it always in love. He exercised the greatest tact and thoughtful, kind attention in His intercourse with the people. He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul. He did not censure human weakness. He spoke the truth, but always in love. He denounced hypocrisy, unbelief, and iniquity; but tears were in His voice as He uttered His scathing rebukes. He wept over Jerusalem, the city He loved, which refused to receive Him, the way, the truth, and the life. They had rejected Him, the Saviour, but He regarded them with pitying tenderness. His life was one of self-denial and thoughtful care for others. Every soul was precious in His eyes. While He ever bore Himself with divine dignity, He bowed with the tenderest regard to every member of the family of God. In all men He saw fallen souls whom it was His mission to save. {SC 12.1}

Did Jesus keep his Father’s commandments?

John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Jesus kept the commandments of God. 1SM 313

Christ came to our world to represent the character of God as it is represented in His holy law; for His law is a transcript of His character. 2 SM 106

So Jesus had no other Gods, He did not make any graven image, no take His Father’s name in vain. He kept the Sabbath, He honoured his parents, he did not commit adultery, He did not steal bear false witness or covet.

But Did Jesus obey the commandment thou shalt not kill?

"Herod and the wicked authorities killed the Just One, but Christ never killed anyone, and we may attribute the spirit of persecution—because men want liberty of conscience—to its origin—Satan." Ms62-1886.64

Jesus never killed anyone on while on earth.

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Are we sure this is true? What about the stories in the Old Testament?

Num 11:1 And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

Gen 6:13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Gen 19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

Jos 10:40 So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded.

2 Sam 6:7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

Jos 5:13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

This is a vital point.

Is Jesus never killed anyone while on earth but is understood to have killed many people in the Old testament then Jesus did not reveal all of the character of God while on earth.

How is this reconciled? Here is one explanation that is common

There are two different Hebrew words (ratsakh, mut) and two Greek words (phoneuo, apokteino) for “murder” and “killing.” One means “to put to death,” and the other means “to murder.” The latter one is the one prohibited by the Ten Commandments, not the former. In fact, ratsakh has a broader definition than the English word “murder.” Ratsakh also covers deaths due to carelessness or neglect but is never used when describing killing during wartime. That is why most modern translations render the sixth commandment “You shall not murder” rather than “You shall not kill.” However, a very large issue can arise depending on which translation one studies. The ever-popular King James Version renders the verse as “Thou shalt not kill,” therefore opening the door to misinterpreting the verse altogether. If the intended meaning of “Thou shalt not kill” was just that—no killing—it would render all of the God-endorsed bloodletting done by the nation of Israel a violation of God’s own commandment (Deuteronomy 20). But God does not break His own commandments, so, clearly, the verse does not call for a complete moratorium on the taking of another human life. https://www.gotquestions.org/you-shall-not-murder.html

So the plain reading of the Bible Thou shalt not kill has to be explained by showing the difference between two Hebrew words. Mooth which is interpreted as judicial killing and ratsach which is interpreted as murder. If this explanation is correct then we should find no examples in the Bible where muth means to murder someone.

Num 16:41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed [H4191] the people of the LORD.

1Sa 19:1,2 And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill [H4191] David. But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: [H4191] now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:

1Sa 20:31-33 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die. [H4194 – death natural or violent]. And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? [H4191] what hath he done? And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay [H4191]David.

1Sa 22:17 And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew [H4191] on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

2Sa 4:7 For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew [H4191] him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.

1 Kings 11:40 Solomon sought therefore to kill [H4191] Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

2Ki 11:2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; [H4191] and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.

2Ki 11:2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's sons who were being murdered; [H4191] and they hid him and his nurse in the bedroom, from Athaliah, so that he was not killed.

There are many examples in the Bible where muth means to murder or assassinate. So this word does not only relate to natural death or a righteous judicial killing.

What about Ratsach? Did God ever command people to be Ratsached?

Num 35:30 Whoso killeth any person, the murderer[H7523] shall be put to death[H7523] by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.

Doesn’t this suggest then that God commands the breaking of His own commandments?

How are these things to be reconciled?

The Divine Pattern of Old and New Testament?

The Law entering causing sin to abound. Rom 5:20; Matt 15:22

The separation of justice from mercy

The revelation of God in the commandments and how sin is punished?

The mirror principle – seeing his natural face.

The Law of God is a mirror and reflects back to us what is in our hearts to bless the righteous and reveal the sin in the wicked that they should seek mercy and be saved.

Whatever we understand from Scripture is the character of Christ is what will be written into our hearts.

Afternoon Study as continuation of the sermon