More
on Armageddon--Spiritual or Literal Battle With Martyrs?
Click to go to our Home PageDear Reader, Many peace and safety minded professing Seventh-day
Adventists are teaching that Armageddon and Ezekiel 9 is only a spiritual
battle at the end-time. This is
Satan’s device to subdue his victims at the end-time. They will be so overpowered by the
following facts contrary to their peace and safety teaching now, that they
will fold in the crisis. They will
become cowards and apostatize in the time of persecution. These peace and safety teachers now, will
be fearful cowards when the real Armageddon arrives. In Revelation 21, it says that the fearful will not
be saved. What does that mean? Rev 21:8 But
the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second
death. Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such
as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall
be. Notice the Thayer's Lexicon definition
for fearful as used in Revelation . It refers to Christians who are
cowards and cave in and apostatize when under persecution. Ellen White
said that our worst fear will be that all our sins have not been
confessed. The individual who has bought faith, love, the Holy Spirit
and the righteousness of Christ's character, will fear, but will not
apostatize under pressure and persecution. True Christians are not
cowards. But it will be a fearful time for all because it will be the
worst time of trouble earth has ever experienced. So those who appear
brave now by saying "bring it on," may well be the very ones who
will cave in to the persecution later.
If one believes Ellen White and John the Revelator,
one will believe the battle of Armageddon to be both a physical, literal battle
as well as a spiritual battle. What follows is all of Ellen White's
commentary on Rev. chapters 16 and 17. Also, the sudden destruction
mentioned in 1TH 5:3, is indicative of physical battle. If one thinks
that Satan is going to give up without a battle, one is most naive
spiritually and otherwise! It is NOT the representatives of God on this
forum who are saying that it will only be a spiritual battle. It will
be both--spiritual and literal. Ezekiel 5 and 9 will be manifest.
1Th 5:3 For
when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction
cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not
escape. Consider this friend, if only the 144,000 are
translated without seeing death. That means there will be many martyrs, but
they will be saved if faithful. The
fact that there are martyrs in the last days is another distinction between
the 144,000. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the
time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
John 16:2. Every individual
in our world will be arrayed under one of two banners. {Mar 199.1} The
two armies will stand distinct and separate, and this distinction will be so marked that many who shall be
convinced of truth will come on the side of God's commandment-keeping people.
When this grand work is to take place in the battle, prior to the last
closing conflict, many will be imprisoned, many will flee for their lives
from cities and towns, and many will be martyrs for Christ's sake
in standing in defense of the truth. {Mar 199.2} By the
decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of
God, our nation [the As the
approach of the Roman armies was a sign to the disciples of the impending
destruction of Jerusalem, so may this apostasy be a sign to us that the limit
of God's forbearance is reached, that the measure of our nation's iniquity is
full, and that the angel of mercy is about to take her flight, never to
return. The people of God will then be plunged into those scenes of
affliction and distress which prophets have described as the time of Jacob's
trouble. The cries of the faithful, persecuted ones ascend to heaven. And as
the blood of Abel cried from the ground, there are voices also crying to God
from martyrs' graves, from the sepulchers of the sea, from mountain caverns, from convents vaults: "How
long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them
that dwell on the earth? {Mar 199.4} When the
fifth seal was opened, John the Revelator in vision saw beneath the altar the
company that were slain for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus
Christ. After this came the scenes described in the eighteenth of Revelation,
when those who are faithful and true are called out from Christ
will restore the life taken; for He is the Life-giver: He will beautify the
righteous with immortal life. {Mar 199.6} Some
Martyrs Before the National Death Decree “In some cases, BEFORE the time
specified in the decree, enemies will rush upon the waiting ones to put them
to death.” E.G. White, The 1884
edition of The Great Controversy,
p. 447. I think of the Shepherd’s Rod factions who
believe they are the ones who do the slaughtering of Ezekiel 9. Will they be the ones who kill Adventists
before the death decree? Those who
leave the church when they should will not be the subjects slain by such evil
men. Remember, these Shepherd’s Rod
elements do not believe in leaving the church. They sit in the pews of SDA churches in the
land every Sabbath morn. However, the Saints will be obscure to such elements
in the church because they will long before have left and will not be known
to such men (nominal Adventists). And
remember, a nominal Adventist is also one that does not accept present truth: "Nominal Adventists.--"Those who united in sounding the
first and second angels' messages but who rejected the third angel's message
with its Sabbath truth, but nonetheless continued to espouse the Advent hope,
are referred to by Mrs. White as the 'nominal Adventists.' or those who 'reject the present
truth'(p. 69), also 'different parties of professed Advent believers
(page 124)...those who 'reject the present truth.." Early Writings, p.
299, Appendix. "I saw the nominal church and nominal Adventists, like
Judas, would betray us to the Catholics to obtain their influence to come
against the truth. The saints then
will be an obscure [hidden] people, little known to the Catholics but
the churches and nominal Adventists who know of our faith and customs (for
they hate us on account of the Sabbath, for they could not refute it) will
betray the saints and report them to the Catholics as those who disregard the
institutions of the people that is, that they keep the Sabbath and disregard
Sunday. Then the Catholics bid the Protestants to go forward, and issue a
decree that all who will not observe the first day of the week, instead of
the seventh day, shall be slain. And the Catholics, whose numbers are large,
will stand by the Protestants. The Catholics will give their power to the
image of the beast. And the Protestants will work as their mother worked
before them to destroy the saints. But before their decree bring or bear
fruit, the saints will be delivered by the Voice of God. Then I saw that
Jesus' work in the sanctuary will soon be finished. And after His work there
is finished, He will come to the door of the first apartment, and confess the
sins of The great white cloud I saw was not the holy place, but entirely
separate from the holy and most holy place, entirely separate from the
sanctuary. Then the angel repeated these words, and said, 'This is the time
spoken of in Isaiah. He saw that there was not man, and wondered that there
was no intercessor. He had no mediator between God and man, and these plagues
could be withheld no longer, for Jesus had ceased to plead for Israel, and
they were covered with the covering of the Almighty God, and they could live
in the sight of a holy God, and those who were not covered, the plagues fell
upon them, for they had nothing to shelter or protect them from the wrath of
God." E.G. White, Chap. 10.
- The Little Time of Trouble A Time of Trouble Before
Probation Closes On page
33 [of Early Writings] is given the following: ". . . At the
commencement of the time of trouble, we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we
went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully." {LDE 143.1} This view
was given in 1847 when there were but very few of the Advent brethren
observing the Sabbath, and of these but few supposed that its observance was
of sufficient importance to draw a line between the people of God and
unbelievers. Now the fulfillment of that view is beginning to be seen.
"The commencement of that time of trouble," here mentioned, does
not refer to the time when the plagues shall begin to be poured out, but to a
short period just before they are poured out, while Christ is in the
sanctuary. At that time, while the work of salvation is closing, trouble will
be coming on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in check so
as not to prevent the work of the third angel.--EW 85, 86 (1854). {LDE 143.2} The End of
Religious The law of
God, through the agency of Satan, is to be made void. In our land of boasted
freedom religious liberty will come to an end. The contest will be decided
over the Sabbath question, which will agitate the whole world.--Ev 236
(1875). {LDE 144.1} A great
crisis awaits the people of God. Very soon our nation will attempt to enforce
upon all the observance of the first day of the week as a sacred day. In
doing this they will not scruple to compel men against the voice of their own
conscience to observe the day the nation declares to be the Sabbath.--RH
Extra, Dec. 11, 1888. {LDE 144.2}
Seventh-day Adventists will fight the battle over the seventh-day
Sabbath. The authorities in the The
Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands
across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the
abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this
threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling
on the rights of conscience.--GC 588 (1911). {LDE 144.4}
Church and State Oppose God's People All who
will not bow to the decree of the national councils and obey the national
laws to exalt the sabbath instituted by the man of sin, to the disregard of
God's holy day, will feel, not the oppressive power of popery alone, but of
the Protestant world, the image of the beast.--2SM 380 (1886). {LDE 145.1} Those
religious bodies who refuse to hear God's messages of warning will be under
strong deception and will unite with the civil power to persecute the saints.
The Protestant churches will unite with the papal power in persecuting the
commandment-keeping people of God. . . . {LDE 145.2} This
lamb-like power unites with the dragon in making war upon those who keep the
commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.--14MR 162 (1899).
{LDE 145.3} The
church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and in this work papists and
Protestants unite.--GC 607 (1911). {LDE 145.4} Before the Courts
Those who
live during the last days of this earth's history will know what it means to
be persecuted for the truth's sake. In the courts injustice will prevail. The
judges will refuse to listen to the reasons of those who are loyal to the
commandments of God because they know the arguments in favor of the fourth
146 commandment are unanswerable. They will say,
"We have a law, and by our law he ought to die." God's law is
nothing to them. "Our law" with them is supreme. Those who respect
this human law will be favored, but those who will not bow to the idol
sabbath have no favors shown them.--ST May 26, 1898. {LDE 145.5} In cases
where we are brought before the courts, we are to give up our rights, unless
it brings us in collision with God. It is not our rights we are pleading for,
but God's right to our service.--5MR 69 (1895). {LDE 146.1}
Adventists Will Be Treated With Contempt The same
masterful mind that plotted against the faithful in ages past is still
seeking to rid the earth of those who fear God and obey His law. . . . {LDE
146.2} Wealth,
genius, education, will combine to cover them with contempt. Persecuting
rulers, ministers, and church members will conspire against them. With voice
and pen, by boasts, threats, and ridicule, they will seek to overthrow their
faith.--5T 450 (1885). {LDE 146.3} There
will come a time when, because of our advocacy of Bible truth, we shall be
treated as traitors.--6T 394 (1900). {LDE 146.4} Those who
honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order, as
breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing anarchy and
corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth. Their
conscientious scruples will
147 be pronounced obstinacy, stubbornness, and contempt
of authority. They will be accused of disaffection toward the government.--GC
592 (1911). {LDE 146.5} All who
in that evil day would fearlessly serve God according to the dictates of
conscience, will need courage, firmness, and a knowledge of God and His Word,
for those who are true to God will be persecuted, their motives will be impugned,
their best efforts misinterpreted, and their names cast out as evil.--AA 431,
432 (1911). {LDE 147.1} All Kinds of
Persecution The
persecutions of Protestants by Romanism, by which the religion of Jesus
Christ was almost annihilated, will be more than rivaled when Protestantism
and popery are combined.--3SM 387 (1889). {LDE 147.2} Satan has
a thousand masked batteries which will be opened upon the loyal,
commandment-keeping people of God to compel them to violate
conscience.--Letter 30a, 1892. {LDE 147.3} We need
not be surprised at anything that may take place now. We need not marvel at
any developments of horror. Those who trample under their unholy feet the law
of God have the same spirit as had the men who insulted and betrayed Jesus.
Without any compunctions of conscience they will do the deeds of their father
the devil.--3SM 416 (1897). {LDE 147.4} Let those
who desire to be refreshed in mind and instructed in the truth study the history
of the early church during and immediately following the Day of Pentecost.
Study carefully in the book of Acts the experiences of Paul and the other
apostles, for God's people in our day must pass through similar
experiences.--PC 118 (1907). {LDE 148.1}
Every Earthly Support Will Be Cut Off Hoarded
wealth will soon be worthless. When the decree shall go forth that none shall
buy or sell except they have the mark of the beast, very much means will be
of no avail. God calls for us now to do all in our power to send forth the
warning to the world.--RH March 21, 1878. {LDE 148.2} The time
is coming when we cannot sell at any price. The decree will soon go forth
prohibiting men to buy or sell of any man save him that hath the mark of the
beast. We came near having this realized in In the
last great conflict in the controversy with Satan those who are loyal to God
will see every earthly support cut off. Because they refuse to break His law
in obedience to earthly powers they will be forbidden to buy or sell.--DA
121, 122 (1898). {LDE 148.4} Satan
says . . . "For fear of wanting food and clothing they will join with
the world in transgressing God's law. The earth will be wholly under my
dominion."--PK 183, 184 (c. 1914). {LDE 149.1}
Some Are Imprisoned for Their Faith Some will
be imprisoned because they refuse to desecrate the Sabbath of the Lord.--PC
118 (1907). {LDE 149.2} As the defenders of truth refuse to honor
the Sunday-sabbath some of them will be thrust into prison, some will be
exiled, some will be treated as slaves. To human wisdom all this now seems
impossible, but as the restraining Spirit of God shall be withdrawn from men
and they shall be under the control of Satan, who hates the divine precepts,
there will be strange developments. The heart can be very cruel when God's
fear and love are removed.--GC 608 (1911). {LDE 149.3} If we are
called to suffer for Christ's sake, we shall be able to go to prison trusting
in Him as a little child trusts in its parents. Now is the time to cultivate
faith in God.--OHC 357 (1892). {LDE 149.4} Many Will Be Put to
Death The best
thing for us is to come into close connection with God and, if He would have
us be martyrs for the truth's sake, it may be the means of bringing many more
into the truth.--3SM 420 (1886). {LDE 149.5} Many
will be imprisoned, many will flee for their lives from cities and towns, and
many will be martyrs for Christ's sake in standing in defense of the
truth.--3SM 397 (1889). {LDE 150.1} There is
a prospect before us of a continued struggle, at the risk of imprisonment,
loss of property and even of life itself, to defend the law of God.--5T 712
(1889). {LDE 150.2} Men will
be required to render obedience to human edicts in violation of the divine
law. Those who are true to God will be menaced, denounced, proscribed. They
will be "betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and
friends," even unto death.--PK 588 (c. 1914). {LDE 150.3} We are
not to have the courage and fortitude of martyrs of old until brought into
the position they were in. . . . Should there be a return of persecution
there would be grace given to arouse every energy of the soul to show a true
heroism.--OHC 125 (1889). {LDE 150.4} The
disciples were not endowed with the courage and fortitude of the martyrs
until such grace was needed.--DA 354 (1898). {LDE 150.5}
How to Stand Firm Under Persecution We shall
find that we must let loose of all hands except the hand of Jesus Christ.
Friends will prove treacherous and will betray us. Relatives, deceived by the
enemy, will think they do God service in opposing
151 us and putting forth the utmost efforts to bring us
into hard places, hoping we will deny our faith. But we may trust our hand in
the hand of Christ amid darkness and peril.--Mar 197 (1889). {LDE 150.6} The only
way in which men will be able to stand firm in the conflict is to be rooted
and grounded in Christ. They must receive the truth as it is in Jesus. And it
is only as the truth is presented thus that it can meet the wants of the
soul. The preaching of Christ crucified, Christ our righteousness, is what
satisfies the soul's hunger. When we secure the interest of the people in
this great central truth, faith and hope and courage come to the heart.--GCDB
Jan. 28, 1893. {LDE 151.1} Many,
because of their faith, will be cut off from house and heritage here, but if
they will give their hearts to Christ, receiving the message of His grace,
and resting upon their Substitute and Surety, even the Son of God, they may
still be filled with joy.--ST June 2, 1898. {LDE 151.2}
Persecution Scatters God's People As enmity
is aroused in various places against those who observe the Sabbath of the
Lord, it may become necessary for God's people to move from those places to
places where they will not be so bitterly opposed. {LDE 151.3} God does
not require His children to remain where, by the course of wicked men, their
influence is made of no effect and their lives endangered. When liberty
152 and life are imperiled it is not merely our
privilege, it is our positive duty to go to places where the people are
willing to hear the Word of life and where the opportunities for preaching
the Word will be more favorable.--Ms 26, 1904. {LDE 151.4} The time
is soon coming when God's people, because of persecution, will be scattered
in many countries. Those who have received an all-round education will have
the advantage where they are.--5MR 280 (1908). {LDE 152.1} Persecution Leads
to Unity Among God's
People When the storm
of persecution really breaks upon us, the true sheep will hear the true
Shepherd's voice. Self-denying efforts will be put forth to save the lost,
and many who have strayed from the fold will come back to follow the great
Shepherd. The people of God will draw together and present to the enemy a
united front. In view of the common peril strife for supremacy will cease,
there will be no disputing as to who shall be accounted greatest.--6T 401
(1900). {LDE 152.2} A Crisis Makes God's
Interference More
Marked From time
to time the Lord has made known His manner of working. He is mindful of what
is passing upon the earth. And when a crisis has come, He has revealed
Himself and has interposed to hinder the working of Satan's plans. He has
often permitted
153 matters with nations, with families, and with
individuals to come to a crisis that His interference might become marked. Then
He has let the fact be known that there was a God in When the
defiance of the law of Jehovah shall be almost universal, when His people
shall be pressed in affliction by their fellow men, God will interpose. The
fervent prayers of His people will be answered, for He loves to have His
people seek Him with all their heart and depend upon Him as their
Deliverer.--RH June 15, 1897. {LDE 153.1} For a
time the oppressors will be permitted to triumph over those who know God's
holy commandments. . . . To the last, God permits Satan to reveal his
character as a liar, an accuser, and a murderer. Thus the final triumph of
His people is made more marked, more glorious, more full and complete.--3SM
414 (1904). {LDE 153.2} Affliction Purifies
God's People Soon
there is to be trouble all over the world. It becomes everyone to seek to
know God. We have no time to delay. . . . {LDE 153.3} God's
love for His church is infinite. His care over His heritage is unceasing. He
suffers no affliction to come upon the church but such as is essential for
her purification, her present and eternal good. He will purify His church
even as He purified the temple at the beginning and close of His ministry on
earth. All that He brings upon the church in test and trial comes
154 that His people may gain deeper piety and more
strength to carry the triumphs of the cross to all parts of the world.--9T
228 (1909). {LDE 153.4}
Afflictions, crosses, temptations, adversity, and our varied trials
are God's workmen to refine us, sanctify us, and fit us for the heavenly
garner.--3T 115 (1872). {LDE 154.1} Ellen
White Commentary on Revelation Chapter 16 1-21 (ch. 6:13-17; Ps.
46:1-3; Matt. 24:7). John Witnessed Terrors of the Last Days.--John . . . was
a witness of the terrible scenes that will take place as signs of Christ's
coming. He saw armies
mustering for battle, and men's hearts failing them for fear. He saw the earth moved out of its place, the
mountains carried into the midst of the sea, the waves thereof roaring and
troubled, and the mountains shaking with the swelling thereof. He saw the vials of God's wrath opened,
and pestilence, famine, and death come upon the inhabitants of the earth (RH Jan. 11, 1887). {7BC 982.3} 13-16 (chs. 13:13, 14;
17:13, 14; 19:11-16; see EGW on ch. 7:1-3). Battle of Armageddon Soon to Be Fought.--There
are only two parties in our world, those who are loyal to God, and those who
stand under the banner of the prince of darkness. Satan and his angels will come down with
power and signs and lying wonders to deceive those who dwell on the earth,
and if possible the very elect. The
crisis is right upon us. Is this to paralyze the energies of those who have a
knowledge of the truth? Is the influence of the powers of deception so far
reaching that the influence of the truth will be overpowered? {7BC 982.4} The battle of Armageddon is
soon to be fought. He on whose vesture is written the name, King of kings and
Lord of lords, leads forth the armies of heaven on white horses, clothed in
fine linen, clean and white (MS 172, 1899). {7BC 982.5} Every form of evil is to spring into
intense activity. Evil angels unite their powers with evil
men, and as they have been in constant conflict and attained an experience in
the best modes of deception and battle, and have been strengthening for centuries,
they will not yield the last great final contest without a desperate struggle. All the world will be on one side or the other of
the question. The battle of Armageddon will be fought, and that day must find
none of us sleeping. Wide awake we must be, as wise virgins having oil in our
vessels with our lamps. . . . {7BC 982.6} The power of the Holy Ghost
must be upon us, and the Captain of the Lord's host will stand at the head of the
angels of heaven to direct the battle. Solemn events before us are yet to transpire.
Trumpet after trumpet is to be sounded, vial after vial poured out one after
another upon the inhabitants of the earth. Scenes of stupendous interest are
right upon us (Letter 112, 1890). {7BC 982.7} 14-16 (Eph. 6:12; see EGW on
Rev. 5:11). Two Opposing Powers.-- Two great (Ch. 12:12.) Satan Mustering His Forces for Last Battle.--The present is a solemn, fearful time for the
church. The angels are already girded, awaiting the mandate of God to pour
their vials of wrath upon the world. Destroying angels are taking up the work
of vengeance; for the Spirit of God is gradually withdrawing from the world. Satan is also mustering his forces of
evil, going forth "unto the kings of the earth and of the whole
world," to gather them under his banner, to be trained for "the
battle of that great day of God Almighty." Satan is to make most powerful
efforts for the mastery in the last great conflict. Fundamental principles will be brought out, and
decisions made in regard to them. Skepticism is prevailing everywhere.
Ungodliness abounds. The faith of individual members of the church will be
tested as though there were not another person in the world (MS 1a, 1890).
{7BC 983.1} 14-17 (ch. 18:1). The
Armies of God Take the Field.--We need to study the pouring out of the
seventh vial. The
powers of evil will not yield up the conflict without a struggle. But 1-5 (chs. 13:11-17; 18:1-5;
2 Thess. 2:7-12). Deceiver of All Nations.--In the seventeenth of Revelation
is foretold the
destruction of all the churches who corrupt themselves by idolatrous devotion
to the service of the papacy, those who have drunk of the wine of the wrath
of her fornication. [Rev.
17:1-4 quoted.] {7BC 983.3} Thus is represented the
papal power, which with all deceivableness of unrighteousness, by outside
attraction and gorgeous display, deceives all nations; promising them, as did
Satan our first parents, all good to those who receive its mark, and all harm
to those who oppose its fallacies. The power which has the deepest inward corruption will make
the greatest display, and will clothe itself with the most elaborate signs of
power. The Bible plainly
declares that this covers a corrupt and deceiving wickedness. "Upon her
forehead was a name written, Mystery, What is it that gives its
kingdom to this power? Protestantism, a power which, while professing to have
the temper and spirit of a lamb and to be allied to Heaven, speaks with the
voice of a dragon. It is moved by a power from beneath (Letter 232, 1899).
{7BC 983.5} 13, 14 (chs. 13:11-17;
16:13-16). A
Confederacy of Satan's Forces.--[Rev.
17:13, 14 quoted.] "These have one mind." There will be a universal bond of union,
one great harmony, a confederacy of Satan's forces. "And shall give
their power and strength unto the beast." Thus is manifested the same arbitrary,
oppressive power against religious liberty, freedom to worship God according
to the dictates of conscience, as was manifested by the papacy, when in the
past it persecuted those who dared to refuse to conform with the religious
rites and ceremonies of Romanism. {7BC 983.6} In the warfare to be waged in the last
days there will be united, in opposition to God's people, all the corrupt
powers that have apostatized from allegiance to the law of Jehovah. In
this warfare the Sabbath of the fourth commandment will be the great point at
issue; for in the Sabbath commandment the great Lawgiver identifies Himself
as the Creator of the heavens and the earth (MS 24, 1891). {7BC 983.7} 14. Christ Glorified in the
Last Crisis.--As Christ was glorified on the day of Pentecost, so will He
again be glorified in the closing work of the gospel, when He shall prepare a
people to stand the final test, in the closing conflict of the great
controversy (RH Nov. 29, 1892). {7BC 983.8} He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will
be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. Ps. 91:15. The
people of God will not be free from suffering; but while persecuted and
distressed, while they endure privation and suffer for want of food they will
not be left to perish. . . . {Mar 277.1} God bless all who heed these warnings, Ron Beaulieu |