The
Late Visionary J. Wilfred Johnson
On
The
Special Resurrection
Versus
Andrew Henriques
“God would be honored by making a covenant with those who
had kept His law, in the sight of the heathen round about them; and Jesus would
be honored by translating, without their seeing death, the faithful, waiting
ones who had so long expected Him.” {EW 282.2}
They don’t see
death by persecution in the plagues, but some will see death since the sealing
commenced in 1848 but are raised in the Daniel 12:2 special resurrection.
“Some
of the 144,000 who are sleeping are raised during the seventh plague. Only the 144,000 hear the covenant of peace;”
Note by Ron: The author of the article wrongly presumes that because “God would be honored by making a covenant with those who had kept His law, in the sight of the heathen around them…” that only the 144,000 hear the covenant of peace. That is not true, to wit:
“Graves are
opened, and “many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth. . . awake, some
to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2. All who have died in the faith
of the third angel’s message come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God’s covenant of
peace with those who have kept His law. “They also which pierced Him”
(Revelation 1:7), those that mocked and derided Christ’s dying agonies, and the
most violent opposers of His truth and His people, are raised to behold Him in
His glory and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and obedient. {GC 637.1}
The reason the author says that
only the 144,000 hear the covenant of peace, is because the burden of his
article is to prove that all SDA’s who go to heaven are one of the 144,000. He
errantly assumes that from the following statement:
“God would be honored by making a covenant with those who had kept His law, in the sight of the heathen round about them; and Jesus would be honored by translating, without their seeing death, the faithful, waiting ones who had so long expected Him.” {EW 282.2}
Continued: Note by Ron: God makes
a covenant BOTH with those who die and are raised at the special resurrection
to be with the 144,000, AND THE 144,000. They BOTH hear the covenant of peace
that God makes with those who had kept His law. They are both law keepers, but
those who are raised from the dead don’t fulfill all the conditions for being
one of the 144,000. I cite those conditions near the end of this document.
“The graves were opened, and
those who had died in faith under the third angel’s message, keeping the
Sabbath, came forth from their dusty beds, glorified, to hear the covenant of peace that God was to make
with those who had kept His law.” {EW 285.1}
“The living
saints, 144,000 in number,
knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder
and an earthquake. When God spoke the time, He poured upon us the Holy Ghost,
and our faces began to light up and shine with the glory of God, as Moses’ did
when he came down from Mount Sinai.” {EW 14.1}
There is an
“apparent” conflict between the above two statements and Ellen White’s below
(further down) definition of the 144,000, that they are… “the remnant of the church represents the Christians of the last
generation of men, living just prior to the second advent….” “whom God designs
to fit for translation to heaven without seeing death.”
Elder
Johnson said that Regeneration resolves all “apparent” contradiction by Ellen
White on the issue of the resurrection. He said that the opening of the graves
of those “…who had died in faith under the third angel’s message, keeping the
Sabbath, came forth from their dusty beds, glorified, to hear the covenant of peace that God was to make
with those who had kept His law” are those who were Regenerated, but did
not qualify to be one of the 144,000.
The 144,000
are those who are translated without seeing death. Both of
these groups derive ONLY from faithful Adventists.
Quote by
Elder J. Wilfred Johnson:
“All those
whose characters are righteous but who have not attained to the fullness of the
stature of Christ, who have depended upon the substitutionary merits of
Christ’s righteousness to obtain their ticket to salvation, (they all have, for
that matter, but in a different sense) – those who have not attained to the
complete fullness of the stature of Christ but who still manifest shortcomings
and faults, but who nevertheless believe in the Lord Jesus as their personal
Saviour, and who are co-operative with the government of heaven – I say these,
whose characters have also been tested since 1844, are the great multitude who will be laid to sleep again but on whom the
second death will have no power; for at the coming of Jesus they will be raised
into the fullness of their former lives
They will
again receive their characters and their memories. In the investigative
judgment they received their characters but were unconscious of their former
existence, having not received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the sense
that the 144,000 will ultimately receive it.
But among
these there are those who have attained to the fullness of the stature of
Christ, coming from each era of the church’s history; and these characters will
all be reborn and re-appear in a special resurrection just before the coming of Christ. And it is through
this appearance that they receive the fullness of the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit in the final phase of the latter rain and are translated.” Elder J.
Wilfred Johnson, Panorama of Truth,
Vol. 1, p. 84.
Two Different SDA Groups in the Special Resurrection
There are
others who interpret all of the above in a very
different way, that makes Ellen White contradict herself. Also, their
interpretation makes ALL SAVED SDA’S ONE OF THE 144,000. That teaching makes a
lot of other E. G. White statements contradict one another. For example, her
clear definition of the 144,000 below. Elder Johnson’s view of Regeneration
does not make Ellen White contradict this statement. All other views do make
her contradict herself.
Ellen White’s
Definition of the 144,000
“The woman is a symbol of the church, and the remnant of the church represents the Christians of the last
generation of men, living just prior to the second advent. The dragon makes war on these for keeping the
commandments of God, Sabbath and all, and having the testimony of Jesus Christ,
which, according to the inspired definition of chapter 19:10, “is the spirit of
prophecy.” Here, then, are the causes of the
dragon’s warfare upon the remnant. They teach the observance of the Ten
Commandments, and the revival of the gifts, and acknowledge the gift of
prophecy among them. When the devil got one foot upon the fourth commandment,
and the other upon the gifts planted in the Christian church by Jesus Christ,
then his satanic majesty was filled with revengeful delight. But when the remnant, whom God designs to fit for translation to heaven
without seeing death, “ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk
therein,” then the dragon is wroth, and makes war on them. {3SG 26.2}
Could God
hold us responsible for interpreting Ellen White so as not to make her
contradict herself, as she instructed in the following statement?
“1. Every
word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible; 2. All
Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by diligent application and
study; 3. Nothing revealed in Scripture can or will be hid from those who ask
in faith, not wavering; 4. To understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures
together on the subject you wish to know, then let every word have its proper
influence; and if you can
form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in error; 5.
Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself. If I depend
on a teacher to expound to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to
have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be
thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom is my rule, and not
the Bible.” {RH November 25, 1884, par. 24}
The above is
a portion of these rules; and in our study of the Bible we shall all do well to
heed the principles set forth. {RH November 25, 1884, par. 25}
The same
principles should be used when applying the Spirit of Prophecy, which comes
from the same Holy Spirit from whom Bible prophets received their Spirit of
Prophecy. Why would the process be different with Ellen White?
“The word of the Lord, spoken through His servants, is received by many with questionings and fears. And many will defer their obedience to the warning and reproofs given, waiting till every shadow of uncertainty is removed from their minds. The unbelief that demands perfect knowledge will never yield to the evidence that God is pleased to give. He requires of His people faith that rests upon the weight of evidence, not upon perfect knowledge. Those followers of Christ who accept the light that God sends them must obey the voice of God speaking to them when there are many other voices crying out against it. It requires discernment to distinguish the voice of God.” {3T 258.2}
Notes by Ron: The next few
pages are by me until I say End of Note by Ron.
More Statements That Sound
Like Every SDA is one of the 144,000
“Graves are
opened, and “many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth. . . awake, some
to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2. All who have died in the faith
of the third angel’s message come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God’s
covenant of peace with those who have kept His law. “They also which
pierced Him” (Revelation 1:7), those that mocked and derided Christ’s dying
agonies, and the most violent opposers of His truth and His people, are raised
to behold Him in His glory and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and
obedient. {GC 637.1}
The 144,000 as Distinguished From Other SDA’s Who are Saved
“As we were traveling along, we met a company who also
were gazing at the glories of the place. I noticed red as a border on their
garments; their crowns were brilliant; their robes were pure white. As we
greeted them, I asked Jesus who they were. He said they were martyrs that had
been slain for Him. With them was an innumerable company of little ones; they
also had a hem of red on their garments. {CET 63.1}
Mount Zion was just before us, and on the mount was a
glorious temple, and about it were seven other mountains, on which grew roses
and lilies. And I saw the little ones climb, or, if they chose, use their
little wings and fly to the top of the mountains, and pluck the never-fading
flowers. There were all kinds of trees around the temple to beautify the place;
the box, the pine, the fir, the oil, the myrtle, the pomegranate, and the
fig-tree bowed down with the weight of its timely figs,—these
made the place all over glorious. And as we were about to enter the holy
temple, Jesus raised His lovely voice and said, “Only the 144,000 enter this place,” and we
shouted, “Alleluia.” {CET 63.2}
This temple was supported by seven pillars, all of transparent gold, set with pearls most glorious. The
wonderful things I there saw, I cannot describe. Oh, that I could talk in the
language of Canaan, then could I tell a little of the glory of the better
world. I saw there tables of stone in which the names
of the 144,000 were engraved in letters of gold. {CET 63.3}
After we beheld the glory of the temple, we went out, and
Jesus left us, and went to the city. Soon we heard His lovely voice again,
saying: “Come, My people, you have come out of great
tribulation, and done My will; suffered for Me; come in to supper, for I will
gird Myself, and serve you.” We shouted, “Alleluia! glory!” and entered into
the city.” {CET 64.1}
The Dead are Raised After
the 144,000 are Sealed
“While I was praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost
fell upon me, and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark
world. I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find
them, when a voice said to me, “Look again, and look a little higher.” At this
I raised my eyes, and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the
world. On this path the Advent people were traveling to the city, which was at
the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the
beginning of the path, which an angel told me was the midnight cry. This light
shone all along the path and gave light for their feet so that they might not
stumble. If they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them,
leading them to the city, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and said
the city was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then
Jesus would encourage them by raising His glorious right arm, and from His arm
came a light which waved over the Advent band, and they shouted, “Alleluia!”
Others rashly denied the light behind them and said that it was not God that
had led them out so far. The light behind them went out, leaving their feet in
perfect darkness, and they stumbled and lost sight of the mark and of Jesus,
and fell off the path down into the dark and wicked world below. Soon we heard the voice of God
like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus’ coming. The living
saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice, while the
wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake. When God spoke the time, He
poured upon us the Holy Ghost, and our faces began to light up and shine with
the glory of God, as Moses’ did when he came down from Mount Sinai. {CCh 33.1}
The 144,000 were
all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, God, New
Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus’ new name. At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and
would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us into prison, when we
would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and they would fall
helpless to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan [those
who chose to follow Satan] knew that God had loved us who could wash one
another’s feet and salute the brethren with a holy kiss, and they worshiped at
our feet. {CCh 33.2}
Soon our eyes were
drawn to the east, for a small black cloud had appeared, about half as large as
a man’s hand, which we all knew was the sign of the Son of man. We all in solemn silence
gazed on the cloud as it drew nearer and became lighter, glorious, and still
more glorious, till it was a great white cloud. The bottom appeared like fire;
a rainbow was over the cloud, while around it were ten
thousand angels, singing a most lovely song; and upon it sat the Son of man.
His hair was white and curly and lay on His shoulders; and upon His head were
many crowns. His feet had the appearance of fire; in His right hand was a sharp
sickle; in His left, a silver trumpet. His eyes were as a flame of fire, which
searched His children through and through. Then all faces gathered paleness,
and those that God had rejected gathered blackness. Then we all cried out, “Who
shall be able to stand? Is my robe spotless?” Then the angels ceased to sing,
and there was some time of awful silence, when Jesus spoke: “Those who have
clean hands and pure hearts shall be able to stand; My grace is sufficient for
you.” At this our faces lighted up, and joy filled every heart. And the angels
struck a note higher and sang again, while the cloud drew still nearer the
earth. {CCh 33.3}
Then Jesus’ silver trumpet sounded, as He descended on
the cloud, wrapped in flames of fire. He gazed on the graves of the sleeping
saints, then raised His eyes and hands to heaven, and cried, “Awake! awake! awake! ye that
sleep in the dust, and arise.” Then there was a mighty
earthquake. The graves opened, and the dead came up clothed with immortality.
The 144,000 shouted,
“Alleluia!” as they recognized their friends who had been torn from them by
death, and in the same moment we were changed and caught up together with them
to meet the Lord in the air.” {CCh 34.1}
Important Points to Observe
in the Above Statement
· The 144,000 are sealed
BEFORE the “dead” saints are later raised from their graves at the time of the
mighty earthquake.
· According to the above
statement, the graves of the dead don’t open until after Jesus comes and the mighty
earthquake takes place. At this point, it is too late for the “dead” buried in
literal graves in the earth to be tested by the wicked who were earlier rushing
violently up to lay hands
on us to thrust us into prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the
name of the Lord, and they would fall helpless to the ground.
· The violent who attacked the
144,000 earlier, BEFORE the dead are raised from their graves, are killed by
the brightness of Christ’s coming says Ellen White in other statements. So, these
could not be tested by the Great Time of Trouble, which is Satan’s final death
decree, by which
he attempts to destroy the saints in ONE NIGHT, The Great Controversy, p. 635.
“A decree went forth to slay the saints, which caused them to cry day and night
for deliverance. This was
the time of Jacob’s trouble. Then all the saints cried out with anguish of spirit,
and were delivered by the voice of God. The 144,000 triumphed. Their faces were lighted up
with the glory of God. Then I was shown a company who were howling in agony. On
their garments was written in large characters, “Thou art weighed in the
balance, and found wanting.” I asked who this company were. The angel said, “These are they who have once kept the
Sabbath and have given it up.” I heard them cry with a loud voice, “We have
believed in Thy coming, and taught it with energy.” And while they were
speaking, their eyes would fall upon their garments and see the writing, and
then they would wail aloud. I saw that they had drunk of the deep waters, and fouled the residue with their feet—trodden the
Sabbath underfoot—and that was why they were weighed in the balance and found
wanting. {EW 36.2}
· Thus, the dead who come out
of their graves could not in any way go through the time of trouble, and the
144,000 are described as coming out of Great Tribulation.
· Elder Johnson’s vision on
Regeneration solves all the cited problems by identifying those who come forth
from their graves in the special resurrection, as faithful Adventists who did
not qualify to be one of the 144,000. The other group who are in the special
resurrection of the living are the 144,000, who are translated without seeing
death, and who will have indeed lived through the Great Time of Jacob’s
Trouble, the FINAL death decree by Satan (GC 635). They then discover their true identity by “awakening” at this time to recognize one
another as well as their own true identity before they were Regenerated for the
Investigative Judgment. For example, the Regenerated disciples will recognize
one another at that time, and not before that time. This interpretation totally
conforms to the weight of evidence formula, by incurring NO CONTRADICTIONS.
This will be better appreciated as you read all of
this document. Regeneration is well documented in Sola Scriptura, and the
writings of Ellen G. White.
· Other scenarios (such as the
two false end-time charters) are saying that those who
come out of their graves at the 7th plague, do experience great
tribulation. That is not true. They don’t even experience those who rush upon
the 144,000 to slay them, because those enemies are slain by the brightness of
Christ’s coming, and those supposed as dead in literal graves of the earth, are
not raised until the mighty earthquake that accompanies the coming of Christ, which
destroys the wicked who were seeking to destroy the 144,000.
· “Then Jesus’ silver trumpet sounded, as he descended on the cloud,
wrapped in flames of fire. He gazed on the graves of the sleeping saints then
raised his eyes and hands to heaven & cried out, Awake! Awake! Awake! ye
that sleep in the dust, and arise. Then there was a mighty earthquake. The graves opened, and the
dead came up clothed with immortality. The 144,000 shouted, Hallelujah! as they
recognized their friends who had been torn from them by death [before being Regenerated to be the last
remnant living just before Jesus come], and in the same moment we were
changed and caught up together with them [all our former friends we were
blinded to] to meet the Lord in the air.” Early
Writings, p. 16.
· It is at the time of the resurrection of
the sleeping saints, that the 144,000 also awaken from their “sleep” as to
their true, pre-Investigative Judgment identity.
· As I have pointed out many times over
the years, all but the 144,000 SDA’s are martyred. They have red on their
robes, and they are distinguished from the bride in a statement we will examine
further down.
· The martyred SDA’s are not part of the
144,000, but they are saved. I’m informing you that all other scenarios I have
read, including that of Andrew Henriques, makes all SDA’s who are saved, the
144,000, as does the apostate SDA church, and that simply is not true.
· Elder Johnson followed the weight of
evidence formula. He first formed a theory and interpreted it so that NOTHING
CONTRADICTS. I did the same thing. Could God hold anyone responsible in any
negative way, for following the weight of evidence formula? Nay!
· Could the Lord hold anyone negatively
responsible for NOT following the weight of evidence formula? Yea!
· Some are saying that even saved children
are among the 144,000. I did not know that children could serve as priests in
the Temple of God on Mt. Zion, especially when the purpose of that Temple
priesthood is to instruct 11th hour converts and children so that
they may “grow them up” in the truth.
· In the New Earth after the Millennium,
John sees NO TEMPLE, so the purpose of the Temple is complete.
· Some of the members of the other 7
churches are saved, for example, Smyrna. But only Philadelphia get the New Name
of the Father, New Jerusalem.
What About Brother Hasting’s Wife
The following
statement is used to contravene all other weight of evidence, even the fact
that the 144,000 go through the time of trouble. The statement says that sister
Hastings will come up at the voice of God and be with the 144,000. That does
not make it conclusive that she will be one of the 144,000, because the
statement also says she will rest during the time of trouble, and the 144,000
come out of Great Tribulation. So we must conclude
that sister Hastings IS NOT one of the 144,000, even though she is brought
forth at the voice of God. Here again, we must go strictly by the weight of
evidence formula. We cannot as humans conclude that being with the 144,000,
even though not going through the time of trouble, makes a person one with the
144,000. We just can’t make that leap, and abide by
the weight of evidence formula.
What is
conclusive about sister Hastings is the fact that she comes up at the voice of God, and that
is exactly the time of the GENERAL RESURRECTION. All will be “WITH” the 144,000, and will ascend to heaven “WITH” the 144,000. See
the description of the general resurrection further down.
“The living
righteous are changed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” At the voice of God they were glorified; now they are made immortal
and with the risen saints are caught up to meet their Lord in the air. Angels
“gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the
other.” Little children are borne by holy angels to their mothers’ arms.
Friends long separated by death are united, nevermore to part, and with songs
of gladness ascend together to the City of God.15 {CG 566.3}
· The living righteous are the 144,000.
·
They are glorified
at the voice of God.
·
The living righteous
are made immortal and with the risen saints (general resurrection) are caught
up to meet the Lord in the air.
Dear Brother
Hastings:
I hardly know
what to say to you. The news of your wife’s death was to me overwhelming. I
could hardly believe it and can hardly believe it now.2 God gave me a view last
Sabbath night which I will write. {1EGWLM 199.4}
I saw God gave
Brother Bates [Joseph Bates]3 a dream which if he had followed, he would have
been with you in your wife’s distress; and if Brother Chamberlain [Ezra L. H.
Chamberlain]4 had not been with him, he would have gone to God alone, and he
would have seen by the dream and by the drawings of the Spirit that he must
come directly to your house when Satan had got your wife in his grasp, and by
faith in God would have wrenched her from the power of the enemy. But he leaned
upon Brother Chamberlain some for duty and followed his impressions instead of
the light God gave him in the dream. {1EGWLM 199.5}
I saw it was
for no wrong of yours that she was taken away, but if Brother Bates had come
directly to your house, she would have been rescued from the grasp of the
enemy. {1EGWLM 200.1}
I saw they did
wrong in afflicting the afflicted by reproving you for having the funeral on
the Sabbath. I saw they had better been looking at themselves and seeing where
they had erred from the path of duty that God had marked out for them to go in.
{1EGWLM 200.2}
I saw that she was sealed and would come up at the voice
of God and stand upon the earth, and would be with the
144,000. I saw we need not mourn for her; she would rest in the time of
trouble, and all that we could mourn for was our loss in being deprived
of her company. I saw her death would result in good. {1EGWLM 200.3}
Note by Ron:
This is repeated for emphasis: Sister Hastings will come up at the voice of
God. That is when all SDA’s, with the 144,000, are glorified and are caught up
together with the 144,000 to meet the Lord in the air. So naturally, the risen
saints would “be with the 144,000, at that time, but will not be ONE OF THEM.
To say or imply that Sister Hastings will be one of the 144,000, is just plain
wrong, to wit:
“The living
righteous are changed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” At the voice of God they were glorified; now they are made immortal and with the risen saints are
caught up to meet their Lord in the air. Angels “gather together His
elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Little
children are borne by holy angels to their mothers’ arms. Friends long
separated by death are united, nevermore to part, and with songs of gladness
ascend together to the City of God.15 {CG 566.3}
To say, infer,
or imply that Sister Hastings, and/or all SDA’s are part of the 144,000,
because of the statement about Sister Hastings, is totally not true.
“The living righteous are
changed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” At the voice of God they
were glorified; now they are made immortal and with the risen saints are
caught up to meet their Lord in the air. Angels “gather together His elect from
the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Little children are borne
by holy angels to their mothers’ arms. Friends long separated by death are
united, nevermore to part, and with songs of gladness ascend together to the
City of God.15 {CG 566.3}
“Nearest the throne are those who were once zealous in the cause
of Satan, but who, plucked as brands from the burning, have followed their
Saviour with deep, intense devotion. Next are those who perfected Christian characters in
the midst of falsehood and infidelity, those who honored the law of God
when the Christian world declared it void, and the millions, of all ages, who
were martyred for their faith. And beyond is the “great multitude, which no man could number,
of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, ... before the throne,
and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.”
Revelation 7:9. Their warfare is ended, their victory won. They have run the
race and reached the prize. The palm branch in their hands is a symbol of their
triumph, the white robe an emblem of the spotless righteousness of Christ which
now is theirs.” {DD 54.3}
1. Nearest the throne one
would expect the bride, the 144,000, for the good reason that Christ is her
head and she is His body.
2. Next are the martyrs.
These cannot be the 144,000, for they are not translated without seeing death.
They die at the time of the first death decree announced on day 1260 after the
initial legislation of a National/World Sunday Law, when Satan comes out of the
bottomless pit. On day 1260 he announces the first death decree that kills all
the martyrs. There is a 30-day warning period which accounts for the 30 day time span from the 1260 to the 1290, Daniel 12. But Ellen
White says that time will be anticipated in some cases, so some will be killed
beginning on day 1260.
3. Some question how the
martyrs could be seed for fruit at that time. Fact is, the truth will have been
going like fire through stubble for 3 ½ years. All will have heard the truth.
When they see martyrs willing to die for the truth they have heard, they are
inspired to give their lives as a testament to truth.
4. Next is the great
multitude which no man can number.
The
General Resurrection at the Voice of God
“6:14-17). A Lively Image of Glory—In this
scene of the resurrection of the Son of God is given a lively image of the
glory that will be revealed at the general resurrection of the just at the second appearing of Christ
in the clouds of heaven. Then the dead that are in their graves shall hear His voice and come
forth to life; and not only the earth, but the heavens themselves, shall be
shaken. A few graves were opened at the resurrection of Christ; but at
His second coming all the precious dead, from righteous Abel to the last saint
that dies, shall awake to glorious, immortal life. {5BC 1110.3}
Other E.
G. White Statements Used to Apply Other Scenarios than Regeneration
From
here down, this is another treatise by the same person who wrote the above one.
The link is:
https://sabbathsermons.com/2010/04/30/why-does-it-say-the-144000-do-not-taste-death/
“God would be honored by
making a covenant with those who had kept His law, in the sight of the heathen
round about them; and Jesus would be honored by translating, without their seeing death, the
faithful, waiting ones who had so long expected Him.” {EW 282.2}
They
don’t see death by persecution in the plagues, but some will see death since
the sealing commenced in 1848 but are raised in the Daniel 12:2 special
resurrection.
“The
great multitude do not hear the covenant of peace but only
sealed Sabbath keepers;”
“The voice of God is heard
from heaven, declaring the day and hour of Jesus’ coming, and delivering the
everlasting covenant to His people. Like peals of loudest thunder His words
roll through the earth. The Israel of God stand listening, with their eyes
fixed upward. Their countenances are lighted up with His glory,
and shine as did the face of Moses when he came down from Sinai. The
wicked cannot look upon them. And when the blessing is pronounced on those who
have honored God by keeping His Sabbath holy, there is a mighty shout of
victory.” {GC 640.2}
The great multitude aren’t raised
yet.
“The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was
written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus’ new name. At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged,
and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us into prison, when
we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and they would fall
helpless to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that God
had loved us who could wash one another’s feet and salute the brethren with a
holy kiss, and they worshiped at our feet.” {EW 15.1}
Jesus
hasn’t come back yet, he’s still coming and the great
multitude haven’t been resurrected yet. Then in paragraph two it then says;
“Soon appeared the great white
cloud, upon which sat the Son of man. When it first appeared in the distance,
this cloud looked very small. The angel said that it was the sign of the Son of
man. As it drew nearer the earth, we could behold the excellent glory and
majesty of Jesus as He rode forth to conquer.” {EW 286.2}
“The earth mightily shook as
the voice of the Son of God called forth the sleeping saints. They responded to the call and
came forth clothed with glorious immortality, crying, “Victory, victory, over
death and the grave! O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy
victory?” Then the living saints and the risen ones raised their voices in a
long, transporting shout of victory. Those bodies that had gone down into the
grave bearing the marks of disease and death came up in immortal health and
vigor. The living saints are changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
and caught up with the risen ones, and together they meet their Lord in the
air. Oh, what a glorious meeting! Friends whom death had separated were united,
never more to part.” {EW 287.1}
Note by Ron: The above statement describes the rising of the sleeping SDA saints who did not aspire to being the 144,000. They were regenerated as well for the Investigative Judgment. Thus, the special resurrection is inclusive of two groups of SDA’s—those who aspired to be the 144,000, who “awaken” to who they really are at this time (Who they were before they were regenerated), and those who did not aspire to being one of the 144,000, but who kept the commandments of God and are safe to save. End note.
1.
Part of the sleeping 144,000 are raised in the plagues
2.
The great earthquake occurs
3.
The great multitude are raised
Revelation 14:12 Here is the
patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and
the faith of Jesus.
14:13 And I heard a voice from
heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead
which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may
rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
When
are the sleeping ones raised?
Daniel 12:2 And many of them
that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and
some to shame [and] everlasting contempt.
“Those who die under the third
angel’s message are a part of the 144,000; there are not 144,000 in addition to
these, but these help make up that number. They are
raised to mortal life shortly before Christ comes, and are changed to
immortality when Christ appears.” RH Sept 23, 1880.
Note by Ron: There is absolutely no Bible support for James White’s above statement. Ellen White never made any such statement.
As regards to all other “heresay” statements that are similar to
that of James White, if that was the general belief and intent of the Holy
Spirit, Ellen White would have made such a statement.
The Lord has shown me that we cannot take
hearsay statements by second and third parties as being reliable. Ellen White
never made a statement to the affect that all SDA’s who die under the third
angels message are a part of the 144,000. End note.
W. C. White:
“Now to the question: Did
Sister White teach that those who died in the message since 1844 and of whom it
is said, ‘Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth,’ that they
shall be members of the 144,000?
“I can assure you, my brother,
that this was the belief and the teaching of Ellen G White. Many times I
have heard her make statements to this effect, and I am in possession of
a letter to Brother Hastings who is mentioned on page 237 of Life Sketches in
which she says plainly that his wife who had recently died would be a member of
the 144,000.
Note by Ron: If Willie White heard his mother make statement to that effect, then she would have published such. If that was the common belief of all pioneers, Ellen White would surely have stated it in writing. And the Hasting’s statement DOES NOT SAY that Sister Hasting would be ONE OF THE 144,000. It says that she will be with them. The reason she will be with them, is because faithful SDA’s who did not make the 144,000, but are saved, will also rise at the voice of Christ, to wit:
“The living righteous are
changed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” At the voice of God they
were glorified; now they are made immortal and with the risen saints are
caught up to meet their Lord in the air. Angels “gather together His elect from
the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Little children are borne
by holy angels to their mothers’ arms. Friends long separated by death are
united, nevermore to part, and with songs of gladness ascend together to the
City of God.15 {CG 566.3}
Ellen
White’s statement DOES NOT say that Hasting’s wife would be one of the 144,000,
but would be with them, just as all those who are Regenerated during the
Investigative Judgment from 1844 and on, who do not qualify to be one of the
144,000. They are raised at the same time that the
144,000 awaken to their true identity. End note by
Ron.
“In a letter recently received
from a brother in Reno, Nevada, reference is made to a statement in Elder
Loughborough’s book found on page 29 in which it is reported that Sister White
said: ‘Those who died in the faith will be among the 144,000, I am clear on
that matter’
“And I testify, my brother,
that that is in perfect harmony with her writings, her sayings and her
teachings throughout the years of her ministry.” Letter of W C White, dated
April 18, 1929.
Note by Ron: The terminology was subject to being grossly misunderstood because those who died in the faith will be AMONG the 144,000, but not one of them. They are “among” them because the living righteous (144,000) are together with the risen saints, and glorified at the same time (below) statement. This is the reason this is easily misapprehended.
“The living righteous are
changed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” At the voice of God they
were glorified; now they are made immortal and with the risen saints are
caught up to meet their Lord in the air. Angels “gather together His elect from
the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Little children are borne
by holy angels to their mothers’ arms. Friends long separated by death are
united, nevermore to part, and with songs of gladness ascend together to the
City of God.15 {CG 566.3}
End note by Ron.
We find this, too, in the life
and teachings of Mrs. White. She foresaw and predicted many things. There is in
her writings, however, no time prophecies of things to come. Some have tried to
discover these by explaining her words that some people present at a conference
would be alive when Jesus comes. They forget her other words about a
special resurrection. {1947 LHC, FSG 407.2}
Note by Ron: If Ellen White taught that all SDA who died in the faith would be among the 144,000, there would be such a statement in her writings. Also, she would not have instructed all to strive to be one of the 144,000. She would have merely said strive to be saved and you will be one of the 144,000. But she never said either. They forget her “other words” about a special resurrection, because she never wrote such, and we cannot go by hearsay! End note by Ron.
So those who have fallen
asleep, having the seal of God, will have a special resurrection, and will be
called forth to hear the covenant of peace, and to behold their Lord as He
comes in the clouds of heaven. {1905 SNH, SSP 252.1}
Christ Himself came to earth, and claimed the body of Moses. He did not wait until
all came from their graves. So those who have fallen asleep, having the seal of
God, will have a special resurrection, and will be called forth to hear the
covenant of peace, and to behold their Lord as He comes in the clouds of heaven. . {1905 SNH, SSP 252.1}
Note by Ron: Yes, all faithful SDA come up in the special resurrection, but there are two different groups—the 144,000, and those who fell asleep in the message, but did not qualify to be one of the 144,000. This is very clear. I repeat:
“The living righteous are
changed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” At the voice of God they
were glorified; now they are made immortal and with the risen saints are
caught up to meet their Lord in the air. Angels “gather together His elect from
the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Little children are borne
by holy angels to their mothers’ arms. Friends long separated by death are
united, nevermore to part, and with songs of gladness ascend together to the
City of God.15 {CG 566.3}
End
note by Ron.
Some persons, more especially
since 1894, have claimed that none will be reckoned among the 144,000 but those
who lived until the second coming of Christ; and that this must be so, for
according to Rev.14:3,4, they are “redeemed from among men,” and “from the
earth.” According to Daniel 12, there is a partial resurrection in the “time of
trouble,” just before Christ’s second coming. We read: “At that time shall
Michael stand up, . . . And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth
shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting
contempt.” Surely those who awake to everlasting life will be alive and “among
men,” when Christ comes. {1916 JNL, QSM 22.1}
If, in 1848-1850, persons were
being sealed, we would naturally expect they would be of those wakened to
everlasting life, and so
be with the 144,000. Of this resurrection we read in “Early Writings,”
“Spiritual Gifts,” old edition, page 145: “There was one clear place of settled glory, whence came
the voice of God like many waters, shaking the heavens and the earth. There was
a mighty earthquake. The graves were opened, and those who had died in
faith under the third angel’s message, keeping the Sabbath, came forth from
their dusty beds, glorified, to hear the covenant of peace that God was to make
with those who had kept His law.” {1916 JNL, QSM 22.2}
I saw there
tables of stone in which the names of the 144,000 were engraved in letters of
gold. After we beheld the glory of the temple we went out, and Jesus left us,
and went to the city.” From this we would surely conclude that in the new
earth, Sister White would be one of the 144,000. 1 {1916 JNL, QSM 25.1}
Note by Ron: If Ellen White is one of the 144,000, she will be alive to be translated without seeing death again. And yes: at the voice of God, the graves of all SDA’s who did not qualify as one of the 144,000, will join the 144,000 and be WITH THE 144,000, but not be one of them in that sense, but not ONE OF THEM. That is precisely the case of Sister Hastings. End note by Ron.
It was because of these plain
statements, that our people and ministers, down to 1894, believed and taught
that the sealing work had been going on since 1848, and that the 144,000 were
being sealed. I do not see how we could draw any other idea, from the
testimonies we have quoted, than that the sealing work
had begun in 1848-1850. {1916 JNL, QSM 21.1}
Note by Ron: All who are saved are sealed, but that does not mean all who are saved are sealed to be one of the 144,000 to be translated without seeing death. End note.
“These having been translated from the earth, from among the living, are
counted as ‘the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.’ (The Sabbath keepers resurrected to eternal life
will surely be among the living at Christ’s second coming.) ‘These are they
which came out of great tribulation;’ they have passed through the time of
trouble such as never was since there was a nation.” That trouble of the
nations will be under the sixth plague; and it is at that time, according to Dan.12:1, that the
partial resurrection will take place, bringing up the sealed Sabbath keepers.
This will be when the seventh plague is yet to come. {1916 JNL,
QSM 26.1}
Note by Ron: Some say that it is at the sixth plague that the partial resurrection will take place. The above says the seventh! At the seventh plague there is a mighty earthquake. The voice from heaven says: IT IS DONE! So how do those who come up at the time of the voice of God and the great earthquake go through the time of trouble?
Rev
16:17 And the seventh angel poured out
his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of
heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
Rev
16:18 And there were voices, and
thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were
upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
It
is absolutely false that all Sabbath keepers resurrected to eternal life are
“…they which came out of great tribulation, because they don’t pass through the
time of trouble. They are raised at the time of the great earthquake that
accompanies the coming of Christ. The following statement makes it clear that
those who come forth from their dusty beds, to be with the 144,000, do not come
forth under the sixth plague, but rather the seventh (see last sentence in the
above statement).
If, in 1848-1850, persons were
being sealed, we would naturally expect they would be of those wakened to everlasting
life, and so be with the
144,000. Of this resurrection we read in “Early Writings,” “Spiritual
Gifts,” old edition, page 145: “There was one clear place of settled glory, whence came the voice of
God like many waters, shaking the heavens and the earth. There was a mighty
earthquake. The graves were opened, and those who had died in faith under the third angel’s
message, keeping the Sabbath, came forth from their dusty beds, glorified, to
hear the covenant of peace that God was to make with those who had kept His
law.” {1916 JNL, QSM 22.2}
End
note by Ron
If there is still a doubt of
the resurrected Sabbath keepers’ being numbered with the 144,000, consider the following from
Sister White’s words in 1909. At the general Conference in 1909, Elder Irwin
had a stenographer accompany him in a call upon Sister White. He wished to ask
her some questions, and have an exact copy of the
words of the questions, and the exact words of the replies. Among other
questions was this one: “Will those who have died in the message be among the
144,000?” In reply, Sister White said: “Oh, yes, those who have died in the
faith will be among the
144,000. I am clear on that matter.” These were the exact words of
question and answer, as Brother Irwin permitted me to copy from his
stenographer’s report. {1916 JNL, QSM 31.1}
Note by Ron: I absolutely agree that those who are raised at the voice of God and the great earthquake will be among (with) the 144,000, but that does not make them ONE OF THE 144,000, because Ellen White clearly stated that the 144,000 remnant would be translated without seeing death, to wit:
“The woman is a symbol of the church, and the remnant of the
church represents the Christians of the last generation of men, living just
prior to the second advent. The dragon makes war on these
for keeping the commandments of God, Sabbath and all, and having the testimony
of Jesus Christ, which, according to the inspired definition of chapter 19:10,
“is the spirit of prophecy.” Here, then, are the causes of the dragon’s
warfare upon the remnant. They teach the observance of the Ten Commandments,
and the revival of the gifts, and acknowledge the gift of prophecy among them.
When the devil got one foot upon the fourth commandment, and the other upon the
gifts planted in the Christian church by Jesus Christ, then his satanic majesty
was filled with revengeful delight. But when the
remnant, whom God designs to fit for translation to heaven without seeing
death, “ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein,” then
the dragon is wroth, and makes war on them. {3SG 26.2}
End
not by Ron.
THE query may now arise: “If
the sealing message is to go to all the world with a Pentecostal power, and the
earth to be lighted with its glory, and if, as recently stated by Brother
Blank, it is to result in ‘millions’ being prepared for Christ’s second coming,
is not 144,000 a small number to be sealed? It is only a fraction of one
million.” In His word the Lord has spoken of those to be saved at His coming as
a “little flock.” Luke 12:32.
They are also a people who have been subject to a very rigid test. The prophet
Daniel speaks of them: “Many shall be purified, and
made white and tried.” Dan.12:10. Some translate this “thoroughly tested.” It
may be true in this case, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” Matt.22:14. In
“Testimonies,” volume 5, page 136, published in 1881, we read, “The great
proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be base
metal. {1916 JNL, QSM 32.1}
The living saints, 144,000 IN NUMBER, knew
and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder and an
earthquake. When God spoke the time, He poured upon us the Holy Ghost, and our
faces began to light up and shine with the glory of God, as Moses’ did when he
came down from Mount Sinai. {EW 14.1}
Here on the sea of glass the
144,000 stood in a perfect square. {EW 16.2}
The bible does the maths also.
12,000 + 12,000 and so on… equals 144,000.
Revelation 7:4 And I heard the
number of them which were sealed: [and there were] sealed an
hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand of all the tribes of the children of
Israel.
7:5 Of the tribe of Juda
[were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben [were] sealed twelve
thousand. Of the tribe of Gad [were] sealed twelve thousand.
7:6 Of the tribe of Aser
[were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim [were] sealed twelve
thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses [were] sealed twelve thousand.
7:7 Of the tribe of Simeon
[were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi [were] sealed twelve
thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar [were] sealed twelve thousand.
7:8 Of the tribe of Zabulon
[were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph [were] sealed twelve
thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin [were] sealed twelve thousand.
7:9 After this I beheld, and,
lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds,
and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed
with white robes, and palms in their hands;
The
scripture of Revelation 20:4 is speaking of two groups – the 144,000 and
those who were beheaded in the dark ages.
Revelation 20:4 And I saw
thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw]
the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word
of God, and which had not
worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon
their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with
Christ a thousand years.
Uriah Smith says this:
The Exaltation of the Saints.
— From the devil in his gloomy confinement, John now directs our attention to
the saints in victory and glory, — the saints reigning with Christ — their
employment being to assign to the wicked dead the punishment due their evil
deeds. From that general assembly John then selects two classes as worthy
of especial attention: first, the martyrs, those who had been beheaded for the
witness of Jesus; and secondly, those who had not worshiped the beast and his
image. This class, the ones who refuse the mark of the beast and his image, are
of course the ones who hear and obey the third message of Revelation 14; but
these are not the ones who are beheaded for the witness of Jesus, as some who claim that the last
generation of saints are all to be slain, would have us believe. The
word rendered which, in the expression, “and which had not worshiped
the beast,” etc., shows that there is another class introduced. The word is the
compound relative, (hostis), not merely the simple relative, and is defined by
Liddell and Scott, “Whosoever; whichsoever; any one who; anything which;” and by Robinson, “One who; some
one who; whosoever; whatsoever.” As one class, John saw the martyrs, and as
another, he saw those who had not worshiped the beast
and his image. {1897 UrS,
DAR 737.2}
Lest any one should say that
if we render the passage “and whosoever had not worshiped the beast,” we
thereby include millions of heathen and sinners who have not worshiped the
beast, and promise them a reign with Christ of a thousand years, we would call
attention to the fact that the preceding chapter states that the wicked had all
been slain, and the seal of death had been set upon them for a thousand years;
and John is viewing only the righteous company who have part in the first
resurrection. {1897 UrS, DAR 738.2}
To avoid the doctrine of two
resurrections, some claim that the passage, “But the rest of the dead lived not
again until the thousand years were finished,” is an interpolation, not found
in the original, and hence not genuine. Even if this were so, it would not
disprove the main proposition that the righteous dead are raised by themselves,
in a “first resurrection,” and that there is a second resurrection a thousand
years later, in which all the wicked are brought from their graves. But the
criticism is not true. All scholarship is against it. The Revised Version
retains the passage. {1897 UrS, DAR 738.3}
What
follows are several excerpts from Stephen Haskell’s books and the Spirit of
Prophecy.
The sealing, as described in
the seventh chapter of Revelation, is going forward while the beast and his
image, the ruling powers of earth, are striving to gain the recognition of
all. The interest of heaven centres in those few who receive the mark of
the great Jehovah. John, in the opening verse of chapter fourteen, sees
them as they gather about the Saviour on Mount Zion. Gods Word traces their
history minutely. {1905 SNH, SSP 246.1}
In the year 1848 the four
angels of the seventh chapter of Revelation took their stand upon the four
corners of the earth, to hold the winds of strife until the servants of God
were sealed. … Between 1798 and the close of time, the wound of the beast is
fully healed, and he renews his work of oppression through the powers of the
earth. {1905 SNH, SSP 247.1}
Note by Ron: The false charters of end-time events, interpret the above statement to mean that the wound was healed in 1798. The wound is not healed until Rome gets a Sunday Law, and reigns again for 3 ½ years, 42 months, per Revelation 13:1-15. End note.
Christ himself came to earth, and claimed the body of Moses. He did not wait
until all came from their graves. So those who have fallen asleep, having
the seal of God, will have a special resurrection, and will be called forth to
hear the covenant of peace, and to behold their Lord as He comes in the clouds
of heaven. {1905 SNH, SSP 252.2}
These men were redeemed from
the earth, from among men,-the first fruits unto God and the Lamb.
They have been snatched as brands from the burning. “They were not defiled with
women; for they are virgins.” The prophet Isaiah, in describing the condition
of the churches in the days when the sealing work is in progress, says: “In
that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We
will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy
name, to take away our reproach.” {1905 SNH, SSP 249.1}
In 1848 occurred one of the
greatest upheavals in the national affairs of Europe that had been for many
centuries. Decided changes were made in some of the leading nations. In a brief
period of time, many of the crowned heads of Europe
submitted themselves to the people. It looked as if universal war was
inevitable. In the midst of the turmoil and strife,
came a sudden calm. No man could assign any reason for it, but the student of
prophecy knew that the angels were holding the winds until the servants of God
could be sealed in their foreheads. {1914 SNH, CIS 363.3}
The one hundred and forty-four
thousand are redeemed from the earth–from among men. [Rev. 14:3,4] They are alive upon the earth
when the Saviour comes, and will be translated, together with the innumerable
host who will come from their dusty beds, clad in glorious immortality, when
Christ comes in the clouds of heaven. [1 Thess. 4:16,17] {1914 SNH, CIS
359.3}
Note by Ron: The above two groups are what Elder Johnson sees as:
1.
The 144,000 who are translated without seeing death.
2.
All the faithful who were regenerated from 1844 and on, and who died under
the Adventist faith, but did not qualify to be one of the 144,000.
End
note by Ron.
Just before we entered it [the
time of trouble], we all received the seal of the living God. Then I saw the
four angels cease to hold the four winds. And I saw famine, pestilence and
sword, nation rose against nation, and the whole world was in confusion
(Day-Star, March 14, 1846). {7BC 968.11}
The
144,000 are also called the firstfruits, but they are the firstfruits of the
living.
These, having been translated
from the earth, from among the living, are counted as “the first fruits unto
God and to the Lamb.” {GC 648.3}
Just
as Jesus and those resurrected with Him (being the first group to be
resurrected from the dead) pointed forward to another harvest of resurrected
saints at His second coming, so the 144,000 (first fruits of the living) must
point forward to another living harvest to be harvested just before Christ’s
second coming, a second fruits.
Those who come up to every
point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have
heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain,
and thus be fitted for
translation. {1T 187.1}
They
are called first fruits because they are the first ones to be harvested.
It is not His will that they
shall get into controversy over questions which will not help them spiritually,
such as, Who is to compose the hundred and forty-four
thousand? This those who are the elect of God will in a short time know without
question. {1SM 174.3}
According
to the last sentence of the above quotation, the time would come when the
subject would be crystal clear, as there would be no question as to the
identity of the 144,000. However, it is true that we are not able today to pick
out certain individuals and say: “This one is to be one of the 144,000 and that
one will not be” because God only knows who has the seal.
Question: If
the sealing of the 144,000 commenced in 1848, and some of that number have died
and will be resurrected in the “special resurrection”, how can it be said that
the 144,000 are translated without seeing death? If order to find the answer to
this question, we must be willing to read the Word of God and the Spirit of
Prophecy very, very, carefully, and to take it exactly as it reads. We open the
consideration with the following statements:
Revelation
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. 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the
voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the
voice of harpers harping with their harps: 14:3 And they sung as it were a new
song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song
but the hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand, which were redeemed from the
earth.
Revelation
15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had
gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, [and]
over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of
God. 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the
Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and
true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints.
Only the
144,000 will sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. We now read this simple
statement from the Spirit of Prophecy:
Mary,
dear precious child, is at rest. She was the companion of your sorrows and
disappointed hopes. She will no more have grief or want or distress. Through
faith’s discerning eye you may anticipate, amid your sorrows and griefs and
perplexities, your Mary with her mother and other members of your family
answering the call of the Life-giver and coming forth from their prison house
triumphing over death and the grave. Your faith may see the loved and the lost
ones reunited among the
redeemed of earth. You with them erelong, if faithful, will be
walking in the streets of the New Jerusalem, singing the song of Moses and the
Lamb, wearing the jeweled crown. . . . {HP 272.4}
This man was
told that if he was faithful, he would sing the song of Moses and the Lamb with
his wife and her mother, who had both passed into the grave. If only the
144,000 sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, then we must conclude that the
number will be made up of those who have already died. I will not spend any
more time now on this point as this has been thoroughly covered in a previous
study titled: 144,000 Dead or Alive. Such plain statements as quoted above from
the Spirit of Prophecy are often cast aside because it conflicts with how we
may have understood the matter.
Note by Ron:
The above statement from HP 272, is a classic reason why Regeneration is true.
The person who commented on the E. G. White statement did not know about
Regeneration, as most don’t. But Regeneration explains the statement perfectly,
without encountering the contradiction of having a non-member of the 144,000 singing the Song of Moses.
End note by Ron.
Testimony of
Henry N White Ellen White’s son who died at 16 states he will not experience
the seven last plagues:
“HE FELT
ANXIOUS LEST SOME ONE MIGHT BE AWAY WEEPING, AND INQUIRED FOR HIS MOTHER,
SAYING, ‘O MY DEAR MOTHER, MAY GOD COMFORT HER.’ AFTER THIS HE INQUIRED IF THE
PHYSICIAN WAS COMING SOON, AND SAID THERE WAS NOT MUCH
NEED OF A PHYSICIAN THEN. HIS MOTHER ASKED HIM IF HE SUFFERED PAIN, AND HE
REPLIED THAT HE DID NOT. HE CALLED HIS FATHER, AND SAID, ‘FATHER, YOU ARE
LOSING YOUR SON. YOU WILL MISS ME, BUT DON’T MOURN. IT IS BETTER FOR ME. I
SHALL ESCAPE BEING DRAFTED, AND SHALL NOT WITNESS THE
SEVEN LAST PLAGUES. TO DIE SO HAPPY IS A PRIVILEGE.’ HE SAID THAT MUSIC HAD
BEEN HIS GREATEST EARTHLY PLEASURE, AND ASKED EDSON TO PLAY ‘MOUNT VERNON’ FOR
HIM ON THE MELODEON. EDSON WENT INTO THE PARLOR AND COMPLIED WITH HIS REQUEST,
AND ON HIS RETURN HENRY SAID, ‘MUSIC IN HEAVEN WILL BE SWEETER THAN THAT.’
{LS88 348.1}
I myself have
often queried the idea that the number of the 144,000 could include those who
have “died in the faith of the third angel’s message”. It was words and phrases
quoted throughout the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy such as “translated”
and “without seeing death” that
caused me to question as to whether this was the case or not. And it is
my belief that it is for the same reason that many Seventh-day Adventists are
unwilling to accept such plain statements as the one above. I took it for
granted that I understood the subject of the 144,000. But when I returned to
study it for myself, I realized that I had yet many questions unanswered, and
that I was unable to give a reason for my belief. In this short study, I hope
to make the subject clearer and remove many of the obstacles that still prevent
us from receiving a plain “Thus saith the Lord”.
Note by Ron:
The author of the article being critiqued was questioning Ellen White’s verity
in saying that the 144,000 are translated without seeing death. End note by Ron.
We will read
some examples of the statements that seemingly contradict the idea that some
may have already died previously. We will take each one at a time and make some
observations. But first, let us look at the word “translated”. Merriam-Webster’s
online dictionary defines the word “translate/translated” thus:
1.a) to bear,
remove, or change from one place, state, form, or appearance to another
b) to convey to
heaven or to a nontemporal condition without death
from Strong’s
Concordance we gather that the word “translate” comes from metatithēmi,
which means: 1) to transpose (two things, one of which is put in place of the
other)
a) to transfer
b) to change
c) to transfer
one’s self or suffer one’s self to be transferred
1) to go or pass
over
2) to fall away
or desert from one person or thing to another
“Transpose” at
Merriam-Websters Online:
1:
to change in form or nature
3: to transfer
from one place or period to another :
By the above definitions,
we can see the two ways in which the word “translated” applies:
Those that are
translated are changed from one state or condition to another
Those that are
translated are transferred to one place from another
When we read
the word in the inspired writings we can safely apply both definitions.
You will see
both applications in the following two quotes:
“I
might mention very many instances where I was pressed and urged, wept over and
prayed for by zealots to come to these manufactured tests and crosses. I
utterly refused to submit my judgment, my sense of Christian duties, and the
dignity we should ever maintain as followers of Jesus Christ, who were
expecting to be translated to heaven by receiving the finishing touch of
immortality.” {8MR 230.1}
For his
faithful obedience to God he [Enoch]was translated. So, also, the faithful, who are alive and
remain, will be translated. They will be removed from a sinful and corrupt
world to the pure joys of heaven. {CC 29.6}
However, it is
also important that we take note where the “without death” applies in the
definition of translation. It only applies in the sense of being conveyed to
heaven or to a non-temporal condition, i.e. changed from mortality to
immortality. It applies in the PROCESS of the change from location or
condition. It is not cognizant of the life prior to the commencement of the
process of translation, or as to whether there has been a death previously or
not. It is simply applicable to the change made on one who is LIVING at the
time of their change, and for the duration of the process of the change that is
made. Whether they have died previously or not does not come into the
definition of the word translated. This is a vital understanding. “Without
death”, and “Without seeing death” is exactly the same.
It is in the process of being conveyed to heaven or to an immortal condition
that death is not seen. Bearing this uppermost in our minds, we can now more
safely examine the main quotes that seem to be the occasion for
misunderstanding.
Note by Ron:
The author of the article is not taking the plain words of Ellen White just as
they read, to wit:
“The woman is a symbol of the church, and the remnant of the
church represents the Christians of the last generation of men, living just
prior to the second advent. The dragon makes war on these
for keeping the commandments of God, Sabbath and all, and having the testimony
of Jesus Christ, which, according to the inspired definition of chapter 19:10,
“is the spirit of prophecy.” Here, then, are the causes of the dragon’s
warfare upon the remnant. They teach the observance of the Ten Commandments,
and the revival of the gifts, and acknowledge the gift of prophecy among them.
When the devil got one foot upon the fourth commandment, and the other upon the
gifts planted in the Christian church by Jesus Christ, then his satanic majesty
was filled with revengeful delight. But when the
remnant, whom God designs to fit for translation to heaven without seeing death,
“ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein,” then the
dragon is wroth, and makes war on them. {3SG 26.2}
Could God
hold us responsible for interpreting Ellen White so as not to make her
contradict herself, as she instructed in the following statement?
“1. Every word
must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible; 2. All
Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by diligent application and
study; 3. Nothing revealed in Scripture can or will be hid from those who ask
in faith, not wavering; 4. To understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures
together on the subject you wish to know, then let every word have its proper
influence; and if you can
form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in error; 5.
Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself. If I depend
on a teacher to expound to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to
have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be
thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom is my rule, and not
the Bible.” {RH November 25, 1884, par. 24}
End note by Ron.
Still
seeking to give a true direction to her faith, Jesus declared, “I am the
resurrection, and the life.” In Christ is life, original, unborrowed,
underived. “He that hath the Son hath life.” 1 John 5:12. The divinity of
Christ is the believer’s assurance of eternal life. “He that believeth in Me,”
said Jesus, “though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and
believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?” Christ here looks
forward to the time of His second coming. Then the righteous dead shall be
raised incorruptible, and the living righteous shall be translated to heaven
without seeing death. … {DA 530.3}
Observations: This is a perfect illustration
of what we have just come to comprehend by the correct definition of translated
– those that are living, i.e, the “living righteous” shall be “translated”,
conveyed to heaven or to a non-temporal condition, “without seeing death” –
that is, they are alive at the commencement of the change, are alive through
the process of change, and are still alive when the change is complete.
Moses
upon the mount of transfiguration was a witness to Christ’s victory over sin
and death. He represented those who shall come forth from the grave at the
resurrection of the just. Elijah, who had been translated to heaven without
seeing death, represented those who will be living upon the earth at Christ’s
second coming, and who will be “changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of
an eye, at the last trump;” when “this mortal must put on immortality,” and
“this corruptible must put on incorruption.” {DA 421.4}
Observations: Here we see the meaning of
the word clearly. Elijah represented those who would be living upon the earth
at the time of Christ’s second coming. Moses died and
Christ resurrected Him. When Christ came, Moses was raised FROM THE DEAD, i.e.
He was NOT alive when Christ came and it was when
Christ was already present that he was given immortality and taken to heaven.
Therefore, Moses was not translated without seeing death. Elijah was already
alive when his body was changed to a non-temporal condition,
and was conveyed to heaven with no death involved in the process. Elijah
was translated without seeing death.
With
the Lamb upon Mount Zion, “having the harps of God,” they stand, the hundred
and forty and four thousand that were redeemed from among men; and there is
heard, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of a great thunder, “the
voice of harpers harping with their harps.” And they sing “a new song” before
the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four
thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb–a song of deliverance. None but
the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of
their experience–an experience such as no other company have ever had. “These
are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.” These, having been
translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as “the first
fruits unto God and to the Lamb.” . {GC 648.3}
Observations: Simply read in its context,
we see that the 144,000 are the only ones among the living who will be
translated from the earth – the rest of those who are living at the time of
Christ’s second coming will be killed by His brightness.
I saw
the saints leaving the cities and villages, and associating together in
companies, and living in the most solitary places. Angels provided them food
and water, while the wicked were suffering from hunger and thirst. Then I saw
the leading men of the earth consulting together, and Satan and his angels busy
around them. I saw a writing, copies of which were scattered in different parts
of the land, giving orders that unless the saints should yield their peculiar
faith, give up the Sabbath, and observe the first day of the week, the people
were at liberty after a certain time to put them to death. But in this hour of
trial the saints were calm and composed, trusting in God and leaning upon His
promise that a way of escape would be made for them. In some places, before the
time for the decree to be executed, the wicked rushed upon the saints to slay
them; but angels in the form of men of war fought for them. Satan wished to have
the privilege of destroying the saints of the Most High;
but Jesus bade His angels watch over them. God would be honored by making a
covenant with those who had kept His law, in the sight of the heathen round
about them; and Jesus would be honored by translating, without their seeing
death, the faithful, waiting ones who had so long expected Him. {EW 282.2}
Observations: Do we read “without their
seeing death” as the same as “without seeing death”? In this example, it does
not matter whether we will read it as applying to not seeing death in just the
process of translation, or that they have never seen death even prior to their
translation. If we read this one in context, it is only speaking of those who
have lived through the Sunday laws and through the entirety of the seven last
plagues. This statement does not include those who had died in the faith of the
third angel’s message and who had been resurrected in the special resurrection.
Note by Ron: Those who died in the faith
of the third angel’s message who are raised from the grave in the special
resurrection, obviously are not alive on the earth when Christ comes, for they
are raised at His voice at the time of the great earthquake, at which time he says “IT IS DONE.” End note by Ron.
If you are not
comfortable in taking the words “without death” as the same as “without seeing
death”, please bear in mind that wherever the spirit of Prophecy uses such
statements, she is never speaking specifically about the 144,000. There will be
those who will never taste of death, but in the Spirit of Prophecy there is no
specific mention that the 144,000 in particular have
never seen death. Death is not something that will disqualify someone from
being numbered among them. Don’t forget that letter that was written over a
hundred years ago to a man whose wife had died and the
assurance was given that if he was faithful, he could sing that special song
only the 144,000 can sing with his late wife. If Enoch and Elijah represent
those who have never died previous to their translation,
then in that sense can we consider them as representatives only of those who
will live though the Sunday laws and the entirety of the seven last plagues.
Moses would then represent those who do pass under the dominion of death at
some time in their lives, including the 144,000.
However, if we
will stay strictly with the literal definition of the word translated, as is
correctly used in the English language, we will see that it applies only to
that particular point in time – that their translation
is not cognizant of any previous state, but that there is no death involved in
their removal to heaven or their change from mortality to immortality. They are
alive when Jesus comes, are alive when their bodies are changed, and are alive
when they are received into the presence of Christ.
Thus, for those
who are hoping on being translated the following admonition is given:
Those
who have trained the mind to delight in spiritual exercises are the ones who
can be translated and not be overwhelmed with the purity and transcendent glory
of heaven. You may have a good knowledge of the arts, you may have an
acquaintance with the sciences, you may excel in music and in penmanship, your
manners may please your associates, but what have these things to do with a preparation
for heaven? {CCh 186.3}
To be alive
upon the earth and see Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven before our vile
bodies are changed, we will need to have a mind that is well-disciplined in
spiritual exercises. Like Apostle Paul, we need to learn to “keep under my
body”, with all its thoughts and feelings if I want to be received into the
presence of Christ without seeing death.
May God help us
to lay down all our own conclusions and read His word exactly as it reads.
Amen.
End of Article by
an unknown author who refers to him/herself as The Typist
Addendum by Ron
Important
Observations by Ron:
· The general
resurrection is the resurrection of the masses of Christians throughout the
ages who did not qualify to be one of the 144,000.
· In the special
resurrection are those who were also regenerated since 1844, but died, not
having qualified as one of the 144,000 in their past life.
· The 144,000 are
regenerated last, to be the final generation on earth, the final remnant who
lives just before Christ comes.
· The 144,000 qualified
to be one of the 144,000 in their pre-1844 life, for example, the disciples, DA
179.
· The only scenario that
answers all issues so that nothing contradicts, is Elder J. Wilfred Johnson’s
theory of Regeneration, which was verified to him in a vision while he was
teaching a class. The Lord Jesus also gave me a vision verifying the findings
of Elder Johnson, so my interpretation is not of a private one.
· Some don’t have the spiritual discernment to see any
need or purpose for Regeneration, but the following needs for it were taught by
Elder Johnson:
1. It would be only just
to subject the bride of all ages to the same temptations Satan has mastered and
puts in practice to deceive at the end-time. In other words, the disciples of
Christ are the bride per DA 179. How could those disciples have experienced
what the 144,000 remnant experience at the end-time, now that there
are myriad more temptations and diversions?
2. Christ brings the
bride of all ages to the same degree of testing at the end-time, so Satan, and
no one can contest whether or not some would have
folded or not had he/she lived at the end-time, rather than anciently.
3. To eliminate any questionings
whatsoever, on the part of any of the angels and the hosts of other worlds, God
runs His bride through a second time for the Investigative Judgment, for a
real, live PROOF TO ALL, that His bride is without fault, even when tested by
Satan’s state of the art temptations developed by him for about six thousand
years.
4. Regeneration is NOT a
second chance. It is to prove the character of all and that Christ’s final
JUDGMENT of all is righteous in the sight of all the universe. Thus, the
Investigative Judgment, which is denied by most, becomes one of the greatest
demonstrations of the love and justice of God.
5. Mr. Johnson recognized
that no foolish virgin would discern the need for Regeneration for the
Investigative Judgment.
6. With the many issues
Regeneration solves WITHOUT CONTRADICTION, it will give extra faith to the
144,000 during their severe trial and especially during the time they are to
live without an intercessor.
7. Elder Johnson felt
that Regeneration is especially for the knowledge of the 144,000, and that they
would accept it. When I view the character of some who vehemently reject it, I
better understand what he meant.
· Dr. Russell Standish,
co-founder of Hartland Institute, defined the special resurrection as follows:
“This special resurrection probably occurs at
the time of the great earthquake of the seventh plague. It includes some of the
righteous dead: heroes for Christ who have stood mightily for His pure faith in
times of trial and test.” https://www.andrews.edu/library/car/cardigital/Periodicals/Remnant_Herald/Number_130.pdf
·
Truly, the heroes for Christ who have stood mightily for His pure
faith in time of trial and test throughout the ages, have been the bride of
Christ in every age, to include the disciples, of course, whom Ellen White
defines as His bride, Desire of Ages,
179.
·
Elder J. Wilfred Johnson believed that in the statements cited
below, that the 144,000 are included. But not in the sense that some interpret
these statements. Elder Johnson believed the special resurrection to be the
time at which the 144,000 were awakened from a “sleep-like” existence to
recognize their true identity as lived in a past life.
“The graves were opened, and
those who had died in faith under the third angel’s message, keeping the
Sabbath, came forth from their dusty beds, glorified, to hear the covenant of peace that God was to make
with those who had kept His law.” {EW 285.1}
Elder Johnson believed that
the 144,000 are relative to the above statement in the sense that at this same time, the
144,000 “awaken” to their true identity before they
were Regenerated. But the above statement DOES NOT apply to the 144,000.
“The living
saints, 144,000 in number,
knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder
and an earthquake. When God spoke the time, He poured upon us the Holy Ghost,
and our faces began to light up and shine with the glory of God, as Moses’ did
when he came down from Mount Sinai.” {EW 14.1}
“Graves are opened, and “many
of them that sleep in the dust of the earth. . . awake, some to everlasting
life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2. All who have
died in the faith of the third angel’s message come forth from the tomb
glorified, to hear God’s covenant of peace with those who have kept His law.
“They also which pierced Him” (Revelation 1:7), those that mocked and derided
Christ’s dying agonies, and the most violent opposers of His truth and His
people, are raised to behold Him in His glory and to see the honor placed upon
the loyal and obedient.” {GC 637.1}
·
It is of
especial interest to me that all who believe in any other scenario than
Regeneration, end up teaching that all SDA’s who are saved are one of the
144,000. This, in and of itself, is a high recommendation for the Principle of
Regeneration.
·
Regeneration is the only theory Principle, which eliminates all
contradictions for those who have the discernment to see this fact. I fully
recognize that to the undiscerning, Regeneration will be fraught with
stumbling-block contradictions.
Deliverance
of the Saints
“It was at midnight that God chose to deliver
His people. As the wicked were mocking around them, suddenly the sun appeared,
shining in his strength, and the moon stood still. The wicked looked upon the
scene with amazement, while the saints beheld with solemn joy the tokens of
their deliverance. Signs and wonders followed in quick succession. Everything
seemed turned out of its natural course. The streams ceased to flow. Dark,
heavy clouds came up and clashed against each other. But there was one clear place of settled glory, whence
came the voice of God like many waters, shaking the heavens and the earth.
There was a mighty earthquake. The graves were opened, and those who had died
in faith under the third angel’s message, keeping the Sabbath, came forth from
their dusty beds, glorified, to hear the covenant of peace that God was to make
with those who had kept His law.” {EW 285.1}
“The
earth mightily shook as the voice of the Son of God called forth the sleeping
saints.
They responded to the call and came forth clothed with glorious immortality,
crying, “Victory, victory, over death and the grave! O death, where is thy
sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” Then the living saints and the risen ones raised their
voices in a long, transporting shout of victory. Those bodies that had
gone down into the grave bearing the marks of disease and death came up in
immortal health and vigor. The
living saints are changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and caught
up with the risen ones, and together they meet their Lord in the air.
Oh, what a glorious meeting! Friends whom death had separated were united,
never more to part.” {EW 287.1}
“On each side of the cloudy chariot were
wings, and beneath it were living wheels; and as the chariot rolled upward, the
wheels cried, “Holy,” and the wings, as they moved, cried, “Holy,” and the
retinue of holy angels around the cloud cried, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God
Almighty!” And the saints in the cloud cried, “Glory! Alleluia!” And the
chariot rolled upward to the Holy City. Before entering the city, the saints were arranged in a
perfect square, with Jesus in the midst. He stood head and shoulders
above the saints and above the angels. His majestic form and lovely countenance
could be seen by all in the square.: {EW 287.2}
A perfect square comprised of 144,000, is
36,000 on each of the four sides. This also proves the literal number of
144,000.
Qualifications
to Become One of the 144,000
From
Desire of Ages, 179-182
“John had by nature the faults and weaknesses common to
humanity, but the touch of divine love had transformed him. He dwelt in an atmosphere uncontaminated with selfishness
and ambition, and far above the miasma of jealousy. He manifested no
sympathy with the dissatisfaction of his disciples, but showed how clearly he
understood his relation to the Messiah, and how gladly he welcomed the One for
whom he had prepared the way.
He said, "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from
heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that
I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the
bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the
bridegroom's voice." John represented himself as the friend who acted as a
messenger between the betrothed parties, preparing the way for the marriage.
When the bridegroom had received his bride, the mission of the friend was
fulfilled. He rejoiced in the happiness of those whose union he had
promoted. So John had been called to direct the people
to Jesus, and it was his joy to witness the success of the Saviour's work. He
said, "This my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must
decrease."
Note by Ron:
·
As a friend of the
bridegroom, John helped in preparing a bride for Jesus Christ.
·
John was also a messenger
between the betrothed parties, preparing the way for the marriage.
·
When the bridegroom
had received his bride, the mission of the friend was fulfilled. End note by Ron.
Looking in faith to the Redeemer, John
had risen to the height of self-abnegation. He sought not to attract men to
himself, but to lift their thoughts higher and still higher, until they should
rest upon the Lamb of God. He himself
had been only a voice, a cry in the wilderness. Now with joy he accepted
silence and obscurity, that the eyes of all might be turned to the Light of
life.
Those who are true to their calling as
messengers for God will not seek honor for themselves. Love for self will be
swallowed up in love for Christ. No
rivalry will mar the precious cause of the gospel. They will recognize that it
is their work to proclaim, as did John the Baptist,
"Behold
the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29. They will lift up Jesus, and with Him humanity
will be lifted up. "Thus saith the high
and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high
and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to
revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite
ones." Isa. 57:15.
The soul of the prophet, emptied of
self, was filled with the light of the divine. As he witnessed to the Saviour's glory, his words were
almost a counterpart of those that Christ Himself had spoken in His interview
with Nicodemus. John said, "He that cometh from above is above all: he
that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from
heaven is above all. . . . For He whom God hath sent
speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto
Him." Christ could say, "I
seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me."
John 5:30. To Him it is declared, "Thou hast loved righteousness, and
hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of
gladness above Thy fellows." Heb. 1:9. The Father "giveth not the
Spirit by measure unto Him."
So with the followers of Christ. We can receive of heaven's
light only as we are willing to be emptied of self. We cannot discern the character of God, or accept Christ
by faith, unless we consent to the bringing into captivity of every thought to
the obedience of Christ. To all who do this the Holy Spirit is given without
measure. In Christ "dwelleth all
the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and in Him ye are made full." Col.
2:9, 10, R. V.
The disciples of John had declared that all
men were coming to Christ; but with clearer insight, John said, "No man
receiveth His witness;" so few were ready to accept Him as the Saviour
from sin. But "he that hath received His witness hath set his seal to
this, that God is true." John 3:33, R. V. "He that believeth on the
Son hath everlasting life." No need of disputation as to whether Christ's
baptism or John's purified from sin. It is the grace of Christ that
gives life to the soul. Apart from Christ, baptism, like any other service, is
a worthless form. "He that believeth not the Son shall not see life."
The success of Christ's work, which the
Baptist had received with such joy, was reported also to the authorities at
Jerusalem. The priests and rabbis had been jealous of John's influence as they
saw the people leaving the synagogues and flocking to the wilderness; but here
was One who had still greater power to attract the multitudes. Those leaders in Israel were not willing to say with John, "He
must increase, but I must decrease." They arose with a new
determination to put an end to the work that was drawing the people away from
them.
Jesus knew that they would spare no effort
to create a division between His own disciples and those of John. He knew that
the storm was gathering which would sweep away one of the greatest prophets
ever given to the world. Wishing to avoid all occasion for misunderstanding or
dissension, He quietly ceased His labors, and withdrew to Galilee. We also, while loyal to truth, should try to avoid all that may lead to
discord and misapprehension. For whenever these arise, they result in the loss
of souls. Whenever circumstances occur that threaten to cause division, we
should follow the example of Jesus and of John the Baptist.
John had been called to lead out as a
reformer. Because of this, his disciples
were in danger of fixing their attention upon him, feeling that the success of
the work depended upon his labors, and losing sight of the fact that he was
only an instrument through which God had wrought. But the work of John was not
sufficient to lay the foundation of the
Christian
church. When he had fulfilled his mission, another work was to be done, which
his testimony could not accomplish. His disciples did not understand this. When
they saw Christ coming in to take the work, they were jealous and dissatisfied.
The
same dangers still exist. God calls a man to do a certain work; and when he has
carried it as far as he is qualified to take it, the Lord brings in others, to
carry it still farther. But, like John's disciples, many feel that the success
of the work depends on the first laborer. Attention is fixed upon the human
instead of the divine, jealousy comes in, and the work of God is marred. The one thus unduly honored is tempted to cherish
self-confidence. He does not realize his dependence on God. The people are taught to rely on
man for guidance, and thus they fall into error, and are led away from God.
The work of God is not to bear the
image and superscription of man. From
time to time the Lord will bring in different agencies, through whom His
purpose can best be accomplished. Happy are they who are willing for
self to be humbled, saying with John the Baptist, "He must increase, but I
must decrease."
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.
Rev 14:2
And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the
voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their
harps:
Rev 14:3
And they sung as it
were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders:
and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand,
which were redeemed from the earth.
Rev 14:4
These are they
which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the
Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the
firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Rev 14:5
And in their mouth
was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Characteristics
of True Reformers Who Are the Bride of Jesus Christ and are Earthly
Representatives of the Church in Heaven, Hebrews 12:22, 23:
The 144,000 are True Reformers. They follow
the Greatest Reformer who ever existed, Jesus Christ:
Christ
was a protestant. He protested against the formal
worship of the Jewish nation, who rejected the counsel of God against themselves.
He told them that they taught for doctrines the commandments of men, and that
they were pretenders and hypocrites. Like whited sepulchers they were beautiful
without, but within full of impurity and corruption. The Reformers date
back to Christ and the apostles. They came out and separated themselves from a
religion of forms and ceremonies. Luther and his followers did not invent the
reformed religion. They simply accepted it as presented by Christ and the
apostles. The Bible is presented to us as a sufficient guide; but
the pope and his workers remove it from the people as if it were a curse,
because it exposes their pretensions and rebukes their idolatry. {RH June 1,
1886, par. 14}
Characteristics
of True Reformers—Here are given the characteristics of those who shall be reformers, who will bear the banner of the third angel’s message, those who avow
themselves God’s commandment-keeping people, and who honor God, and are
earnestly engaged, in the sight of all the universe, in building up the old
waste places. Who is it that calls them, The repairers of the breach, The restorers of paths to dwell
in? It is God. Their names are registered in
heaven as reformers, restorers, as raising the foundations of many generations
(E. G. White, The Review and Herald, October
13, 1891). {4BC 1151.7}
9, 10. Compassion Causes Light to Rise—[Isaiah 58:9, 10 quoted.] All around us are afflicted
souls. Let us search out these suffering
ones, and speak a word in season to comfort their
hearts. Here and there—everywhere—we shall find them. Let us ever be
channels through which may flow to them the refreshing waters of compassion. To those who minister to the necessities of the hungry and afflicted,
the promise is, “Then shall thy light rise in obscurity.” {4BC
1151.8}
Many are in obscurity. They have lost their
bearings. They know not what course to pursue. Let the perplexed ones search out others who are in perplexity,
and speak to them words of hope and encouragement. When they begin to do
this work, the light of heaven will reveal to them the path that they should
follow. By their words of
consolation to the afflicted they themselves will be consoled. By helping
others, they themselves will be helped out of their
difficulties. Joy takes the place of sadness and gloom. The heart, filled with
the Spirit of God, glows with warmth toward every fellow being. Every such an one is no longer in darkness; for his “darkness” is “as
the noon day” (Manuscript 116, 1902). {4BC 1151.9}
11. God’s Guidance Gives Clear Discernment—Of
him who walks in the way of life everlasting, using his blessings to bless
others, the prophet Isaiah declares: “The Lord shall guide thee continually,
and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like
a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”
{4BC 1151.10}
These blessings we need. We need the water of
life that flows from Jesus Christ, which will be in us a well of water
springing up into everlasting life. “The Lord shall guide thee continually.” When we are guided by the Lord, we shall have clear discernment.
We shall not call righteousness unrighteousness, nor
think that things that the Lord has forbidden are right. We shall understand
where the Lord is working. {4BC 1152.1}
Many have not understood this. There are some
who I know have been led astray by the enemy. But God wants to
make you a partaker of the divine nature. He wants no yoke of human authority
on your neck, but that you shall look to Him who is able to save to the uttermost
every one that comes to Him in righteousness and truth. We have no
time to tamper with the enemy; for we are very near the close of this earth’s
history (Manuscript 43, 1908). {4BC 1152.2}
12-14 (Revelation 11:19; 14:9-12). Sabbathkeepers Repair the Breach—[Isaiah
58:8-14 quoted.] Where do we find the
people who are thus addressed? Who is it that shall build the old waste places,
and raise up the foundation of many generations? Where are the people who have
had light from heaven to see that a breach has been made in the law of God? {4BC
1152.3}
In the Revelation, John says, “The temple of
God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his
testament.” Revelation 11:19. John saw in vision the Lord’s people looking for
His coming and searching for truth. As the temple of God was opened unto His
people, the light of the law of God, which was in the ark, shone forth. Those who receive this light are brought to
view in the proclamation of the third angel’s message. {4BC 1152.4}
This angel is seen flying in the midst of
heaven, “saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image,
and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, 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.... Here is the
patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and
the faith of Jesus.” {4BC 1152.5}
This is the people that are repairing the
breach in the law of God. They see that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment
has been supplanted by a spurious sabbath, a day that has no sanction in the
Word of God. Amid great opposition they become loyal to their God, and take their position under the standard of the third
angel
(Manuscript 48, 1900). {4BC 1152.6}
As the end approaches, the testimonies of God’s
servants will become more decided and more powerful, flashing the light of
truth upon the systems of error and oppression that have so long held the
supremacy. The Lord has sent us messages
for this time to establish Christianity upon an eternal basis, and all who
believe present truth must stand, not in their own wisdom, but in God; and
raise up the foundation of many generations. These will be
registered in the books of heaven as repairers of the breach, the restorers of
paths to dwell in. We are to maintain the truth because it is truth, in the
face of the bitterest opposition. God is at work upon human minds; it is not
man alone that is working. The great illuminating power is from Christ; the
brightness of His example is to be kept before the people in every discourse
(Letter 1f, 1890). {4BC 1152.7}
Whole-souled
Men to Stand in the Gap—I write this because many in the church are
represented to me as seeing men like trees walking. They must have another
and deeper experience before they discern the snares spread to take them in the
net of the deceiver. There must be no halfway work done now. The Lord calls for
stanch, decided, whole-souled men and women to stand in the gap, and make up
the hedge. [Isaiah 58:12-14 quoted.] {4BC 1152.8}
There is a decided testimony to be borne by all
our ministers in all our churches. God has permitted apostasies to take place in order to show how little dependence can be placed in man.
We are always to look to God; His word is not Yea and Nay, but Yea and Amen (NL No. 19, pp. 2,
3). {4BC 1152.9}
13, 14. See EGW on Exodus 20:1-17, Vol. 1, p.
1103. {4BC 1152.10}
The 144,000 follow all of the above pattern. They are God’s earthly priests who
represent the church in heaven, Hebrews 12:22, 23. It is they as the bride of
Christ, who will give the final Loud Cry message to the world, Isaiah 62, whole
chapter, with the last verses being a paraphrase of the Midnight Cry. The
people of the church who do not all of the above, but keep His commandments,
are guests at the wedding, See Christ’s
Objects Lessons, pp. 405-406, and The
Great Controversy, pp. 426, 427. If guests, they CANNOT BE THE BRIDE.
“The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, which is the
capital and representative of the kingdom, is called “the bride, the Lamb’s
wife.”
Said the angel to John: “Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s
wife.” “He carried me away in the spirit,” says the prophet, “and showed me
that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.”
Revelation 21:9, 10. Clearly,
then, the bride represents the Holy City, and the virgins that go out to meet the bridegroom are a
symbol of the church. In the Revelation the people
of God are said to be the guests at the marriage supper. Revelation 19:9. If
guests, they cannot be represented also as the bride. Christ, as
stated by the prophet Daniel, will receive from the Ancient of Days in heaven,
“dominion, and glory, and a kingdom;” He
will receive the New Jerusalem, the capital of His kingdom, “prepared as a
bride adorned for her husband.” Daniel 7:14; Revelation 21:2. Having
received the kingdom, He will come in His glory, as King of kings and Lord of
lords, for the redemption of His people, who are to “sit down with Abraham, and
Isaac, and Jacob,” at His table in His kingdom (Matthew 8:11; Luke 22:30), to
partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb. {GC 426.2}
The True Reformers are faithful men who
constitute the THIRD ANGEL that selects the wheat from the tares by a shaking
message. All wo receive that message are shaken in to
the Church of Zion, heavenly Zion. All who reject that message are shaking out
of ZION, the church in heaven, Heb. 12:22, 23. That is Ellen White’s meaning
when she says sinners are shaken out of Zion. The apostate church applies the
term Zion to itself, when in reality it is the
Synagogue of Satan. Now understand the following quote in its’ true sense:
“The church may appear as about to fall, but
it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be
sifted out—the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a
terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place.—Selected Messages 2:380 (1886). {LDE
180.5}
The reason the church appears to fall, is
because the apostate Synagogue of Satan new movement, DOES FALL, while sinners
are shaken out of heavenly Zion by earthly representatives of that church. But
the true SDA church led by the bride, as the disciples led the true church of
their day, will not fall.
It is such a deception that the apostate SDA
church applies the accolade of the title Zion to itself. Now that you know the
truth about this deception, you should be able to read all the other statements
that SDA leaders have misrepresented and misapplied since the death of Ellen
White. They are as follows:
Chapter
12—The Shaking
Church
Membership No Guarantee of Salvation
It is a solemn statement that I make to the
church, that not one in twenty whose names are registered upon the church books
are prepared to close their earthly history, and would be as verily without God
and without hope in the world as the common sinner.—Christian
Service, 41 (1893). {LDE 172.1}
Those who have had opportunities to hear and
receive of the truth and who have united with the Seventh-day Adventist church,
calling themselves the commandment-keeping people of God, and yet possess no
more vitality and consecration to God than do the nominal churches, will
receive the plagues of God just as verily as the churches who oppose the law of
God.—Manuscript Releases 19:176 (1898). {LDE 172.2}
The Chaff Separated From
the Wheat
Divisions will come in the church. Two parties
will be developed. The wheat and tares grow up together for the harvest.—Selected Messages 2:114 (1896). {LDE 172.3}
There will be a shaking of the sieve. The
chaff must in time be separated from the wheat. Because iniquity abounds, the
love of many waxes cold. It is the very time when the genuine will be the strongest.—Letter 46, 1887. {LDE 173.1}
The history of the rebellion of Dathan and
Abiram is being repeated, and will be repeated till
the close of time. Who will be on the Lord’s side? Who will be deceived, and in
their turn become deceivers?—Letter 15, 1892. {LDE
173.2}
The Lord is soon to come. There must be a
refining, winnowing process in every church, for there are among us wicked men
who do not love the truth or honor God.—The Review and
Herald, March 19, 1895. {LDE 173.3}
We are in the shaking time, the time when
everything that can be shaken will be shaken. The Lord will not excuse those
who know the truth if they do not in word and deed obey His commands.—Testimonies
for the Church 6:332 (1900). {LDE 173.4}
Persecution Cleanses the Church
Prosperity multiplies a mass of professors.
Adversity purges them out of the church.—Testimonies
for the Church 4:89 (1876). {LDE 173.5}
The time is not far distant when the test will
come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have
step by step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will
not find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject
themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest
is between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. In this time
the gold will be separated from the dross in the church.—Testimonies
for the Church 5:81 (1882). {LDE 173.6}
In the absence of the persecution there have
drifted into our ranks men who appear sound and their Christianity
unquestionable, but who, if persecution should arise, would go out from us.—Evangelism, 360 (1890). {LDE 174.1}
When the law of God is made void the church
will be sifted by fiery trials, and a larger proportion than we now anticipate
will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.—Selected
Messages 2:368 (1891). {LDE 174.2}
Superficial Believers Will Renounce the Faith
The work which the church has failed to do in
a time of peace and prosperity she will have to do in a terrible crisis under
most discouraging, forbidding circumstances. The warnings that worldly
conformity has silenced or withheld must be given under the fiercest opposition
from enemies of the faith. And at that time the superficial, conservative
[Ellen White is not here distinguishing theological conservatives from their
liberal counterparts; she is describing those who put “worldly conformity”
first and God’s cause second.] class, whose influence has steadily retarded the
progress of the work, will renounce the faith.—Testimonies
for the Church 5:463 (1885). {LDE 174.3}
If Satan sees that the Lord is blessing His
people and preparing them to discern his delusions, he will work with his
master power to bring in fanaticism on the one hand and cold formalism on the
other, that he may gather in a harvest of souls.—Selected
Messages 2:19 (1890). {LDE 174.4}
Those who have had privileges and
opportunities to become intelligent in regard to the truth and yet who continue
to counterwork the work God would have accomplished will be purged out, for God
accepts the service of no man whose interest is divided.—Manuscript
64, 1898. {LDE 175.1}
As trials thicken around us, both separation
and unity will be seen in our ranks. Some who are now ready to take up weapons
of warfare will in times of real peril make it manifest that they have not
built upon the solid rock; they will yield to temptation. Those who have had
great light and precious privileges but have not improved them will, under one
pretext or another, go out from us.—Testimonies for
the Church 6:400 (1900). {LDE 175.2}
The Straight Testimony Produces a Shaking
I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the straight
testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans.
This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and
will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some
will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this
will cause a shaking among God’s people.—Testimonies
For The Church 1:181 (1857). {LDE 175.3}
There are those among us who will make
confessions, as did Achan, too late to save themselves. ... They are not in
harmony with right. They despise the straight testimony that reaches the heart,
and would rejoice to see everyone silenced who gives reproof.—Testimonies
for the Church 3:272 (1873). {LDE 175.4}
The Lord calls for a renewal of the straight
testimony borne in years past. He calls for a renewal of spiritual life. The
spiritual energies of His people have long been torpid, but there is to be a
resurrection from apparent death. By prayer and confession of sin we must clear
the King’s highway.—Testimonies for the Church 8:297
(1904). {LDE 176.1}
Unjust Criticism Causes Loss of Souls
Even in our day there have been and will
continue to be entire families who have once rejoiced in the truth, but who
will lose faith because of calumnies and falsehoods brought to them in regard to those whom they have loved and with whom they
have had sweet counsel. They opened their hearts to the sowing of tares, the
tares sprang up among the wheat, they strengthened, the crop of wheat became
less and less, and the precious truth lost its power to them.—Testimonies
to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 411 (1898). {LDE 176.2}
False Doctrines Draw Some Away
Science, so-called, and religion will be
placed in opposition to each other because finite men do not comprehend the
power and greatness of God. These words of Holy Writ were presented to me, “Of
your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away
disciples after them” [Acts 20:30]. This will surely be seen among the people
of God.—Evangelism, 593 (1890). {LDE 176.3}
When the shaking comes, by the introduction of
false theories, these surface readers, anchored nowhere, are like shifting
sand. They slide into any position to suit the tenor of their feelings of bitterness.—Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 112
(1897). {LDE 177.1}
Not having received the love of the truth,
they will be taken in the delusions of the enemy; they will give heed to
seducing spirits and doctrines of devils and will depart from the faith.—Testimonies for the Church 6:401 (1900). {LDE 177.2}
The enemy will bring in false theories, such
as the doctrine that there is no sanctuary. This is one of the points on which
there will be a departing from the faith.—Evangelism,
224 (1905). {LDE 177.3}
Rejection of the Testimonies Results in
Apostasy
One thing is certain: Those Seventh-day Adventists
who take their stand under Satan’s banner will first give up their faith in the
warnings and reproofs contained in the Testimonies of God’s Spirit.—Selected
Messages 3:84 (1903). {LDE 177.4}
The very last deception of Satan will be to
make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. “Where there is no
vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). Satan will work ingeniously, in
different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of
God’s remnant people in the true testimony.—Selected
Messages 1:48 (1890). {LDE 177.5}
The enemy has made his masterly efforts to
unsettle the faith of our own people in the Testimonies.... This is just as
Satan designed it should be, and those who have been preparing the way for the
people to pay no heed to the warnings and reproofs of the Testimonies of the
Spirit of God will see that a tide of errors of all kinds will spring into life.—Selected Messages 3:83 (1890). {LDE 178.1}
It is Satan’s plan to weaken the faith of
God’s people in the Testimonies. Next follows skepticism in
regard to the vital points of our faith, the pillars of our position,
then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures, and then the downward march to perdition.
When the Testimonies, which were once believed, are doubted and given up, Satan
knows the deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his efforts
till he launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends in destruction.—Testimonies for the Church 4:211. {LDE 178.2}
Defections Among Church Leaders
Many a star that we have admired for its
brilliance will then go out in darkness.—Prophets and
Kings, 188 (c. 1914). {LDE 178.3}
Men whom He has greatly honored will, in the
closing scenes of this earth’s history, pattern after ancient Israel.... A departure
from the great principles Christ has laid down in His teachings, a working out
of human projects, using the Scriptures to justify a wrong course of action
under the perverse working of Lucifer, will confirm men in misunderstanding,
and the truth that they need to keep them from wrong practices will leak out of
the soul like water from a leaky vessel.—Manuscript Releases 13:379, 381
(1904). {LDE 178.4}
Many will show that they are not one with
Christ, that they are not dead to the world, that they may live with Him; and
frequent will be the apostasies of men who have occupied responsible positions.—The Review and Herald, September 11, 1888. {LDE
179.1}
Unsanctified Ministers Will Be Weeded Out
The great issue so near at hand [enforcement
of Sunday laws] will weed out those whom God has not appointed and He will have
a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain.—Selected
Messages 3:385 (1886). {LDE 179.2}
Many will stand in our pulpits with the torch
of false prophecy in their hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan....
{LDE 179.3}
Some will go out from among us who will bear
the ark no longer. But these can not make walls to
obstruct the truth; for it will go onward and upward to the end.—Testimonies
to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 409, 411 (1898). {LDE 179.4}
Ministers and doctors may depart from the
faith, as the Word declares they will, and as the messages that God has given
His servant declare they will.—Manuscript Releases
7:192 (1906). {LDE 179.5}
The
Church May Appear as About to Fall
The shaking of God blows away multitudes like
dry leaves.—Testimonies for the Church 4:89 (1876).
{LDE 180.1}
Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the
wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat.—Testimonies
for the Church 5:81 (1882). {LDE 180.2}
Soon God’s people will be tested by fiery
trials, and the great proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true
will prove to be base metal.... {LDE 180.3}
When the religion of Christ is most held in
contempt, when His law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest
and our courage and firmness the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth
and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the
Lord when champions are few—this will be our test. At this time we must gather
warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty
from their treason.—Testimonies for the Church 5:136
(1882). {LDE 180.4}
The church may appear as about to fall, but it
does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out—the
chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but
nevertheless it must take place.—Selected Messages
2:380 (1886). {LDE 180.5}
As the storm approaches, a large class who
have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified
through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of
the opposition.—The Great Controversy, 608 (1911).
{LDE 180.6}
God’s Faithful Will Be Revealed
The Lord has faithful servants who in the
shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now
hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal. They have not had the light which
has been shining in a concentrated blaze upon you. But it may be under a rough
and uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character
will be revealed. In the daytime we look toward heaven but do not see the
stars. They are there, fixed in the firmament, but the eye cannot distinguish
them. In the night we behold their genuine luster.—Testimonies
for the Church 5:80, 81 (1882). {LDE 181.1}
On every occasion that persecution takes
place, the witnesses make decisions, either for Christ or against Him. Those
who show sympathy for the men wrongly condemned, who are not bitter against
them, show their attachment for Christ.—The Signs of
the Times, February 20, 1901. {LDE 181.2}
Let opposition arise, let bigotry and
intolerance again bear sway, let persecution be kindled, and the half-hearted
and hypocritical will waver and yield the faith; but the true Christian will
stand firm as a rock, his faith stronger, his hope brighter than in days of prosperity.—The Great Controversy, 602 (1911). {LDE 181.3}
New Converts Will Take the Places of Those Who
Leave
Some had been shaken out and left by the way.
The careless and indifferent, who did not join with those who prized victory
and salvation enough to perseveringly plead and agonize for it, did not obtain
it, and they were left behind in darkness, and their places were immediately
filled by others taking hold of the truth and coming into the ranks.—Early Writings, 271 (1858). {LDE 182.1}
The broken ranks will be filled up by those
represented by Christ as coming in at the eleventh hour. There are many with
whom the Spirit of God is striving. The time of God’s destructive judgments is
the time of mercy for those who [now] have no opportunity to learn what is
truth. Tenderly will the Lord look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched,
His hand is still stretched out to save, while the door is closed to those who
would not enter. Large numbers will be admitted who in these last days hear the
truth for the first time.—Letter 103, 1903. {LDE
182.2}
Standard after standard was left to trail in
the dust as company after company from the Lord’s army joined the foe and tribe
after tribe from the ranks of the enemy united with the commandment-keeping
people of God.—Testimonies for the Church 8:41 (1904).
{LDE 182.3}
Important
Conclusions:
· Those who fulfill all
the duties listed above are the bride, the 144,000.
· Does the whole church
do all these duties listed above? Nay! Then it is pure foolish-virgin folly to
try to teach that all Adventists who are saved are PART OF THE BRIDE, THE
144,000. All who teach such are saying there are no guests at the wedding. They
are saying that all the members of the church do all the qualifications I have
listed above, to qualify as the bride, the 144,000. That is preposterous. That
is a demonic lie.
· How can apparently zealous
men like Andrew Henriques teach that all SDA’s who are saved, are one of the
144,000? How can he teach antichrist error on the Godhead? This shows how we
cannot place trust in man.
· The true false
charters follow Andrew Henriques’ teaching that all SDA’s who are saved, are
one of the 144,000. This is the epitome of foolish virgin deception.
· The “people of God are
said to be the guests at the marriage supper. Revelation 19:9. If guests, they
cannot be represented also as the bride.”
· The bride awakens all
ten virgins (COL, 405-406) which includes ALL THE WORLD, with the final Loud
Midnight Cry Message. The apostate church is not going to give that message. It
does not qualify because of its apostasy abominations for which Ezekiel
instructs us to sigh and cry as a CONDITION for receiving the seal of God. This
seal the bride must have BEFORE the Loud Cry, so as to
be prepared to give the Loud Cry.
· Now that you know all
the great distinctions between the leadership of the 144,000 and the laymen in
the true church, how could James White have penned the following statement?
“Those who die under the third
angel’s message are a part of the 144,000; there are not 144,000 in addition to
these, but these help make up that number. They are
raised to mortal life shortly before Christ comes, and are changed to
immortality when Christ appears.” RH Sept 23, 1880.
James White could not have been more DEAD WRONG! That would mean that every faithful Adventist
would be a priest in the Temple on Mt. Zion in heaven, and that is
preposterous, for so many would not qualify because they don’t begin to fulfill
the requirements to be one of the 144,000.
This goes to show that we can’t take
statements from any others than Ellen White and the Bible! The pioneers taught
some good truths, but EVIDENTLY they possessed some gross errors as well. For
example, James White never stated that Jesus was God in the highest sense, but
Ellen White surely did!
God’s richest blessings to the sincere truth
seekers, and may His Spirit continue to labor with those who think they know it
all, while falling into grievous errors like the ones we have studied in this
document, is my prayer.
~rwb