My Vision on Answers to Questions for Andrew
Henriques
on
The 144,000
The 144,000 Defined: Revelation 12:17. “And the dragon was wroth with the
woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her
seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus
Christ.” {3SG 26.1}
“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}
The true spirit of the dragonic host, which is already being somewhat
developed, is vividly described in Isaiah 30:8-13, as being manifested just
prior to the sudden destruction of those who hate the pure testimony,
and love smooth and deceitful things.” Spiritual Gifts, Vol. III, p. 26 {3SG 26.3}
Statements made by J. N. Loughborough, or anyone else, should not be used
to alter Ellen White’s above definition of the 144,000. There are some who are stating
quotes from Haskell, Jones and Waggoner, and other of the pioneers that
contradict clear statements by Ellen White. Those men taught many good things,
but they do not trump the Spirit of Prophecy.
Special Note added March 21,
2018: The designers of the false end-time chart which say that Ezekiel 9 begins
before the legislation of a National Sunday Law, are teaching for truth, the
errors of Andrew Henriques on the 144,000, which I deal with in this vision. They
are also teaching errors taught by World’s Last Chance website. End note.
I
supplicated the Lord in prayer Friday evening for the answer to the proper
identity of those who are raised in the special resurrection. The Lord has shown
me in vision this a.m., Sabbath, March 18, 2017, that all who are raised at the
special resurrection (other than the separate bride of the 144,000 awakening to
their true identity), are special guests at the wedding in the sense that they
have had the advanced light of Everlasting Covenant relationship in Revelation
14, and they participate/participated in the giving of the Third Angel’s
message since 1847, and did not knowingly worship the image of the beast. This
makes them, including the martyrs, special guests at the wedding, the sons and
daughters (Sons Isa.62:5 and daughter
verse 11) who marry themselves to the bride, Isaiah 62:5, by being a
special part of the wise of the ten virgins who are awakened by the bride (COL
405, 406), by helping her in giving the THIRD ANGELS MESSAGE and the final Loud
Cry after the bride awakens them (COL pp. 405, 406), and Isaiah 62:11, saying:
“Behold
the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say
ye to the DAUGHTER OF ZION, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, His reward is
with Him, and His work before Him.” This is a paraphrase of the final Loud Cry of
Matthew 25 and Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 405-406. The close liaison
between all the parties of the Third Angels Message are symbolized by the sons
and daughter of Zion, marrying themselves (joining the bridal procession) as
helpers to the bride in giving the Loud Cry to the world. The marriage herein
between the bride and her sons and daughters, refers to the Everlasting
Covenant relationship between the bride and the special guests, as pertains to
the three angel’s messages.
Special Bridesmaidens and
Special Groomsmen as Attendant Guests at the Wedding
These
special Sons and Daughters attendant guests of the SDA church militant cannot
be the bride and the bride cannot be the guests, GC 426, 427. They, with the
martyrs, and the 144,000 receive a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the
time of the National Sunday Law, and at the 7th plague, in order to faithfully endure the trial of going through the
remainder of time before the coming of Christ—without an intercessor. I was
shown that the SDA sons and daughters GUESTS, are as the MAIDS OF HONOR AND BEST MEN
ATTENDANT GUESTS
at the wedding and this is what is meant by the bride’s sons and daughters. Of course,
we all know that the foolish virgins are not saved.
In
addition to this, I was shown that J. Wilfred Johnson was correct in saying
that the special resurrection is ALSO the bride’s awakening as to her true,
original identity at the time of the special resurrection for
the reason that this is when all the saints, the bride and her MAIDS OF
HONOR, are glorified. Early Writings, p. 285. I was shown that the
attending outpouring of the Holy Spirit at that time will be due to the
glorification bestowed on these recipients.
Joel 2 speaks of Zion’s
daughters as plural. The first and last verses establish the context—ZION. The sons and daughters are not the bride, and the bride is not
the sons and daughters. Cf. GC, 426, 427.Joel
2:28 And
it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;
and your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see
visions:
The sons and daughters of Zion
are the ten virgins the voice of the bride awakens in Christ’s Object Lessons,
pp. 405-406, and Matthew 25. All those virgins slumbered and slept. The element
of the ten virgins in the SDA church are guests, and if guests they cannot be
the bride, and if the bride they cannot be the guests. The Great Controversy, pp.426, 427. Andrew Henriques makes them ALL
the bride. That is contrary to both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy.
Andrew Henriques claims to be doing the
work of John the Baptist. He is teaching in one of his most recent sermons
(Sermon for Sabbath, March 11) quote: “If
we are not a part of the 144,000, we are lost.” That is not true, because
Ellen White says that the guests are the people of the church and that the
bride is the earthly representative of the New Jerusalem, Philadelphia, the
144,00; that if the guests they cannot be the bride and vice versa, Great Controversy, p. 426, 427. In Isiah 62, Zion is the bride and she is
said to have sons and a daughter. The sons and daughter are the ten virgins.
The bride is other than the ten virgin guests, because it is her voice along
with the voice of God that awakens ALL TEN virgins, for they all slumbered and
slept during the tarrying time since the first Midnight Cry in 1844. Matthew
25.
The following
questions need to be asked of Andrew Henriques regarding his presentation on
the 144,000 at the following link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEAV5IEUlQg
Andrew maintains that
he is dividing the word of truth correctly, and that those who don’t teach his
rendition on the 144,000 are “heretics and ignorant.” I have the following
questions for Andrew, that he might, if possible, dispel my heresy and
ignorance, as I totally disagree with his presentation and believe that I can disprove
it from the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. I could ask a lot of questions,
but only the following ones are necessary to expose the errors of his
presentation:
1. At minute 38:31, Andrew intimates that the only death
decree occurs after the special resurrection occurs. That is not the first
death decree. That is the FINAL death decree mentioned in The Great Controversy, p. 635, at which God delivers His people. There are no martyrs at that
time, for Ellen White said there are no martyrs after the first plague, which
signals the close of probation, and martyrs would not serve as seed for fruit
after the close of probation. So the faithful martyrs must be killed before the
close of probation in order to inspire others to be faithful to the end.
2.
At minute 39:21 Andrew
tells of the Holy Spirit being poured out on both groups, those of the special
resurrection, and the separate group of the 144,000. He says that the martyrs
go through the time of trouble after that point, and the Holy Spirit is poured
out upon them to enable them to go through a time of trouble, the death decree,
the time he parallels with Esau coming against Jacob. The truth of this matter
is that there are two death decrees. The martyrs occur at the first death
decree, because the second and final death decree (GC 635) is AFTER the 7th
plague—AFTER the special resurrection. God’s people are delivered at that
decree which is in the context of Early
Writings, p. 15, to wit:
“Soon we [see Appendix.] 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.”
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.
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.” Early Writings,
p. 14.1, 16 and p. 15, 16 in some editions.
Questions based on the above statement:
· How can we conclude that those raised in the special
resurrection endured the great time of Jacob’s trouble, when right after the
voice of God is heard giving the day and hour of Jesus’ coming, and “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….” ‘and they worshiped at
our feet?’
· What kind of great time of trouble is it when you
merely stretch forth your hands in the name of the Lord, and your enemies fall
helpless to the ground, and worship at your feet?
· What kind of trouble is it when SOON after the above,
Jesus comes. Is that Jacob’s Great Time of Trouble?
· The Great Controversy, p. 616, relates the real time of Jacob’s Trouble and
the Jacob/Esau parable, to wit:
“As the Sabbath has become the special point of controversy
throughout Christendom, and religious and secular authorities have combined to
enforce the observance of the Sunday, the persistent refusal of a small
minority to yield to the popular demand will make them objects of universal
execration. It will be urged that the few who stand in opposition to an
institution of the church and a law of the state ought not to be tolerated;
that it is better for them to suffer than for whole nations to be thrown into
confusion and lawlessness. The same argument eighteen hundred years ago was
brought against Christ by the "rulers of the people." "It is
expedient for us," said the wily Caiaphas, "that one man should die
for the people, and that the whole nation perish not." John 11:50. This
argument will appear conclusive;
and a decree will finally be issued against those who hallow the Sabbath of the
fourth commandment, denouncing them as deserving of the severest punishment and
giving
616
the people
liberty, after a certain time, to put them to death. Romanism in the Old World
and apostate Protestantism in the New will pursue a similar course toward those
who honor all the divine precepts.
The people of
God will then be plunged into those scenes of affliction and distress described
by the prophet as the time of Jacob's trouble. "Thus saith the Lord: We have heard a voice of
trembling, of fear, and not of peace. . . . All faces are turned into paleness.
Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of
Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it." Jeremiah 30:5-7.
Jacob's night of anguish, when he
wrestled in prayer for deliverance from the hand of Esau (Genesis 32:24-30), represents
the experience of God's people in the time of trouble. Because of the deception practiced to
secure his father's blessing, intended for Esau, Jacob had fled for his life,
alarmed by his brother's deadly threats. After remaining for many years an
exile, he had set out, at God's command, to return with his wives and children,
his flocks and herds, to his native country. On reaching the borders of the
land, he was filled with terror by the tidings of Esau's approach at the head
of a band of warriors, doubtless bent upon revenge. Jacob's company, unarmed and
defenseless, seemed about to fall helpless victims of violence and slaughter. And to the burden of anxiety and fear
was added the crushing weight of self-reproach, for it was his own sin that had
brought this danger. His only hope was in the mercy of God; his only defense
must be prayer. Yet he leaves nothing undone on his own part to atone for the
wrong to his brother and to avert the threatened danger. So should the
followers of Christ, as they approach the time of trouble, make every exertion
to place themselves in a proper light before the people, to disarm prejudice,
and to avert the danger which threatens liberty of conscience.” The Great Controversy, pp. 615, 616.
The little
time of trouble begins at the legislation of a National Sunday Law, and extends
to the time of probation’s close. The Great time of Jacob’s trouble begins with
the first plague, the close of probation. This time will extend through to the
time Satan determines to rid the earth of the faithful in one night, WHICH IS
THE TIME AT WHICH GOD’S PEOPLE ARE DELIVERED. Only the 144,000 experience the
Great Time of Jacob’s trouble, which is a time the anguish for the 144,000,
which is due to living without an Intercessor and the stress they experience
over whether or not every sin has been confessed and overcome. GC 621. Christ
stands up at the end of probation, which begins at the first plague. The final
death decree (GC 635) is the time of DELIVERANCE.
· Revelation 7:14 describes the bride, the
144,000 ONLY.
· The special resurrection occurs at the
opening of the 7th plague. Christ is no longer in His Sanctuary. He
stood up at the general close of probation, which began with the first plague.
All those resurrected at the special resurrection at the time of the 7th
plague, and the 144,000, get a special outpouring of the Hoy Spirit to help
them endure the remainder of their time on this earth, which is not long
because SOON they see Christ coming in the clouds. They do go through the remainder
of God’s judgments upon the earth, but those judgments do not involve any
threat from their enemies, for at that time, their enemies worship at their
feet!
· Though there is a tarrying time after
the special resurrection, that time is not long because Ellen White says that
SOON after the deliverance of His people, Christ comes, and the 7th
plague, which is when the special resurrection occurs, is the last plague and
Ellen White says that plague is not worldwide.
3. 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}
4. AT minute 41:43, Andrew asks “How dare you believe
that those in the special resurrection do not go through the time of trouble.”
Question: How can those who are raised in the special resurrection, as defined
by Andrew, to include the martyrs, go through the entire time of trouble if
they died before the first plague and are not raised again until the special
resurrection which Andrew says occurs at the seventh plague?
5.
Andrew says that those
raised at the special resurrection go through the time of trouble even though
they only experience the 7th last plague. He says they receive
credit as eleventh hour workers. That is entirely a personal opinion construct
of Andrew’s, for he has no Spirit of Prophecy or Bible to back up that opinion.
The Bible and Ellen White both say that the 144,000 experience Revelation 7:14,
to wit: “And I said unto him, Sir thou
knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation,
and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,”
as well as: “Rev 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.”
6. The Bible and Ellen White both are specific as to the
number that are translated without seeing death. Andrew says that number is
inclusive of men only; that it includes women and children that are added to that
number. But in addition to women and children, one must add all Adventists
saved in the third angel’s message since 1847.
7.
All who died in the
faith of the three angel’s message since 1847 (EXCEPT THE END-TIME MARTYRS), could not possibly be tested by victory
of the beast, his image and over his mark and over the number of his name,
because they are not raised until the 7th plague and THE DEATH
DECREE THAT WOULD KILL THEM IS PROPHESIED TO FAIL, FOR THE DEATH DECREE THAT
COMES AFTER THE 7TH PLAGUE IS ATTENDED BY DELIVERANCE OF ALL THEN
THREATENED. They will put forth their
hands to their enemies and they will fall to the ground. Early Writings, p. 15. Every person who arrives to that time will
KNOW that the death decree will fail. Rev
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.
8. Ellen White says in Early Writings, p. 19, that only the 144,000 go into the Temple on
Mr. Zion. Revelation 3:10-12 says that Philadelphians will be made pillars in
the temple—that means leaders. The bride is the lesser priests while Christ is
the High Priest in the Temple of Heaven. Philadelphia also gets the New Name,
New Jerusalem. The entire SDA church has never been ALL PHILADELPHIANS since
1846, for that is when Ellen White first
indicted the church as having fallen into the Laodicean condition. Also, she
called the Laodicean church the church militant. She applied the parable of the
ten virgins to the SDA church. She said that the voice of God and the voice of
the bride awaken the ten virgins, and Matthew 25 says “ALL THOSE VIRGINS
SLUMBERED AND SLEPT.”
9.
Andrew says that
anyone who has received his message and dies, must come up in the special
resurrection to be the 144,000 or he/she is lost. That is not true. In order to
be one of the 144,000, one must be of the LAST GENERATION of Adventists alive
when Jesus comes, 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 chap. xix, 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.
The true spirit of the
dragonic host, which is already being somewhat developed, is vividly described
in Isa. xxx, 8-13, as being manifested just prior to the sudden destruction of
those who hate the pure testimony, and love smooth and deceitful things."
E. G. White, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. III, 26, 27.
Andrew contradicts the above
statement by teaching that MORE THAN THE LAST GENERATION constitute the
144,000; that those of 4.25 generations back to 1847, are the 144,000. http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/generation/
It has been 170 years from 1847, and that is about
4.25 generations from the last generation IF JESUS SHOULD COME IN THE CURRENT
GENERATION. Thus, Andrew’s theory becomes personal opinion construct because it
contradicts the weight of evidence formula we were instructed to follow.
10.
Ellen White said that only the 144,000 would go into the Temple on Mt.
Zion. Zion is the bride that is married, Isaiah 62:1-5. In the Sanctuary
Service, the priests of the Temple were MEN ONLY. Will women and children go
into the Temple on Mt. Zion? Would that be like women’s ordination NOW? The
fact that we are raised as angels, not male nor female, answers this question.
11.
Andrew says that those of the special resurrection will not see the death
decree around hour/minute 1:30:41. The martyrs who he includes as rising in the
special resurrection, surely did receive the death decree. Ellen White said
that the 144,000 will not experience the death decree. Andrew directly
contradicts her once again.
12.
Elder J. Wilfred Johnson’s vision on the 144,000 doesn’t contradict the
Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. Andrew Henriques’ interpretations do indeed
contradict the Bible as well as the Spirit of Prophecy, for example his view
makes no provision for Philadelphia of the first century to go through the time
of trouble and to be pillars in the Temple, in light of Ellen White statement
in Early Writings, p. 19, that only the 144,000 go into the Temple on
Mt. Zion. Also, Ellen White says that John the Baptist got a bride for Christ, Desire
of Ages, 179. The bride is the 144,000, the New Jerusalem, Zion, that goes
into the Temple.
13.
Philadelphia was the original Zion, New Jerusalem, WITHOUT FAULT
church. Philadelphia was promised a place as PILLARS IN THE TEMPLE. That means
LEADERS—LESSER PRIESTS WHICH CHIRST AS THE HIGH PRIEST. Ellen White said that
only the 144,000 enter the Temple on Mt. Zion EW p. 19. So the members of
Philadelphia in the first century will be REGENERATED to go through the time of
trouble that is to come upon the whole world. That is what God’s Word says. By
Andrews interpretation of the 144,000, Philadelphia of the first century, will
not be kept through the time of trouble that is to come upon the whole world,
Rev. 3:10-12. That is a DIRECT CONTRADICTION OF THE WORD OF GOD ALMIGHTY.
14.
The 144,000 are not defiled with women, apostate churches, Rev. 14:1-5.
SDA’s who have been in the message and MEMBERS of the church since 1980, are
defiled with women by the apostasy of the church. How do they qualify as the
144,000? The bride, True Reformers, members of the church in heaven, Heb.
12:22, 23, ZION, go forth out of Jerusalem, Isaiah 37:31, 32, so as to be NOT
DEFILED BY WOMEN. The omega heresy having to do with the personality of God and
Christ, the Godhead, occurred in 1980 when the church adopted Rome’s Trinity
Doctrine, which in effect, sweeps away the entire Christian economy by the
Bible and Ellen White’s definition of the Godhead.
15.
The Israel of God are the twelve tribes of Jacob’s 12 sons. Jacob’s
daughter is not so mentioned. The Israel of God are distinguished from all
others who are saved, for they stand nearest the bridegroom in heaven, whereas
THE MARTYRS OF ALL AGES, are in a NEXT grouping, The Great
Controversy, p. 635. “ALL AGES” includes the martyrs at the end-time!
16.
I was shown that women can be part of the 144,000 in that we are raised
not according to gender, and that the Template of character could just as well
be lived out in a male or female body, and that God will cause us to recognize
one another’s true identity.
1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a
spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
17.
The Lord has shown me in vision this a.m., March 18, 2017, that all who
are raised at the special resurrection (other than the 144,000 awakening to
their true identity), are special in the sense that they have had advanced
light and they participated in the giving of the Third Angel’s message since
1847, and did not knowingly worship the image of the beast. This makes them,
including the martyrs, special guests at the wedding, the sons and daughters (Sons Isa.62:5 and daughter verse 11;
daughters of Zion Joel 2) who marry themselves to the bride, Isaiah 62:5,
by being a special part of the wise of the ten virgins who are awakened by the
bride, and help her in giving the THIRD ANGELS MESSAGE and the final Loud Cry
after the bride awakens them, Isaiah 62:11, saying: “Behold the Lord hath
proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the DAUGHTER OF ZION, Behold,
thy salvation cometh; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.
This is a paraphrase of the the final Loud Cry of
Matthew 25 and Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 405-406.
18.
Counsel Regarding the 144,000 http://www.whiteestate.org/issues/144000.html
Supporting Statements
to my Questions:
The Seven Last Plagues Signal the End of Probation
“I saw
that the four angels would hold the four winds until
Jesus' work was done in the sanctuary, and then will come the seven last
plagues. These plagues enraged the wicked
against the righteous; they thought that we had brought the judgements of God
upon them, and that if they could rid the earth of us, the plagues would then
be stayed.” E. G. White, Early Writings,
p. 36 (1851).
Friday- March 17, 2017
No Martyrs After Probation Closes
He shall call upon me,
and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and
honour him. Ps. 91:15.
The people of God will
not be free from suffering; but while persecuted and distressed, while they endure
privation and suffer for want of food they will not be left to perish. . . .
Yet to human sight it
will appear that the people of God must soon seal their testimony with their
blood as did the martyrs before them. They themselves begin to fear that the
Lord has left them to fall by the hand of their enemies. It is a time of
fearful agony. Day and night they cry unto God for deliverance. . . .
The eye of God,
looking down the ages, was fixed upon the crisis which His people are to meet,
when earthly powers shall be arrayed against them. Like the captive exile, they
will be in fear of death by starvation or by violence. But the Holy One who
divided the Red Sea before Israel, will manifest His mighty power and turn
their captivity. "They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day
when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son
that serveth him." Malachi 3:17. If the blood of
Christ's faithful witnesses were shed at this time, it would not, like the
blood of the martyrs, be as seed sown to yield a harvest for God. Their
fidelity would not be a testimony to convince others of the truth; for the
obdurate heart has beaten back the waves of mercy until they return no more. If
the righteous were now left to fall a prey to their enemies, it would be a
triumph for the prince of darkness. Says the psalmist: "In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his
pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me." Psalm 27:5.
Christ has spoken: "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and
shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until
the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord
cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their
iniquity." Isaiah 26:20, 21. Glorious will be the deliverance of those
who have patiently waited for His coming and whose names are written in the
book of life.” E. G. White, Maranatha,
Page 278.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gRApvGCtx4
“I saw that a time of
trouble was before us, when stern necessity will compel the people of God to
live on bread and water…. In the time of trouble none will labor with their
hands. Their sufferings will be MENTAL, and God will provide food for them.” Last Day Events, p. 265.
Joel Chapter 2 is About Zion and Her
Daughters
Joe 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an
alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the
day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
Joe 2:2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day
of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a
great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be
any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
Joe 2:3 A fire devoureth
before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden
before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall
escape them.
Joe 2:4 The appearance of them is as the appearance
of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
Joe 2:5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of
mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle
array.
Joe 2:6 Before their face the people shall be much
pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
Joe 2:7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall
climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and
they shall not break their ranks:
Joe 2:8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall
walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not
be wounded.
Joe 2:9 They shall run to and fro
in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses;
they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
Joe 2:10 The earth shall quake before them; the
heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall
withdraw their shining:
Joe 2:11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before
his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth
his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide
it?
Joe 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye
even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with
mourning:
Joe 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments,
and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to
anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Joe 2:14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent,
and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto
the LORD your God?
Joe 2:15 Blow the
trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
Joe 2:16 Gather the people, sanctify the
congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the
breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her
closet.
Joe 2:17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD,
weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O
LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule
over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
Joe 2:18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land,
and pity his people.
Joe 2:19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his
people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be
satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
Joe 2:20 But I will remove far off from you the
northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his
face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his
stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done
great things.
Joe 2:21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for
the LORD will do great things.
Joe 2:22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for
the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the
fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
Joe 2:23 Be glad
then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in
the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he
will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain
in the first month.
Joe 2:24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and
the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
Joe 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the
locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller,
and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
Joe 2:26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be
satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously
with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
Joe 2:27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of
Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall
never be ashamed.
Joe 2:28 And it
shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;
and your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see
visions:
Joe 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those
days will I pour out my spirit.
Joe 2:30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and
in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
Joe 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and
the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD
come.
Joe 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever
shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be
deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall
call.
In the Name of the God
of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
Ronald William
Beaulieu