Daniel 7:14 – Which kingdom is it?

             In Daniel 14 it talks about a “kingdom”.  We have two choices; kingdom of grace and kingdom of glory. Kingdom of grace according to James 5:7 is like the fruits of the spirit or the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. The kingdom of glory is set up at the second coming. [A throne implies a kingdom]. This is the physical kingdom.(Matt 25:31) Kingdom of grace happens before the kingdom of glory, because God has to have His kingdom of Grace finished before He actually comes. Kingdom of Grace needs to be accomplished first, so that before sinful human beings enter into Heaven, we must be perfected.

              When we compare the kingdom of grace with a seed it goes like this: by Jesus dying on the Cross, he planted the seed; kingdom of grace. Then when the close of probation comes, that seed is ripened. (DA 623.3, TM 506) On the personal level, the seed in someone’s heart cannot be germinated or started until the rain falls on them. The rain we can apply to here is the former rain. By receiving the former rain until right before the time of probation, the latter rain will fall at the end of the probation. (TM 508)   

             The context of the verses 9-14,  is the judgement. The kingdom refered in verse 14 is the kingdom of grace that is completed after the investigative judgment and at the close of the final atonement.

Revelation 12:3

     The 7 heads are just like the image in Dan. 2. The top is Babylon and it is the first kingdom;the first head. Next is Medo-Persia and this is the second head. This is total common sense, and the pattern continues till it reaches the feet. The feet represents papacy. Head #5 and 7 are both on the feet, because they both refer to the same entity, the papacy. When papacy got a deadly wound, another kingdom came in; the U.S. After the deadly wound heals, then the last kingdom (papacy) will enter in again. The crowns are the ones in the heads of each king, and when that earthly kingdom is over, then it passes it to another kingdom.

     Before the beast had a deadly wound, there was 1260 years of persecution from AD 538-1798. Using the day for a year concept according to Eze. 4:6 and II Pet. 3:8, we can see that, in the 7th kingdom that will come, we will have three and a half years of persecution. This is called the Battle of Armegeddon.

Daniel 11

Verse. 23- This verse is talking about the pagan people coming into the church and not giving up all their concept. This leads to an apostate Protestantism.

Verse 24- A time represents a year. Satan is going to try to demolish the church not with violence, but with deceitfulness.

Verse 25- King of the South and the North are in war, but Egypt prevails because king of the South used the same techniques; deceiving with the mouth

Verse 26- This verse shows us what happens to the “Christians”, who are only partly. The fire has gone out of the Christians, which will not be retained for centuries.

Verses 27- Both of these men, are for Satan, yet they are fighting against each other. This reminds me of the time of trouble that it would be hard, but that it would not last long.

Verse 28-This verse reminds me of the story of rich man and Lazarus.  How the rich man is cursed and he is much despised. The rich shall be against the holy covenant. Sounds like the pope! Since when does the pope like God’s laws and when is he poor?

Verse 29- Why would he be coming to the south, if he is the king of the north. He shall return to his own home, but it is going to be different; times are changing and things are happening

Verse 30- As ships of Chittim are representing God’s people, they come against the papacy. Coming against the papacy; how else can God’s people come against the papacy other than the Sabbath laws? Then, Constantine will be grieved, but it will return to his old habits of killing Christians. Just like that, papacy will “return” to its old practices of persecuting and persecute the Sabbath keepers. *note: This is  a sign that the Laodicean will come out of the lukewarm mood, because they have reached the persecution mode. ** According to Ex.31:16, 17 the holy covenant is the Sabbath commandment. Because of the attack of the ships of Chittim, he will have indignation against the Sabbath. He won’t just stop there; he will reunite with the people he was fighting against and have Babylon the second…

Verse 31- This verse talks about in detail, the horrible things he does.

Verse 32- He will try everything, even flatteries to win the blind people over, while those who can discern the truth will be strong.

Verse 33- They that “see” and understand will not just keep it to themselves, but will share the gospel and try to get them out of the darkness, but papacy would not allow this.

Verse 34- Satan here uses his method of deceiving with the mouth

Verse 35- They will be going through a lot of trials, so that God can make them “whiter than snow”. This persecution is only for a period of time. For them it was 1798, for us it is when probation ends!

Verse 36- These are the characteristics of the papacy- blaspheming against God, exulting oneself, but these will only last as God appointed it to be.

Verse 37- He is going to make himself like God that nothing else will matter.

Verse 38- “The kingdom of Satan is a kingdom of force;” While he may think that he is on a power trip, he still bows down to Satan.

Verse 39- “a strange god” isn’t just paganism; it is the compromise between that & Christianity.

Verse 40- His cup of iniquity is full and God is going to let the king of the North and South take over him.

Verse 41- Entering into the glorious land, which is another word for the Christian church.***

Verse42- Then it seems like as if the whole pattern will start all over again. Everybody is pitching in to help the papacy.

Verse 43- Even wealth is back at his side; one of the other characteristics about papacy.

Verse 44- Tidings form east and west will trouble him, because they symbolize the second coming and the Sabbath & sanctuary. He knows he’s losing time, so he destroys everyone the hardest here.

Verse 45- He knows time is short so, he persecutes the remnant even more and when it is at the very, very highest peak, the end is here.

 

Star 2: Reminds me a lot about David. A’s Grad sermon about the Beautitudes.  It shows me that we are almost to that persecution stage, but we need to cross all the other verses before we get there.

Star 3: This part personally did not make any sense. Why is he gaining power, again? I thought his iniquity was full, and Jesus was coming.

Daniel 2:40-43

Daniel 2:40-43

Daniel 2 verse 42 says that the “feet and toes were part iron and part clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.” Because it says feet and toes, we can see that they were both equally mixed. When it says partly broken and partly strong, it shows the difference between two kingdoms; Satan’s kingdom and God’s. In Psa. 34:18 “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” This is saying that broken is God’s people, or people that are trying to follow God. According to Ezek. 34:16, it says, “God will destroy the strong, but will bind up that which was broken.” This shows us that strong are Satan’s people, for God doesn’t destroy His own.

Iron and clay are two different things. One represents God’s people, while the other represents Satan’s. In verse 43, it says, “And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.” Although clay represents God’s people, when mixed with iron, which is paganism, the outcome is either the papacy or apostate Protestantism. Just like when you have Sodium and Chlorine combined, you have a total different substance, when a bad and good is mixed, a new substance is made; lukewarm Christians.

Seed of men, is the same thing as seed of man in Hebrew. It can show Abraham’s seed; seed of man. While there is a group of people following God wholeheartedly, there is another group in the iron and clay mixture. God will be calling the people out of the iron and clay mixture in the last days.

The toes in verse 43 are very interesting. When we assume that there are ten toes, there is a similarity with the ten horns in Dan. 7:23,24 and the ten horns of Rev. 13:1-3 and 17:3,12-17. The ten toes represent papacy for they came out of the feet, and the toes in Dan 7 and Rev.13 and 17 both represent pagan Rome and papacy. Both of the horns and the toes come out the same; the papacy.

I think this statement can go many different ways, but what I get from this is that it is terribly sad that the toes and the horns are the same. The toes, although a mix with paganism, it does have a mix of Christianity. Isn’t it terrible that when mixed with the wrong, even the good turns to bad? I think this can also be a wake up call for the lukewarm Christians living in the world today. It is very important that we do not get mixed with the world, but remain as the Seed of Man. We must not get mingled, but stay apart from the world.

The Loud Cry

How does the fourth angel relate to the third angel? The fourth angel follows the third angel. “Then I saw another mighty angel commissioned to descend to earth, and unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his message… I saw a great light resting upon them, and they united in the message, and fearlessly proclaimed with great power the third angel’s message. {1SG 193.2} They both unite for more power and the fourth angel followed the third angel.

What are the two parts to the Loud Cry? I think the second part starts in verse 4 of chapter 18.

What are the two parts to the final warning? “When the final warning shall be given, it will arrest the attention of these leading men through whom the Lord is now working, and some of them will accept it, and will stand with the people of God through the time of trouble. {GC88 610.2} First part is to give people the chance to accept it or not!

“We have a sacred message to bear to the world. The Third Angel’s Message is not a theory of man’s inventing, a speculation of the imagination; but it is the solemn truth of God for these last days. It is the final warning to the perishing souls of men. It is not a system of truth simply to gratify and please the intellect; it means diligent and sacrificing labor to all who accept its holy teaching. The commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus must be brought to the attention of the world. The tidings of the coming of the Saviour must be proclaimed. The Judgment scenes must be portrayed before the unenlightened minds of men, and hearts must be aroused to realize the solemnity of the closing hours of probation, and prepare to meet their God. “{RH, March 13, 1888 par. 1} The second part is that this is our mission. Not something that man made, but a God-sent mission. Also, on the side note, another reason from this quote is for them to realize that the close of probation is near.

What is the difference between “Babylon is fallen” in the second angel’s message of Revelation 14, as given in the summer of 1844, and “Babylon is fallen” in the Loud Cry of Revelation 18? The Second angel’s message of “Babylon is fallen” is simply telling the message or the fact that Babylon is fallen, but the Loud Cry is encouraging God’s people to come out of her. It isn’t just merely telling but encouraging.

Babylon is become: “the habitation of devils,” “the hold of every foul spirit,” “and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.”  Explain each of these elements. “They had chosen a ruler who chained them to his car as captive… Satanic agencies were incorporated with men. The bodies of human beings, made for the dwelling place of God, had become the habitation of demons. The senses, the nerves, the passions, the organs of men, were worked by supernatural agencies in the indulgence of the vilest lust. The very stamp of demons was impressed upon the countenances of men. Human faces reflected the expression of the legions of evil with which they were possessed.” {DA 36.3} Babylon has fallen so low that instead of a place for God, it became the place for devils. Every part of their being was dipped in sin.

About the birds, I wondered why birds? But can you see the picture? Birds like to chirp and sing songs,  but what would happen if that turned to loud and rambunctiosness? For me, I thought how much God could’ve used Babylon or even the people in Babylon, but because they chose to stay in the cages, they became obnoctious.

List and explain the sins of Babylon, as stated in Revelation 18. Fornication, thinking to prove that it was not only equal to God, but above God, changed the rest day, placing the first day of the week where the seventh should be. And the Protestant world has taken this child of the papacy to be regarded as sacred. In the Word of God this is called her fornication.  {7BC 979.7} glorified of self, and pride. These things all put self before God. Changing Saturday to Sunday is a branch from these sins because Babylon “

When does Babylon’s sins reach unto heaven? “When do her sins reach unto heaven [Rev. 18:2-5]? When the law of God is finally made void by legislation.”–ST June 12, 1893.  {LDE 198.5}

Why does Revelation 18 say that Babylon receives the plagues? “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong [is] the Lord God who judgeth her.”  “Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.”  Because her cup of iniquity is filled to the full and although God has given her many chances, she neglected them.

If you are honestly serving God, what difference does it make which church you belong to? [according to Revelation 18] But the man of sin, exalting himself above God, sitting in the temple of God, and showing himself to be God, thought to change times and laws. This power, thinking to prove that it was not only equal to God, but above God, changed the rest day, placing the first day of the week where the seventh should be. And the Protestant world has taken this child of the papacy to be regarded as sacred. In the Word of God this is called her fornication.  {7BC 979.7} If you are honestly serving and loving God, you would follow His commandments. “If you love me keep my commandments.” Also, if you are serving God, then you wouldn’t change the rules that God has put there for you.

Why are there only two distinct calls made to the churches? I think yet, I haven’t found an answer so it would have to be the same answer as the Second Angel’s message… atleast for now. 😀

When is the Loud Cry suppose to be given? It needs to given all along before the 7 last plagues so that the latter rain will fall down before the 7 last plagues. At that time the “latter rain,” or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come, to give power to the loud voice of the third angel, and prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out.–EW 86 (1854). {LDE 186.4}

What is it that gives power to the Loud voice [Cry]? “At that time the “latter rain,” or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come, to give power to the loud voice of the third angel, and prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out.–EW 86 (1854). {LDE 186.4} The latter rain is to give us power to the third angel’s message and the Loud Cry.

Third Angel’s Message

• What is the core content of the third angel’s message? It is a warning against the mark of the beast and what will happen to those who will receive it. But even more than that, it is the gospel message. “The whole of the gospel is embraced in the third angel’s message, and in all our work the truth is to be presented as it is in Jesus. 1MR 57.3
• When did Jesus send the third angel’s message? He sent it from 1844. It started from then, but it is more relevent to us now because it is now the the cup of iniquity of the world will be full. ” When Christ entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to perform the closing work of the atonement, he committed to his servants the last message of mercy to be given to the world. Such is the warning of the third angel of Revelation 14. Immediately following its proclamation, the Son of man is seen by the prophet coming in glory to reap the harvest of the earth… As foretold in the Scriptures, the ministration of Christ in the most holy place began at the termination of the prophetic days in 1844.”{4SP 273}

• How did the third angel light up the past, the present, and the future to the early advent believers after the passing of the time in 1844? I saw the third angel pointing upward, showing the disappointed ones the way to the holiest of the heavenly sanctuary. As they by faith enter the most holy, they find Jesus, and hope and joy spring up anew. I saw them looking back, reviewing the past, from the proclamation of the second advent of Jesus, down through their experience to the passing of the time in 1844. They see their disappointment explained, and joy and certainty again animate them. The third angel has lighted up the past, the present, and the future, and they know that God has indeed led them by His mysterious providence. {EW 254.2} Through this quote we can see that it lighted the past by seeing their disappointment explained.   For the present, if they are going through a hard time, this can be an encouragement to them. For the future, it kind of goes along with the present.
  
• Why does the evangelical Christian world not accept the truth of Christ’s change of ministration from the holy place to the most holy place in 1844? Because for them to believe that, it would mean they accept the laws that are in the ark. But, nobody except the seventh-day Adventists believe that. “an acceptance of the truth concerning the heavenly sanctuary involved an acknowledgment of the claims of God’s law, and the obligation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Here was the secret of the bitter and determined opposition to the harmonious exposition of the Scriptures that brought to view the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary. ” 4SP 275.1
• What is the purpose of the numbering system for the angels’ messages of Revelation 14?The three messages are but one threefold message. They are three only in the order of their rise. But having risen, they go on together and are inseparable.  {GC 693 appendix} So they are in the order of their rise! There we go~

• How is the message of justification by faith the third angel’s message? It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel’s message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure. –Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 91-93. (1896) {Ev 190.4} What is the gospel? Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, right? Then what is justification by faith? By saying that we are justified by faith means we are jus tified by what Jesus did and believing that we can have salvation. “The whole of the gospel is embraced in the third angel’s message, and in all our work the truth is to be presented as it is in Jesus…” 1MR 57.3
  

• How do the first, second, and third angels’ messages all blend into one? They all blend into one for they all have one purpose in mind: warn everyone. They all have the same idea its just that some of the messages are applicable for different times. Also the mes sages all go together. You can’t accept one and not accept another.”Thus the substance of the second angel’s message is again given to the world by that other angel who lightens the earth with his glory. These messages all blend in one, to come before the people in the closing days of this earth’s history.   {2SM 116.2}
  
• How can you show that the mediation of Christ and the perpetuity of the law of God are the truths of the third angel’s message?This answer for me, is very similar to the answer for the justification by faith.  Also, another answer  is the importance of God’s laws. Although it can be the ignorance of just one of God’s laws, if it is ignored, it is a big sin. You see, it isn’t the fact that you disobeyed one petty rule, it is the fact that you knew what you needed to do, but you decided to put your opinions before God’s. The mediation of Christ is shown in here by how Jesus offered this mediation, but if you decide to receive the mark of the beast then you are rejecting the mediation of Christ and what He is doing for you. This also connects with God’s law. If we receive this mark in our foreheads or in our hands, the judgments pronounced against the disobedient must fall upon us. But the seal of the living God is placed upon those who conscientiously keep the Sabbath of the Lord (RH July 13, 1897).  {7BC 980.2}
• Where is the “here” in Revelation 14:12: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God” “and their faith in Jesus.” The third angel closes his message thus: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” As he repeated these words, he pointed to the heavenly sanctuary. The minds of all who embrace this message are directed to the most holy place, where Jesus stands before the ark, making His final intercession for all those for whom mercy still lingers and for those who have ignorantly broken the law of God. {EW 254.1} Here is the heavenly sanctuary. Why does God make it as this? I believe it is because “here is the patience of the saints” where can they have the patient except from Jesus? Only through Jesus’ mediation can they have the patience. “here are they that keep the commandments of God” reminds me that the holy sanctuary is where we are able to go. By keeping the commandments, but also having the attitude that our opinions are nothing compared to God’s.
• What is the “action step[s]” for the third angel’s message? I think this message encourages us to follow God’s opinions instead of ours. Receiving the mark of the beast and disobeying His commandments should be a warning to all that we have the chance to go to the “here”. “it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God” Ev 190.4 Keep reading for more info…
  
• What are the two purposes for the warning against the beast and his image contained in the third message? The main purpose was to see the mercy of God. Soon there will be a time when the wrath of God will be poured out without its usual mercy. Isn’t so merciful of God to warn us of the beast so that we can be prepared for it? He is giving everyone a chance to follow it so that nobody can blame God for not informing them. “If the light of truth has been presented to you, revealing the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and showing that there is no foundation in the Word of God for Sunday observance, and yet you still cling to the false sabbath, refusing to keep holy the Sabbath which God calls “My holy day,” you receive the mark of the beast. When does this take place? When you obey the decree that commands you to cease from labor on Sunday and worship God, while you know that there is not a word in the Bible showing Sunday to be other than a common working day, you consent to receive the mark of the beast, and refuse the seal of God.  {7BC 980.1}  More answer of this can be found in other answers
  

• What does it mean to receive the mark of the beast? To receive the mark of the beast can mean to do what the beast does and to observe its laws and statues instead of God’s. “John was called to behold a people distinct from those who worship the beast and his image by keeping the first day of the week. The observance of this day is the mark of the beast (Letter 31, 1898).  {7BC 979.11}” If the light of truth has been presented to you, revealing the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and showing that there is no foundation in the Word of God for Sunday observance, and yet you still cling to the false sabbath, refusing to keep holy the Sabbath which God calls “My holy day,” you receive the mark of the beast. {7BC 980} “To receive this mark means to come to the same decision as the beast has done, and to advocate the same ideas, in direct opposition to the Word of God.” 7BC 979.12 The observance of this day is the mark of the beast (Letter 31, 1898).  {7BC 979.11}

• What is “the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation”? The false doctrines. “What is that wine?–her false doctrines. She has given to the world a false sabbath instead of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and has repeated the falsehood that Satan first told to Eve in Eden–the natural immortality of the soul.” 7BC 985.4
  

• How are those who receive the mark of the beast “tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever”? They can’t stand in their presence because we are going to burn up. Even right now if I stand in front of the Father, in my sinful state, I’ll burn up also! They are going to be in their sinful state because they decided to choose the mark of the beast instead of the mark of God.  And the smok of their torment ascendeth up for ever and eve” means that it burned up as long as it did! How long does it take a person to burn up? Certainly not forever, but I think it is not a literal meaning. In the Bible it says that Sodom and Gomorra burned up forever. Are they still burning now? No! But they burned up for ever until it ended~
  
• What does it mean that “the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever”? Give some Biblical support. You could also take a look at Jude 7 and Isa. 34:10,11. “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Jude 7 As I said, is Sodom and Gomorrah still burning? No!

The Seventh Day Darwinians

The Seventh Day Darwinians. How does the true church come to a state like this where it’s own schools are teaching evolution? We as Seventh-day ADVENTISTS are a special group of people whom God gives special orders.  He does not permit compromise and definetly not from us. Compromise is the fall of alot of things and I think this is one of it. The majority of our church has compromised so much that it is almost shameful to call ourselves Adventists. Satan doesn’t start with evolution right away, he started with little things such as drums, bad music, and disagreements in churches. As God sees all this, He weeps, just like Jesus wept for Jerusalem. How did evolution suddenly show its face in our churches? Because we’ve allowed it little by little in different areas. When we allow sin little by little, it gets so big before we know it.

The problem is here, we cannot deny it and what we will do about it is another question. Do we just excommunicate La Sierra and other colleges that do this from the Adventist category? Do we criticise and try to beat them with the head? Or, should we ignore this issue? The answer is none of the above. They are still our brothers and sisters in Christ and we must reprove them in a loving way. This is a black and white issue where truth is plainly revealed, but we must do everything in love.

Second Angel’s Message- Rev. 14:8

• When was the second angel’s message given? In the Summer of 1844.
  
• Who did the second angel’s message have a more direct application to? The churches of United States.
  
• Why was the second angel’s message given? To give a call of warning for the faithful that were still in the churches of “Babylon”. To come out of those that rejected the first angel’s message.  Also, it was to show them how much God love them by giving everyone a chance to come out of Babylon.
  
• What were the consequences to the churches when they rejected the first angel’s message?  [A how problem] Some of the people of the church, was rejected by God. Also, those who rejected it, fell into Babylon.
  
• What is the “action step” of the second angel’s message?For all the people in the land of Babylon to come out of her.  The call is for any of Christ’s followers to come out of Babylon.
  
• When was the climactic closing up of the second angel’s message? Right before the Great Dissappointment, Oct. 22, 1844.
  
• What was the Midnight Cry? To the 10 virgins, it was an announcement to get ready for the bridegroom. In the same way, for the people back then, it is a warning that the bridegroom is coming. “This was the midnight cry, which was to give power to the second angel’s message” EW 238.2 The verse reference for this is Matthew 25:5-7. “While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.”
• When was the Midnight Cry given? Ellen White writes in Spiritual Gift Vol. 1, “Near the close of the second angel’s message.” Then after a sentence or two, she talks about the midnight cry. Anybody who reads this can conclude that it is talking about the midnight cry. Another answer is it happened midway between spring of 1844.“As in the parable the cry was raised at midnight announcing the approach of the bridegroom, so in the fulfillment, midway between the spring of 1844, when it was first supposed that the 2300 days would close, and the autumn of 1844, at which time it was afterward found that they were really to close, such a cry was raised, in the very words of Scripture: “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him” Story of Redemption, Midnight Cry
  
• What was the purpose of the Midnight Cry? “Midnight Cry was given to give power to the Second Angel’s message.” Spiritual Gifts Vol.1  Another purpose of the Midnight Cry is to convert people to the Adventist faith. But, not only to convert, but also to come with us the whole way. “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 the way along the path and gave light for their feet so that they might not stumble.” EW 14 Purpose #3- To prepare us to enter into the heavenly sanctuary with Jesus.
  
• For those who had received the first angel’s message, how did the Midnight Cry prepare them to enter with Jesus by faith into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary? In SR 387.2, Ellen White states the exact opposite. She says that (paraphrased) those who rejected the FAM, cannot benefit from the SAM, or the Midnight Cry. Now, for the opposite, for those who received the first will receive the second and the Midnight Cry. By receiving the Midnight Cry, they can be prepared to enter into the sanctuary.
  
• Just as Jesus cleansed the temple both at the beginning and at the end of His public ministry, so in the last work for the warning of the world, two distinct calls are made to the churches. What are the two distinct calls to the churches, and when are these two calls made? The Loud Cry and the Second Angel’s Message. The Second Angel’s message was in 1844. The Loud Cry is supposed to be made right now. The message that follows the third angel.The message of the angel following the third is now to be given to all parts of the world. It is to be the harvest message. –Letter 86, 1900.  {LDE 208.1}
• Why are there only two distinct calls made to the churches? In 1844, He started to intercede for us. Only two distinct calls are made because there are only two major events around the calls; Jesus’ intercession starting and ending.  Because there were no special events between the two events stated above, there are no calls between the two.
  

The 1st Angel’s Message

• Who gives the first angel’s message? According to ST, January 25, 1910 par. 5, the 1st angel represents anyone who accepts God and proclaims it to the world. God calls them the light of the world.
  
• When was the first angel’s message given? We can see that it can’t be literal because the 144,000 just got to heaven.  When the advent movement was happening, before 1844, the first angel’s message was being proclaimed.
  
• Where did the prophecy of the first angel’s message have its most direct fulfillment? According to GC 368.1 it is America.
  
• Why was the first angel’s message given? 1. So that the world may have the bread of life in the last days. Testimonies for the Church Vol. 8 pg.27  2. To give everybody a warning. A wake up call. 3. Because the world was so corrupted. {7BC 979.1} 4. It was to separate the professed people of God from the corrupted world. {GC 379.1}
• How is the first angel’s message announcing ” the hour of His judgment is come,” a part of the gospel? As I already mentioned that God’s children are the one’s who will proclaim the first angel’s message, in 7ABC458.5, Ellen G white says that God desires us as His children to sound the message of Christ dying for our sins; the gospel.  So, if we tie the dots together, God wants us to proclaim both messages together. Also ellen white talks about it in COL p. 227-” The proclamation of the Judgment is an announcement that Christ’s second coming is at hand. And this proclamation is called the everlasting gospel.” As Ellen White says that the messages are the everlasting gospel,  that God wants to give us a chance to have a warning about His judgment. He wants everyone possible to get the warning.
  
• What were the consequences to the churches when they rejected the first angel’s message?  [A how problem]
  God rejected them. The first angel’s message was understood by Adventist as the consequence of the moral fall in the church. As a result 50 thousand left the church. 4sp 232.1
  
• How does the first angel’s message influence the second angel’s message? The first angel’s message is a warning for all that God’s judgment is coming and to fear God. Then the 2nd angel’s message is showing that if the warning will not be heeded, then they will fall like Babylon. Also, Ellen White also says that if they rejected the first message, they will refuse the second one. EW 237.2
  
• How is the first angel’s message still relevant today? “The first and second messages were given in 1843 and 1844, and we are now under the proclamation of the third; but all three of the messages are still to be proclaimed.” Selected Messages vol. 2. pg.10 )  Mrs. White states that pretty clearly, the messages need to be proclaimed today. 2. Another reason is that we all can have wake up calls. Everyday, we must realize that we aren’t ready for God to come tomorrow. Everyday, we must follow His law and abide in Him to be ready for the Judgment.
  
• What is the “action step” for the first angel’s message?  We should accept it with our whole heart. For did you know, E.G.White said that if it was accepted to it’s full potential, we would have Christ’s unity and love like they had it in the apostolic days. Also, from the verse we can get that we should fear God and we should heed the warning of the judgement. These two things can also go into another branch of following God’s law and the Sabbath.
  
• How does the first angel’s message, as it was perceived during the advent movement of 1840-1844, fit together with the actual content of the first angel’s message? The Adventists then thought that the world was coming to an end right then. Today, we have the same message just now we have more light. We can now know that especially that the end time is here.
  

Revelation 14 and !8.

Revelation 14

• Verses 1-5: The explanation and the entrance of the 144,000.
• Verses 6-12:  The three angels’ messages
• Verses 13-20: The contrast of the two sickles.

Revelation 18

• Verses 1-21: A warning to all in Babylon and her destruction.
  
• Verses 21 to the end: The probation of Babylon.
  

A special Note to Diane~

Hey Diane,

You’ll probably read this when you come back, but I was wondering if I could just skip the Rev. 6. I really try hard, but I’m behind. Not only that, I feel like especially this chapter has alot of different ideas. I really don’t know which one to write my post on.  Even if I wrote on your post, I wouldn’t really know what I’m writing about on and it would just consume my time that I can use for another post.  Do you understand what I mean? I’d rather take the time to actually study it out myself, so that I can make the decision, or study on other posts.  The seven seals is just something that I don’t want to touch yet. Well, I hope you read this post soon, because I want to know what you think about it asap.

The Book- Rev. 6

Book:

1) The book was unsealed from 1798 But since 1798 the book of Daniel has been unsealed, …{GC 356.2}

2) The book was sealed until 1798. Dan.12:4 and 9 says “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, [even] to the time of the end: … “And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”

3) Daniel and Revelation connect like this: Daniel gets unsealed in Revelation.

The stage is set by Revelation chapter 4. “A door was opened” “behold, a throne was set in heaven, and (one) sat on the throne.” The holy place door can be accessed always, but the most holy place door only opens once a year. A throne can represent different things, but a throne in the most holy place represents only one thing: judgment. The time of the book to be opened is the time of the end. After the 1260 days the man of sin will be revealed which is 1798. The opening or the unsealing of the book can be from 1798 through the second coming. “The “man of sin,” which is also styled “the mystery of iniquity,” “the son of perdition,” and “that wicked,” represents the papacy, which, as foretold in prophecy, was to maintain its supremacy for 1260 years. This period ended in 1798. The coming of Christ could not take place before that time.” (GC 356.1) We can see that it is about the redemption plan from Rev. 5:9

“Written within and on the backside”:

Within the heart: within means in Greek, in the heart, in this context. “…written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” (2Cor 3:3)

“Backside”: backside is an adverb in Greek telling the when as oppose to where. This word in adv., can be behind. Being behind someone in time means that if they were in 1940, I was born in 1993. Because I was born in 1993, I didn’t experience the things that a person born in 1940 would have. In the same way, we as “modern” pioneers didn’t experience the Disappointment, 2 angels’ messages, etc. Even if we didn’t experience the early advent times, we need to embrace them, so that we can be ready to meet the 3^rd angel’s message.

Four Aspects Opened…

The first aspect is prophecy. Jesus made the sacrifice for us and by His sacrifice, we are able to experience salvation and eternal life. Because of Jesus, we have a mediator. That mediator will open the books of the prophecy so that we can understand it. Also, the mediator would open the book, the only one worthy to. By doing this, He is fulfilling prophecy. When Jesus fulfilled prophecy, we now can proclaim the message. By proclaiming the message, we are giving the people a choice either to accept or to decline it. Whatever their choice might be, the choice is written in the book of the heart. This book of the heart will be written as a record and at the judgment; God will look at the record book. It is to reveal how the message was received.

Seal: Sealed and Unsealed

Because the message is sealed then, it cannot be proclaimed. When it is unsealed it is when it is revealed, when God reveals it to us. When you don’t know something about a prophecy, you can’t proclaim it. Simple as that.

Unsealed is in Rev.6 It will start unfolding new things at Rev 6.

Character

Defective Character is made up of selfish thought patterns which can control our actions. You start having a defective character when you are born because all of us are born with a defective character. We are born in a sinful nature. Even when we try our best in daily life by trying to remove the sins in our life, until we are at the final atonement, where our selfish thought patterns or when our evil tendencies are removed, then the defective character will be removed.

The process to start and stop the defective character is very simple. “The Process that starts the defective character is birth, since it started from Adam, as he sinned first, and passed on his defective characters to our ancestors and then to us. We got it from birth.”The defective character can only be stopped by the roots. Even if the person is overcoming sin by trials and temptations, until the marriage happens where we are given the pure robe of righteousness, we cannot get rid of the defective character. It is only possible through God’s help.

Ellen White compares the seed with character. Just like the seed we need to tend it and water it to grow our character. When the wind blows and storms come along, we still need to tend our character as if there is no storm. We need to tend our character as if there is just a wonderful weather. We need to use our moral and mental powers which are the workmen to get the job done. Because our moral and mental powers are marred by sin, we need God’s help to clean them.

We can also compare character with a house: when you build the house and you are just an amateur, no matter how much you sweat yourself into the house, it won’t be built without the help of a professional. Building a house is a hard and big task, which needs the help of a professional. The Professional can only be God and God only. He is the one that can build and finish your house in perfect condition.

Spiritualistic theories do away with the final atonement and make man his own savior. As we have seen about the house and the seed, character cannot be made perfect without the help of the Creator. The final atonement must come so that we may be clothed with Christ’s righteousness as the finishing touch of the Christ-built house.

· Trivia Question: Why would you go to the marriage before entering into the time of trouble?

Sharon’s Answer: When were at the Marriage, we receive Christ’s robe of righteousness. We are made perfect, without defective character. Christ has pulled the weeds out of the roots. When we go through the marriage, we can face the time of trouble like Adam did. We are going to have a test like Adam had a test. We are going to reach the perfect stage as Adam did so that we can have the opportunity to face the test like Adam.

Daniel 9

Dear Friend,

I was studying in Bible Class few days ago and I have made an amazing discovery!

The amazing discovery is that the 2300 day prophecy happened from 457 B.C and ended on the fall of 1844.  This I already knew, but I was given the question from my Bible teacher why the year ends at 1844 and not 1843. (2300-457=1843; it actually seems like it would end at 1843)

The answer to the beginning of 2300 day prophecy is in Great Controversy. 

…the decree of Artaxerxes for the restoration of Jerusalem, which formed the starting point for the period of the 2300 days, went into effect in the autumn of the year 457 B.C….  Reckoning from the autumn of 457, the 2300 years terminate in the autumn of 1844.  {GC 398.4}

The answer for why it is considered to be 1844 and not 1843. The answer was given in class at Monday by my friend, R.B. He went up to the board and drew a timeline showing if we had no zero year. He said that if we had zero year, it would be 1843, but there is no such thing as zero year, which would extend one more year which would go into the fall of 1844.

Ta-da~! Problem Solved. I’ll write to you soon when another question is asked,

Sincerely, Sharon Jeon~