THE THREE ANGELS’ MESSAGES

18. WHAT IS THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST?

ELLEN G. WHITE, TESTIMONIES FOR THE CHURCH, VOL. 9, pp. 11-16

We are living in the time of the end. The calamities by land and sea, the unsettled state of society, the alarms of war, are portentous. The daily papers are full of indications of a terrible conflict in the near future. Bold robberies are of frequent occurrence. Strikes are common. Thefts and murders are committed on every hand. Men possessed of demons are taking the lives of men, women, and little children. Men have become infatuated with vice, and every species of evil prevails…

ELLEN G. WHITE CONTINUES...……In the great cities there are multitudes living in

poverty and wretchedness, well-nigh destitute of food, shelter, and clothing; while in the same cities are those who have more than heart could wish, who live luxuriously, spending their money on richly furnished houses, on personal adornment, or worse still, upon the gratification of sensual appetites, upon liquor, tobacco, and other things that destroy the powers of the brain, unbalance the mind, and debase the soul. On one occasion, when in New York City, I was in the night season called upon to behold buildings rising story after story toward heaven. These buildings were warranted to be fireproof, and they were erected to glorify the owners and builders…

…As these lofty buildings went up, the owners rejoiced with ambitious pride that they had money to use in gratifying self and provoking the envy of their neighbours. Much of the money that they thus invested had been obtained through exaction, through grinding down the poor. They forgot that in heaven an account of every business transaction is kept; every unjust deal, every fraudulent act, is there recorded. The scene that next passed before me was an alarm of fire. Men looked at the lofty and supposedly fire-proof buildings and said: They are perfectly safe. But these buildings were consumed as if made of pitch. The fire engines could do nothing to stay the destruction. The firemen were unable to operate the engines…

…There are not many, even among educators and statesmen, who comprehend the causes that underlie the present state of society. Those who hold the reins of government are not able to solve the problem of moral corruption, poverty, pauperism, and increasing crime. They are struggling in vain to place business operations on a more secure basis. If men would give more heed to the teaching of God's word, they would find a solution of the problems that perplex them. …Absorbed in worldly business and pleasure, the antediluvians knew not until the Flood came, and took them all away. They had heaven-sent warnings, but they refused to listen.…

…Not all in this world have taken sides with the enemy against God. Not all have become disloyal. Soon the battle will be waged fiercely between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. Soon everything that can be shaken will be shaken, that those things that cannot be shaken may remain. Satan is a diligent Bible student. God's people will not find their safety in working miracles, for Satan will counterfeit the miracles that will be wrought. God's tried and tested people will find their power in the sign spoken of in Exodus 31:12-18. They are to take their stand on the living word: "It is written." This is the only foundation upon which they can stand securely.

WHO IS ELLEN G. WHITE?

Background History

Ellen G. White received her first vision in December of 1844. prior to her first vision, Ellen had been a prophet for 65 years. She served as a prophet for 70 years prior to her death. She received over 4000 visions, dreams, and wrote over 100, 000 pages. Books such as Desire of Ages, the Great Controversy, Steps to Christ, Ministry of Healing, Education, and wrote on every subject imaginable to man, with just 2.5 years of education.

WHAT ABOUT ELLEN G. WHITE’S PREDICTIONS CONCERNING THE PAPACY?

Biblically, let’s examine two predictions in DANIEL 7:25.

1. Times and Laws2. 1260 years Prophecy

What does it mean to change times?ACTS 1:7

And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

• Times or seasons refer to prophetic events

WHAT ARE PROPHETIC EVENTS?

1 THESSALONIANS 5:1, 2But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.• Note: prophetic events refer to prophetic calendar

DANIEL 4:25 [Nebuchadnezzar]That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

SO WHO’S HE WHO HAS POWER TO CHANGE GOD’S TIMES?

The Little Horn

Why would the little horn do that?

•In DANIEL 2: God gives his prophetic time line

•In DANIEL 3: Nebuchadnezzar refuses God sovereign rule and sets up his image of gold

WHY DID KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR SET UP HIS GOLDEN IMAGE?

DANIEL 2• He wanted his subjects to worship and honour him• He repudiated God’s prophetic times and events as

regarding prophecies concerning his reign• He wanted to stand in place of God himself• He wanted to establish authority that he was able to

impeach God’s sovereign rule• He wanted his subjects to know that he was their

only visible king they could see and trust• He thought alone had the power to

condemn/condone/pardon

LIKE NEBUCHADNEZZAR, HOW DID THE LITTLE HORN THINK TO CHANGE GOD’S

PROPHETIC CALENDAR?

In (1534), St. Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society of Jesus (also known as the Jesuits). Besides providing the papacy with a formidable secret police force, the Jesuits also trained an elite of theological scholars whose avowed purpose was to overthrow Protestantism. Loyola’s Jesuit Order soon spawned two able scholars whose views would at last arrest and reverse the Protestant Reformation, by introducing two methods of interpretation: Futurism and preterism.

WHAT IS PRETERISM AND FUTURISM? Roman Catholic Scholars

Preterism is the idea that prophecies of Daniel and revelation were fulfilled in the six centuries of the Christian era, and that prophecy regarding the Papacy could not apply. If this method of interpretations was right, then the antichrist pointed not at the Papacy, but at Antiochus Epiphanes who lived 165 years before Christ.

Who was Luis De Alcazar?Luis de Alcazar, Jesuit from Seville, Spain. From 1569 onward, Alcazar worked to counteract the Protestant view of the prophecies. He wrote a book on Revelation entitled: [An Investigation of the Hidden Sense of the Apocalypse]. The book was published posthumously in 1614.

WHAT IS FUTURISM?Futurism is the idea that as soon as the Roman Empire fell apart, a literal evil individual would arise out of the middle east in future prior to the second coming of Christ. …So this prophetic interpretation is shifted into the future, which makes it impossible for one to see that this prophecy bears the hallmark of Rome. Rome shifts God’s prophetic time clock, and establishes its own.

Who was Francisco Ribera?Francisco Ribera (1537-1591), from Salamanca, Spain. Ribera was a brilliant student who specialized in Latin, Greek and Hebrew. He received a doctorate in theology from the University of Salamanca and joined the Jesuit Order in 1570 when he was just 33 years old.

Question: Would God raise up a people who would restore God’s prophetic calendar prior to the end of

this period?

THE FIRST BEAST PERSECUTES THE WOMAN, WHILE THE SECOND BEAST

HELPS THE WOMAN.

REVELATION 12:2-17 & REVELATION 13:11-181. The woman flees into the wilderness for a period

of 1260 years.

2. The earth helps this woman by opening her mouth and swallowing the flood.

3. The dragon now goes and makes war with the remnant of her woman’s seed, which keeps the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

REVELATION 13: TWO BEASTSFirst Beast

First Beast: Wounded and was healed.This Beast persecuted the saints for 42 months.This Beast: Blasphemes God’s name/

tabernacle/dwellers in heaven.Second beast

Second Beast makes an image of the First Beast.Second Beast: helps the saints…This Beast: Two Horns [Religious & Civil powers]

Earth’s inhabitants worship and make an image to the first beast.

This second beast threatens to kill those who disobey its orders.

WHAT DOES THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST MEAN?

• Does the testimony of Jesus Christ have something to do with the preaching of the true and correct

concept of Prophetic Calendar?REVELATION 19:10

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

• Is God going to raise up a people who would keep his commandments, in contrast to Satan, who would inspire a people to break God’s commandments?

THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY: SETS PROPHECY RIGHT

REVELATION 19:10…I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that

have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

REVELATION 22:8, 9…And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to

worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See [thou do it] not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

WHAT ABOUT THE CHANGE OF GOD’S LAW AND TIMES?

People who keep all of God’s commandments have reinstated the original Law of God back into their lives as was first given at Mount Sinai. The change of law by the Papacy has been corrected by people who keep all of God’s commandments.

• These people have two characteristics:1. They keep God’s commandments.2. They have the Gift of Prophecy [Spirit of

Prophecy].

SATAN: TWO EMISSARIES

REVELATION 13:11-18 1. First Beast: Governs for 1260 years• This Beast: Changes God’s Law and Times [Prophetic

Calendar]

2. Second Beast: Enforces the mark of the Beast [First Beast]• He enforces pain on those who reject its command• He decrees death on those who reject the mark of the Beast

[Sunday law]

• How is Satan going to counteract the true gift of prophecy?

THREE UNCLEAN SPIRITS

REVELATION 16:13And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs [come] out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

1. The Dragon in REVELATION 12:17

2. The Beast [Sea beast] in REVELATION 13:1-10

3. The Land Beast [Image to the beast] or False Prophet in REVELATION 13:11-18

GOD PRE-RESPONSE: THE THREE ANGELS’ MESSAGES OF

REVELATION 14:6-12

Is the true church going to identify

the Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet?

Is the true church going to identify the Mark of the Beast?

STORY: ELIJAH AND THE FALSE PROPHETS OF BAAL

1 KINGS 18:19, 25, 26, 36, 40

…Gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, …the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table. And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress [it] first; for ye [are] many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire [under]. …let it be known this day that thou [art] God in Israel, and [that] I [am] thy servant, and [that] I have done all these things at thy word. And Elijah said unto them,Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. …and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

QUESTIONS THAT NEED ANSWERS

Was God’s true prophet able to identify those false prophets?

When God’s true prophet speaks, people will know: who did those false prophets call upon? And who did God’s true prophet call upon?

• Did Elijah know who were his enemies?• How many enemies did Elijah have?

1. King Ahab [State/Civil Ruler] 2. Jezebel [Harlot woman/mother of witchcraft]3. False Prophets [Baal worshippers or Sun god]

A SIMILAR COUNTERFEIT OF ELIJAH’S PROPHETS IN THE N.T.

REVELATION 16:13 [Three unclean spirits] 1. Dragon: King of the earth2. Beast: Harlot Jezebel3. False Prophet: He [image to the beast] who will

enforce the mark of the beast [sun worship]• What was Elijah’s message to God’s professed

people in the Old Testament?1 KINGS 18:21

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

WHAT ABOUT THE PROPHET, JOHN THE BAPTIST?

• Did John The Baptist know his enemies?MATTHEW 14:4 [Three enemies]

For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

1. King Herod [State or Civil power]2. Herodias [Harlot]3. Herodias’ daughter: Image or likeness of HerodiasJohn The Baptist’ message: God’s professed people?

MATTHEW 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

DID ELIJAH PREACH GOD’S EVERLASTING MESSAGE?

1 KINGS 18:17, 18And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, [Art] thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.

1 KINGS 18:38Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that [was] in the trench.

WILL ELIJAH’S TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST BE REVIVED PRIOR TO THE END-

TIME?

MALACHI 4:4, 6Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, [with] the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

HOW DO I RECOGNIZE GOD’S TRUE ELIJAH?

• Law: Ten Commandments of Moses

• Worship: Creator

• Testimony: Jesus Christ

GOD’S TRUE ELIJAH: FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD’S ENEMIES

• God’s Elijah is not liked by those three enemies• God’s people will be persecuted by these three

enemies • The persecutors are Satan’s friends

• The persecuted are God’s friends• Elijah was blamed for all the calamities in his age

• God’s true people will be blamed for all the calamities in the end-time

WHAT OTHER SIMILAR BIBLE EVENT HAS OCCURRED WHERE FIRE CAME DOWN

FROM HEAVEN?ACTS 2:1, 3

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

REVELATION 13:13

And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men...

HOW WOULD YOU KNOW THAT THIS FIRE IS OF GOD?

•Does he preach Elijah’s message?

•Does he keep God’s Commandments?

•Does he persecute God’s people?

•Does he manifest God’s Holy Spirit?

ELLEN G. WHITE, THE GREAT CONTROVERSY pp. 463, 464, 592

Modern Revivals & the Scriptures a SafeguardPopular revivals are too often carried by appeals to the imagination, by exciting the emotions, by gratifying the love for what is new and startling. Converts thus gained have little desire to listen to Bible truth, little interest in the testimony of prophets and apostles. Unless a religious service has something of a sensational character, it has no attractions for them. The plain warnings of God's Word, relating directly to their eternal interests, are unheeded. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon his children...

…At that time many will separate themselves from those churches in which the love of this world has supplanted love for God and his Word. Many, both of ministers and people, will gladly accept those great truths which God has caused to be proclaimed at this time, to prepare a people for the Lord's second coming. The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work; and before the time for such a movement shall come, he will endeavour to prevent it, by introducing a counterfeit. In those churches which he can bring under his deceptive power, he will make it appear that God's special blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest...

… Multitudes will exult that God is working marvelously for them, when the work is that of another spirit. There is an emotional excitement, a mingling of the true with the false, that is well adapted to mislead. Yet none need be deceived. In the light of God's Word it is not difficult to determine the nature of these movements. Wherever men neglect the testimony of the Bible, turning away from those plain, soul-testing truths which require self-denial and renunciation of the world, …It is evident that these movements are not the work of the Spirit of God. Those who honour the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing…

… anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth. Their conscientious scruples will be pronounced obstinacy, stubbornness, and contempt of authority. They will be accused of disaffection toward the government. Ministers who deny the obligation of the divine law will present from the pulpit the duty of yielding obedience to the civil authorities as ordained of God. In legislative halls and courts of justice, commandment-keepers will be misrepresented and condemned. A false coloring will be given to their words; the worst construction will be put upon their motives. …

… As the Protestant churches reject the clear, scriptural arguments in defense of God's law, they will long to silence those whose faith they cannot overthrow by the Bible. The dignitaries of church and State will unite to bribe, persuade, or compel all classes to honour the Sunday. The lack of divine authority will be supplied by oppressive enactments. Political corruption is destroying love of justice and regard for truth; and even in free America, rulers and legislators, in order to secure public favour, will yield to the popular demand for a law enforcing Sunday observance. Liberty of conscience, which has cost so great a sacrifice, will no longer be respected. In the soon-coming conflict we shall see exemplified the…

…prophet's words: "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." [REV. 12:17.]

• These statements were written in 1911

ISAIAH 8:20

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.