The Role of Ellen White in Prophetic Studies

Introduction: The story of What Jesus Said Present the full SDA message from the Gospels and the book of Acts ecause many say they are !e" Testament #hristians

Study # 1

$inding all our teachings "as actually %uite easy& e'cept one: The gift of prophecy( After much prayer and reflection on the )ord of God& I finally found the key and I "ant to share it "ith you today(

Satans Rage against the Remnant

Revelation 12 1! "#nd the dragon $as enraged $ith the $oman% and he $ent to ma&e $ar $ith the rest of her offspring% $ho &eep the commandments of 'od and have the testimony of Jesus (hrist)* In order to +etter understand the e'pression *testimony of +esus, "e must go back to the days of John the ,aptist

The Life and Work of John the Baptist

'reat religious revival at the end of the !- $ee& prophecy
.atthe$ / 012: *)hen +erusalem& all +udea and all the region around the +ordan "ent out to him - and "ere bapti.ed by him in the +ordan& confessing their sins( *

John $as as&ed if he $as the prophet and he said no

John 1 13121 *!o" this is the testimony of +ohn& "hen the +e"s sent priests and /e0ites from +erusalem to ask him& 1)ho are you21 34 5e confessed& and did not deny& but confessed& 1I am not the #hrist(1 36 And they asked him& 1)hat then2 Are you 7li8ah21 5e said& 1I am not(1 1Are you the Prophet21 And he ans"ered& 1!o(1

John $as the messenger of the 4ord

4u&e ! 2! *This is he of "hom it is "ritten: 9 ehold& I send :y messenger before ;our face "ho "ill prepare ;our "ay before ;ou(9

Prepare a people to receive Jesus at 5is first coming

John 1 2/ *5e said:1I am 9The 0oice of one crying in the "ilderness: 9:ake straight the "ay of the /ord&19 as the prophet Isaiah said(1 .att / 11/ *In those days +ohn the aptist came preaching in the "ilderness of +udea& 3 and saying& 1<epent& for the kingdom of hea0en is at hand=1 > $or this is he "ho "as spoken of by the prophet Isaiah& saying: 1The 0oice of one crying in the "ilderness: 9Prepare the "ay of the /ord? make 5is paths straight(91 4u&e 1 12% 1!: *And he "ill turn many of the children of Israel to the /ord their God( 6@ 5e "ill also go before 5im in the spirit and po"er of 7li8ah& 9to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children&9 and the disobedient to the "isdom of the 8ust& to make ready a people prepared for the /ord(1

Restore all things) Eli6ah is the great restorer

:atthe" 6@:66A6>: *+esus ans"ered and said to them& 1Indeed& 7li8ah is coming first and "ill restore all things( 63 ut I say to you that 7li8ah has come already& and they did not kno" him but did to him "hate0er they "ished( /ike"ise Bif you re8ect the /ords messenger you "ill end up re8ecting the /ord as "ellC the Son of :an is also about to suffer at their hands(1 6> Then the disciples understood that 5e spoke to them of +ohn the aptist(,

John $as more than a prophet

4u&e ! 22 * ut "hat did you go out to see2 A prophet2 ;es& I say to you& and more than a prophet(,

John performed no miracle +ut $hat he said a+out Jesus $as true
+ohn 64:D6& D3: *Then many came to 5im and said& 1+ohn performed no sign& but all the things that +ohn spoke about this :an "ere true(1 D3 And many belie0ed in 5im there(,

John had the testimony of Jesus

John 0 /11//: 1If I bear "itness BtestimonyC of :yself& :y "itness BtestimonyC is not true( >3 There is another "ho bears "itness BtestimonyC of :e& and I kno" that the "itness BtestimonyC "hich 5e "itnesses BtestifiesC of :e is true( >> ;ou ha0e sent to +ohn& and he has borne "itness BtestimonyC to the truth(,

John $as not the greater light +ut $as a lesser light
John 1 217: *There "as a man sent from God& "hose name "as +ohn( @ This man came for a "itness BtestimonyC& to bear "itness BtestimonyC of the /ight that all through him might belie0e( E 5e "as not that /ight& but "as sent to bear "itness BtestimonyC of that /ight(,

John 0 /0: *5e B+ohn the aptistC "as the burning and shining lamp& and you "ere "illing for a time to re8oice in his light(, John 0 /2: * ut I ha0e a greater "itness than +ohn9s? for the "orks "hich the $ather has gi0en :e to finish F the 0ery "orks that I do F bear "itness of :e& that the $ather has sent :e(, +ohn "as the lesser light "ho "as raised up to guide men and "omen to the greater light *The prophet +ohn "as the connecting link bet"een the t"o dispensations( As God9s representati0e he stood forth to sho" the relation of the la" and the prophets to the #hristian dispensation( 5e "as the lesser light& "hich "as to be follo"ed by a greater(, DA 334

The Scriptures are also a lesser light

John 0 /318- *;ou search the Scriptures& for in them you think you ha0e eternal life? and these are they "hich testify of :e( D4 ut you are not "illing to come to :e that you may ha0e life(, John 0 8018!: *Do not think that I shall accuse you to the $ather? there is one "ho accuses you F :oses& in "hom you trust( D- $or if you belie0ed :oses& you "ould belie0e :e? for he "rote about :e( D@ ut if you do not belie0e his "ritings& ho" "ill you belie0e :y "ords21

Why t$o lesser lights9

So you ha0e t$o lesser lights: The Scriptures and John the ,aptist( Gne of the lesser lights is canonical and the other is non1canonical( The %uestion that begs to be asked is this: If the people had a canonical lesser light& "hy did they need a non canonical one2 Gr e0en a more pointed %uestion: )hy "ould they e0en need a lesser light if they "ould soon ha0e the 'reater 4ight in their midst2 /et me ask another :uestion: #ould the Je$s have discerned +esus as the :essiah simply +y studying the "ritten Scriptures2 The ans"er is a resounding yes( Every event of the life of +esus "as pre0iously choreographed in the Scriptures: 5e "ould be born in ,ethlehem: :icah H:3 5e "ould be born of a virgin: Isaiah @:6D 5is birth "ould be announced by a star: !umbers 3D:6@ #hildren "ould be massacred "hen 5e "as born: +eremiah D4:6 5e "ould be called from Egypt 5osea 66:6 5e "ould be +apti;ed or anointed "hen the 23th $ee& of Daniel I ended: Daniel I:3H 5e "ould perform marvelous $or&s and be a po"erful preacher: Isaiah -6:6AD

The Je$s $ould re6ect 5is message: Isaiah -:I& 64 The +e"s "ould only ser0e him $ith their lips: Isaiah 3I:6> 5e "ould enter +erusalem on a don&ey in the midst of great acclamation: Jachariah I:I 5e "ould cast the money changers out of the temple: +eremiah @:66 <eal for 'ods house "ould consume him: Psalm -I:I 5e "ould be sold for /- pieces of sil0er: Jachariah 66:6> 5is disciples "ould all forsa&e 5im: Jachariah 6>:@ 5e "ould die a vicarious death: Isaiah H>:>A5e "ould say on the cross: .y 'od% .y 'od& "hy ha0e you forsaken :e: Psalm 33:6 5is hands and feet "ould be pierced: Psalm 33:64ots "ould be cast upon 5is garments: Psalm 33:6E 5is heart "ould be poured out li&e $ater: Psalm 33:6D 5is enemies "ould spit in 5is face: Isaiah H4:5is enemies "ould dare 5im to come do$n from the cross: Psalm 33:E !one of 5is +ones "ould be broken: 7'odus 63:DGn the cross 5e "ould say: => thirst: Psalm 33:6H? -I:36 5is passion "ould last for three days and three nights: +onah 3:6 5is +urial "ould be "ith the rich: Isaiah H>:I 5e "ould resurrect from the dead on the third day: Psalm 6-:64? Isaiah H>:IA66 5e "ould ascend to heaven: Psalm 3D 5e "ould sit on the ?athers right hand: Psalm 664:6& D

I ask once again: (ould the Je$s have +een ready to recei0e +esus as the :essiah simply by studying the $ritten Scriptures2 The ans"er is a resounding yes=

The people $ere in dar&ness

The problem is that they "ere misinterpreting the Scriptures especially the prophecies according to the desires of their selfish hearts( In fact& during the period +et$een the testaments the people came to be under great dar&ness: .att 8 12 *The people "ho sat in darkness ha0e seen a great light and upon those "ho sat in the region and shado$ of death /ight has da"ned(1 4u&e 1 !71!3 *Through the tender mercy of our God& "ith "hich the Dayspring from on high has 0isited us? @I To gi0e light to those "ho sit in darkness and the shado" of death& to guide our feet into the "ay of peace(1 The people needed a lesser light to guide them to the greater light( Kse the e'ample of the flashlight I used in the tape room( The role of John "as not to bring ne$ light but rather to turn the attention of the people to the

light already given( 5e "as to a$a&en interest in the study of @ld Testament prophecy( After all& John fit perfectly "ith the description of the forerunner "ho "ould prepare the $ay for the :essiah( People should ha0e gone to the Scriptures then to find details on ho" to e'pect the :essiah to come( ;ou see& those "ho claimed to +e 'ods people and boasted of ha0ing the Gld Testament "ere 0iolating e0ery principle of the )ord of God( They professed to +e $aiting for the :essiah( They professed to love 'od( They claimed to ha0e a close relationship "ith 5im and yet they $ould crucify (hrist because they misunderstood the @ld Testament and re8ected the clarification by the lesser light( The Je$s said: *We have Moses(, ut they did not understand .oses because they did not see Jesus in 5is "ritings LII #orinthians >: e'plain the 0eil if I ha0e timeM( They +oasted of their kno"ledge of the Scriptures and yet did not understand them at all( +ohn "as called to attract their attention to the Scriptures already given( y seeing +ohn dressing like 7li8ah& eating like 7li8ah& speaking like 7li8ah& living in the desert like 7li8ah their attention "ould be attracted to the prophecy of .alachi / and 8 and they "ould ha0e searched the Scriptures to kno" more about the coming of the :essiah( +ohn lighted up the @ld Testament prophecies about the :essiah( 5e presented +esus as the 4am+ of 'od& a clear reference to the sanctuary sacrifice and the prophecy of >saiah 0/( 5e took from the Gld Testament and sho"ed ho" it "as fulfilled in +esus( 5e eAalted the @ld Testament and made it vivid% alive% present truth( 5e re+u&ed% reproved% corrected( 5e "as a fly in the ointment& a pain in the neck& a spec& in the eye( 5e "as no pushover( The role of +ohn "as to prepare a people for the first coming of +esus L4u&e 1 1!M( $or this he needed to restore the truth( y revival LrepentanceM and reformation Lbearing fruitM the people "ere to "ait e'pectantly for their +ridegroom( +ohn "as the liaison or go1+et$een& bet"een +esus #hrist Lthe groomM and Israel Lthe brideM( 5e "as to prepare the "ay for the $edding LJohn / 271/-M( In !e" Testament times& the friend of the +ridegroom "as responsible for making all the preparations for the "edding so that all "as ready "hen the groom should come( The friend of the bridegroom "as not to take the glory for himself( The glory $as for the groom "ho "as marrying the bride( The best man does not "ant all eyes centered on himself at the "edding( 5e decreases so that the +ridegroom can increaseB In other "ords& he blends into the "ood"ork so that all can see the bridegroom( 5e "as the restorer of all things and the one to prepare a people for the /ord( The Gld Testament had prophecies about the coming of the bridegroom to marry his bride( The matchma&er L+ohn the aptistM has come to set up all the arrangements( ;et the +ride re6ected her hus+and( y re8ecting the "ork of the matchma&er& they re8ected the bridegroom as "ell( /ets see ho" +ohn the aptist "as treated(

John $as re6ected +y 'ods o$n people

:atthe" 66:6E: *$or +ohn came neither eating nor drinking& and they say& 95e has a demon(9,

John $as re6ected +y the leaders

/uke @:3I& >4: *And "hen all the people heard 5im& e0en the ta' collectors 8ustified God& ha0ing been bapti.ed "ith the baptism of +ohn( >4 ut the Pharisees and la"yers re8ected the "ill of God for themsel0es& not ha0ing been bapti.ed by him(, They &ne$ 5im not Lsame e'pression as +ohn 6:64A66M( ecause they did "ith +ohn as they pleased& they also did "ith +esus as they pleased( And these $ere the people $ho claimed to go +y the Scriptures== y re8ecting the lesser light& they re8ected the greater light== :atthe" 6@:63& 6>: * ut I say to you that 7li8ah has come already& and they did not kno" him but did to him "hate0er they "ished( /ike"ise the Son of :an is also about to suffer at their hands(1 6> Then the disciples understood that 5e spoke to them of +ohn the aptist(,

John gre$ in understanding

Prophets are not omniscient or infalli+le( They "ere human( They gre$ in their understanding of truth( +ohn& for e'ample& thought there "ould only be one coming of the :essiah L.atthe$ / !% 1-% 12M( )hen +esus did not appear to measure up to his preaching& he sent a message to +esus asking "hether 5e "as the one to come or "hether they should eApect another L.atthe$ 11 11/M *During the "eeks that follo"ed Bthe baptism of +esusC& +ohn "ith ne" interest studied the prophecies and the teaching of the sacrificial ser0ice( 5e did not distinguish clearly the t"o phases of #hrists "ork&AAas a suffering sacrifice and as a con%uering king&AAbut he sa" that 5is coming had a deeper significance than priests or people had discerned(, DA 6>@& 6>@ )as John a false prophet because he did not fully understand the "ork of the :essiah2 )as his "ork as a prophet any less trust$orthy because his kno"ledge and understanding "ere limited2 After +esus healed the sick& etc(& +ohn finally understood==

Now lets compare the life and work of Ellen G. White

At the end of the 2/-- day prophecy there "as a great revival LDaniel E:6D? <e0elation 64& 6D:-& @M

Co claim to +eing a prophet

*During the discourse Bgi0en in attle #reek on Gctober 3& 6I4DC& I said that I did not claim to be a prophetess( Some "ere surprised at this statement& and as much is being said in regard to it& I "ill make an e'planation( Gthers ha0e called me a prophetess& but I ha0e ne0er assumed that title( I ha0e not felt that it "as my duty thus to designate myself(, I S: >-

*)hen I "as last in attle #reek& I said before a large congregation that I did not claim to be a prophetess( T"ice I referred to this matter& intending each time to make the statement& I do not claim to be a prophetess( If I spoke other"ise than this& let all no" understand that "hat I had in mind to say "as that I do not claim the title of prophet or prophetess(, I S: >H

Ellen White $as the 4ords messenger

* ut my "ork has co0ered so many lines that I cannot call myself other than a messenger sent to bear a message from the /ord to 5is people& and to take up "ork in any line that 5e points out(, 6 S: >D *7arly in my youth I "as asked se0eral times& Are you a prophet2 I ha0e e0er responded& I am the /ords messenger( I kno" that many ha0e called me a prophet& but I ha0e made no claim to this title( :y Sa0ior declared me to be 5is messenger(, 6 S: >3 #ccused of not performing miracles *Some declare their unbelief in the "ork that the /ord has gi0en me to do because& as they say& 9:rs( 7( G( )hite "orks no miracles( ut those "ho look for miracles as a sign of di0ine guidance are in gra0e danger of deception(, II S: H>& HD

Ellen White had the Testimony of Jesus L<e0elation 63:6@? 6I:64? 33:IM
<e0elation 63:6@: *And the dragon "as enraged "ith the "oman& and he "ent to make "ar "ith the rest of her offspring& "ho keep the commandments of God and ha0e the testimony of +esus #hrist(, <e0elation 6I:64: *And I fell at his feet to "orship him( ut he said to me: 1See that you do not do that= I am your fello" ser0ant& and of your brethren "ho ha0e the testimony of +esus( )orship God= $or the testimony of +esus is the spirit of prophecy(1 <e0elation 33:E& I: *!o" I& +ohn& sa" and heard these things( And "hen I heard and sa"& I fell do"n to "orship before the feet of the angel "ho sho"ed me these things( I Then he said to me: See that you do not do that( $or I am your fello" ser0ant and of your brethren the prophets and of those "ho keep the "ords of this book( )orship God(,

The $or& of Ellen White $as far greater than that of a conventional prophet
*( ( ( my "ork includes much more than the "ord 1prophet1 signifies(, 6S: >3 *:y commission embraces the "ork of a prophet& but it does not end there( It embraces much more than the minds of those "ho ha0e been so"ing the seeds of unbelief can comprehend(, IS: >-

*:y "ork includes much more than this name signifies( I regard myself as a messenger& entrusted by the /ord "ith messages for 5is people(, IS: >-

Ellen White $as a lesser light to lead men and $omen to the greater light% Jesus (hrist
*/ittle heed is gi0en to the ible and the /ord has gi0en a lesser light to lead men and "omen to the greater light(, L> S: >4M

*The religion of the +e"s& in conse%uence of their departure from God& consisted mostly in ceremony( +ohn "as the lesser light& "hich "as to be follo"ed by a greater light( 5e "as to shake the confidence of the people in their traditions& and call their sins to remembrance& and lead them to repentance? that they might be prepared to appreciate the "ork of #hrist(, <e0ie" and 5erald& 0olume D6& number 6@& April E& 6E@>

T$o lesser lights

As "ith +ohn& t$o sources gi0e "itness to +esus& one canonical Lthe ibleM and the other non1 canonical Lthe "ritings of 7llen G( )hiteM( As "ith +ohn& the purpose of her "ritings is to bring attention to the $ritten Scriptures "hich had been trampled upon and misinterpreted during the dark ages( If Gods people had studied the )ord of God "ith the sincere desire to obey it& 7llen )hite "ould ne0er ha0e been called by God( *;ou are not familiar "ith the Scriptures( If you had made Gods "ord your study& "ith a desire to reach the ible standard and attain to #hristian perfection& you "ould not ha0e needed the Testimonies( It is because you ha0e neglected to ac%uaint yoursel0es "ith Gods inspired ook that 5e has sought to reach you by simple& direct testimonies& calling your attention to the "ords of inspiration "hich you had neglected to obey& and urging you to fashion your li0es in accordance "ith its pure and ele0ated teachings( 1The /ord designs to "arn you& to repro0e& to counsel& through the testimonies gi0en& and to impress your minds "ith the importance of the truth of 5is "ord( The "ritten testimonies are not to gi0e ne" light& but to impress 0i0idly upon the heart the truths of inspiration already re0ealed( :an9s duty to God and to his fello" man has been distinctly specified in God9s "ord& yet but fe" of you are obedient to the light gi0en( Additional truth is not brought out? but God has through the Testimonies simplified the great truths already gi0en and in 5is o"n chosen "ay brought them before the people to a"aken and impress the mind "ith them& that all may be left "ithout e'cuse(, 5T 664, 665 Why Ellen White if $e have the ,i+le9 $or the same reason that the +e"s needed +ohn e0en though they had the Gld Testament( They did not understand or o+ey it so 'od% in 5is mercy% gave them a helping hand +y simplifying and amplifying the truths already given ( 7llen )hite is not a source of ne" light but rather one "ho amplifies and simplifies the old light( 7llen )hite amplifies& magnifies& e'plains& clarifies& corrects& enlightens& simplifies(

Around the same time and place that God raised up 7llen )hite& another person also arose "ho claimed to be a prophet( 5e purportedly found some gold plates in Palmyra% Ce$ Dor& "ritten in ancient Egyptian "hich he translated into 7nglish( This document is kno"n as The Book of Mormon( This book is referred to as another Testament of Jesus (hrist( B"hy not in contemporary 7nglish and "hy no manuscript trail2C It is considered a supplement to the )ord of God Lalong "ith the Pearl of Great Price and octrine and !ovenantsM( In other "ords& they unapologetically affirm that these books contain truths "hich cannot be found in the ible( )hen the /atter Day Saints pay a 0isit& their first tas& is to try and con0ince the prospecti0e student that Joseph Smith "as a true prophet( As the studies continue& the ook of :ormon and the ible are used together( )ith Se0enthAday Ad0entist the process is reversed( The student is taught the truth from Scripture alone and once all the doctrines ha0e been clearly presented from Scripture& then the Spirit of Prophecy is presented last as a complement Lnot supplementM of the ible( This is not done because the Spirit of Prophecy is of secondary importance but rather because the function of the "ritings of 7llen )hite is not to supplement Scripture but rather to complement it= 7llen )hite magnifies& eAplains& amplifies simplifies and highlights the great truths of Scripture but does not add any ne" truth== 7llen )hite is like a telescope or a microscope( The telescope does not create stars but rather helps us see them more clearly( Is it 8ust possible that many in the Se0enthAday Ad0entist #hurch today "ho say: * > dont need Ellen ') White% +ecause > have the ,i+le &, are really 0iolating e0ery principle of Gods holy )ord2 The fact is that 7llen G( )hite is despised by many "ithin the church as much as "as +ohn the aptist( $ormer pastors "rite books such as The White "ie and #llen G$ White% Pro&hetess of 'ealth and certain internet sites sites lambast 7llen )hite "ith vitriolic hatred& all under the pretense that +ecause $e have the ,i+le & "e do not need 7llen G( )hite== Sounds familiar& doesnt it2 7llen )hite foresa" all of this( !otice her "ords in >> S. 87( If this is Satans 0ery last deception& then "e must be close to the end because "e are seeing this hatred no"== *The 0ery last deception of Satan "ill be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God( )here there is no 0ision& the people perish( LPro0erbs 3I:6EM Satan "ill "ork ingeniously& in different "ays and through different agencies& to unsettle the confidence of Gods remnant people in the true testimony(, 6 S: DE L"ritten in 6EI4M I found out something long ago and it is this: I ne0er form an opinion of a person or a church on the basis of "hat its enemies say Lbecause the enemies distort "hat they belie0eM or e0en on the basis of "hat their friends say Lbecause they often em+ellish the truthM( If you "ant to kno" the truth about 7llen )hite& go directly to the source% read her $ritings for yourself( Get your information first hand==

7llen )hite "as not perfect& infalli+le or omniscient( She gre$ in her understanding( If you compare 7arly )ritings and The Great #ontro0ersy you can see her phenomenal gro$th( The fact is that God has raised up 7llen )hite to prepare 'ods people for the Second (oming as +ohn "as to prepare a people for the first coming( )ill there be as fe" faithful ones prepared for the Second #oming as there "ere for the first coming2 The book The Great !ontroversy is meant to map out all the dangers "e must face as "e prepare to enter the hea0enly #anaan( 7llen )hite describes a group of Ad0entist "ho are found "ithout shelter in the time of trouble(

Study # 2 The >mportance of 4iterary Structure in Prophecy Revelations .illennium

>ntroduction
In our present lesson "e "ill study the thousand years of <e0elation 34( )e "ill seek to ans"er se0eral important %uestions: )ill the millennium be spent in hea0en or on earth2 )hat "ill be the condition of the earth during this period2 )hat "ill Gods people be doing during this time2 )hy is there a "hite throne 8udgment after the millennium2 )hat does <e0elation mean "hen it speaks of second death2 )hat is meant by the binding and unbinding of Satan2 Is it e0en important to kno" "hat "ill happen during this time2

.illenniums ,eginning and Structural .atters

<e0elation 6I:66A36 describes the Second #oming of +esus( y this time the plagues "ill ha0e decimated the population of the planet( )hat happens at the 0ery culmination of the Second #oming2 *And the NNNNNNNNN "ere NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN "ith the s"ord "hich proceeded from the mouth of 5im "ho sat on the horse(, L<e0elation 6I:36M The :illennium is described in <e0elation 34:6 A 36:E( The e0ents in these chapters are not in strict chronological order but rather run in cycles( )e kno" this because the identical clima' is reached four times( Though the e0ents are repeated four times each repetition has a different focus or emphasis: <e0elation 34:6A>( #enter of $ocus: Satan and the 7arth( <e0elation 34:DA64( #enter of $ocus: The Saints in 5ea0en( <e0elation 34:66 A 36:6: #enter of $ocus: The +udgment of the )icked on 7arth( <e0elation 36:3AE( #enter of $ocus: /ife in the 5oly #ity

The Eie$ of Satan and the Earth F2- 11/G

The angel "ho comes do"n from hea0en has the key to the NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN pit L<e0elation 34:6M( Cote: The translation bottomless pit is unfortunate( The Greek "ord is abussos from "here "e get the "ord abyss( In Genesis 6:3 "e are told that the earth "as "ithout NNNNNNNNNNNN and NNNNNNNNNNN darkness "as on the face of the NNNNNNNNNNNNN( Cote: The "ord deep in the Greek Gld Testament is the same as in <e0elation 34:6& abussos( This "ord deep thus describes a planet in a chaotic preAcreati0e state( It is note"orthy that the plagues of <e0elation 6- actually re0erse creation and return the earth to preAcreation chaos( The 0ery things "hich God made during creation are afflicted: The earth is broken up& the sun& moon 66

and stars are mo0ed from their places L:atthe" 3D:3IM& all the 0egetation is destroyed& the seas are filled "ith blood and all the fish die& the planet returns to darkness and all human beings die= The prophet +eremiah "as permitted to see the earth during the millennium( 5e heard the sound of the NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN& the alarm of NNNNNNNNNNN( 5e then beheld the earth and indeed it "as "ithout NNNNNNNNNNNNNN and NNNNNNNNNNNNNN? and the hea0ens& they had no NNNNNNNNNNNNN( 5e also sa" that the mountains NNNNNNNNNNNNN( +eremiah also beheld and indeed there "as no NNNNNNNNNNN and all the birds of the hea0en had NNNNNNNNNN( The fruitful land had become a NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN and all the NNNNNNNNNNNN "ere broken do"n at the presence of the /G<D& by 5is fierce NNNNNNNNNNNN L+eremiah D:6IA3-M( Cote: In spite of the incredible desolation caused by the "rath of God& "e are told that at this time God "ould not make a NNNNNNNNNNN end L0erse 3@M( In +eremiah 3H:>4A>E "e ha0e a po"erful description of the coming of +esus( )e are told that the /G<D "ill NNNNNNNNNN from on high& and utter 5is NNNNNNNNNNN from his holy habitation& he "ill gi0e a NNNNNNNNNNN as those "ho tread the NNNNNNNNNNNNN( Gn that day the NNNNNNNNNNN of the /G<D "ill be from one end of the NNNNNNNNNNNNN e0en to the other( They shall not be NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN or gathered or NNNNNNNNNNN( Isaiah adds that "hen +esus comes 5e "ill make the earth NNNNNNNNNNNN and make it NNNNNNNNNNNN( The land "ill be entirely NNNNNNNNNNNNNN and utterly plundered( The inhabitants of the earth are burned and fe" men are NNNNNNNNNNN LIsaiah 3D:6A-M( The po"erful angel from hea0en binds Satan and casts him into the abyss for one thousand years( The result of his binding is that he can NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN the nations no more until the thousand years are NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN L<e0elation 34:6A>M Cote: Satan is bound to an earth "hich has returned to preAcreation chaos( 5o" could human beings li0e on the planet "hen the seas and the fresh "aters are all blood& the air has the stench of the dead& the planet is in total darkness and there is no plant or animal life2 The binding of Satan means that he cannot decei0e the nations because there are no nations left to decei0e( ut after the millennium Satan "ill be loosed for a little "hile( The punishment of Satan reminds us of the fate of the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement( 5e "as bound by the 5igh Priest and then taken to the "ilderness "here there "e no inhabitants Lsee& /e0iticus 6-:36& 33M Ouestions that remain after studying the first outline: )hat happened to the righteous during this period2 )ere they on earth or in hea0en2 )hat did the righteous do during the thousand years2 )hat does *bind, and *unbind, mean2 )hat happened to the "icked "ho "ere destroyed at the second coming2 )hat did Satan decei0e the nations to do after the thousand years2 )hat happened to Satan after he "as released for a little "hile2

The Eie$ of the Saints F2- 811-G

)hen <e0elation 34:6A> ends "e are left "ith se0eral %uestions: )hat happened to the righteous2 )hat does bind and unbind mean2 )hat happened to the "icked "hich "ere destroyed at the Second #oming2 )hat did Satan decei0e the nations to do after the thousand 63

years2 )hat happened to Satan after he "as released a little "hile2 These %uestions "ill be ans"ered in the succeeding 0erses( At the beginning of the thousand years the righteous dead are raised to life( )e kno" this because <e0elation 34:D says that they NNNNNNNNNNNNNN and reigned "ith #hrist for a thousand years( This resurrection is called the NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN resurrection and the righteous and holy are resurrected in it L0erse -M The apostle Paul e'plained that the dead in #hrist "ould riseNNNNNNNNNNNNNN( Then those "ho are ali0e and remain shall be caught NNNNNNNNNNN together "ith them Bthe dead in #hristC in theNNNNNNNNNNNNNN to meet the /ord in the NNNNNNNNNNN LI Thessalonians D:6-A6@M( +esus promised to take his people to 5is $athers NNNNNNNNNNNNNN( The $athers house is in hea0en because +esus taught us to pray& Gur $ather "hich art in hea0en L+ohn 6D:6A>M Cote: A strict reading of <e0elation 34:DA64 does not re0eal that the saints "ill be in hea0en during the thousand years( 5o"e0er& "e "ill see that <e0elation 36:3 does point out this fact& 0ery clearly= The saints "ere gi0en thrones and they NNNNNNNNNNNNNN "ith #hrist for a thousand years L<e0elation 34:DM( NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN "as committed to them Bthe righteousC L<e0elation 34:DM( Cote: The %uestion is: )ho are the righteous going to 8udge2 It is ob0ious that they "ill not 8udge the righteous because they "ill all be in hea0en( And it cannot be the holy angels because they do not need to be 8udged( This must mean that they "ill 8udge Satan and his angels and the "icked "hich "ere left behind on earth= The apostle Paul told the #orinthians: *Do you not kno" that the saints "ill 8udge the NNNNNNNNNNNNN2 Do you not kno" that "e shall 8udge NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN2, LI #orinthians -:6A>M( The righteous "ill not be sub8ect to the NNNNNNNNNNNN death L<e0elation 34:-M( The NNNNNNNNNNN of the dead "ill not come to life again until the thousand years are NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN L<e0elation 34:HM( Cote: All beings in this "orld e'perienced a first birth and life( At the beginning of the millennium those "ho died in #hrist "ill resurrect to their second life ne0er more to die( The "icked& on the other hand& "ill resurrect to their second life after the thousand years& "ill be 8udged and then "ill suffer second death( There is a punctuation problem in <e0elation 34:H( The original !e" Testament manuscripts did not ha0e punctuation marks so the translators placed them "here they felt they belonged( !e" Ping +ames translators should ha0e placed parentheses around the follo"ing phrase: ut the rest of the dead did not li0e again until the thousand years "ere finished( In effect& the !e" International Qersion does this 0ery thing( This parenthetical statement breaks the flo" of thought in order to e'plain "hat "ill happen "ith the "icked "ho "ere left behind at the beginning of the thousand years( At the end of the thousand years Satan "ill be NNNNNNNNNNNNNN from his prison and he "ill go out to decei0e the nations once again L<e0elation 34:@M( Cote: If all the "icked are dead during the thousand years& then Satan "ill ha0e no one to decei0e( )hen the "icked resurrect at the end of the thousand years& Satan "ill ha0e his po"er base back and "ill be able to decei0e once again( Thus the binding 6>

and unbinding of Satan is e'plained by the condition of the "icked: )hen they are dead& Satan is bound? "hen they resurrect& Satan is unbound== !otice that the host of the "icked "ill be innumerable& like the sand of the sea& and they "ill come from the four corners of the earth= The cards seem to be stacked in fa0or of the "icked and the righteous appear to be in 8eopardy( The "icked surrounded the NNNNNNNNNNNNN of the saints and the belo0ed NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN L<e0elation 34:IM( Cote: )hat happened to Gods people all o0er the earth before the millennium L<e0elation 6D:34M no" happens to Gods people all gathered in one place( +erusalem before the millennium is "orld"ide& "here t"o or three gathered in #hrists name( ut after the millennium& all Gods people are gathered in a literal place& in the literal !e" +erusalem( They "ere gathered there at the Second #oming of +esus Lsee :atthe" 3D:>6M( Satan& his angels and the "icked "ill be unable to con%uer the city( They "ill all be cast into the NNNNNNNNNNN of fire and NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN "here the beast and false prophet had +een castL<e0elation 34:EAIM( Cote: <e0elation 34:I reaches the clima' of e0ents after the millennium( ut se0eral %uestions remain unans"ered: )hy "ere those in the city sa0ed and those outside lost2 )hat is the name of the city the "icked surrounded2 )ere the "icked e0er con0inced that they "ere "rong and God "as right2 )hen did the saints enter the city2 )hat "as the 8udgment process during the thousand years like2 Ouestions that remain after studying the second outline: )hy "ere those inside the city sa0ed and those outside lost2 )hat is the name of the city the "icked surrounded2 )ere the "icked e0er con0inced that they "ere "rong and God "as right2 )hen did the saints enter the city2 )hat "as the 8udgment process during the one thousand years like2

The Eie$ of the Wic&ed F2- 11 1 21 1G

At this point& e0ents at the beginning and during the millennium ha0e faded from 0ie"( The concern no" is "ith the 8udgment of the "icked after the millennium( After the thousand years the rest of theNNNNNNNNNNNNN li0e NNNNNNNNNNN L<e0elation 34:HM( efore the "icked suffer second death& ho"e0er& a NNNNNNNNNNNNNN throne 8udgment takes place L<e0elation 34:66M( This 8udgment ob0iously takes place before the "icked "ere cast into the lake of fire( This must mean that <e0elation 34:66A6H is repeating e0ents "hich took place before the "icked "ere destroyed== The dead "ho resurrect after the thousand years NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN before God and NNNNNNNNNNNNN "ere opened( And another NNNNNNNNNNNNNN "as opened& "hich is the book of life L<e0elation 34:63M( Cote: )e kno" that the "icked are resurrected before they stand before God because "e are e'plicitly told that the sea ga0e up the dead "ho "ere in it& and Death and 5ades deli0ered up the dead that "ere in them L<e0elation 34:6>M( )e kno" that this 8udgment is taking place on earth because in 0erses @AI the "icked surrounded the 5oly #ity on earth(

6D

The books BpluralC contain the NNNNNNNNNNNNN of the "icked& and they are 8udged according to things "hich "ere "ritten in the books L<e0elation 34:63M( Cote: Though "e are sa0ed by grace through faith L7phesians 3:EAIM& our "orks re0eal "hether our faith "as genuine( In the 8udgment it "ill be seen that many of the "icked said /ord& /ord but their li0es "ere filled "ith la"lessness( The ook of /ife is brought forth in this 8udgment to sho" the "icked that their NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN "ere not in it L<e0elation 34:6HM( Cote: The names of the lost "ill not be in the ook of /ife because of the record of their li0es "hich "as "ritten in the books( At this point "e do not kno" "hat those "orks "ere( It is remarkable that God "ill not destroy the "icked until they are con0inced that God dealt 8ustly "ith them= The ook of /ife contains theNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN of all those "ho "ill be sa0ed L<e0elation >:H? 6>:E? Philippians D:>? 7'odus >3:>3? Daniel 63:6M( After the 8udgment of the "icked& they "ill be cast into the lake of fire and "ill suffer NNNNNNNNNNNNN death L<e0elation 34:6DA6HM( Cote: <e0elation 34:6DA6H reaches the same clima' as had pre0iously been reached in <e0elation 34:EAI( After all& there are not t"o lakes of fire "here the "icked "ill be cast= After Satan and his angels& the "icked& death and the gra0e ha0e been cast into the lake of fire& God "ill make a ne" NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN and a ne" NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN because the first hea0en and earth had passed a"ay Lsee& II Peter >:64A6>M( Cote: The chapter di0ision at the end of 0erse 6H is unfortunate( #hapter di0isions "ere not established by the original authors? they "ere added for our con0enience( <e0elation 36:6 really belongs to chapter 34( In other "ords& after Satan& his angels& the "icked& the gra0e and death ha0e been consumed( God "ill make a ne" hea0en and a ne" earth( In short& <e0elation 36:6 is really the conclusion of chapter 34& not the introduction to chapter 36= Ouestions that remain after studying the third outline: )hat "as in the books "hich condemned the "icked2 )ere the righteous in hea0en during the one thousand years2 )hat "ill life be like in the holy city2 )hat "ill God be like2

The Eie$ of 'od and the 5oly (ity FRevelation 21 217G

At the end of chapter 34 "e are left "ith se0eral unans"ered %uestions: )hat "as in the books "hich condemned the "icked2 )ere the righteous in hea0en during the thousand years2 )hat "ill life in the city be like2 And "hat "ill God be like2 These %uestions are ans"ered in the last outline of millennial e0ents( <e0elation 36:3 begins the final outline of postAmillennial e0ents( This outline begins "hen +ohn sees the holy NNNNNNNNNNN& !e" +erusalem& coming do"n out of NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN from God& prepared as a bride adorned for her husband( 6H

Cote: In <e0elation 34:@AI "e are told that the !e" +erusalem "as on the earth "hen the "icked surrounded it( This means that the !e" +erusalem descended from hea0en to the earth before the "icked surrounded it and before they "ere cast into the lake of fire( This being the case& <e0elation 36:3 takes place before <e0elation 36:6( !otice here that the city is identified by name= There can be no doubt that the righteous are in the city "hen it descended( This is true for at least three reasons: 1G Te'ts such as I Thessalonians D:6-A6@ e'plain that +esus "ill take 5is people to hea0en "hen 5e comes so they must come back "ith 5im "hen the city descends& 2G )hen the "icked surround the city after the millennium& the righteous are inside& /G The millennial condition of the earth "ould make it impossible for Gods people to li0e here( +ohn heard a 0oice f rom hea0en saying that the NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN of God is "ith men& and they shall be 5is NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN( God 5imself "ill be "ith them and be their God L<e0elation 36:>M( God promises to "ipe a"ay e0ery NNNNNNNNNNN from the eyes of 5is people and assures us that there "ill be no more NNNNNNNNNNNNNN& nor sorro"& nor NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN( There shall be no more NNNNNNNNNNNNN L<e0elation 36:DM( God also promises to gi0e of the fountain of the NNNNNNNNNNNNNN of life NNNNNNNNNNNNN to him "ho thirsts L<e0elation 36:-M( Cote: )e can e0en no$ spiritually drink of the fountain of the "ater of life freely L+ohn D:6>A6DM( ut then "e "ill be able to literally drink the "ater of the ri0er of life( Those "ho NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN "ill inherit NNNNNNNN things and God promises: I "ill be 5is God and he shall be :y son L<e0elation 36:@M( )e no" find out "hat "as "ritten in the books of the "icked: ut the co"ardly& unbelie0ing& abominable& NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN& se'ually immoral& sorcerers&NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN& and all liars shall ha0e their part in the lake of fire "hich burns "ith fire and brimstone& "hich is the NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN death L<e0elation 36:EM( The contrast bet"een those inside and outside can be more clearly seen in <e0elation 33:6DA6H: lessed are those "ho do his NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN that they may ha0e the right to the tree of life and may NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN through the gates into the NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN( ut NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN are the dogs and sorcerers and se'ually immoral and murderers and idolaters& and "hoe0er lo0es and practices a lie( Those inside are la" keepers "hile outside are the la" breakers= The Perspective of >saiah 28 2112/ At the Second #oming L0erses 6EA34M& God "ill punish on NNNNNNNNNN the NNNNNNNNNNN of e'alted ones and on NNNNNNNNNNNNN Bhe "ill punishC the kings of the earth L0erse 36M( The high ones and the kings of the earth "ill be gathered together as NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN in the pit and "ill be NNNNNNNNNNNN up in NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN L0erse 33M( The high ones and the kings of the earth "ill be punished after many NNNNNNNNNNNNNN L0erse 33M( After the many days the moon "ill be NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN and the sun NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN because the /G<D of hosts "ill reign on :ount Jion and in +erusalem and before his elders gloriously L0erse 3>M

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Cote: <e0elation 36:3> e'plains "hy the moon disgraced and the moon is ashamed: The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it& for the glory of God illuminated it( The /amb is its light( <e0elation 36:3@ states that nothing "hich NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN "ill enter the 5oly #ity( +esus said: lessed are the NNNNNNNNNNNN in heart for they shall see God L:atthe" H:EM( 70eryone "ho has the hope of seeing +esus as 5e is must NNNNNNNNNNNNNN 5imself e0en as +esus is pure LI +ohn >:>M( And the apostle Paul e'horts us to pursue NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN "ithout "hich no one "ill NNNNNNNNNN the /ord L5ebre"s 63:6DM( The "ay to cleanse our life is by hiding the NNNNNNNNNNNN of God in our hearts that "e might not NNNNNNNNN against 5im LPsalm 66I:66M(

The >mportance of this Su+6ect

The fundamental reason "hy many ible e'positors teach the rapture doctrine is because they belie0e that the millennium "ill be a period of peace and prosperity on earth( Their argument goes something like this: 6M +esus promised to come and take 5is people to hea0en( 3M ut 5e also promised that 5e "ould set up 5is kingdom on earth( >M The only "ay +esus can fulfill both promises is if 5e comes to rapture 5is church to hea0en se0en years before the millennium and then returns "ith the church se0en years later to set up 5is millennial kingdom on earth( ut there is another "ay +esus can fulfill both promises: 5e can take 5is people to hea0en for a thousand years and then return to earth "ith them at the end of the thousand years to set up 5is e0erlasting kingdom( y teaching that +esus "ill set up 5is kingdom on earth at the Second #oming& the church is lea0ing itself "ide open to accept the counterfeit #hrist= The ible teaches that "hen #hrist comes the second time& 5e "ill not touch the earth( ut if #hristians are e'pecting +esus to come back to earth to set up 5is millennial kingdom then Satan could "alk up and do"n the earth& speak many of the things +esus spoke& perform many of the miracles +esus performed and thus decei0e those "ho are e'pecting +esus to come in this "ay=

Study # / The ,attle of #rmageddon The >mportance of Structure in the Study of Typology 5o$ Ellen White >nterprets ,i+lical Typology

Introduction The book of <e0elation describes se0en de0astating plagues that "ill fall upon planet earth after the door of human probation closes L<e0elation 6H:HAEM( These plagues "ill return the earth to the condition that it "as in before creation "eekF"ithout form and 0oid and in darkness L+eremiah D:6IA3@M( In our study today I "ould like us to study the final three of these plagues( )e "ill do our study of this sub8ect from three different perspecti0es and look for parallels in the thematic structure: L6M <e0elation 6-:64A36? L3M 7'odus 6D and 6H and L>M the book The Great #ontro0ersy& pp( ->HA->@

Model # 1: Revelation 16:10-21

6@

Fifth

la!ue

Revelation 12 1-% 11 (entral theme Har&ness on the &ingdom of the +east and sores and gna$ing the tongue Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds. Important "uestions a#out the fifth pla!ue$ )ho is the beast2 This is the same beast of <e0elation 6> and the little horn of Daniel @ that spoke blasphemies against the :ost 5igh& persecuted the saints of the :ost 5igh& thought it could change times and la" and ruled for 63-4 years( The throne is the center of go0ernment "here the beast rules from( This plague falls on the go0erning authority of the beast( 5is center of po"er is in Qatican #ity "ithin the confines of the ancient city of <ome The kingdom o0er "hich the beast rules is "orld"ide Revelation 1/ / *And saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. Revelation 1/ !: * t was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. Revelation 1! 1% 2: Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, !"ome, will show you the #udgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, $ with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.! Rev 1! 10 Then he said to me% !The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. !otice that there is a clear distinction bet"een the ruling authority and his kingdom Darkness Lthis is a supernatural global darkness because the beasts kingdom is globalM They gna" their tongues in pain and God sends them a panic that "ill lead them to kill one another "ith the "eapons they "ere going to use to destroy Gods people

6E

<achariah 18 12% 1/% And this shall be the plague with which the &'() will strike all the people who fought against *erusalem. Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths. t shall come to pass in that day that a great panic from the &'() will be among them. +veryone will sei,e the hand of his neighbor, and raise his hand against his neighbor-s hand. %i&th !o room for repentanceFthis is after the close of probation la!ue

Revelation 12 12112 (entral themes Waters of the Euphrates dries up thus preparing the $ay for the arrival of the Iings from the East Then the si.th angel poured out his bowl on the great river +uphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. Important Questions about the sixth plague: )hat is the great ri0er 7uphrates2 Lhint: Isaiah E:@& E? 6@:63& 6>M )hat is meant by the drying up of its "aters2 )ho are the kings from the east Lthe rising sunM and ho" is the "ay prepared for their arri0al2

The Old Testament background In order to ans"er these %uestions "e must study the story of the fall of ancient abylon( The story is found in Daniel H& +eremiah H4 and H6 and Isaiah D6 and the descriptions gi0en by the historians Renophon and 5erodotus The 7uphrates ri0er "as the greatest asset of abylon and also its greatest potential liability abylon "as practicing idolatry and drinking "ine the night of its fall #yrus came "ith his armies from the north and from the east 5e dried up the ri0erbed of the 7uphrates by di0erting it to the channels that had been built outside the city #yrus and his armies entered the city and abylon fell Gods people "ere deli0ered

This entire scenario is applied symbolically and globally in Revelation 17 Questions about Revelation 17:

6I

)hich of the se0en angels speaks to +ohn in <e0elation 6@:62 )hat does a harlot represent in Scripture L7.ekiel chapters 6- and 3>M )hat does prophecy mean "hen it says that she fornicates "ith the kings of the earth2 )hat is the name of the harlot "oman2 )hat are the "aters upon "hich the harlot sits2 )hat "ill the kings end up doing "ith the harlot2

Revelation 1! 1% 2 The harlot "oman sits on many "aters Then one of the seven angels /which one01 who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, 2"ome, will show you the #udgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.3 Revelation 1! 0 !ame of the "oman is abylon And on her forehead a name was written% 456T+(5, B(B)"*+ T'# G,#(T, T7+ 4'T7+( '8 7A(&'T6 A9) '8 T7+ A:'4 9AT '96 '8 T7+ +A(T7. Revelation 1! 10: The "aters represent the kingdom of the harlot because she sits on them like the beast sits on the throne Then he said to me, !The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. Revelation 1! 12 The kings "ill hate the harlot and make her desolate& naked and burn her "ith fire And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. Seventh lague Revelation 12 1!121: #entral themes Gods 0oice saying *it is done, follo"ed by an earth%uake& thunder& lightning& terrific precipitation and the disappearance of mountain ranges and islands Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, ! t is done;! <= And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earth>uake, such a mighty and great earth>uake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. <? 9ow the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great :abylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of 7is wrath. $@ Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. $< And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. 4en blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was e.ceedingly 34

great.

Model # 2: Exodus 14, 15

The fall of abylon in the days of elsha..ar is the in the background of the fifth& si'th and se0enth plagues( ut I "ant to suggest that there is another story in the Gld Testament that also stands in the backgroundFthe story of the 7'odus of Israel from 7gypt( The (aptivity and ?light Israel "as capti0e in 7gypt God said to Pharaoh */et my people go(, #apti0ity "as made difficult because the people "anted to keep the Sabbath Gods people came out

Shut in and no Escape 7'odus 6D:>: After Gods people came out they shut in and there appeared to be no escape 7'odus 6D:HAI: Pharaoh prepares to attack

The ?ifth Plague Har&ness 7'odus 6D:6I& 34: Darkness upon the 7gyptians and light upon Gods people

The SiAth Plague Waters dry up or divided and then slay the Egyptians 7'odus 6D:36: )aters di0ided and dry up 7'odus 6D:3-A3E: )aters slay the 7gyptians

Seventh Plague Catural (alamities Psalm @@:6-A34: !otice the phenomena that accompanied this e0ent( 7'odus 6D:3>A3H: A great panic falls upon the 7gyptians 7'odus 6D:6@& 6E: The glory goes to God In fighting the people of God they "ere fighting the God of the people( This must be understood in the conte't of the co0enant( Saul on the road to Damascus 36

:atthe" 3H: If you ha0e done it to them you ha0e done it to me Su.erainS0assal ShepherdSsheep 5eadSbody 5usbandS"ife

They sang the Song of .oses after the 0ictory o0er Pharaoh and his armies L7'odus 6HM

!odel " #: The erspective o$ %llen &' (hite

As is fre%uently her custom& 7llen )hite does not %uote the 0erses for the fifth and si'th plagues but she interprets the symbols in matter of fact language and follo"s the same literary arrangement( An e'ample <e0elation D and H: @ne on the throne Lnot identified by nameM ?our living creatures Lpresented in symbolic termsM 28 elders Lsymbolic languageM Seven lamps Lsymbolic languageM 4am+ as though it had been slain Lsymbolic languageM

In The Desire of Ages& pp( E>>AE>H 7llen )hite interprets the symbolic language of <e0elation D and H: The one on the throne is the $ather The four li0ing creatures are cherubim and seraphim The 3D elders are the representati0es of the "orlds that ne0er sinned The se0en lamps of fire represent the 5oly Spirit The /amb as though it had been slain is +esus #hrist

7llen )hite does the same thing "ith Daniel 66:D4ADH( She ne0er %uotes these 0erses or e0en alludes to the language( ;et she comments on this passage in The Great #ontro0ersy "ith lu'ury of detail( /ets notice ho" 7llen )hite interprets the fifth& si'th and se0enth plagues in matter of fact language( I ha0e added e'planatory remarks in brackets: The Great Controvers , !" 6#5: Ahen the protection of human laws shall be withdrawn from those who honor the law of God, there will be, in different lands, a simultaneous movement for their destruction Bsimilar to Pharaoh 33

"ho gathers his armies to attack IsraelC( As the time appointed in the decree /(evelation <B%<C; +sther B%=1 draws near, the people will conspire to root out the hated sect. t will be determined to strike in one night a decisive blow, which shall utterly silence the voice of dissent and reproof. The people of GodDDsome in prison cells, some hidden in solitary retreats in the forests and the mountainsDDstill plead for divine protection Blike Israel did at the edge of the <ed SeaC& while in every >uarter companies of armed men, urged on by hosts of evil angels are preparing for the work of death BPharaoh and his armies come and there is no escapeC( t is now, in the hour of utmost e.tremity that the God of srael Bnotice the allusion to ancient IsraelC will interpose for the deliverance of 7is chosen. . . Aith shouts of triumph, #eering, and imprecation, throngs of evil men are about to rush Bthe 7uphrates is at flood stage: See the meaning of the "ord rush in Isaiah 6@:63& 6> and E:@& EC upon their prey, when, lo, a dense blackness, deeper than the darkness of the night, falls upon the earth Bthe fifth plague of darknessC( Then a rainbow, shining with the glory from the throne of God, spans the heavens and seems to encircle each praying company Blight for Gods peopleC( The angry multitudes Bsymbolically represented as the "aters upon "hich the harlot sitsC are suddenly arrested Bthe "aters of the 7uphrates are dried upC( Their mocking cries die away. The ob#ects of their murderous rage are forgotten. Aith fearful forebodings they ga,e upon the symbol of God-s covenant and long to be shielded from its overpowering brightness. . . In the next chapter )*The +esolation o$ the earth,- %llen (hite comes back to describe this climactic moment but adds some very important details: The people see that they have been deluded. They accuse one another of having led them to destruction; but all unite in heaping their bitterest condemnation upon the ministers B"ho are the leaders of the harlot and her daughtersC( Enfaithful pastors have prophesied smooth things Bthis is "hy the fifth plague afflicts the tongueC? they have led their hearers to make void the law of God and to persecute those who would keep it holy. 9ow, in their despair, these teachers confess before the world their work of deception. The multitudes Bthe "aters of the <ed Sea and the 7uphratesC are filled with fury Bthey "ithdra" their support and then a0alanche themsel0es against the apostate systemC( !Ae are lost;! they cry, !and you are the cause of our ruin;! and they turn upon the false shepherds. The very ones that once admired them most will pronounce the most dreadful curses upon them. The very hands that once crowned them with laurels will be raised for their destruction. The swords which were to slay God-s people are now employed to destroy their enemies BJechariah 6D:63& 6> is fulfilled "hen the s"ords turn upon the religious leadersC . +verywhere there is strife and bloodshed. The Great #ontro0ersy& p( -HH& -H!And this shall be the plague wherewith the &ord will smite all the people that have fought against *erusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the &ord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold everyone on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor.! Fechariah <G%<$, <B. n the mad strife of their own fierce passions, and by the awful outpouring of God-s unmingled wrath, fall the wicked inhabitants of the earthDDpriests, rulers, and people, rich and poor, high and low. !And the slain of the &ord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth% they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor 3>

buried.! *eremiah $C%BB. The Great #ontro0ersy& p( -H@ $t the %otto& o' !a(e 6#6 and +o&&ents on the seventh !la(ue: to! o' 6#) Ellen *hite

n the midst of the angry heavens is one clear space of indescribable glory, whence comes the voice of God like the sound of many waters, saying% ! t is done.! (evelation <H%<I. That voice shakes the heavens and the earth. There is a mighty earth>uake, !such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earth>uake, and so great.! Jerses <I, <= The firmament appears to open and shut. The glory from the throne of God seems flashing through. The mountains shake like a reed in the wind, and ragged rocks are scattered on every side. There is a roar as of a coming tempest. The sea is lashed into fury. There is heard the shriek of a hurricane like the voice of demons upon a mission of destruction. The whole earth heaves and swells like the waves of the sea. ts surface is breaking up. ts very foundations seem to be giving way. 4ountain chains are sinking. nhabited islands disappear. The seaports that have become like 6odom for wickedness are swallowed up by the angry waters. :abylon the great has come in remembrance before God, !to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of 7is wrath.! Great hailstones, every one !about the weight of a talent,! are doing their work of destruction. Jerses <?, $< In The Great #ontro0ersy& pp( -DE& -DI e'plains that the 6DD&444 sing the Song of :oses and the /amb& the song of their deli0erance from abylon $inal %uestion: )hat "ill determine "hose side you are on in this great battle2 <e0elation 6-:6H: !:ehold, am coming as a thief. :lessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame.! <e0elation >:6EA6I: counsel you to buy from 4e gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. <e0elation 33:64A6H: And he said to me, !)o not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 7e who is un#ust, let him be un#ust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.! !And behold, am coming >uickly, and 4y reward is with 4e, to give to everyone according to his work. am the Alpha and the 'mega, the :eginning and the +nd, the 8irst and the &ast.! :lessed are those who do 7is commandments that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. :ut outside are dogs and sorcerers and se.ually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

Study # 8 The ?lood Story as an >llustration of 5istorical Typology

3D

In this lesson "e "ant to study the cataclysmic "orld"ide flood of !oahs day( The reason "hy this study is so important is because +esus said that it foreshado"s the destruction "hich "ill come upon the "orld at the 0ery end of time( 5e said: *As it "as in the days of !oah& so shall it also be at the coming of the Son of :an(, ut is there more to this story than meets the eye2 /ets see= Satans 5idden Pre1flood #genda 6D34E( Genesis >:6H e'plains that there "ould be "arfare bet"een t"o seeds& the NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN seed and the NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN seed( 6D34I( In the story of #ain and Abel& Abel "as the NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN seed and #ain "as the seed of the NNNNNNNNNNNN one LI +ohn >:63M( y influencing #ain to kill Abel& Satan thought he had gotten rid of the seed( 6D364( Genesis D:6-A3D presents the genealogy of NNNNNNNNNNNNN and Genesis H delineates the genealogy of NNNNNNNNN "ho took the place of Abel LGenesis D:3H? H:-M( efore "e are able to disco0er the de0ils hidden preAflood agenda "e must re0ie" a fe" things about the "orld before the flood( 1G et"een creation and the flood there "as a period of 6-H- years( 2G efore the flood& human beings li0ed to be o0er I44 years old( Though sin had entered the "orld& their physical and mental energy must ha0e been enormous( Imagine a scientist "orking in a laboratory for close to I44 years== /G The "orld before the flood "as 0ery close to its pristine beauty( There "ere no drastic temperature changes& there "as no scarcity of food or natural resources( 8G :ost likely there "as 0ery little disease( God had told man to be fruitful and multiply& Imagine ho" many children I44 year old people could ha0e( There must ha0e been millions& if not billions of people on the planet the day before the flood= 6D366( Genesis -:6AD speaks NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN of men( about the NNNNNNNNNNNof God and the

Cote: Some ible teachers ha0e thought that the sons of God "ere angels and the daughters of men "ere human( This 0ie" must be %uestioned for at least three reasons: 1G the immediate conte't indicates that the sons of God "ere the descendants of Seth and the daughters of men "ere the descendants of #ain( 2G Genesis is the book about t"o seeds: #ain and Abel& sons of God and daughters of men& Isaac and Ishmael& +acob and 7sau& etc( In e0ery one of these cases both seeds are human( /G The ible else"here makes it clear that the sons of God are those "ho ha0e been con0erted to +esus #hrist Lsee& for e'ample& Galatians D:DA-? +ohn 6:63A63? <omans E:6HA6@M( 6D363( y mingling the seed of the "oman "ith his o"n seed& Satan reduced the number of faithful people on the planet to NNNNNNNNNNNNN LII Peter 3:HM( Cote: If God had not "iped out the ini%uitous preAflood race& the "hole of humanity "ould ha0e degenerated to the point "here there "ould be no holy line through "hich to introduce the :essiah into the "orld== The Sinfulness of the Pre1flood Race 6>E-D( The almost total depra0ity of the race before the flood is described in Genesis -: Then the /G<D sa" that the NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN of man "as NNNNNNNNNNNN in the earth& and that NNNNNNNNNN intent of the thoughts of his heart "as NNNNNNNNNN e0il NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN LGenesis -:HM 6>E-H( Genesis -:66A63 emphasi.es that the e0il thoughts of men "ere translated into action: The earth "as NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN before God& and the earth "as filled "ith NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN( 3H

So God looked upon the earth& and indeed it "as corrupt? for NNNNNNN flesh had corrupted their NNNNNNNNNNN on the earth( 6>E--( In /uke 6@:3-A>4 both the story of the flood and the story of NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN are presented as types of the condition the "orld "ill be in at the end of time( This must mean that the sins of Sodom "ere similar to those "hich "ere being committed before the flood( Cote: The name Sodom has become synonymous "ith se'ual per0ersion( )e kno" that homose'uality "as practiced in the cities of the plain e0en to the point that the men of Sodom "ished to ha0e se'ual relations "ith the angels "ho 0isited /ots house LGenesis 6I:HM( /ots daughters had learned the "ays of Sodom 0ery "ell( They made their father drunk so they could commit incest "ith him LGenesis 6I:>HA>EM( 6>E-@( 7.ekiel 6-:DIAH4 e'plains that Sodom had become selfish and materialistic: She and her daughter had NNNNNNNNNNNNN& fullness of NNNNNNNNNNNN& and abundance of NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN? neither did she strengthen the hand of the NNNNNNNNNNNNN and NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN( Cote: $or a further graphic description of the depra0ity of the preAflood race& read the sickening account in II Peter 3:DA33M( The .essage and .ission of Coah 6>-4E( efore the "orld "as destroyed& God sent a po"erful "orld"ide message of "arning( !oah "as a preacher of NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN LII Peter 3:HM( Cote: +udged by numerical standards& !oahs e0angelistic crusade "as a tragic failure( +ust imagine& of the millions of people "ho li0ed on the planet& only eight persons responded and they "ere all members of the same family= If the story of !oah represents "hat "ill happen in the endAtime& do you suppose that the ma8ority "ill be on Gods side2 !oah did not preach a smooth message( 5e denounced the sins of the antedilu0ians and called them to repent and allo" God to change their beha0ior( 6>-4I( !oah not only preached a message but built an NNNNNNNNNNN L5ebre"s 66:@M( Cote: 5is "ords "ere backed up by his actions( 5e had a faith that "orked( 5e in0ested all his time& efforts& strength& talents and resources into the building of the ark "hile the rest of the people "ere sa0ing for a rainy day= uilding the ark "as not one 8ob among many& it "as his primary task= !otice that it "as his building of the ark "hich condemned the "orld( !oah did the absurd because he belie0ed God= $aith simply means trusting God enough to do "hat 5e says( ut you cannot trust God unless you lo0e 5im and you cannot lo0e him unless you kno" 5im and you cannot kno" 5im unless you spend time "ith 5im= 6>-64( !oahs preaching "as accompanied by the po"er of the 5oly NNNNNNNNNNNNN "ho "as stri0ing "ith human hearts LGenesis -:>M( Cote: The 5ebre" "ord stri0e LdoonM means to plead a cause& to contend& to 8udge Lsee& Pro0erbs >6:I? +eremiah >4:6>? Genesis 6H:6D? Genesis DI:6-? Deuteronomy >3:>-? I Samuel 3:64? Psalm @:E? H4:D? HE:6? @3:3? I-:64? 664:-? Isaiah >:6>? +eremiah H:3E? Jechariah >:@M( The 5oly Spirit not only stro0e "ith human hearts but in the process the same Spirit "as also 8udging them based on their response to his pleading= !oahs preaching "as a 8udgment hour message( 6>-66( The preAflood race "as gi0en a period of probation of NNNNNNNNNNN years LGenesis -:>M( As soon as !oahs preaching "as o0er the NNNNNNNNNNNNNN "ould be shut and probation "ould be finished= 3-

6>-63( !oahs message "as accompanied by a po"erful miracle( !oah did not ha0e to hunt the animals do"n( The animals obeyed the 0oice of God and "ent into the NNNNNNNNNNNto !oah LGenesis @:6HM Cote: The miracle of the animals obeying God and entering the ark seems to indicate that human beings had fallen belo" animal le0el( This is the reason "hy +ude 64 calls them brute beasts( 6>-6>( efore the flood it had ne0er NNNNNNNNNNNNN( The earth "as not "atered from abo0e but rather a NNNNNNNNNN "ent up from the earth and "atered the "hole face of the NNNNNNNNNNNNLGenesis 3:H& -M Cote: The planet "as co0ered "ith "ater before creation LGenesis 6:3M( Gn the second day& God placed part of the "ater abo0e the earth and part of the "ater under the earth LGenesis 6:@M( The "ater abo0e pro0ided a uniform climateFthe "hole "orld "as indoors& and the "ater belo" sprinkled the earth( At the flood& God did not ha0e to create "ater& 5e merely brought the "aters abo0e back do"n and the "aters belo" back up LGenesis -:66M( +ust imagine !oah trying to con0ince the preAflood race that it "as going to rain=== This appeared illogical& unreasonable& unscientific and empirically absurd and yet !oah preached on== The (lose of Pro+ationary Time ( )hen !oah finished building and preaching& the /G<D NNNNNNNNNNNN him in LGenesis @:6-M( Cote: )hen the door of the ark closed the sa0ed "ere sa0ed and the lost "ere lost( After this there "ould be no changing of sides( At this time the 5oly Spirit ceased to stri0e "ith the hearts of humanity( Although those outside the ark "ere lost "hen the door shut& they did not kno" it until it started to rain( ( !oah and his family "ere in the ark for NNNNNNNNNNN days before it started to NNNNNNNNNNN LGenesis @:D& 64M( Cote: 5a0e you e0er "ondered "hy God left !oah and his family in the ark for se0en long days before it started to rain2 God could ha0e made it rain the 0ery day they entered but 5e didnt( The faith of !oah and his family "as tested to the utmost during this period( They must ha0e "ondered& )ill God fulfill 5is "ord and send the flood after all2 This "as a time of triumph for those outside the ark and a time of apparent defeat for those in the ark( )e can imagine the ridicule and imprecations of the multitude= The (ataclysmic ?lood ( The flood "as a "orld"ide cataclysm( Some ha0e thought that the flood "as some local affair in the 0alley of :esopotamia or that the flood story is a myth( ut there are se0eral iblical& historical and geological reasons "hy this "as a real "orld"ide flood in space and time: The Ce$ Testament authors understood the flood to be a historical and "orld"ide e0ent( If "e %uestion the account of :oses& "e must %uestion also the reliability of +esus& Peter and Paul L:atthe" 3D:>@A>I? II Peter 3:H? 5ebre"s 66:@? II Peter >:DA-M Genesis -:H& 66A6> tells us that the $hole $orld "as filled "ith 0iolence( )orld"ide 0iolence "ould necessitate a "orld"ide flood(

3@

 3(

)hy "ould God put !oah& his family and the animals in a +oat if this "as to be only a local flood2 #ould they not ha0e migrated to another location2 LGenesis @:6A>M( )hat need "ould there ha0e been to preserve the species if this "as a mere local flood2 The species could ha0e sur0i0ed else"here LGenesis @:6>M( Genesis @:D states that God destroyed all li0ing things "hich 5e had made( If creation "as a "orld"ide e0ent& then the destruction of all things "hich God made must also ha0e been "orld"ide( The language of Genesis @:6@A6I is unmistakable: the "aters rose abo0e the earth ( ( ( prevailed and greatly increased ( ( ( prevailed eAceedingly( This type of language "ould be meaningless if this "as a local flood( Genesis @:6I is too clear to be misunderstood: and all the high hills under the "hole hea0en "ere co0ered( Genesis @:36 states that all flesh died that mo0ed upon the earth( ( ( ( and every man( Genesis @:3>& 3D says that God destroyed all li0ing things ( ( ( and only !oah and his family remained( Genesis @E:@A64 tells us that the +irds "hich !oah sent out of the ark could find no resting place( This "ould not be true if this "as a local flood( Gods promise of Genesis E:36& 33 and the rain+o$ of Genesis I:63& 6> "ould be meaningless at best and false at "orst if this "as some local flood( All nations of the "orld descend from the sur0i0ors of the flood LGenesis 64:>3? 66:6M( .emories of a "orld"ide flood appear in e0ery culture on the planet( This must mean that these stories go back to an original source( The fossil record and the topography of the earth indicate that at some time past there "as a ma8or "orld"ide catastrophe( $ossils can be found all o0er the "orld( $ossil animals ha0e been found upright "ith food still in their mouths( Gther fossils re0eal animals "hich "ere crushed and dismembered before they "ere buried= A technical term is used in both the Gld and !e" Testaments to describe the flood( The Gld Testament uses the "ord mabul and the !e" Testament uses kataklysmos. )hen the flood came the fountains of the great NNNNNNNNNNNNN "ere broken up& and the NNNNNNNNNNNNN of hea0en "ere opened LGenesis @:66M( In other "ords& "ater came from abo0e and from belo" the earth( !oah and his family "ere on earth during the destruction but they "ere NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNby Di0ine po"er( Cote: The "orld during the flood returned to preAcreation chaos& that is& to an empty and disorderly state( All the "icked perished during this period( )hat do you suppose happened to Satan during this time2 Gne author has stated: Satan himself& "ho "as compelled to remain in the midst of the "arring elements& feared for his o"n e'istence L7llen G( )hite& Patriarchs and Prophets& p( IIM( The same happened to Satan at the flood as "ill happen to him during the millennium( 5e "ill be bound to this dark earth and "ill lose his po"er base of people because they "ill all be dead=

>(

D(

)hen !oah and his family came out of the ark& the earth had been cleansed of sinners and "as totally changed( The "orld "hich then NNNNNNNNNNNNNN& perished being flooded "ith "ater LII Peter >:-M(

Jesus and the ?lood Story 3( In :atthe" 3D +esus dre" a parallel bet"een the flood story and his coming: ut as the days of NNNNNNNNNN "ere& so NNNNNNNNNNN "ill the NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN of the Son of :an be L:atthe" 3D:>@M(

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>( The "ord until is used t"ice by +esus in :atthe" 3D:>EA>I: The preAflood race "as eating and drinking& marrying and gi0ing in marriage NNNNNNNNNNN the day that !oah NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN the ark and did not NNNNNNNNNNNNNN until the flood came and took them all a"ay( Cote: The "ord until marks t"o 0ery important moments of time( The first until refers to the moment !oah entered the ark( The second until marks the moment "hen it started to rain( et"een the first until and the second until Lse0en daysM the lost "ere ali0e but did not kno" that they "ere lost= At the end there "ill also be a period during "hich the lost "ill not kno" that they are lost= End1time ?ulfillment of the Coah Story 63E44( The apostle Paul pro0ides a long catalog of sins "hich "ill characteri.e the "orld in the NNNNNNNNNN days( The list begins "ith lo0ers of NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN and ends "ith .lo0ers of NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN rather than lo0ers of God LII Timothy >:6AHM( This catalog of sins describes the 0ery conditions "hich e'isted before the flood( 63E46( The apostle Paul also "arned #hristians: Do not be une%ually yoked together "ith NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN( ( ( ( #ome out from among them and be ye separate& says the /ord( II #orinthians -:6D& 6@M( )e are reminded that the great sin "hich led to the demise of the antedilu0ian race "as the mingling of the righteous "ith the unrighteous( This is "hy God calls 5is endAtime people to come NNNNNNNNNNNN of abylon L<e0elation 6E:DM( 63E43( The three angels of <e0elation 6D:-A63 deli0er God /s endAtime !oah message to e0ery NNNNNNNNNNNN& tribe& tongue and people L<e0elation 6D:-M( This message calls upon the "orld to NNNNNNNNNN God and gi0e NNNNNNNNNNNNNto 5im because the hour of 5is 8udgment NNNNNNNNN come L<e0elation 6D:@M( 63E4>( This message is accompanied by the po"er of the 5oly NNNNNNNNNNNNN because it ripens the "orld and di0ides it into t"o camps L<e0elation 6D:6DA6IM( 63E4D( God/s people are to make the cause of God their top priority( Immediately after comparing the days of !oah "ith 5is coming& +esus ga0e the parable of the faithful NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN L:atthe" 3D:D3AH6M& the parable of the ten NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN L:atthe" 3H:6A6DM& the parable of the NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN L:atthe" 3D:6DA>4M and the story of the sheep and the NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN L:atthe" 3H:>6AD-M( 63E4H( The contrast bet"een the number of the righteous and the number of the "icked is gi0en in <e0elation I:6- and 6D:6( The righteous are NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN and the "icked are t"o hundred NNNNNNNNNNNNNN( 63E4-( )hen the final message has been deli0ered to the "orld& the door of probation "ill close( This is seen in <e0elation "hen temple is filled "ith NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN and no one "ill be able to enter it until the se0en last plagues ha0e been poured out L<e0elation 6H:HAEM( The moment "hen probation closes a 0oice is heard "hich says: 5e "ho is NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN& let him be un8ust still? he "ho is NNNNNNNNNNNN& let him be filthy still? he "ho is NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN& let him be righteous still? he "ho isNNNNNNNNNNNNNN& let him be holy still L<e0elation 33:66M( 63E4@( The destruction of the "orld does not come precisely "hen the door closes( After :ichael stands up& there "ill be a time of NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNsuch as the "orld has ne0er e'perienced and then Gods people "ill be NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNLDaniel 63:6? see the background for this in Genesis >3 and +eremiah >4:@M( Cote: Gods people "ill remain on the earth during the tribulation( During this time of trouble the faith of Gods people "ill be se0erely tested( They "ill feel much like !oah 3I

and his family did in the ark( As time goes by they "ill "onder "hether God has forsaken them( ut they "ill not let go( They "ill ha0e the e'perience "hich the "ido" had in the parable of /uke 6E:6AE( The "icked oppressors of the remnant "ill re0ile them but the remnant "ill pre0ail by faith( 63E4E( At last +esus "ill come( $ire from hea0en "ill combine "ith fire from the earth and the "orld "ill be de0astated( +eremiah sa" that the earth "as NNNNNNNNNNNNNN form and NNNNNNNNNNNN L+eremiah D:3>M( Isaiah added that the inhabitants of the earth are NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN and fe" men are NNNNNNNNNNNNN LIsaiah 3D:-M( 63E4I( Satan and the "icked "ill be put in prison for a NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN years L<e0elation 34:6A>M( Cote: Satan "ill once again be obligated to remain on the planet( 5e "ill ha0e lost his po"er base because all his "icked follo"ers are dead( The planet "ill be dark& desolate and uninhabitable( 63E64( After the thousand years the hea0ens "ill pass NNNNNNNNNN "ith a great noise& and the NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN "ill melt "ith NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN heat: oth the earth and the "orks that are in it "ill be burned up( Then +esus "ill make ne" NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN and a ne" NNNNNNNNNNNNNN "here righteousness d"ells LII Peter >:64A6>M( 63E66( Pno"ing that the hea0ens and the earth "ill be dissol0ed "e ought to be holy in NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN and godliness LII Peter >:66M( 4iving in EApectancy After comparing the flood "ith 5is coming& +esus ga0e some 0ery practical counsels about ho" "e should li0e "hile "e "ait: NNNNNNNNNNNNN therefore& for you kno" neither the day nor the hour in "hich the Son of :an is coming( L:atthe" 3H:6>? see also& <e0elation >:>? I Thessalonians H:-? :ark 6>:>D& >H& >@M( To "atch means to be a"ake and sober L:atthe" 3-:>E& D4& D6M( Take heed& "atch and NNNNNNNNNNNNNN& for you do not kno" "hen the time is Lsee also& /uke 6E:6AEM( Therefore you also be NNNNNNNNNNNNN& for the Son of :an is coming at an hour you do not e'pect L:atthe" 3D:DD? 3H:64? see also& /uke 6:6@ and <e0elation 6I:@M( )e are to "isely NNNNNNNNNNNNNN that "hich belongs to the :aster L:atthe" 3H:6DA >4M( )e should do NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN until 5e comes L/uke 6I:6>M( +esus parable in :atthe" 33:6A6D is apropos( The man "ithout a "edding garment did not sneak into hea0en( The e'amination of the garments represents the 8udgment "hich no" transpires in hea0en= The separation of the righteous and "icked takes place before +esus comes( /ets get do"n to business and prepare a character fit for hea0en==

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