Has
Probation Closed on Babylon?
INTRODUCTION
There are many ‘myths’ wafting throughout Adventism
that pertain to the Second Angel’s Message. One of the greatest ‘myths’
is that probation has closed upon the fallen churches of Babylon. Why has such
a ‘myth’ been held so tightly for so many years? Mainly because Seventh-day Adventists have
become a lazy, dependent class… dependent upon their ‘leaders’ to bring them
into the truth instead of studying to show themselves approved unto God,
rightly dividing the word of truth. They are repeating the history of the Jews
by depending upon their supposed ‘ministers of righteousness’ instead of the
Holy Spirit. Thus, these ‘myths’ of men, like probation being closed upon
Babylon, take root and become a staunch tradition… virtually sealing the minds
of God’s professed people into an arrogant hardihood.
This study, which is not exhaustive by any means—it
doesn’t have to be to see the truth concerning this issue—is to find the truth
concerning the issue of whether or not probation has closed upon the fallen
churches of Babylon. The results will expose the false teachers of such a
fallacy from hell and hopefully open the minds of God’s faithful. The evidence
shown in this study counteracts the false teaching that Probation has closed
upon the Harlot [the Roman Catholic Church] and her daughters [apostate
Protestant churches]--even the Seventh-day Adventist Church. While I
believe the weight of evidence is clear that these organizations are in a 'fallen'
state as proclaimed by the second angel in Revelation 14:8, the evidence in no
way suggests their probation has closed as yet.
There are too many good, faithful, and honest
children of the King being deceived by these false ‘ministers of righteousness’
and they must be awakened before it is too late. Satan is working upon the
minds of those who are unsanctified by the truth to spread the lie of a closed
probation in order to give people a false security in their sins… that as long
as they have removed themselves from the organizations that probation has
'supposedly' closed upon, they will be saved. Having the character of Jesus is
not truly within this 'probation has closed' message for it’s motivation is
fear of punishment and not a ‘love of the truth.’ Having the character of Jesus
is within the true message of separating from apostasy (the angel said,
'Babylon has fallen, has fallen,’ NOT ‘probation
has closed, has closed’) because one separates out of love for Jesus and
wanting to be like Him, not for fear of punishment which we so rightly deserve.
The Lord is calling His people out of Babylon, not
because Babylon's probation has closed, but because Babylon is teaching false
doctrine… the ‘wine of error’, and if you partake of this ‘wine of error’ long
enough, you will eventually be sealed in your sins and lose eternal salvation…
finally partaking of the plagues and dying the ‘second death.’
One may ask, “If probation has not closed upon
Babylon, and your church is a member of Babylon, then why did you leave? Why
not stay and reform your church?”
This is a good question but it is based upon the idea that the ONLY
reason to leave a church that is in Babylon is because it’s probation has
closed. This is NOT why the second angel is warning God’s faithful to leave. It
is because they have ‘fallen’ (in ‘apostasy’) NOT that their probation has
closed. They have ‘fallen’ from a once pure condition into a defiled condition.
We are to separate so that we will not become defiled by partaking of the sin
that caused them to fall. It’s just that simple friends.
And just where is it written in Scripture that one
must remain a ‘member’ of Babylon in order to bring reformation to it? Nowhere!
What is written says, ‘come out of her My people.’
Think for a moment… Can someone who is ‘intoxicated’
reform a drunk? Likewise, can someone who is intoxicated with the ‘wine of
error’ themselves bring reformation to Babylon, which is not only drunk but
bent on making ALL as drunk as herself? On the contrary, one must be ‘sobered
up’ before reforming a drunk. The only way to ‘sober up’ is to stop drinking
the ‘wine of error’ and that is only possible if you leave the ‘bar of Babylon’
first!
I guess the short answer for why I left my church is
that they have fallen into 'apostasy' according to the Second Angel’s Message
(Rev. 14:8) and it is no longer 'safe' for me to attend for they are teaching
error (the 'wine of error') and false doctrine. If I partake of this
error, I will be drawn further from Jesus and closer to death & hell, thus
eventually grieving the Holy Spirit, being sealed in my sins, receive of the
plagues and dying the second death. Not because Babylon’s probation has closed
but because I PARTOOK of their error! It has nothing to do with
'probation closing' but everything to do with 'apostasy'--a falling away from
the truth. And it isn't a question of 'me going back in' but of the
fallen church coming into line with the truth... for if they do this, THEY come
back into the true church for I haven't left it--THEY HAVE. Which is a whole
other subject that is so misunderstood today… that of ‘Who and What is the
Church.’
Because 'error is never harmless' we must test the 'probation has closed' teaching by the Word of God and the Spirit of Prophecy, as any good 'Berean' will do. Too many precious souls have been deceived on this issue and the truth must be trumpeted.
“I
warn you to beware of these side issues, whose tendency is to divert the
mind from the truth. Error is never harmless. It never sanctifies,
but always brings confusion and dissension.”--5T 291, 292 (1885).
To those who believe it a necessity to know when probation
has closed… upon organizations or individuals, and those who preach and teach
the error of ‘probation closed upon Babylon,’ the messenger of the Lord gives
this warning statement:
"There is no
command for anyone to search
the Scriptures in order to ascertain, if
possible, when
probation will close.
God has no such message for any mortal lips. He would have no
mortal tongue declare
that which He has hidden in His secret councils."
Review & Herald, October 9, 1894.
This is a very clear statement
about this topic and one we need to seriously heed. Yet so many
ignore this plain statement! From the same article we read these words:
"We are to bear the third
angel's message to the world, warning men against the worship of the
beast and his image, and directing them to take their places in the
ranks of those who "keep the commandments of God, and have the
faith of Jesus." God has not revealed to us the time when
this message will close, or when probation will have an end. Those
things that are revealed we shall accept for ourselves and for our children; but
let us not seek to know that which has been kept secret in the councils
of the Almighty. It is our duty to watch and work and wait, to labor
every moment for the souls of men that are ready to perish. We are to keep
walking continually in the footsteps of Jesus, working in his lines, dispensing
his gifts as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Satan will be
ready to give to any one who is not learning every day of Jesus, a special
message of his own creating, in order to make of no effect the wonderful truth
for this time. Letters have come to me asking me if I have any
special light as to the time when probation will close; and I answer that
I have only this message to bear, that it is now time to work while the
day lasts, for the night cometh in which no man can work." Ibid.
These statements are very, very
clear to those who have spiritual eye-salve. Yet, those who cannot
agree with the straight testimony of the prophet will endeavor to reason the
testimony away. I have seen it time and time again... when the
testimonies cut to the heart the one in error, pride causes them to make them
of 'none effect.’ And these same
individuals will continue to profess their belief in the SOP! WAKE UP!
This study is not to find ‘when
probation will close,’ but rather, if there is any evidence that it has closed
as claimed by many Adventists--historic, independent or not. While not knowing
the time for when probation has closed (and by the way, I ask anyone who
believes that probation has closed upon fallen Babylon to give me the date[s]
that it occurred—something they cannot do, yet still boldly proclaim that is
has!) the Lord has given us the sequence leading up to it… so we may be
prepared to stand in the sight of a Holy God without a mediator when it does
close!
When I
began to take another look at this subject, the Lord led me to re-read chapters
32, 38, and 39 of the Great Controversy… especially chapter 38. When I search
for the truth, I will make notes and comments to myself for future reference or
study. It is no different here. I am sharing my notes and comments with you so
please keep that in mind as you read. I strongly encourage you to please read
these same chapters on your own (for a free copy of The Great Contoversy go to www.EternalTruthMinistries.org).
May God add a blessing to the study of His word. Amen.
~Pastor
Joel Laswell
Here is what I have found so far (my personal
notes are in blue, added
scriptures to the study are in
red, and other
SOP quotes are in dark red):
"I saw another angel come down from
heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he
cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is
fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul
spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." "And I heard
another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not
partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Revelation 18:1, 2, 4. The subject of this chapter is made clear.
This scripture points forward to a
time when the announcement of the fall of Babylon, as made by the
second angel of Revelation 14 (verse 8), is to be repeated, with
the additional mention of the corruptions which have been entering the various
organizations that constitute Babylon, since that message was first given, in
the summer of 1844. A terrible condition of the religious world is
here described. With every rejection of truth the minds of the
people will become darker, their hearts more stubborn, until they are
entrenched in an infidel hardihood (Is this happening now? Has it happened? Is it
still in the future?). In defiance of the warnings which God has given, they
will continue to trample upon one of the precepts of the Decalogue, until
they are led to persecute those who hold it sacred. Christ is set at
nought in the contempt placed upon His word and His people. As the teachings of
spiritualism are accepted by the churches, the restraint imposed upon the
carnal heart is removed, and the profession of religion will become a cloak
to conceal the basest iniquity. A belief in spiritual manifestations opens the
door to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and thus the influence of
evil angels will be felt in the churches.
Of Babylon, at the time
brought to view in this prophecy, it is declared: "Her sins
have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities."
Revelation 18:5. She has filled up the measure of her guilt,
and destruction is about to fall upon her. ‘Filled up the measure of her guilt’ sounds the same as a close of probation. Is it?
Note: “…the
Midianites filled up the measure of their iniquities. Then
their day of probation ended, the door of mercy was to
them closed…” Signs of the Times, 1/6/81.
Note: “…the
iniquity of the Amorites was not yet full, and
their expulsion and extermination could not be justified until
they had filled up the cup of their iniquity… It is thus that God
deals with the nations. Through a certain period of probation He
exercises long-suffering toward nations, cities, and individuals.” Bible Commentaries,
Volume 1, p.1093.
Note: “The
hour of probation is fast passing; the cup of God's indignation is
fast filling.” Review and Herald, 7/19/79.
So
looking at these phrases I find they are synonymous with ‘a close of
probation’: 1)
‘filled up the
measure of their iniquities,’ 2) ‘door of mercy… closed,’ 3)
‘filled up the cup of their iniquity,’
and 4) ‘the cup of
God’s indignation is
[full].’ Makes good sense.
“And
I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye
be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto
heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and
double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath
filled fill to her double.”
Revelation 18:4-6.
When? When did or does this happen? Here is the answer:
“[Revelation
18:1-5 quoted]. When do her [Babylon’s] sins reach unto heaven? When
the law of God is finally made void by legislation.”
Signs of the Times, 6/12/93. Pretty
clear answer to the question of when probation closes upon Babylon! Has the law
of God been made void by legislation yet? NO. Then probation hasn’t closed on
Babylon yet.
“…when
they [professed
Protestants] restrict
religious liberty,
surrender Protestantism, and give countenance to popery, the
measure of their guilt will be full, and "national
apostasy" will be registered in the books of heaven. The result
of this apostasy will be national ruin.” Review and Herald,
5/02/93. The context is quite clear that this is Sunday
enforcement and receiving the mark of the beast. And no one
receives the mark of the beast until Sunday is ENFORCED! (see also 7BC 977,
EV 233-236, etc…). This clearly has not happened yet. There is no Sunday law,
no mark, and there is no national ruin, yet! WOW! This is becoming so clear.
“…the
Christian world [fallen
Babylon] has sanctioned his
efforts by adopting this child of the papacy,--the Sunday institution. They
have nourished it, and will continue to nourish it, until
Protestantism shall give the hand of fellowship to the Roman power. Then
there will be a law against the Sabbath of God's creation, and then
it is that God "will do a strange work in the earth”... He has
borne long with the perversity of the race; he has tried to win them to
himself. But the time will come when they shall have filled
their measure of iniquity; and then it is that God will
work. This time is almost reached. God keeps a record with the nations:
the figures are swelling against them in the books of heaven; and when
it shall have become a law (ENFORCEMENT of Sunday observance) that
the transgression of the first day of the week shall be met with punishment, then
their (Babylon) cup will be full." Review and Herald, 3/09/86. Even more clear as to the timing.
“The
point is fast being reached when the iniquity of
transgressors will be to the full. God gives nations a certain time
of probation. He sends light and evidence, that, if received, will save
them, but if refused as the Jews refused light, indignation and punishment will
fall upon them… The professed Christian world is advancing,
as did the Jewish nation, from one degree of
sinfulness to a greater degree, refusing warning after warning, and rejecting a
Thus saith the Lord, while crediting the fables of men.” Bible Commentaries,
Volume 4, p.1143.
“When
God's presence was finally withdrawn from the Jewish nation,
priests and people knew it not… So when the irrevocable
decision of the sanctuary has been pronounced and the destiny of the world has
been forever fixed, the inhabitants of the earth will know it
not. The forms of religion will be continued by a people
from whom the Spirit of God has been finally withdrawn” The Great
Controversy, p.614-615.
So
has the Spirit finally been withdrawn from Babylon? Is God no longer pleading
for them? And if God is no longer pleading, then why should we? NOTE: “The
churches have grieved the
Spirit of the Lord, and it has been in a great measure withdrawn” Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4, p.237. The Spirit is NOT completely withdrawn as yet!
God IS still pleading for Babylon! What a patient and loving God I serve…
Praise His holy name!
Continuing
in chapter 38 of the Great Controversy:
But God still has a people in Babylon;
and before the visitation of His judgments these faithful ones must be called
out, that they partake not of her sins and "receive not
of her plagues." Hence the movement symbolized by the angel
coming down from heaven, lightening the earth with his glory and crying
mightily with a strong voice, announcing the sins of Babylon. (The angel is announcing the sins of
Babylon. Why do this? Why not just say that probation has closed upon
Babylon? Because the warning concerns
partaking of Babylon’s sins and NOT that her probation has closed. Why? Because
sinners could just leave Babylon out of a fear of punishment—not because they
are living in error—and they would continue to sin and defile God’s church over
and over again and again, never ending the cycle. God wants His people to be
clean and undefiled, having His character. His true followers will leave
Babylon because of her sins, for they do not want to sin themselves. To leave
Babylon just because probation may have closed DOES NOT bring them into
character perfection, but leaving sin does!) In connection with his message the call is heard: "Come
out of her, My people." These announcements, uniting
with the third angel's message, constitute the final warning to be given to
the inhabitants of the earth.
Fearful is the issue to which
the world is to be brought. The powers of earth, uniting to war
against the commandments of God, will decree that "all,
both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond" (Revelation
13:16), shall conform to the customs of the church (The church uses the state to do her work for
her. The state is NOT Babylon, the fallen churches are. Note: “The term "Babylon" is derived from
"Babel," and signifies confusion. It is employed in Scripture to
designate the various forms of false or apostate religion.” The
Great Controversy, p. 381. No individual, state, or country qualifies as
Babylon. Notice again: “The
message of Revelation 14, announcing the fall of Babylon must apply to
religious bodies that were once pure and have become corrupt. Since
this message follows the warning of the judgment, it must be given in the last
days; therefore it cannot refer to the Roman Church alone, for that
church has been in a fallen condition for many centuries.
Furthermore, in the eighteenth chapter of the Revelation the people of God are
called upon to come out of Babylon. According to this scripture, many of God's
people must still be in Babylon. And in what religious
bodies are the greater part of the followers of Christ now to be found?
Without doubt, in the various churches professing the Protestant
faith.” The Great Controversy, p. 383.) by the
observance of the false sabbath. All who refuse compliance will be
visited with civil penalties (Again,
a church and state combination. The time frame is clear that Rev. 18:1-5 is
dealing with the enforcement of the Sunday Law and mark of the beast and death
decree. This has not happened yet), and it
will finally be declared that they are deserving of death. On the other hand, the law of God enjoining the Creator's
rest day demands obedience and threatens wrath against all who transgress its
precepts.
With the issue thus clearly brought
before him (has
this issue been clearly brought before the world?), whoever shall trample upon God's law to obey a human
enactment receives the mark of the beast; he accepts the sign of
allegiance to the power which he chooses to obey instead of God. The warning
from heaven is: "If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive
his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of
the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation." Revelation 14:9, 10.
But not one is made to suffer the wrath
of God until the truth has been brought home to his mind and conscience, and
has been rejected. There are many who have never had an
opportunity to hear the special truths for this time. The obligation of
the fourth commandment has never been set before them in its true light. He who
reads every heart and tries every motive will leave none who desire a
knowledge of the truth, to be deceived as to the issues of the controversy
(the enforcement of a
Sunday law will bring the issue to the forefront first in the US then worldwide
so it will be clear for all to see). The
decree is not to be urged upon the people blindly. Everyone is to have
sufficient light to make his decision intelligently.
The Sabbath will be the great test
of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especially controverted. When
the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line
of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve
Him not. While the observance of the false sabbath in compliance with the
law of the state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal of
allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keeping of the true
Sabbath, in obedience to God's law, is an evidence of loyalty to the
Creator. While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to
earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other choosing the token
of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God.
Heretofore those who
presented the truths of the third angel's message have often been
regarded as mere alarmists. Their predictions that
religious intolerance would gain control in the United States, that church and
state would unite to persecute those who keep the commandments of God, have
been pronounced groundless and absurd. It has been confidently declared
that this land could never become other than what it has been--the defender of
religious freedom. But as the question of enforcing Sunday observance
is widely agitated (is
the enforcement of Sunday observance being widely agitated right now—10/16/03?
NO!), the event so long doubted and disbelieved is
seen to be approaching, and the third message will produce an effect
which it could not have had before (THIS is POWER that accompanies the latter rain!
All we can do now is point people forward… telling them that Sunday Legislation
is coming, warning them not to receive the mark. They can doubt the message and
call us ‘alarmists’ for it has not been fulfilled yet. However, when they SEE
the law and SEE the enforcement of that law, the message we have been giving
for the last 159 years will HAVE POWER! For it will have come to pass just as
predicted!!!).
In every generation God has sent
His servants to rebuke sin, both in the world and in the church.
But the people desire smooth things spoken to them, and the pure, unvarnished
truth is not acceptable. Many reformers, in entering upon their work,
determined to exercise great prudence in attacking the sins of the
church and the nation. They hoped, by the example of a pure Christian life,
to lead the people back to the doctrines of the Bible. But the Spirit of God
came upon them as it came upon Elijah, moving him to rebuke the sins of a
wicked king and an apostate people; they could not refrain from preaching the
plain utterances of the Bible-- doctrines which they had been reluctant to
present. They were impelled to zealously declare the truth and the danger which
threatened souls. The words which the Lord gave them they uttered, fearless of
consequences, and the people were compelled to hear the warning.
Thus the message of the third angel will
be proclaimed. As the time comes for it to be given with greatest
power, the Lord will work through humble instruments, leading the
minds of those who consecrate themselves to His service. The laborers will be
qualified rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the training of literary
institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy
zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon
will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances
of the church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but
rapid progress of the papal power--all will be unmasked. By these solemn
warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands
will listen who have never heard words like these. In amazement they hear the
testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen because of her errors and
sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from heaven. How much clearer can it be? Babylon is ‘fallen,
is fallen’ not ‘probation is closed, is closed.’ ‘Fallen’ because of her errors
and sins… her rejection of truth.
As the people go to their former
teachers with the eager inquiry, Are these things so? the ministers present
fables, prophesy smooth things, to soothe their fears and quiet the awakened
conscience. But since many refuse to be satisfied with the mere
authority of men and demand a plain "Thus saith the Lord," the
popular ministry, like the Pharisees of old, filled with anger as their authority
is questioned, will denounce the message as of Satan and stir up the sin-loving
multitudes to revile and persecute those who proclaim it. (This has not happened as yet.)
As the controversy extends into new
fields and the minds of the people are called to God's downtrodden law,
Satan is astir. The power attending the message will only madden
those who oppose it. The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to
shut away the light lest it should shine upon their flocks. By every means
at their command they will endeavor to suppress the discussion of these vital
questions. The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power
(This is getting closer
to becoming a reality but is yet future!), and, in this work, papists and Protestants unite.
As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided,
the law will be invoked against commandment keepers. They will be
threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of
influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their
faith. But their steadfast answer is: "Show us from the word of God our
error"--the same plea that was made by Luther under similar circumstances.
Those who are arraigned before the courts make a strong vindication of the truth,
and some who hear them are led to take their stand to keep all the commandments
of God. Thus light will be brought before thousands who otherwise would
know nothing of these truths.
Conscientious obedience to the word of
God will be treated as rebellion. Blinded by Satan, the parent will exercise
harshness and severity toward the believing child; the master or mistress will
oppress the commandment-keeping servant. Affection will be alienated; children
will be disinherited and driven from home. The words of Paul will be literally
fulfilled: "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12. As the defenders of truth refuse to
honor the Sunday-sabbath, some of them will be thrust into prison, some
will be exiled, some will be treated as slaves. To human wisdom all this
now seems impossible (WHY?
Why does this seem impossible if probation has closed on Babylon? Because it
has not happened yet!); but as
the restraining Spirit of God shall be withdrawn from men, and they shall be
under the control of Satan, who hates the divine precepts, there will be
strange developments. The heart can be very cruel when God's fear and love
are removed.
As the storm approaches, a
large class who have professed faith in the third angel's message, but have not
been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their
position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world
and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the
same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to
choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once
rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls.
They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When
Sabbathkeepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith,
these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and
accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers
against them.
In this time of persecution (Are we in this time of persecution yet? Clearly
we are not.) the faith of the Lord's
servants will be tried. They have faithfully given the warning, looking to God
and to His word alone. God's Spirit, moving upon their hearts, has constrained
them to speak. Stimulated with holy zeal, and with the divine impulse strong
upon them, they entered upon the performance of their duties without coldly
calculating the consequences of speaking to the people the word which the Lord
had given them. They have not consulted their temporal interests, nor sought
to preserve their reputation or their lives. Yet when the
storm of opposition and reproach bursts upon them, some,
overwhelmed with consternation, will be ready to exclaim: "Had we foreseen
the consequences of our words, we would have held our peace." They are
hedged in with difficulties. Satan assails them with fierce temptations.
The work which they have undertaken seems far beyond their ability to
accomplish. They are threatened with destruction. The enthusiasm
which animated them is gone; yet they cannot turn back. Then, feeling
their utter helplessness, they flee to the Mighty One for strength. They
remember that the words which they have spoken were not theirs, but His who
bade them give the warning. God put the truth into their hearts, and they could
not forbear to proclaim it.
The same trials have been experienced
by men of God in ages past. Wycliffe, Huss, Luther, Tyndale, Baxter,
Wesley, urged that all doctrines be brought to the test of the Bible and
declared that they would renounce everything which it condemned. Against
these men persecution raged with relentless fury (Do we see this same ‘relentless fury’ against
such men today? NOT YET); yet they ceased not to declare the truth. Different periods
in the history of the church have each been marked by the development of some
special truth, adapted to the necessities of God's people at that time. Every
new truth has made its way against hatred and opposition; those who were
blessed with its light were tempted and tried. The Lord gives a special
truth for the people in an emergency. Who dare refuse to publish it? He
commands His servants to present the last invitation of mercy to the world.
They cannot remain silent, except at the peril of their souls.
Christ's ambassadors have nothing to do with consequences. They must
perform their duty and leave results with God.
As the opposition rises to a fiercer
height, the servants of God are again perplexed; for it seems to them that
they have brought the crisis (Is there a Sunday Law crises right now,
10-16-2003? NO!). But conscience and the word of God assure them that their
course is right; and although the trials continue, they are strengthened to
bear them. The contest grows closer and sharper, but their faith
and courage rise with the emergency. Their testimony is: "We dare not
tamper with God's word, dividing His holy law; calling one portion
essential and another nonessential, to gain the favor of the world. The
Lord whom we serve is able to deliver us. Christ has conquered the powers of
earth; and shall we be afraid of a world already conquered?"
Persecution in its varied forms is the
development of a principle which will exist as long as Satan exists and
Christianity has vital power. No man can serve God without enlisting against
himself the opposition of the hosts of darkness. Evil angels will assail
him, alarmed that his influence is taking the prey from their hands. Evil men, rebuked
by his example, will unite with them in seeking to separate him from God by
alluring temptations. When these do not succeed, then a compelling power is
employed to force the conscience.
But so long as Jesus remains man's
intercessor in the sanctuary above
(Jesus remains "man's intercessor" until every human case has been
decided...THEN probation closes), the
restraining influence of the Holy Spirit is felt by rulers and people. It still
controls to some extent the laws of the land. Were it not for these laws, the
condition of the world would be much worse than it now is. While many of our
rulers are active agents of Satan, God also has His agents among the leading
men of the nation. The enemy moves upon his servants to propose measures
that would greatly impede the work of God; but statesmen who fear the Lord are
influenced by holy angels to oppose such propositions with unanswerable
arguments. Thus a few men will hold in check a powerful current of evil. The
opposition of the enemies of truth will be restrained that the third angel's
message may do its work. When the final warning shall be given, it
will arrest the attention of these leading men through whom the Lord is now
working, and some of them will accept it, and will stand with the people of God
through the time of trouble.
The angel who unites in the proclamation
of the third angel's message is to lighten the whole earth with his glory. A
work of world-wide extent and unwonted (unusual) power is here foretold. The advent movement of 1840-44 was a glorious
manifestation of the power of God; the first angel's message was carried to
every missionary station in the world, and in some countries
there was the greatest religious interest which has been witnessed in any land
since the Reformation of the sixteenth century; but these are to be
exceeded by the mighty movement under the last warning of the third angel.
The work will be similar to that of
the Day of Pentecost. As the "former rain" was given, in
the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the gospel,
to cause the upspringing of the precious seed, so the "latter
rain" will be given at its close for the ripening of the
harvest. "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His
going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain,
as the latter and former rain unto the earth." Hosea 6:3. "Be
glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He hath
given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you
the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain." Joel 2:23. "In
the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh."
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the
Lord shall be saved." Acts 2:17, 21.
The great work of the gospel is not
to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its
opening.
Note:
"I saw the latter rain was coming as the
midnight cry, and with ten times the power."
Spalding Magen, p. 4.
Do you see 'ten
times the power' of the midnight cry being manifested today? Not in the
least! Not yet. Some believe that certain miracles happening today give proof
that the latter rain is falling. However, there have been such miracles
happening in every generation since the Gospel was preached to 'every
creature' at the time of Paul. The difference between now and when the
latter rain falls is the world-wide extent and manifestation of God's power... 'ten
times the power'... that we just don't see happening right now. Some
say that they have heard of people being raised from the dead, 3000 being
baptized in a day, etc... and this is proof that the Latter rain is falling.
Friends, the Seventh-day Adventist church alone reports gaining 1,303,455
members in the year 2001*... that's over 3571 people a day. Is this a
miracle manifestation of the Latter Rain? Not hardly!
*http://www.adventiststatistics.org/view_Summary.asp?FieldAbr=GC
The prophecies which were fulfilled in
the outpouring of the former rain at the opening of the gospel are again to be
fulfilled in the latter rain at its close. Here are "the times of refreshing" to
which the apostle Peter looked forward when he said: "Repent ye
therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times
of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send
Jesus." Acts 3:19, 20.
Servants of God, with their faces
lighted up and shining with holy consecration (Do you see people with a lighted face such as Moses
had when he came down from the mountain after being with God? NO.), will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message
from heaven. By thousands of voices,
all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the
sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers (Is this happening right now? NO.). Satan also works, with lying wonders, even
bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men. Revelation 13:13. Thus
the inhabitants of the earth will be brought to take their stand.
The message will be carried not so
much by argument as by the deep conviction of the Spirit of God. The
arguments have been presented. The seed has been sown, and now it will spring
up and bear fruit. The publications distributed by missionary workers have
exerted their influence, yet many whose minds were impressed have been
prevented from fully comprehending the truth or from yielding obedience.
Now the rays of light penetrate everywhere, the truth is seen in its clearness,
and the honest children of God sever the bands which have held them. Family
connections, church relations, are powerless to stay them now. Truth is more
precious than all besides. Notwithstanding the agencies combined against
the truth, a large number take their stand upon the Lord's side.
END OF
CHAPTER 38.
CONCLUSION
From
this chapter, one can see that probation has not closed upon Babylon yet. Those
who believe that probation has already (10-16-2003) closed upon Babylon do not
have Scriptural or Spirit of Prophecy support. Their position must be abandoned
for the truth. I hope and pray that they will NOT be as those who denied the
testimony of Paul:
“As Paul spoke of what he knew, and testified of what he had
seen, concerning Jesus of Nazareth as the hope of Israel, those who were honestly
seeking for truth were convinced. Upon some minds, at least, his words made
an impression that was never effaced. But others stubbornly
refused to accept the plain testimony of the Scriptures,
even when presented to them by one who had the special illumination of the Holy
Spirit. They could not refute his arguments, but they refused to accept
his conclusions.” {Acts of the
Apostles, p. 452.2}.