Daniel 11:41-12:3

Gal. 3:7

”Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.”

Gal. 3:29

”You are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heir according to the promise.”

We also know that the Jews chose Barabbas instead of Jesus and said, "Let Him (Jesus) be crucified.”
They also said, ”Let His blood be on us and our children”. Matthew 27: 20-25
Read also Acts 13:45-46 where it says that since the Jews rejected the message about the risen Saviour, Paul, God’s chosen messenger, then turned to the Gentiles.

The true Israel today

”Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12
”Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” Matt. 5:8

We have to bring forth fruit, spiritual fruit, in our life. The spiritual leaders of Israel had beautiful sermons. But Jesus said to them: “Thou blind Pharisee, clean first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appears righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” Matt. 23:26-28.

The Barren Fig Tree

Jesus also in a parable compared the people of Israel with a fig tree. We read: ”Now in the morning as he (Jesus) returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.” Matt 21:18-19.
There were many leaves on the fig tree, but no fruit. The leaders of Israel had a beautiful facade, but they did not bear spiritual fruit in their lives. Therefore they could not be the representatives of Christ. Christ had to find others that could represent Him. This is why He said to them: ”The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruit thereof.”

Therefore, God's "glorious land" today, His church, is worldwide! It is those who are the spiritual Israel, they that bear fruit – spiritual fruit. Gal. 5,22.

Daniel wrote:
”Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people” (upon the Jews). Daniel 9:24. The Bible reveals when this prophecy should start: ”Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and built Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.” (Daniel 9:25).
This proclamation to restore and built Jerusalem was given in the year 457 BC, by king Artaxerxes, when the people of Israel were prisoners in Babylon. (Ezra ch. 7).  The first part of the prophecy was 70 weeks. The Bible says that when we deal with time-prophecy, we shall count one day for one year according to Eze. 4:6. We have 7 days in a week. Therefore, when we change 70 weeks to days, we will get 70x7=490 days. Because we count one day for one year, this prophecy then becomes 490 years.
Daniel 9:26-27 says that in the beginning of the last week, the week between 69 and 70, Messiah would start His mission. That happened in the year 27 BC. Christ started His mission when He was baptised by John in the river Jordan. (Matt. 3:13-17). In the middle of the week, that means 3½ years after He started His mission, ”in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.” That was when Christ died on the cross. We come to this conclusion because we have seen that when we are dealing with time-prophecy, we shall count one day for one year. So when Christ started His mission in the year 27 DC, it then took about 3½ years before He ended His mission and died on the cross. There were then 3 ½ years left of the 70 weeks and at the end of the 70 weeks, in the year 34 BC, Israel as a nation ended as God’s chosen representatives on this earth, when they stoned Stephen as the first Christian martyr. They still have the possibility to be saved as individuals, as all other people, but as a nation or as a people, they have misused their opportunity as God’s chosen people. It is therefore Christ said, “The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruit thereof.” (Matt. 21:43). We know that it is difficult for many to accept this, but these are Christ’s words and if you believe in Christ, you have to accept this fact.
So in the endtime, God has chosen a people that bear the fruit of the Spirit! (Gal. 5:22).

In Daniel 11: 40 we read:
”And at the time of the end...”
From verse 40 we are in the endtime. Then Israel is the spiritual Israel.

Daniel 11:41:

The Bible text says: ”He (the papacy) shall enter also into the glorious land, and many shall be overthrown.”
In Ezekiel, chapter 8, we read about the apostasy that will take place among God’s people in the endtime. Chapter 9, verse 4 says that those that sigh and cry for all the abominations that are being done in the midst thereof, they will receive the seal of God.
Revelation chapter 3, verses 14-22, also reveals the lukewarm condition in the church of God, and that only they that repent, will be used of God in this endtime work.
Paul writes in Acts 20:29-30: ”For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”
 
So in Daniel chapter 11, verse 41 clearly states that the papacy will fall into or among God’s people and many people will fall. Today we see that the papacy has infiltrated many – perhaps all the Protestant churches. Their men and women are there, but mostly unseen. They have an influence in the church together with the liberal preachers. Little by little, the church has been changed by worldly influences with pop/rock music, drama/theater, new theology, and taking part in the ecumenical movement. It is also sad to say that some people who profess to be God’s people and keep the Biblical day of rest, the Sabbath, are working for money on the Sabbath. This is being done even in some of their institutions. Some are also bound to trade unions. They receive money from the government, who in turn has a grip on them because of this, and so they have to follow the rules of the government in order to receive this money. Thus they as a church are bound to the government, both some of our schools and our institutions. It is a sad fact that many people, and especially young people, have fallen away from the truth and accepted this worldly style in the church. 

The people of God will sigh and cry because of the bad conditions in the church. (Ezekiel 9:4). Satan is working hard among God’s people, and every day, hour, minute and second, he tries to tempt every member to sin. Everyone that has unconfessed sin in his or her life is bound by Satan (John 8:34). Christ has come to set us free from sin and all bonds that bind us. Christ has come to ”heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised…(Luke 4:18).

There are so many people that are bound by men in positions, authorities, churches, institutions, governments and so on. Christ has called us to come out of these ropes. Christ has called us to follow Him. If the world leaders will follow Christ, then we will follow them. But if we cannot follow our conscience in religious matters, then we have to say as the apostle Peter: ”We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29).
In Christ you can be free. Jesus says: ”If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed!” (John 8:36). If you humble yourself and confess your sins, then He will forgive your sins, and you are free in Him! (1. John 1:9).

The apostle John wrote: ”Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Rev. 3:20).
The churches that profess to be God’s people, the spiritual Israel, are in a great apostate condition. In spite of this, God is calling on us as individuals to humble ourselves, repent and come back to Him. Because the Bible reveals that the papacy will fall into or among God’s people and many will fall, we must be on guard. It is a sad fact that many people will fall, and today we see that this is happening.
We have heard a preacher presenting Daniel 11:41, when some people in the congregation asked him this question: ”When it is standing that the papacy will fall into the glorious land, does not this mean that the papacy will fall into God’s church or infiltrate the spiritual Israel?” Then this preacher answered: ”That is dangerous thinking.” Why does this preacher say that this is dangerous thinking? This is just what the Bible wants to tell us, so we must be on guard. When this preacher takes away this meaning, and replaces the right meaning with another meaning, he then takes away a warning that the Bible wants to give us in this endtime. It is dangerous to twist the word of God. It can and will have great consequences.

The next text says: ”and many countries shall be overthrown.” The word ”countries” is not found in the original text. It is an added word in “italics” because the translator thought it should be like this. But in the original text and in many Bibles, it says that ”many will be overthrown” - and not many countries. How can a ”church” change and become ”many countries” or ”a country”???
So with simple words: the papacy will fall in or among God’s people, and many people will fall. That is quite another meaning compared with the teaching of some preachers when they teach that many countries will be overthrown.

When we have seen that the glorious land is Israel – then we must continue with that meaning. This is a right principle of interpretation. Therefore, when the Bible refers to ”the glorious land” as Israel, or a church, we must not then change and say that this is now a nation, the USA. That is not consistent. We then break a Biblical principle of interpretation. If we do that, we will end up in many errors. We see that this is the consequence of the teaching of many preachers. We know that some also have said that ”the glorious land” can point both to Israel and/or America. But we have seen in this presentation that it cannot be both. It cannot be both a church or/and a nation. Such a statement is just a compromise. With this compromise many people will be satisfied. Later on the preachers can continue with their teaching that ”the glorious land” is America.

Let us make a conclusion about this sentence: ”Many shall be overthrown”.
Many of God’s people are already being ”overthrown” and many more will be ”overthrown” or spiritually ”slain” in the near future. The greatest goal of the king of the North is to overthrow the church of God, which has a Bible-based message in the endtime – the Three Angels Message. (Rev. 14,6-12).
So the battle is between the king of the North and the people of ”the glorious land” – Gods people. Fortunately, not all will be overthrown.

Because the king of the North has entered God’s church, we then have both tares and wheat in the church. God wishes to have a pure church so it can represent Him. But the professed people of God have not been faithful to Him. God therefore allows tares to come into the church. Then the people have to take a stand – for Christ or for the world. It will therefore be a shaking time.

The shaking time!

In old times, when they harvested the ripe corn, there was a sifting time. They took the corn and the chaff and casted it up in the air. The wind blew the chaff away and the corn remained. (Hos. 13:3). They also used another method. They took the corn and the chaff and both were shaken in a sieve. The Bible uses this as an illustration of the sifting time or shaking time that will occur in the endtime. (Hag. 2:7).

In the task of removing all the chaff and husks from the grain, the process of shaking must be added to the process of sifting. Obviously, the husks and chaff will fall through the fine holes of the sieve and the pure grain will remain in the sieve.

The shaking is far more effective when there is a stiff wind blowing. As the farmer shakes the grain, or casts the grain and the chaff in the air, the lightweight chaff and husks are blown away by the wind, whereas the heavy grain falls back into the sieve or onto the ground.

Under the winds of strife, persecution, and turmoil, those who are professed Christians but are not true grain, will be blown away from the truth and God’s faithful people.

”Everything is to be shaken that can be shaken. God’s people will be brought into most trying positions, and all must be settled, rooted, and grounded in the truth, or their steps will surely slide. If God comforts and nourishes the soul with His inspiring presence, they can endure, though the way may be dark and thorny. For the darkness will soon pass away, and the true light shine forever.” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 355).

This shaking takes place during the presentation of the message to the Laodicean church, which is so complacent, believing it is rich, increased with goods, and in need of nothing.

. . . ”Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” . . . (Revelation 3:17)
The Laodicean message is meant to awaken God’s people to their deadly complacency and to purify God’s church from its state of being “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind and naked.” (Revelation 3:17)
The message has a specific purpose.

”I saw that this message would not accomplish its work in a few short months. It is designed to arouse the people of God, to discover to them their backslidings, and to lead to zealous repentance, that they may be favored with the presence of Jesus, and be fitted for the loud cry of the third angel.” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 186)
Those who truly love the Lord with all their heart and soul are able to stand the test.

”Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation.” (Ibid., p. 187).

There are three major stages in the shaking of God’s people:

1. The first stage is the introduction of false theories into God’s church.
”When the shaking comes, by the introduction of false theories, these surface readers, anchored nowhere, are like shifting sand. They slide into any position to suit the tenor of their feelings of bitterness.” (Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 112).

We have already read that the papacy will fall into or among God’s church. We have seen this for a long time. A worldly celebration-style has entered into the church with sport arrangements, feasts, celebrating arrangements, drama, theater, miming, pop-and rock-music, entertainment and a new liberal theology. Today, many preachers use hypnotic methods such as NLP in order to get the confidence of the people and sell their message (their product).
Many churches have depended upon the state, trade unions and banks. They have bound themselves to these institutions and made agreements with them and thus they have to follow their rules. They are not free in the LORD. Many churches are also a part of the ecumenical movement, and the Catholic Church itself has appealed to the Jesuits in Rome to arrange dialogs with all churches. The aim is full church unity under the umbrella of the pope. (See the document Courting Rome and Charta Oecumenica at www.endtime.net ).
The Bible has foretold that many will fall. This is being fulfilled today.
 
Those who cannot pass the test of loyalty to God’s truth have no strength to survive the sifting and the shaking. Of course, when these false theories and worldly influences are coming into the church, God has never been left without His watchmen to warn His people against the intrusion of these false doctrines and beliefs. These faithful watchmen earnestly warn of the dangers of these doctrines by presenting the straight testimony, which Jesus has given to the Laodicean church. Many will respond to these warnings, but an even larger group will ignore them, reject them and strongly oppose them.

Therefore, in the church today, we see both tares and wheat. They are mixed together. This is the church militant. But there will come a change. It will be a shaking-time, where all that can be shaken will be shaken.

2. Thus comes the second phase of the shaking. Many will rise up against the straight testimony of the True Witness.
”I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this will cause a shaking among God’s people.” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 181).

As this passage states, many will rise up against the warning messages which are presented and of course, they will also rise up against the messengers, claiming that they are unloving, unkind, making disturbances and causing divisions amongst God’s flock, when indeed, the only way for unity to be preserved among God’s people is to have a people who are sanctified by the truth. Very soon the facade of them that profess to be God’s people will be unmasked, as the true nature of their characters is revealed in this testing time. As the shaking intensifies, the tares are clearly discernable from the wheat, the pure grain which God is to harvest for His kingdom.

”The tares closely resembled the wheat while the blades were green; but when the field was white for the harvest, the worthless weeds bore no likeness to the wheat that bowed under the weight of its full, ripe heads. Sinners who make a pretension of piety mingle for a time with the true followers of Christ, and the semblance of Christianity is calculated to deceive many; but in the harvest of the world there will be no likeness between good and evil. Then those who have joined the church, but who have not joined Christ, will be manifest.” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 74).

”Many moved from feeling, not from principle and faith, and this solemn, fearful message stirred them. It wrought upon their feelings, and excited their fears, but did not accomplish the work which God designed that it should. . . . Individuals are tested and proved a length of time to see if they will sacrifice their idols and heed the counsel of the True Witness. If any will not be purified through obeying the truth, and overcome their selfishness, their pride, and evil passions, the angels of God have the charge: “They are joined to their idols, let them alone,” and they pass on to their work, leaving these with their sinful traits unsubdued, to the control of evil angels.” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 187)

Between stages two and three, there will be a time of purification. The prophet Malachi writes of this time.
”But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness” (Malachi 3:2–3).
We will be tested in the trials that are taking place now in the endtime. All who are willing to surrender to Christ will give up self and lay their sins on Christ. He will be purified as the silversmith purifies the silver. At last, it will be pure silver. The trials will help us to live a life after God’s will. We will learn to trust in Him, and walk with Him, He in me and you in Him. (John 17:21-23).

”Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trials of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” (1. Pet. 1,6-7).

”Soon God’s people will be tested by fiery trials, and the great proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be base metal. Instead of being strengthened and confirmed by opposition, threats, and abuse, they will cowardly take the side of the opposers. The promise is: “Them that honor Me I will honor.” Shall we be less firmly attached to God’s law because the world at large have attempted to make it void?” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 136).

3. So fierce will these trials or tests be that only the pure “grain” will stand nobly for their Redeemer.

The church militant contains tares, which were sown by the enemy, Satan, (Matt. 13: 24-28), and contains wheat as well. Some of the members in the church militant will soon be the church triumphant. The pure church of God is yet ”hidden” within the church that professes to be God’s people – God’s militant church - plus the faithful souls who are ”hidden” within different churches all over the world.

”The work is soon to close. The members of the church militant who have proved faithful will become the church triumphant.” (E.G. White, Evangelism, p. 707).

”Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8).

”Never has the Lord been without true representatives on this earth who have made His interests their own. These witnesses for God are numbered among the spiritual Israel, and to them will be fulfilled all the covenant promises made by Jehovah to His ancient people.” (E.G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 713-714).

”The greatest want of the world is the want of men— men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall” (Ellen G. White, Education, p. 57).

We hope that you and us can be among these faithful men and women!

In the last part of verse 41 we read:
”..but these shall escape out of his hand, Edom, Moab and the chief of the children of Ammon.” Who is represented by Edom, Moab and the chief of the children of Ammon?

Isaiah 11:10-14 is an endtime prophecy just as is Daniel 11:41. Both speak of Edom, Moab and Ammon. Isaiah refers to them as those obedient ones who are rescued by the hands of God’s missionaries. In Daniel, they are referred to as those who escaped out of the hand of the king of the North. The converted people of Edom, Moab and Ammon will themselves be active witnesses. They will go out to the people of the world and preach the Three Angels Message – the last message of grace and warning to the world. Halleluja!

Daniel 11:42-43: ”He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.”

He, the king of the North, the papacy, stretches forth his hand

Through the New World Order

Through the European Union

Through the African Union

Through the United Nations

Through the USA

Through NATO

Through the IMF

Through the World Central Banks

Through the international laws

Through the big media stations

And more…

Through international laws, the papacy has power over the nations. The pope also appeals to his own members in this way: ”All catholics must make themselves felt as active elements in the daily political life in the countries where they live. All catholics should exert their power to cause the constitutions of the states to be modelled on the true church.” (Pope Leo XIII, Apostolic letter 1890).

Article 1-6 of the EU Constitution, now an additional paragraph from “The tract on the functioning of the EU”, article 27, says: ”The Constitution and law by the institutions of the Union…shall have primacy over the law of the Member States.” Therefore a European law shall be binding in its entirety and shall be directly applicable in all member states.
We know that it is law that directs a nation. Knowing this, the Catholic Church has power over the kings of the earth through the international laws that rule over the national laws.

But the Catholic Church also stretches out its hand through the media. They say: ”It is the Church’s birthright to use and own…the press, the cinema, radio, television and others of a like nature.” (Pope Paul VI amplified Miranda prosus with the decree Inter mirifica (Among the wonders), 1964).

So it also uses the media as a tool to have influence over the nations.

Daniel 11:43
”But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt.”

We have nearly the same text in Revelation, chapter 17. Here we read about a harlot that was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.” (Rev. 17, 3-4). All the signs of the harlot point to the Catholic Church. The Bible reveals that this power is very rich. She has the gold and silver and precious stones, and she has power over the treasures of gold and silver. Look inside the Vatican and the Catholic Churches and you will see that this is true. We also read this about the harlot: ”And the women which thou sawest is the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” (Rev. 17:18). ”For thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived." (Rev. 18:23).  This is being fulfilled today! But there will come a change. All the wealth of the Vatican will soon come to an end. There will be an economic collapse. We read: ”The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing. And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city? And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! For in one hour is she made desolate.” (Rev. 18:15-19). So the economic collapse that we now have faced will be much, much worse! Prepare yourself therefore for the difficult times we soon will all face!

Daniel 11:43
”And the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.”
We then ask: ”Who is represented by the Libyans and the Ethiopians?” We find a text that will answer this in Jeremiah 46:9; ”Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.” The Libyans and Ethiopians here, represent the war powers. So the war powers are together with the papacy. Even though it is not so easy to see and understand this today, the Bible reveals that it is so. According to this Bible text, it seems that the war powers in the EU, USA, UN, AN, NATO and so on, are in the hands of the papacy.
Because of Catholics such as Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman, Konrad Adenauer, Alcide de Gasperi, who started what we today know as the EU, and because they always have had Catholic leaders as Jacques Delors, Romano Prodi, Josè Manuel Barroso and Herman Van Rompuy, they also have control over the war powers in the European Union. In the Reform Treaty it says, ”member states shall actively and unreservedly support the Union’s common foreign and security policy in a spirit of loyalty and mutual solidarity and shall comply with the Union’s action in this area. They shall refrain from actions contrary to the Union’s interests or likely to impair its effectiveness.” (Article 11-15 in the Reform Treaty).
The European Union is a miniature model of the New World Order.

In verse 44 we read: ”But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.”
What is the meaning of the word ”tidings”? In Romans chapter 10, verses 14-16, we read: ”How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.”

 The word ”tidings” is referring to the preaching of all Three Messages that shall be given in the last time of this world’s history, right before the second coming of Christ. In the days of Noah, the message was: ”Come into the ark, if not you will be destroyed.” In the time of the disciples, the message was the repentance message and about the risen Saviour. Today, we have a message of grace and a message of warning (Rev. 14: 6-12), and then that of Revelation 18:4.

The first message is about

1. The everlasting gospel
2. Fear God, and give glory to him
3. The hour of his judgement is come
4. Worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and sea, and the fountains of waters

The second message is about

1. Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wrath of her fornication

The third message is about

1. ”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; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; And the smoke of their torment ascended up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

The fourth – additional message is about

1. ”and I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out from her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Rev. 18:4)

It is clear that the Sabbath message is a part of the Three Angels Message, but as you see above, it includes more.

These three messages (4) are also preached today, but we know that the tidings will swell into a loud cry when the Sunday laws are coming. The ”tidings” are not only about the Sabbath, but also about the judgement. The ”tidings” are also about ”to give glory to God”. It is also about the fact that the papacy and the fallen Protestant churches have fallen away from God’s truth. We shall also reveal the false doctrines and teachings of the papacy, and that Protestants and other churches are being deceived by these false teachings. It is also a message about the righteousness of faith and a message to come out from the fallen churches.

The ”tidings” are being given now, but they will be intensified when the mark of the beast = the Sunday laws are coming and when the latter rain is poured out upon God’s people at that time, and will then swell into a loud cry. The Sabbath question will be the great test because in that commandment, God reveals Himself as the Creator of heaven and earth. All the messages shall be given.
Even now the papacy is furious with God’s people. Today, tracts, pamphlets, books, DVD’s, CD’s, radio and TV-programs and even programs on the Internet through YouTube, reveal the false teachings of the papacy, including the Sabbath/Sunday issue. Even today, the papacy tries to find laws to bind the people of God, but it will be much worse when the Sabbath issue comes in connection with the mark of the beast.

The Bible says that the tidings will come out of the east and out of the north. Why north and east?

Undoubtedly, God’s throne is in the sides of the north. (Isaiah 14: 13-14; Psalms 48: 1-2). Christ will come out of the east and the angel with the seal of the living God comes from the east. (Matt. 24: 27 + Rev. 7:2). So this message is coming from God. This message, ”the tidings”, is the Three Angels Message from Rev. 14: 6-12 + 18: 4 that now is being given to the world.

It is now we shall give the last message of grace and warning. Ellen G. White says that when the Sunday Law is coming, the arguments would already have been laid out. The seed has been sown, and now it will be developed and bare fruit.(Great Controversy. p. 612 (1911).

Daniel 11:44

…”Therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.”
We have nearly the same message in Revelation 13:15. We read:

”He (USA) was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.”
Should we be afraid to go out with the last message of grace and warning?
”Fear not, for I am with thee, says the Lord!” (Isa. 43:5)

”Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” (Isaiah 60:1-2).

”When the earth is lighted with the glory of the angel of Revelation eighteen, the religious elements, good and evil, will awake from slumber, and the armies of the living God will take the field.” (Ellen G. White, Manuscript 175, 1899).

”As the angel’s message swells into a loud cry, great power and glory will attend its proclamation. The faces of God’s people will shine with the light of heaven.” (Ellen White, 7 Testimonies, 1902).

”Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, 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.” (Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 612). 

”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 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.” (Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 606).

”Many will be imprisoned, many will flee for their lives from cities and towns, and many will be martyrs for Christ'’ sake in standing for the truth.” (Ellen White, 3 Selected Messages, p. 397).

As long as it is still a time of grace, the blood of the martyrs will be seed to the church of God. But remember, God will not allow more pain than that we can bear. We have already read that the papacy will go forth with great fury. But if they take our life, they cannot take our faith. When we have faith in Christ, and are faithful to Him, then we will be saved at last when Christ comes back again, even though if they should take our life before that time. Halleluja, praise God!

Verse 45 reads: ”And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.”

Verse 45 is difficult to understand fully, but in verse 41 we have seen that the papacy will fall into or among God’s people, and that many people will fall – many will be deceived – many will fall away from the faith.
Let us look a little at the word ”seas”. It doesn’t say ”sea”, but ”seas”. In Revelation chapter 17, verse 15, we read: ”And he said unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” (Rev. 17:15).  So the seas or the waters, is a symbol of people, multitudes, nations and tongues. It seems as if the ”seas” are working together with the papacy, against the people of God. Let us compare this with Revelation, chapter 17, verses 12-14. There we also read about this last great endtime-battle where all the corrupt powers in the world will stand together under the umbrella of the papacy – against God’s people. We read: ”And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and Kings of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” (Rev. 17:12-14).

When Ellen G. White comments on these verses, she first comments on the sentence ”These have one mind”, with the following:  ”There will be a universal bound of union, one great harmony, a confederacy of Satan’s force.” She then comments on the sentence ”And shall give their power and strength unto the beast,” with this: ”Thus is manifested the same arbitrary, oppressive power against religious liberty, freedom to worship God according to the dictates of conscience, as was manifested by the papacy, when in the past it persecuted those who dared to refuse to conform with the religious rites and ceremonies of Romanism.
In the warfare to be waged in the last days there will be united, in opposition to God’s people, all the corrupt powers that have apostatized from allegiance to the law of Jehovah. In this warfare the Sabbath of the fourth commandment will be the great point at issue; for in the Sabbath commandment the great Lawgiver identifies Himself as the Creator of the heavens and the earth.” (Ellen White, Manuscript 24, 1891).

So it is not only the papacy that will take part in this last struggle in order to ruin Gods people. ”There will be a universal bound of union, one great harmony, a confederacy of Satan’s forces…In the warfare to be waged in the last days there will be united, in opposition to God’s people, all the corrupt powers that have apostatized from allegiance to the law of Jehovah.”
 
We see that the book of Revelation and the book of Daniel fit together when they deal with the endtime prophecies. It seems that the above-mentioned comments and what we have seen in the book of Revelation, have something to say about Daniel 11:45.
Some preachers say that the papacy in verse 45 will enter into or among God’s people. This is right in verse 41, but the original text can indicate in verse 45, that the papacy, in this last part of world history, will come ”to” (in the meaning ”until”) God’s people. They will come to the glorious holy mountain. It is the word ”in” that is a problem. Literally, in the Hebrew Bible, verse 45 does not say ”in the glorious holy mountain”.  It actually says ”pitches tents from (the) seas to (the) glorious holy mountain.”  The word ”TO” (until) is a better rendering than either the word ”in” or ”and”.
If we use the word ”and”, then the papacy will set up its state and church between or among the seas and the glorious holy mountain. It will then have an influence or perhaps control over the people on both sides. This fits with the ecumenical movement and the people that profess to be the people of God, the spiritual Israel, who are a part of this ecumenical movement. But here in the endtime, the glorious holy mountain is glorious. This is the faithful people of God. This is the remnant. They will not be deceived by the papacy even though many professed people of God will fall. The faithful people of God have gone through the test of the mark of the beast. They have past the test, and they have received the seal of God in their foreheads. So the seal of God will be placed in the foreheads of God’s people because they have not received the mark of the beast. Therefore, the sealing act will take place after the test, just before the seven last plaques. The angel said: ”Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” Ellen G. White writes: ”Just before we enter it (the time of trouble during the time of the seven last plagues), we all receive the seal of the living God. Then I saw the four angels cease to hold the four winds. And I saw famine, pestilence and sword, nation rose against nation, and the whole world was in confusion.” (Day-Star, March 14, 1846).

”What is the seal of the living God, which is places in the foreheads of His people? It is a mark which angels, but not human eyes, can read; for the destroying angel must see this mark of redemption. The intelligent mind has seen the sign of the cross of Calvary in the Lord’s adopted sons and daughters. The sin of the transgression of the law of God is taken away. They have on the wedding garment, and are obedient and faithful to all God’s commands.” (Letter 26. 1898).

So the seal of God will be given to His faithful people just before the seven last plagues begin. Just before the seven last plagues begin, the judgement in the Heaven will stop. All will have been judged by Christ in the heavenly sanctuary. Let us read some texts about this:

”And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.” (Rev. 15:8).

We then read in the next chapter:
”And I heard a great voice of the temple saying to the seven angels, go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.” (Rev. 16: 1-2).

We have seen that the judgement will cease just before the seven last plagues, and that the plagues will hit them that have received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image.

At the end of the seven plagues, Christ will come back again. (Rev. 16,15 and 1 Thess. 4:15-17).

When the people of God are sealed, they are then God’s people for eternity. Though the papacy and his supporters may completely surround God’s sealed, purified people, though sorely harassed and threatened, the king of the North will not be able to overcome or enter into the glorious holy mountain. The faithful people of God will not be deceived. They will be faithful until the end. Hallelujah! It is the papacy that will come to his end – not God’s Glorious holy mountain.

In Isaiah 4:2, and Ephesians 5:27, Isaiah and Paul describe the remnant ”that are escaped” as a ”glorious church:”
”In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.” (Is. 4:2).

”That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph. 5:27).

”Fearful tests and trials await the people of God. The spirit of war is stirring the nations from one end of the earth to the other. But in the midst of the time of trouble that is coming – a time of trouble such as has not been since there was a nation - God’s chosen people will stand unmoved. Satan and his host cannot destroy them, for angels that excel in strength will protect them.” (9Testemonies p.17).

”The work is soon to close. The members of the church militant who have proved faithful will become the church triumphant.” (E.G. White, Evangelism, p. 707).

The pure church of God is yet ”hidden” within the church that professes to be God’s people – God’s militant church – which now consists of both of tares and wheat - plus the faithful souls who are ”hidden” within different churches all over the world.” Soon they will be the church triumphant.

”Never has the Lord been without true representatives on this earth who have made His interests their own. These witnesses for God are numbered among the spiritual Israel, and to them will be fulfilled all the covenant promises made by Jehovah to His ancient people.” (E.G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 713-714).

Daniel 11:45, last part of the verse:
”…yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.”

The book of Revelation explains this a little more like this:
”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 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. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she said in her heart, I sit a queen, and I am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her.” (Rev. 18:4-8).

Today, it seems that the papacy and her global reign shall gain victory, but we have read earlier that all the merchants and all the great men on earth and all the nations will be deceived by the sorceries of the Vatican. (Rev. 18,23). But God has full control. He knows what is happening, He sees the falsities, and He will punish in His time, and then establish His kingdom. (Rev. 21:1).

This study ends with Daniel chapter 12, verses 1-2: ”And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
We then have this question: ”The people that shall be delivered, are they the Laodicean church?” We know from the Bible that this church is lukewarm, neither cold nor hot. Christ, that is giving this testimony about the endtime church, says that He will spew it out of his mouth. In this condition the church cannot represent him. Christ then comes with this appeal or counsel: ”I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” (Rev. 3:18).
The Bible mentions seven churches that have had influence in the period from the apostles until the end of time. The Laodicean church is the last church. The only hope for the people in Laodicea is that they humble themselves and accept the counsel of Christ. If not, they will go to perdition.
After the counsel of Christ, He says: ”As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Rev. 3:19). Because the professed people of God have great light, but have not followed the light, then will God rebuke and chasten them…if they do not repent. The Bible says: ”If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1. John 1:9).
In 2 Chronicles, chapter 7, verse 14, we read: ”If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

There is always an if. It is up to you and me if we will continue in our wicked ways, in our worldly style with new theology, drama, miming and theater, pop and rock music, competition sports/games, makeup, lipstick, colored hair, mini skirts, short dresses, receiving money from the state so that they have a grip on us, breaking the Sabbath as a holy day, working for money on the Sabbath, continue as observers or members of the ecumenical movement…and so on. We have to be specific when we confess our sins, not superficial. Let us learn from the counsel of God through Ellen G White’s writings:

”God can use the human agent just to the extent that he will be worked by the Holy Spirit. To men who accept positions of responsibility as presidents, ministers, physicians, or workers in any line, I am bidden to say: God will test every man who enters His service. He does not ask, Do they possess learning and eloquence? Have they ability to command and control and manage? He asks, Will they represent My character? Will they walk in humility, that I may teach them My way? The soul temple must not be defiled by any loose or unclean practice. Those whom I will acknowledge in the courts of heaven must be without spot and wrinkle.
The Lord will use humble men to do a great and good work. Through them He will represent to the world the ineffaceable characteristics of the divine nature.” (Letter 270, 1907).

”The seal of the living God will be placed upon those who bear a likeness to Christ in character.” (RH May 21, 1895).

”The great mass of professing Christians will meet with bitter disappointment in the day of God. They have not upon their forehead the seal of the living God. Lukewarm and halfhearted, they dishonor God far more than the avowed unbeliever. They grope in darkness, when they might be walking in the noonday light of the Word, under the guidance of One who never errs." ”Letter 121, 1903).
These statements show us that the Laodicean condition will last until the end. It is the people that humble themselves and who come out of the Laodicean condition that will be saved.
 
”The Laodicean message applies to all who profess to keep the law of God, and yet are not doers of it. We are not to be selfish in anything. Every phrase of the Christian life is to be a representation of the life of Christ. If it is not, we shall hear the terrible words, I know you not.” (RH Oct. 17, 1899).

There is still time for repentance. The condition is lukewarm. ”Halfhearted Christians are worse than infidels; for their deceptive words and noncommittal positions lead many astray. The infidel shows his color. The lukewarm Christian deceives both parties. He is neither a good worldling nor a good Christian. Satan uses him to do a work that no one else can do.” (Letter 44, 1903).

”If the church of God becomes lukewarm, it does not stand in favor with God any more than do the churches that are represented as having fallen and become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” (19MR 176).

”My heart trembles in me when I think of what a foe we have to meet, and how poorly we are prepared to meet him. The trials of the children of Israel, and their attitude just before the first coming of Christ, have been presented before me again and again to illustrate the position of the people of God in their experience before the second coming of Christ – how the enemy sought every occasion to take control of the minds of the Jews, and today he is seeking to blind the minds of God’s servants, that they may not be able to discern the precious truth.” (1 SM p. 406)

”There are those who, though professedly serving God, are witnesses against Him. To them the message to the Laodicean church is given. Christ says to them, ’I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot.’ When the avenging angel shall pass through the land, Christ cannot say of them, ’Touch them not. I have graven them upon the palms of my hands.’ No; of these halfhearted ones He says, ’I will spew them out of my mouth. They are offensive to me.” (Letter 44, 1903).

In this hopeless condition Christ is knocking on the door. He says: ”Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me.” (verse 20).
Christ is saying: Open unto me; buy of me the heavenly wares; buy of me gold tried in the fire. Buy faith and love. He invites us to buy the white raiment, which is His glorious righteousness; and the eyesalve, that we may discern spiritual things. He will give spiritual eyesight to the soul in blindness and darkness that he may distinguish between the working of the Spirit of God and the spirit of the enemy. The eyesalve is a symbol of the Word of God. Through the Bible, the Holy Spirit will guide us to all the truth. He will remind us of our sin so that we can confess our sins and have a clean heart. This is the healing process. We have to go through this process if we shall be saved. It can be hard, but the victory is even greater. The victory is assured through faith and obedience.
”The counsel of the true Witness does not represent those who are lukewarm as in a hopeless case. There is yet a chance to remedy their state, and the Laodicean message is full of encouragement; for the backslidden church may yet buy the gold of faith and love, may yet have the white robe of the righteousness of Christ that the shame of their nakedness need not appear. Purity of heart, purity of motive, may yet characterize those who are halfhearted and who are striving to serve God and mammon. They may yet wash their robes of character and make them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (RH Aug. 28, 1894).

”There is hope for our churches if they will heed the message given to the Laodiceans.” (MS 139, 1903).

”Says the true Witness, ”Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” Every warning, reproof, and entreaty in the Word of God, or through His delegated messengers, is a knock at the door of the heart; it is the voice of Jesus, asking for entrance. With every knock unheeded, your determination to open becomes weaker and weaker. If the voice of Jesus is not heeded at once, it becomes confused in the mind with a multitude of other voices, the world’s care and business engross the attention, and conviction dies away. The heart becomes less impressible, and lapses into a perilous unconsciousness of the shortness of time, and of the great eternity beyond. The heavenly Guest is standing at your door, while you are piling up obstructions to bar His entrance. Jesus is knocking through the prosperity He gives you. He loads you with blessings to test your fidelity that they may flow out from you to others. Will you permit your selfishness to triumph? Will you squander God’s talents, and lose your soul through idolatrous love of the blessings He has given.”
(RH Nov 2, 1886).

So there is an if. The knocking at the door is very personal. We read: ”If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…” This tells us that we will be saved as individuals. We are not saved as a block or an institution or because we are members of a church. But many individuals form a church, and the church triumphant will consist of people that have a clean heart. The Bible says: ”Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.” (Matt. 5:8).

”Christ has promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to His church, and the promise belongs to us as much as to the first disciples. But like every other promise, it is given on conditions.” DA p. 672

”We are not saved as a sect, no denominational name any virtue to bring us into favor with God. We are saved as individuals, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2RH p. 464).

”We are not saved in groups. The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another. Though all nations are to pass in judgement before God, yet He will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being upon earth. Everyone must be tested and found without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.” (GC p. 490).

”Before the final visitation of God’s judgement upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon His children.” GC p. 464

”Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it…If we do not place ourselves in an attitude to receive both the former and latter rain, we shall lose our souls, and the responsibility will lie at our own door.” TM p. 507,508

”As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the 3rd angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the Truth abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition.” (GC p. 608).

”I have stated before them that from what was shown me, but a small number of those now professing to believe the Truth would eventually be saved, not because they could not be saved, but because they would not be saved in God’s own appointed way.” (2T p. 445).

”Be not deceived, many will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. We have now before us the Alpha of the danger. The Omega will be of a most startling nature…I knew that Omega would follow in a little while and I tremble for our people.” (Spec. Test. Series B, #2, p. 16&53).

It is a sad fact that the Protestant church that professes to be God’s church, in many countries, is a part of the ecumenical movement. The symbol of the ecumenical movement is a ship with a cross in the middle of the ship, on the deck of the ship. All the churches that are a part of the ecumenical movement, are either observers or members, and are on the deck of this ship. They are not standing on the shore. We know from the Catholic’s own sources that it is the papacy that is standing behind this ecumenical movement. (read more about this at www.endtime.net).

God’s church cannot stand on the deck in the ecumenical movement. We have to take a clear stand against this movement. We must trust in God and have Him as our adviser. We must not trust in men and systems, but in God. The clear appeal from the Bible reads: ”Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not her plagues.” (Rev. 18:4).

Now is the time to speak out, to ”cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” (Isaiah 58:1).

”Who are standing in the counsel of God? Is it those who virtually excuse wrongs among the professed people of God and who murmur in their hearts, if not openly against those who would reprove sin? Is it those who sympathize with those who commit wrong? No indeed! Unless they leave the work of Satan in oppressing those who have the burden of the work and in holding up the hands of sinners in Zion, they will never receive the mark of God’s sealing approval, they will fall in the general destruction of the wicked.” (3T p. 267).

”Through all ages and in every generation those who believe that Jesus can and will save them personally from sin, are the elect and chosen of God. They are His peculiar treasure. They obey His call and come out from the world and separate themselves from every unclean thought and unholy practice.” (3 RH p.69).

”It is only through obedience and continual effort that we shall overcome as Christ overcame. The controlling power of appetite will prove the ruin of thousands, when, if they had conquered on this point, they would have had moral power to gain the victory over other temptation of Satan. But those who are slaves to appetite will fail in perfecting Christian character.” (3T p. 491-92).

”The church on earth composed of those who are faithful and loyal to God, is ’the true tabernacle’ whereof the Redeemer is the minister. God, and not man pitched this tabernacle on a high and elevated platform. This tabernacle is Christ’s body and from north, south, east and west, He gathers those who shall help to compose it” (7BC p. 931 and ST Feb. 14, 1900).

Some preachers are saying that we need to be loyal to the church. But if the church is not in harmony with Christ, we should then be loyal to Christ rather than loyal to the church. Many new preachers are saying that we must be loyal to the church, just as these preachers, but the old preachers said that we had to be loyal to Christ and the truth. In the Bible, the church is symbolised by the body. Christ represents the head of the body, or the head of the church, and if the hand on the body, symbolising the pastor, is not in harmony with the head, that is Christ, then we will follow Christ.

”The Jews perished as a nation because they were drawn from the Truth of the Bible by their rulers, priests and elders. Had they heeded the lesson of Jesus, and searched the Scriptures for themselves, they would not have perished.” (TM p. 109).

”Every individual soul has a responsibility before God, and he is not to be instructed by men as to what he shall do, and what he shall say, and where he shall go. We are not to put confidence in the counsel of men and assent to all they say, unless we have evidence that they are under the influence of the Spirit of God.” (R&H, July 1, 1909).

We now in this study, come to the last deception of the unfaithful preachers. They say that probation will close for God’s people when the Sunday laws come, and that probation will close for the other people later on, just before the seven plagues begin. Compare this with the two following statements of Ellen G. White:

”The warfare against God’s law, which was begun in heaven, will be continued until the end of time. Every man will be tested. Obedience or disobedience is the question to be decided by the whole world. All will be called to choose between the law of God and the laws of men. Here the dividing line will be drawn. There will be but two classes. Every character will be fully developed, and all will show whether they have chosen the side of loyalty or that of rebellion. Then the end will come.” (DA p. 763).

The Bible clearly says that probation will end just before the seven last plagues: We read about this in Revelation chapter 15, verse 8: ”And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.”
So when Christ ends His judgement in the heavenly sanctuary, in the Most Holy place, smoke will then fill the temple as a sign of the fact that the judgement is then finished. The grace of God is upon the inhabitants of this earth until that time. If the people on this earth not have given their heart to God before that time, then it is to late to receive the salvation of Christ. Then Christ will say: ”He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” (Rev. 22:11).

If probation should end for God’s people when the Sunday law comes, then the people of God know when the probation will end. But compare that with this statement:

”The Lord has clearly showed me that the image of the beast will be established before the close of probation, because this shall be the great test for God’s people, and this test will decide their eternal destiny.”
2 SM, p. 81 (1890).

”When probation ends, it will come suddenly, unexpectedly – at a time when we are least expected it. But we can have a clear record in heaven today, and know that God accept us; and finally, if faithful, we shall be gathered into the kingdom of heaven.” (MS 95, 1906).

”There is not a second probation for anyone. Now is probationary time, before the angel shall fold her golden wings, the angel of mercy, and shall step down from the throne, and mercy, mercy is gone forever.” (MS p.49, 1894).

”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... 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. Now, just now, it is time for us to be watching, working, and waiting.
The Word of the Lord reveals the fact that the end of all things is at hand, and its testimony is most decided that it is necessary for every soul to have the truth planted in the heart so that it will control the life and sanctify the character. The Spirit of the Lord is working to take the truth of the Inspired Word and stamp it upon the soul so that professed followers of Christ will have a holy, sacred joy that will be able to impart to others. The opportune time for us to work is now, just now, while the day lasts. But 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.” (RH Oct. 9, 1894).

Daniel 12:2

”And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

John also wrote about the resurrection like this:
”For the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice. And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:28-29).

Paul wrote about the resurrection of the Just:
”But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thess. 4:13-17).

 The mystery of the resurrection:
”Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Cor. 15:50-54).

Let us prepare ourselves to be ready when Christ comes back again. He will not come down to this earth, but we read that the saved will be lifted up in the air and meet Christ in the air. He will take them home to heaven. He said to His disciples before He ascended to heaven:

”Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And where I go ye know, and the way ye know” (John 14:1-4).

Christ has gone to heaven and has promised, that if we are faithful to Him unto the end, He will take us to heaven. Then the people of God will be there for a thousand years, and God will create a new heaven and a new earth, where the righteous will live – as in the Garden of Eden. We can say that God will create a new Eden, where we can talk and walk with God. (Rev. 21: 1-4).

The wicked will be destroyed by fire after the thousand years. We read:
”But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Rev. 21:8)

”And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” (Rev. 20:20-21).

”And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:13-14).

Also Satan will not be any more:
”Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.”  (Ezek. 28:15-19).

Malachi wrote the last book in the Old Testament. He writes:
”For behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, said the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root and branch…for they shall be ashes…” (Malachi 4:1-3)
The root is Satan, and the branches are the wicked ones. They shall be burned as in an oven. They shall be burned up completely and be ashes. When all the wicked have been destroyed, God will then create a new heaven and a new earth! (Rev. 21:1) Halleluja!

Daniel 12:3
”And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”

”And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adored for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Rev. 21:1-4)

This is God’s purpose, to bring us back to the New Eden! God’s plan will be fulfilled, not man’s plan!
Let us look forward to the New Eden!

In the blessed hope,
Abel and Bente Struksnes

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