|
The Sealing
Time Delayed
“Unto
the Third and to the Fourth Generation”
A Bible & Spirit of
Prophecy Compilation & Study
By Ryan McCoy
Scripture
“Keeping mercy for
thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no
means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers
upon the children, and upon the children's children,
unto the third and to the fourth generation.” -Exodus 34:7
KJV
Abbreviations of
Sources
AA The Acts of
the Apostles
AH The
Adventist Home
1BC
The Seventh-day
Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 1 (2BC, etc., for vols. 2-7)
CD Counsels on
Diet and Foods
CG Child
Guidance
CH Counsels on
Health
ChS
Christian Service
CL Country
Living
CM Colporteur
Ministry
CS Counsels on
Stewardship
CSW
Counsels on
Sabbath School Work
COL Christ's
Object Lessons
CT Counsels to
Teachers, Parents, and Students
CW
Counsels to
Writers and Editors
DA The Desire
of Ages
Ed Education
EGW'88 The Ellen
G. White 1888 Materials
Ev
Evangelism
EW
Early Writings
FE
Fundamentals of Christian Education
GC The Great
Controversy Between Christ and Satan
GCB
General Conference
Bulletin
GCDB
General Conference
Daily Bulletin
GH
The Gospel Herald
GW
Gospel Workers
HM The Home
Missionary
HP In Heavenly
Places
KC The Kress
Collection
LLM
Loma Linda
Messages
LS Life
Sketches
Mar Maranatha
1MCP Mind,
Character, and Personality, vol. 1 (2MCP for vol. 2)
MH
The Ministry of
Healing
ML My Life
Today
MM Medical
Ministry
MR
Manuscript Release
1MR Manuscript
Releases, vol. 1 (2MR, etc., for vols. 2-19)
Ms Ellen G.
White Manuscript
MYP
Messages to Young
People
1NL Notebook
Leaflets, vol. 1
OHC
Our High Calling
PC The Paulson
Collection
Ph
Pamphlet
PK
Prophets and Kings
PP Patriarchs
and Prophets
RC Reflecting
Christ
RH Review and
Herald
1SAT Sermons and
Talks, vol. 1
SC Steps to
Christ
1SG Spiritual
Gifts, vol. 1 (2SG etc. for vols. 2-4)
1SM Selected
Messages, book 1 (2SM etc. for books 2 and 3)
SD Sons and
Daughters of God
SpM
Spalding-Magan
Collection
1SP Spirit of
Prophecy, vol. 1 (2SP etc. for vols. 2-4)
SpT-A
Special
Testimonies, Series A
SpT-B
Special
Testimonies, Series B
SR The Story
of Redemption
ST The Signs
of the Times
SW The
Southern Work
1T Testimonies
for the Church, vol. 1, (2T, etc., for vols. 2-9)
TDG
This Day With God
Te Temperance
TM Testimonies
to Ministers and Gospel Workers
TMK
That I May Know
Him
UL The Upward
Look
From the Authors
About This Ministry
Sealing Time Ministries is a
Seventh-Day Adventist supporting, not-for-profit, lay-evangelism, multimedia
ministry. Sealing Time Ministries is owned by God, but operated and managed by
Ryan and Kelly McCoy. We are home-based and located in Nampa, Idaho.
Goals
Our goals are threefold; a
revival of the living testimony in our churches, reformation, and to give the
trumpet that certain sound in proclaiming the three angel's messages of
Revelation 14 to a world that desperately needs the Savior.
About The Author(s)
Ryan & Kelly McCoy are
members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and are in good standing. You can
read more about us by visiting our website.
Updates
Sealing Time Ministries
reserves the right to update these books/presentations at any time as necessary
or as more truth is unfolded to us. As such these books/presentations will be
updated periodically as new material is found and added. The date of print can
be found in the lower right hand corner.
We do not claim to know all
truth. We believe truth to be progressive, especially is this true with the
final prophecies concerning Daniel and Revelation.
We urge you, like the Bereans
to study for yourself if these things are so. If you know of a Bible verse, or
Ellen White quote that might help with any aspect of this book/presentation
please feel free to contact us and share it.
Contact
Internet:
www.SealingTime.com
Phone:
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Mailing Address:
Sealing Time Ministries
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The Sealing Time Ministries
logo, (the Seal of God) is created by Ryan McCoy and is the property of Sealing
Time Ministries, all rights are reserved. If you are interested in using the
artwork please contact us.
Important Notes
o
This
book/presentation is created, printed, and published by Sealing Time Ministries.
o
Some Bible
verses/quotes are repeated in different aspects of the books/presentations.
This is not an accident because some verses/quotes contain a large amount of
information that may be relevant to more than one point of study, although we
try to keep this to a minimum.
o
Most of the
quotes used were written by Ellen G. White. Ellen G. White was one of many
pioneers of the Seventh-day Adventist church. She was well known and respected
by many people of various denominations. In her lifetime she received over 2000
visions and dreams, the subjects of which were quite diverse. She is still the
most translated female author.
o
All these
books/presentations are written from an individual Seventh-day Adventist
viewpoint and are not necessarily the views of all Seventh-day Adventists, nor
that of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Conference. However, the material and
concepts for these books/presentations has been readily accepted by most serious
Seventh-day Adventists ranging from laymen, pastors, scholars, and theologians.
o
If you would
like to order more copies of this book or a DVD of this presentation please
visit our website at
www.SealingTime.com
Prayer
(This page is
intentionally left blank. We believe every study should begin with prayer.)
The Sealing Time
Delayed
“Unto
the Third and to the Fourth Generation”
Series Presentation Outline 4 – Ready or Not,
Here I Come!
Table of Contents
Omitted in this Version
Preface
This book &
presentation came about one day I as I was studying thundering events yet ahead
of us in Daniel and Revelation. Sometimes as I am studying it seems that the
Lord is almost sharing things faster than I can absorb them. As a result
sometimes I just have to lean back in my chair and look away from the computer
for a short time to take it all in.
I had been pondering
the Israelite’s forty years of wandering in the wilderness, and I was thinking
about how we were coming to the close of three generations since 1888, and four
generations since 1848, and how we as Adventists have been repeating the
Israelites wandering experience, maybe many times over. As
I leaned back and was thinking, I happened to look over at our ministry laptop.
Our Sealing Time Ministries screen saver was running. It was a very early
version and only had a few Ellen White quotes about the Sealing Time in it, but
one quote in particular really caught my attention in a new way. Here is the
quote: “…But because the people are disobedient, unthankful, unholy, as were
ancient Israel, time is prolonged that all may hear the last
message of mercy proclaimed with a loud voice. The Lord's work has been
hindered, the sealing time delayed. …” --Letter 106, 1897 {15MR
292.4}
As I read this quote
it struck me for the first time that not only have we been repeating the
experience of the children of Israel in the wilderness but we have been
repeating it over and over, and that the Lord in mercy has prolonged time just
for us! As I began to dive deeper and deeper into this subject, this study was
the result.
Introduction
Many probably haven't realized this but
May 21st, 2008 marks off exactly 120 years (just as in Noah's day) that
Seventh-day Adventists have been sounding a warning about Sunday worship laws.
This year also marks the end of both the third generation since 1888 (Sunday
laws), and the fourth generation since 1848 (the Sabbath test began.) The
end of the third and fourth generations! Could it be that we are the
last generation? Could it be that the final events that we've talked about for
years are about to begin? Could the Pope's visit to the US (full of secret
meetings) have been more timely? Might Sunday worship laws be coming soon?
Learn more in this exciting book!
This book is designed to trace the history
of the Advent people since 1844, to discover just where we have failed the Lord
and what may lie ahead in the near future.
Something very important
happened in Heaven and on Earth in 1888 that may have been missed! As we study
Ellen White's writings we will see that this amazing set of events was clearly
set into motion just before 1888, events that resulted in “the Sealing Time
Delayed,” and how these events relate to the end of both the third and fourth
generations of God’s last day church!
We will also discover how a promise to
Abraham, the life of Moses, the extended probation of Noah's day, a change in
man's life-span by God, the second Commandment and it’s penalty, the experience
of the children of Israel in the wilderness, Nehemiah’s experience while
rebuilding the wall, and many passages in Ellen White's writings all tie into a
special message to the last generation.
The purpose of this book is not to “date
set” but to bring forth evidence that we may definitely be living
in the last generation, and that the movement for Sunday Law legislation may
happen sooner than we think.
“The end will
come more quickly than men expect.” {GC 630.2}
*** Please Read the Following Carefully ***
In sharing a message like
this, there is always a danger of taking things too far, and making an attempt
to set dates.
I am not a prophet, nor do I
claim to be. I only claim to be a student of the Bible and Ellen White.
I share this study because I feel compelled to and I cannot ignore the amazing,
perhaps prophetic significance that all these events, promises, visions, and
stories have in common. To me, the evidence is overwhelming that the final
events that we have awaited for so long, are much closer than we may have
thought, and could very well begin to happen “sooner than men expect.”
The purpose of this study is
in no way, shape or form an attempt at date setting but is to clearly bring to
view that we are, without a doubt, living in the last generation on this earth.
I’ve seen enough pain and
hurt on this earth. I’ve seen what sin has cost my Jesus. I want to go home.
I want to go to Heaven soon! How about you?
The Sealing Time
Delayed
“Unto the Third and to the Fourth
Generation”
-
1844 – Our Faith Was
Tested & We Failed!
-
“The history of
ancient Israel is a striking illustration of the past experience of the
Adventist body. God led His people in the advent movement, even
as He led the children of Israel from Egypt. In the
great disappointment their faith was tested as was that of
the Hebrews at the Red Sea. Had they still trusted to the
guiding hand that had been with them in their past experience,
they would have seen the
salvation of God. If all who had labored unitedly in
the work in 1844, had received the third angel's message and proclaimed
it in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord would have wrought mightily
with their efforts. A flood of light would have been shed upon the
world. Years ago the inhabitants of the earth would have been
warned, the closing work completed,
and Christ would have come for
the redemption of His people.” {GC 457.2}
-
1848 - The Sabbath
Restored - The First Sabbath Conference
-
The Sabbath Test for Ancient
Israel - Exodus 16
i.
“And the
LORD said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My
laws?” –Exodus 16:28
-
The First “Sabbath Conference” - 1848
i.
First “Sabbath
Conference” held at Rocky Hill, CT –“Who Are Seventh Day Adventists?” RH Pg. 13
-
The Sabbath Test for Modern
Israel – 1848
i.
“After
Jesus opened the door of the most holy, (1844) the light of
the Sabbath was seen, (1848) and the people of God were tested,
as the children of Israel were tested anciently, to see if they
would keep God's law. ...” {EW 254.2}
-
1848-1888 A Forty Year
Period Recognized
- “For
about forty years,
(1848-1888) students of prophecy in the United States have presented
this testimony to the world. In the events now taking place is seen a
rapid advance toward the fulfillment of the prediction. With
Protestant teachers there is the same claim of divine authority for
Sunday-keeping, and the same lack of scriptural evidence, as with the
papist leaders who fabricated miracles to supply the place of a command
from God. The assertion that God's judgments are visited upon men for
their violation of the Sunday-sabbath, will be repeated;
already it is beginning to be urged. And a movement to
enforce Sunday observance is fast gaining ground." {GC88
579.1}
-
1888 - Righteousness By
Faith, Right On Time
-
“At the age of 23
Alonzo T. Jones, an officer in the United States Army, became a
Seventh-day Adventist. An earnest, studious, self-made man, he qualified
himself for the ministry, which he entered in 1885. He soon
distinguished himself as an associate editor of the Signs of the
Times. Soon he was joined by a physician-turned-minister, Dr.
Ellet J. Waggoner. At the General Conference of 1888,
the two led out in the presentation on righteousness by faith.
They carried the strong support of Ellen White as advocate of
this precious truth. When she could, she traveled
and worked with them for two years following the session,
carrying the message to churches, ministerial institutes,
institutions, and camp meetings.” {5BIO 414.4}
-
May 21, 1888 – Blair
Sunday-Rest Bill Introduced
-
Fiftieth Congress --
First Session
[Blair Sunday-rest bill.]
S. 2983. "To secure to the people the enjoyment of the first day
of the week, commonly known as the Lord's Day,
as a day of rest, and to promote its observance as a
day of worship."
Introduced by Senator Blair, of New Hampshire, May 21,
1888; referred to Committee on Education and Labor;
hearing on bill December 13, 1888, report of hearing Miscellaneous
Document No. 43; not reported out of committee. C. R.
19.4155.
-
Revelation 7:2,3 - Past,
Present, or Future?
“Then I saw another angel
ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a
loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the
sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed
the servants of our God on their foreheads.”
–Revelation 7:2,3
-
The Vision of Future
Events – Part 1 – Friday Night, January 5th, 1849
i.
The Four Winds
Begin to be Released
1.
“I saw
that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesus' work was done in the
sanctuary, and then will come the seven last plagues…” {EW
36.2}
ii.
Interception at
the Gate of Heaven
1.
“Then my attending angel directed me to the city again, where I saw
four angels winging their way to the gate of the city. They were
just presenting the golden card to the angel at the gate when I saw another
angel flying swiftly from the direction of the most excellent glory, (2
Peter 1:17) and crying with a loud voice to the other angels,
and waving something up and down in his hand. I asked my attending angel
for an explanation of what I saw. He told me that I could see no more then, but
he would shortly show me what those things that I then saw meant.”
{EW 37.1}
-
The Vision of Future Events – Part 2 – Sabbath
Afternoon, January 6th, 1849
i.
Not Yet Time –
The Wedding Rehearsal?
1.
“Sabbath afternoon… the Spirit fell upon me, and I was taken off in
vision.” {EW 37.2}
“I saw four angels who had a work to do on the earth,
and were on their way to accomplish it.
Jesus was clothed with priestly garments.
…” {EW 38.1}
a.
Let’s stop right here for a second and analyze this. Why is it that it
was not yet time? What Jesus is wearing gives us the clue. He is still dressed
in priestly garments. This tells us he was still in a role of intercession.
Remember from EW 36.2 that as long as Jesus’ work is not finished it’s
impossible for the plagues to be poured out.
ii.
“My blood
Father! My blood! My blood! My blood!”
1.
“He gazed in pity on the remnant, then raised His hands,
and with a voice of deep pity cried, “My
blood, Father, My blood, My
blood, My blood!” Then I saw an exceeding bright
light come from God, who sat upon the great white throne, and was
shed all about Jesus. …”
{EW 38.1}
iii.
“Hold! Hold!
Hold! Hold!”
1.
“… Then I saw an angel with a commission from Jesus, swiftly
flying to the four angels who had a work to do on the earth, and waving
something up and down in his hand, and crying with a loud voice, "Hold!
Hold!
Hold!
Hold!
until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads." {EW 38.1}
iv.
1882 Future Tense – About to let the Four Winds Go!
1882 is the last future tense
printing of this vision!
1.
“I asked my accompanying angel the meaning of what I
heard, and what the four angels were about to do. He
said to me that it was God that restrained the powers, and that He gave
His angels charge over things on the earth; that the four angels had
power from God to hold the four winds, and that
they were about to let them go;
but while their hands were loosening, and the four
winds were about to blow, the merciful eye of Jesus gazed on the
remnant that were not sealed, and He raised His hands to the
Father and pleaded with Him that He had spilled His blood for them. Then
another angel was commissioned to fly swiftly to the four angels and bid them
hold, until the servants of God were sealed with the seal of the
living God in their foreheads.” {EW 38.2} (1882)
-
1888 Pivotal – The
Angels Commanded to Hold!
i.
December 11,
1888 – Present Tense – Crying to God for the Angels to Hold!
1.
“The prophet
saw "four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four
winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea,
nor on any tree." Another angel, ascending from the east, cried
to them, saying, "Hurt not the earth, neither the sea,
nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their
foreheads." This points out the work we
now have to do, which
is to cry to God for the angels to hold the four winds until missionaries
shall be sent to all parts of the world, and shall have proclaimed the warning
against disobeying the law of Jehovah.” --RH Extra, Dec. 11,
1888. {LDE 125.2}
a.
Thought – A
very present tense cry came up to God in 1888 to hold. Did Jesus present this
petition to the Father? What was His response? Can we thank God for this
response?
ii.
1897 – Past Tense – The Angel Would Not Have Come!
1.
“The Lord God is a jealous God, yet He bears long with
the sins and transgressions of His people in this generation. If
the people of God had walked in His counsel, the work of God would have
advanced, the messages of truth would have been borne to all people that dwell
on the face of the whole earth. Had the people of God believed Him and
been doers of His word, had they kept His commandments, the angel
would not have come
flying through heaven with the message to the four angels that were to
let loose the winds that they should blow upon the earth crying, Hold,
hold the four winds that they blow not upon the earth until I have sealed the
servants of God in their foreheads. ...” --Letter 106,
1897. Ellen G. White Estate Washington,
D. C. March 12, 1986. {15MR 292.4}
iii.
1908 – Past Tense - The Command to Hold had Already Been Given!
1.
“We are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events.
Prophecies are fulfilling. Strange and eventful history is being recorded
in the books of heaven--events which it was declared should shortly precede
the great day of God. Everything in the world is in an unsettled state.
The nations are angry, and great preparations for war are being made.
Nation is plotting against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
The great day of God is hastening greatly. But although the nations are
mustering their forces for war and bloodshed,
the command to the angels is still in force
that they hold the four winds until the servants of God are sealed in their
foreheads.” --Ms 117, 1908.
{3MR 313.1}
-
The Command to Hold!
– Review
i.
1849-1882 –
Future Tense
1.
“they were about
to let them go”
–EW38.2 (1882)
ii.
1888 – Present
Tense
1.
“The work we now
have to do,… cry to God for the angels to hold”
-RH Extra, Dec. 11,
1888
iii.
1897 – Past
Tense
1.
“Had the people of God believed Him and been doers of His word,
had they kept His commandments, the angel
would not have come…
crying, Hold, hold the four winds…”
- 15MR 292.4 (1897)
iv.
1908 – Past
Tense
1.
“… the command to the angels is
still in force, that they hold the four winds
until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads …”
–{MS 117,
1908} {3MR 313.1} {RH Jan. 28,
1909} {7BC 968.12}
v.
The Command to Hold! - Conclusion
1.
We can see that the angel came sometime in this period from 1882-1897.
Logically we would assume the he came in 1888 because National Sunday Laws in
the United States were introduced, but because they were annulled the beginning
of the final events was delayed, the end of the sealing time delayed.
But, how can we be sure the angel came in 1888?
-
The Sunday Law
Movement of the 1880’s is Directly Related to the Angel’s Message to
Hold!
i.
Ellen White
1.
"The time is
coming when we cannot sell at any price. The decree will
soon go forth prohibiting men to buy or sell of any man save him
that hath the mark of the beast. We came near having this
realized in California a short time since, but this was only the
threatening of the blowing of the four winds.
As yet they are held by the four angels. We are not
just ready. There is a work yet to be done, and then
the angels will be bidden to let go, that the four winds may blow upon
the earth.” --5T 152 (1882) {LDE 148.3}
ii.
White Estate
Compilations
1.
“The Sunday-Law Movement in the 1880s”
a.
[FOR
HELPFUL BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND MORE EXTENSIVE E. G. WHITE QUOTATIONS, SEE
SELECTED MESSAGES, BOOK 3, PP. 380-402, AND TESTIMONIES FOR THE CHURCH, VOL. 5,
PP. 711-718.] (We only looked at the second paragraph of this section earlier,
now we will look at the preceding paragraph with it in context.)
“We have been looking many years for a Sunday law to be enacted in our
land, and now that the movement is
right upon us, we ask, What
are our people going to do in the matter? . . . We should especially seek
God for grace and power to be given His people
now. God lives, and we do
not believe that the time has fully come when He
would have our liberties restricted.” {LDE 125.1}
“The prophet saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding
the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on
the sea, nor on any tree.” Another angel, ascending from the east,
cried to them, saying, “Hurt not the earth, neither the
sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in
their foreheads.” This points out the work we
now have to do, which is to
cry to God for the angels to hold the four winds until missionaries shall
be sent to all parts of the world, and shall have proclaimed the warning against
disobeying the law of Jehovah.” --RH Extra, Dec. 11,
1888. {LDE 125.2}
-
Conclusion - Revelation 7:2,3 & 1888
i.
We can be
sure it happened in 1888, because Ellen White, and the White
Estate link the Sunday Laws of 1888 to the angel’s message to HOLD! It is very
clear that the angel bearing the message to HOLD! the four winds came in 1888 in
direct relation to the Sunday Laws that were almost legislated on May 21st in
the United States! God
has prolonged time because His people were not ready! This event set in motion
an extended probation to the inhabitants of Earth! The Sealing Time Delayed!
-
“The Sealing Time
Delayed”
-
“Time is Prolonged”
i.
(We noted the first half of the paragraph before, but now let’s read the
rest.) “The Lord God is a jealous God, yet He bears long with the sins and
transgressions of His people in this generation.
(The generation of 1888)
If the people of God had walked in His counsel, the work of God would have
advanced, the messages of truth would have been borne to all people that dwell
on the face of the whole earth. Had the people of God believed Him and been
doers of His word, had they kept His commandments, the angel would not have
come flying through heaven with the message to the four angels that were to
let loose the winds that they should blow upon the earth crying, Hold, hold the
four winds that they blow not upon the earth until I have sealed the servants of
God in their foreheads. But because the people are disobedient,
unthankful, unholy, as were ancient Israel,
time is prolonged that all
may hear the last message of mercy proclaimed with a loud voice.
The Lord's work has been hindered,
the sealing time delayed. Many
have not heard the truth. But the Lord will give them a chance to hear and be
converted, and the great work of God will go forward.” --Letter 106,
1897. Ellen G. White Estate Washington, D. C. March 12, 1986.
Entire Letter. {15MR 292.4}
-
The Extended Probation of 120 Years & the Sons
of the Prophets
i.
“A correct
education had been given them [the sons of the prophets] in regard
to the living God. The past history of the people of God, the fall
of Adam and Eve through transgression, the preaching of Noah,
the extended probation of 120 years,
and the final destruction of the old world by a flood was known to
them. The crime and violence of the antediluvians, their repeated rejection of
the messages sent, wore out the long-suffering patience of God, and these
despisers of His mercy were made to drink the waters of the flood.
The children of Israel were instructed in the Word of God, that
they might prepare for the advent of Christ.” {10MR 384.1}
“Jezebel fought determinedly against God in the person of His faithful people.
The persecution of the prophets was so great that
Elijah supposed he was the only one who had escaped her power. "I, even I only,
am left," he said, "and they seek my life, to take it away" (1 Kings 19:14).”
--Ms. 116, 1899, p. 1. ("The Sin of Jezebel," August 15, 1899.) White Estate
Washington, D. C. April 27, 1981 {10MR 384.2}
1.
The sons
of the prophets? The extended probation of 120 years??? The final
destruction? Made to drink? “that they might prepare for the advent of
Christ?” The persecution was so great? Don’t these phrases sound a lot more
like terms used in Revelation? How would “the extended probation of 120 years”
have even applied to ancient Israel? Or could it relate to the modern Israel of
today? Could this apply especially to the last generation? Why even mention
“the extended probation of 120 years” in relation to “prepare for the advent of
Christ” at all, unless it refers to the beginning of the events leading to the
SECOND advent of Christ? Might God have shed a special light on when the final
events begin; the events that lead up to Christ’s coming, using “the extended
probation of 120 years” of Noah as an example? The comparison in this quote is
striking. In fact it seems more like this quote is speaking to us today than to
ancient Israel!
-
Who are the Sons of the Prophets today?
i.
“You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant
which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the
families of the earth shall be blessed.’ To you first, God, having raised up
His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of
you from your iniquities.” -Acts 3:25,26
ii.
The sons
of the prophets are everyone who turns away from their sins today!
-
Rephrased for Emphasis
i.
“A correct education had been given
YOU [the sons of the
prophets] in regard to the living God. The past history of
the people of God, the fall of Adam and Eve through transgression, the preaching
of Noah, the extended probation of 120 years, and the
final destruction of the old world by a flood was known to
YOU. The crime and violence of
the antediluvians, their repeated rejection of the messages sent, wore out the
long-suffering patience of God, and these despisers of His mercy were made
to drink the waters of the flood. The children of
MODERN Israel were instructed in
the Word of God, that they might prepare for the advent of
Christ.” {10MR 384.1}
-
Conclusion – The Refusal to Do the Work
i.
God delayed or
extended the end of the sealing time for one reason only. According to Ellen
White the final work should have been done before 1888. But sadly the
final events were ready, and God’s people were not!
The final work was not done yet! And because of this, just as ancient Israel
wandered in the wilderness of sin, we began to wander right after them.
But surely we are better than ancient Israel right? We wouldn’t keep going back
to wandering in the wilderness repeatedly right?
-
The Final Events
Almost Happened Just After 1888
(Just after the first 40
years of wandering.)
-
“It is our duty to do
all in our power to avert the threatened danger. .
. . A vast responsibility is devolving upon men and women of
prayer throughout the land to petition that God may sweep back this
cloud of evil, and give a few more years
of grace to work for the Master.” --RH Extra, Dec. 11,
1888. {LDE 126.3}
-
“Those who are now
keeping the commandments of God need to bestir themselves that they may
obtain the special help which God alone can give them. They
should work more earnestly to delay as long as possible
the threatened calamity.” --RH Dec. 18,
1888. {LDE 126.4}
-
The following quote
is written in 1889: “I expect that during the year 1890 there
will be great mortality. There will be
crimes greater than any now on record.
There will be weeping and lamentation and woe.
During the past year, 1889, there has been
brought to us almost daily the news of disasters by sea and by land--unusually
destructive fires; earthquakes burying cities and villages
with their inhabitants; railway accidents most terrible;
tornadoes and floods that destroyed an immense amount of property,
including the terrible Johnstown and Williamsport floods,
which destroyed more than two thousand lives.” {3MR 312.1}
“The disasters of the past year in America have caused hearts to
tremble, and similar disasters have fallen upon other countries. Already
sprinklings from the vials of God's wrath have been let fall upon land
and sea, affecting the elements of the air. The causes of these unusual
conditions are being searched for, but in vain.” {3MR 312.2}
“God has not restrained the powers of darkness from carrying forward
their deadly work of vitiating the air, one of the sources of life and
nutrition, with a deadly miasma. Not only is vegetable life affected,
but man suffers from pestilences. Cholera and unexplainable diseases
have broken out. Diphtheria, raging to a limited extent, is gathering
its harvest of precious little ones, and seems to be almost
uncontrollable.” {3MR 312.3}
“These things are the result of drops from the vials of God's
wrath being sprinkled on the earth, and are but
faint representations of what will be in the near
future. Earthquakes in various places have been felt, but
these disturbances have been very limited. This year we may
expect to have more.” {3MR 312.4}
-
The Example of Noah’s Day
-
Jesus Compared Noah’s Day to the Time of the End
i.
“And as it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man” –Luke
17:26
-
The Last Warning Message to the
Last Generation
i.
Noah – The Last Generation of His Day
1.
“Before the destruction of the old world by a flood, there were talented
men, men who possessed skill and knowledge. But they became corrupt in their
imagination, because they left God out of their plans and councils. They were
wise to do what God had never told them to do, wise to do evil. The Lord saw
that this example would be deleterious to those who should afterwards be born,
and He took the matter in hand.
For 120 years He sent them warnings through His servant Noah. But
they used the probation so graciously granted them in ridiculing Noah.
They caricatured him and criticized him. They laughed at him for his
peculiar earnestness and intense feeling in regard to the judgments which he
declared God would surely fulfill. They talked of
science and of the laws controlling nature. Then they held a carnival
over the words of Noah, calling him a crazy fanatic.
God's patience was exhausted. He said to Noah, "The end
of all flesh is come before Me. For the earth is filled with violence
through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the
earth" [Gen. 6:13].” {21MR 454.2}
ii.
God’s Last Day Church
– Noah Compared to The Last Generation on Earth
1.
“I was pointed back to faithful Noah. When the rain
descended and the flood came, Noah and his family had entered the ark, and God
had shut them in. Noah had faithfully warned the inhabitants of the antediluvian
world, while they had mocked and derided him. And as the
waters descended upon the earth, and one after another was drowning, they beheld
that ark, of which they had made so much sport, riding safely upon the waters,
preserving the faithful Noah and His family. So I saw that
the people of God, who had faithfully warned the world of
His coming wrath, would be delivered. God would not suffer the wicked to
destroy those who were expecting translation and who would not bow
to the decree of the beast or receive his mark.” {EW 284.1}
2.
“Before the
destruction of the old world, there were talented men, men who possessed skill
and knowledge; but they became lifted up in their own imaginations; just as
men are doing today, and because they left God out of their plans and
councils, they became wise to do that which God had never told them to do, wise
to do evil. Their wisdom would have worked destruction to those who should be
born who should come in contact with them, and the Lord took the matter in hand,
and cut them off from the earth. After sending them warnings for
a hundred and twenty years,
God's mercy and forbearance was exhausted, and then the day of
probation was ended. The probation given them in mercy, they devoted to
ridiculing Noah, whom God had sent with a message. They caricatured and
criticized him, just as some who thought themselves wise have done;
they have laughed at the messengers (today) just as they did in
Noah's day for his peculiar earnestness, and for his intense
feelings in regard to the judgments that were sure to come. Noah warned them
that God would fulfill his word; but they reasoned among themselves, they talked
of science, and of the laws controlling nature, and they laughed Noah to scorn,
calling him a crazy fanatic. Men who believes themselves to be wise in our
day, will do good to their own souls, and to the souls for whom
Christ died, if they recognize that there is a wisdom, an
unsanctified wisdom, that comes from beneath, which has been in
the world ever since the fall.” {PC 387.3}
-
120 years of Warning – Then & Now
i.
120 years before the flood God said: “My Spirit shall not strive with
man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be
one hundred and twenty years.”
–Genesis 6:3
ii.
Not only was all mankind given 120 years of extended probation before the
waters of the flood came, but due to the change in diet after the flood his
lifespan was limited to approximately 120 years as well. Our lifespan of
approximately 120 years is our personal time of probation on this earth. Could it be that this is a faith building
illustration designed primarily for the last generation?
iii.
“Of the vast
population of the earth before the Flood, only eight souls believed and obeyed
God's word through Noah. For a hundred
and twenty years the preacher of righteousness warned the
world of the coming destruction, but his message was rejected and
despised. So it will be now.”
{PP 102.2}
1.
Thought - Just
as in Noah’s day we have been warning the world about the coming storm of Sunday
worship laws now for 120 years. Could it be that the storm is about to begin
very soon?
-
Extended probation
i.
“In the
antediluvian world, man refused to obey. There was an extraordinary
prevalence of feeling of self-importance. Sinful man, with swelling
pride, continued in deeds of unrighteousness. The Lord bore long
with transgressors, and in mercy gave man
a probation of one hundred and twenty years.
If the evil-doers repented not, they were to be swept from the face of the earth
by a flood of waters. Noah and his helpers were constantly at work
preparing an immense boat. Many of the believing ones
kept the faith and died triumphant.” {21MR 65.3} (You can see here a type
of the older faithful generations of our church today dying in faith, and will
be resurrected.)
“Finally the long period of
probation was about to close. By the standard of God's law,
the obedient were distinguished from the disobedient. The time
was a most critical one. Will Noah become tempted by the
universal scorn which he sees thrown upon God's law and upon himself and
his helpers, and will he have less reverence and love for this law?
No; for Noah, and those who died in the faith, preached all the more
earnestly, in proportion to the ridicule and scorn heaped upon them for building
that immense ark--a boat on dry land.” {21MR 65.4}
“When the ark was finished and the goods were stored, another sign was
given. (The sign we are told to watch for today is the abomination of
desolation mentioned in Matthew 24.) Approaching the ark were seen cattle and
all other living creatures, two and two.” {21MR 66.1}
“These having been housed, there came a period of testing. (The
period of testing coming for us today will be called the small time of
trouble.) No rain fell for one week. What revilings there were on the part of
the unbelieving mockers about the ark! But after six days--the one week's trial
following the shutting in of the believers by an invisible hand, a week during
which the fruit of unbelief, in words and acts of mockery, had been fully
revealed--a steady rain set in, and continued until the whole of the unbelievers
who were outside of the ark were perishing in their sins. Not a living being or
a dumb animal outside the ark, was left alive.” {21MR 66.2}
“Said Christ, "As it was in the days of Noe, so shall
it be also in the days of the Son of man" [Luke 17:26]. Let
all read and understand
the warnings given by the Saviour.” {21MR 66.3}
-
The Warning of Noah is Sounding Today
i.
“The faithful
Noah had spoken to them the words of God, assuring them if they would repent of
their sins and believe the testimony of warning they might find a shelter in the
ark and be saved from the destructive storm that was soon coming. As it was in
the days of Noah so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. Water
will never destroy the earth again, but the weapons of God are concealed
in the bowels of the earth which he will draw forth to unite with the fire from
heaven to accomplish his purpose in the destruction of all those who would not
receive the message of warning and purify their souls in obeying the truth and
being obedient to the laws of God. The voice of warning is
now being heard
inviting the people to escape and find refuge, not in the ark but
in Jesus Christ. How will the warning be treated?
Christ tells us just as it was received in the days of Noah. Thousands will
deride the message of mercy and salvation, and turn aside, one to his
merchandise, another to his farm, and give little or no attention to these
things. They will be occupied with eating, drinking, and dressing, planting and
building as in the days of Noah, as though no sound of alarm had ever saluted
their ears.” {ST, January 3, 1878 par. 9}
-
Conclusion
i.
If the warning
of Noah’s day is sounding today, how are you treating it? The warning of Noah
only produced two groups, those that mocked & derided the messengers and the
message, whether by their actions or by their silent influences, or then there
are those who heard the warning, were convicted & took up the warning message
themselves. Which group do you consider yourself with?
-
A Special Light
-
120 years of Noah – Past Tense
Compared to the Present Tense
i. |
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May
21st, 2008 marked off 120 years that Seventh-day Adventists have been warning
the world about the coming
storm of Sunday Laws! Sunday Laws came very near to being realized on May
21st, 1888! This date also marked off exactly three generations from 1888.
As if this wasn't enough, this year also marks off exactly four generations
since the Sabbath began to be restored in 1848!