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The Revelation Seals (Part 2 of 2)

May 10, 2014

 

The Opening Of The Book– The Seven Seals

When do the Seals begin? –With Adam.  The Seven Seals begin with those who first lived upon the earth, and closes with the living. Therefore, it covers the entire world’s history. See (GC P.483, Manuscript  Releases, Vol. 9,p 7)

   The Book of Seven Seals is the same as the book of life. Therefore, the unveiling of the seals must be the revelation of the lives of all those who ever entered the service of God. The first person would have to be Adam. (GC 483). It cannot then start in the New Testament period as it is generally taught.

The setting of the Seven Seals is in the context of the Judgment, and the investigative judgment includes all of the world’s history not just the New Testament.

What is the meaning of the:

Colors: (White, Red, Black, Pale) A progression of worsening conditions as explained further.

Implements: Similarly, the symbols of the crown, sword, balances and death indicate that by men‘s deeds, the earth has gone from good to bad to worse.

Horses: Something created by God but ruled (driven) by man. It symbolizes the earth given by God to man to rule.

                                               First Seal

White Horse  —                       The earth in a pure, sinless state (PP, p.47)

Rider —                                         Adam (Gen. 1:26, 28)

Crown —                                      Kingly authority (Gen. 1:26)

Bow —                                            The instrument with which Adam was to conquer and people the earth. It represents Eve. In harmony with the symbolism, children are compared to arrows. (Ps. 127:4, Gen. 3:20.)

Conquering and to conquer —  Man was to inhabit the earth-fill it with people, conquer it symbolically speaking. (Gen. 1:26,28)

The first seal reveals those who first lived upon the earth– particularly Adam and Eve who were commanded to reproduce and thereby conquer it, subdue it. These were the first ones to be judged in 1844 when Jesus our High Priest took the Book of Life (book of seven seals) and began the investigative Judgment for the dead.

Second Seal

This Second seal period denotes the period in which murder and war broke out among the nations.

 RED is a symbol of curse, bloodshed. Abel was the first victim.  This condition climaxed just after the flood and the Babel disaster with its confusion of languages.

To “take peace from the earth” (verse 4), implies that there was PEACE BEFORE THE TIME OF THE RED HORSE. This again proves that the first seal must have begun with Adam when the earth was pure and at peace. There was no peace on earth at the time of the New Testament era–the time generally taught to be the beginning of the seven seals. The second seal reveals the lives of those who lived particularly during the time just after the flood. Remember, the seals overlap. So, after Adam and Eve, the world gradually became “red” –curse, wars, and murders until it peaked with the birth of the nations at the Tower of Babel.

                                        Third Seal

Black Horse —                            Spiritual darkness-idolatry. This is the time when the knowledge of God was almost obliterated. In fact, we have record of only Abraham and Lot who served God.

Balances —                                     Trading, commercialism led by the Phoenicians. Tyre and Sidon, were the chief centers of commerce (ISA. 23:8.) The Phoenicians were known as the “busy bees of the ancient world.” (See ancient history Encyclopedia –Phoenicians)

One measure of Wheat for a penny and three measures of Barely-

SEE MATT. 20: 8-16 and the study of the 11th hour.(Separate study)

All workers received a penny (symbolic of eternal life).

The last workers worked for only one parabolic hour, however, all other workers worked for three parabolic hours. The first workers complained that they should have received more. The 11th hour workers received their penny first even though they were hired last.

Penny —                                           Eternal Life-Salvation (Only human beings receive salvation as a reward for labor here on earth)

Wheat —                                           144,000 & GREAT MULTITUDE (GM) –who were hired last. (For the study on the 11th hour workers, please request to email on this blog)

Barley —                                           JEWS –who were hired first.

One measure —                           The ONE HOUR (Matt. 20:6,12) –the length of time the 11th hour workers labored.

Three measures —                    The THREE HOURS (Matt. 20: 1-3) –symbolizing the work of the Jews.

The Reward was given to the 11th hour workers FIRST, showing that the 144,000 will receive (penny) eternal life or SALVATION BEFORE THE ancient JEWS and the other laborers. Thus, the voice (God) said, “ONE measure of WHEAT [first] for a penny and Three measures of BARLEY [last].” Jesus said, the “last shall be first and the first last.” Matt. 20:16

 Do Not Hurt the Oil and the Wine —          Instructions not to interfere with the Holy Scriptures which was then being written by Moses (GC, preface V)

Oil and the Wine —                     Oil and Wine are symbols of spiritual food-Jesus said that His words are “Spirit and Life” (John 6:63. See also Ps. 45:7; Zech. 4:12.)

It is during the time of the black horse (third seal) that God called Israel, the time when Moses began to write the Bible. Thus it was appropriate for God to announce protection for the Scriptures. The third seal reveals the time when mankind well nigh lost the Knowledge of God, the time God called Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Israel–the time men introduced commerce, the time the Bible was introduced.

Fourth Seal

Pale horse —                             Non-descript color. Same period as the non-descript beast of Dan. 7:7,8 – the period of the ancient Roman government. The color denotes a mixture of paganism and Christianity.

Rider (death) —                      Persecution. Rome killed thousands and thousands of people, especially Christians.

Fourth part of the earth —   Rome was allowed to persecute the Christians for a fourth part of earth’s time. After which its power was to wane.

The earth is said to be 6,000 yrs old. To get a fourth part you must Divide four into 6,000 (6,000/4=1500). Beginning from the crucifixion (31 AD) add 1500, which will bring you to 1530 AD – the date of the Augsburg Confession-the separation of Lutherans from Catholicism, the beginning of “Protestant” movement.

                                       Fifth Seal 

Souls under the Altar —         Souls slain for the word of God, already dead at the time of the opening of the fifth seal. These were martyrs from the preceding period (4th seal). Their untimely deaths demanded justice.

Altar —                                               An altar signifies a renewal of faith, worship-a reformation. Even in our churches, we use the expression an “Altar Call” “come down to the altar”, etc. Therefore, the altar must symbolize the PROTESTANT REFORMATION which began the downfall of Rome, the beginning of a spiritual renewal and revival.

How Long —                                  The answer that they should “rest for a little season, until their fellow servants and their brethren that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled”. It is evidence that the persecution and martyrdom of the 4th seal were to overlap the fifth seal and the judgment was not to begin until after the persecution had ceased completely. That is, although the reformation brought the decline of Rome (the papacy), some of God’s people were still to be martyred for their faith up to the complete fall of the papacy. Then the Judgment of the dead would begin.

White Robes —                            Accounted worthy of eternity.

                                     Sixth Seal

 Earthquake —                           Lisbon: Nov. 1, 1755 (GC p.304)

Sun, Moon —                              May 19, 20, 1780 (GC p.306)                        

Falling Stars —                            Nov. 13,1833 (GC p.333)

(Rev. 6:14-17) —                          It is normally taught that these verses apply to the second coming of Christ. However, the following will prove that in fact it applies primarily to the purification of the church–the Ezekiel 9 church judgment.

Reasons why  Rev. 6:14-17 cannot primarily apply to The Second Coming of Jesus–

a. THE JUDGMENT IS STILL IN PROGRESS. All seven seals must be opened and reviewed before Jesus can leave the sanctuary judgment. There are still more names to be judged.

 b. JESUS IS STILL A BLEEDING LAMB (verse 6,16). That indicates that probation is still open.

c. THIS IS THE WRATH OF THE LAMB, not the wrath of God. This shows again that probation is still open. The wrath of God is the seven last plagues and the 2nd advent. (See Rev. 15:7; 16:1,18-21).

d. INSPIRATION APPLIES THESE VERSES TO THE CHURCH. (Vol. 9, Testimonies, p.267-268.)

e. VERSE 17 IS THE SAME AS MALACHI 3:1-3, AND THIS PASSAGE APPLIES TO THE PURIFICATION OF THE CHURCH IN THE TIME OF THE JUDGMENT.

Note: In Malachi chapter 3, the word’s “will suddenly come to His temple” and  subsequent words describes a purification of His people. The words “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when he appears?” (Verse 2) are declared in context further in chapter, as indicative of some being “spared” and “the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the Lord as in the days of old as in former years”. (verse 4).

 Chapter six ends with the question “who will be able to stand?” The answer is found in Rev. 7 – the 144,000 and the Great Multitude.

Also See (Isa. 2:19-21) – this shows that wicked in the church will also “go into the holes of the rocks and into the caves of the earth.”

These holes of the rocks and caves of the earth may be symbolic, maybe indicating a refuge of sorts such as locked away in the houses or other dwellings. As we will learn later the time of the church purification shall take approximately 7 days and there most likely will be those in the church that are spared for a few days to witness what their fighting against His truth has sadly rewarded them. Hence the “fall on us to protect us” attitude. The witnessing of the unpopular and scorned truth of the church Ezekiel 9 judgment has now been done, and now they know they have made an eternal and fatal error in not believing the Lord’s unliked and un-appreciated trumpet blowers.

Additionally, these words cannot describe the day of the Lord coming in the clouds because notice in context after describing these troubles it says, “And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy—everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem. When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning.”(Isaiah 4:3-4)

 Thus the sixth seal will close not with the second coming of Christ, but with the Ezekiel 9 church judgment. THE BEGINNING JUDGMENT OF THE LIVING (JOL) ON EARTH. (See 1 Peter 4:17, Testimonies, Vol. 5, p.211, Vol. 3, p.266)

Seventh Seal

 This seal is also generally taught to be the second coming. However, the following will prove that this is the opening of the judgment of the living in Heaven. The SIXTH SEAL CLOSES WITH THE JOL ON EARTH, but the SEVENTH SEAL OPENS WITH THE JOL IN HEAVEN, which is after the church judgment of Ezekiel Nine and continues during the loud cry to the final close of probation.

The JOD involves only cleansing the books in Heaven since those on trial are not alive. However, the JOL involves two parts-the cleansing of the books in Heaven and the cleansing of the church on earth. Please keep these two distinct parts in mind.

Is The Half Hour Of Silence The 2nd Advent Of Christ?

 a. THE JUDGMENT IS STILL IN PROGRESS since Jesus is still in the Sanctuary opening the seventh seal which means that he is still investigating the names of those during this period.

b. CHRIST IS STILL A BLEEDING LAMB.

c. A HALF HOUR OF SILENCE IMPLIES THAT AFTER THE HALF HOUR WHATEVER WAS GOING ON BEFORE MUST CONTINUE –—The Judgment continues. Therefore the half an hour divides the judgment into two sections—, the JOD and the JOL.

d. THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS ARE OFFERED UP BEFORE GOD. This indicates that probation is still open since you cannot offer prayers after Jesus’ 2nd advent because —there will be no need.

e. THE ANGEL CAST DOWN FIRE TO THE EARTH. Fire is a symbol of THE HOLY SPIRIT. ( See Acts 2:1-4). No one will need the outpouring of the Holy Spirit after the second coming of Christ.

f. THE VOICES, THUNDERINGS, LIGHTINGS, RETURN, SHOWING THAT THE JUDGMENT STARTED AGAIN

 Compare with Rev. 4:5. The voices must represent the speaking of the beasts, elders, angels, etc. When God speaks it is like thunderings and lightnings. The voices clearly indicate that judgment continues AFTER THE HALF HOUR OF SILENCE.

What Happens During The Half Hour Of Silence? The Purification of the Church.

The silence reveals that the Judgment must have ceased for a time. The only event which would cause silence during the judgment is the purification of the church. Ezek. 9 is the only time that Jesus will interrupt His mediatorial work. (See Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 690)

How long is the half-hour silence —    About 7 days–1 week

[Using PROPHETIC TIME (A day=a year)]

a. One day=24 hours

b. One year=360 days

c. 360/24=15

d. 15=1 hour

e. 15/2=1/2 hour

=7.5 days (about a week).

  Summary

The study of the seven seals reveal that God’s professed people have been on trial since 1844. This court case is the greatest and most important in the history of earth and the Universe. Each individual and generation is investigated with terrible exactness. It especially, and more importantly, reveals that the Judgment in the SDA Church will mark the opening of the Judgment for the living. Thus we see, that soon we will have to stand before the never erring Judge and give an account for our deeds —not physically, but our records will testify to whether we are worthy through the merits of Christ to be sealed, allowing the slaughtering angels to pass by and have our names retained on the Book of Life. Thus, we determine our own destiny by either holding on to our sins or repenting of them.

 ” One of the proofs that the seals include the entire world’s history is in the fact that the book with the seven seals is “The book of life,” which contains the record of God’s professed people, and also in the fact that it was to be opened in the day of judgment. Hence, it proves that in 1844, when the judgment began, Christ opened the book before the throng that surrounded the throne, and this being the Lamb’s book of Life (which no one but the Lamb could open), containing the record of the people from Adam’s time and on, it is obvious that the seven seals, which were broken at the beginning of the judgment, contain the entire history of the human race, divided into seven periods, which sealed the book up to the day of judgment.” (Vol. 2 Symbolic Code No. 7, 8  pg. 9)

   Summary of Commencement and Termination of Seals

The first seal covers the entire period from Adam to the flood; the second, from the flood to Abraham; the third, from Abraham to Christ; the fourth, from Christ to 1500 A.D; the fifth, from 1500 A.D. to 1755 A.D.; the sixth, from 1755 A.D. to the fulfillment of Ezekiel 9; the seventh, to the close of probation.

We wish to thank the Mt. Dale organization for the majority of this study outline of the Seals. The interpretation of these truths came from  Victor Houteff. My own comments were in green.

 

 

Posted in Revelation teachings | 4 Comments »

The Revelation Seals (Part 1 of 2)

May 3, 2014

 

 

Seven Seals

 

(Click to enlarge)

 

Perhaps one of the most exciting and deep subjects in all the Bible is the Seven Seals of chapter 6 of Revelation. But God has been faithful and it’s now time to know what exactly they mean and the symbolism of it all.

Daniel was stumped and bewildered and inquired, “Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?” And he said, “go your way Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” (Dan.12:8-9)

Here we see that end time visions were given to Daniel that could only be understood at “the time of the end”. In other words the revealing of chapter 11 and 12 was to be understood when the Lord unsealed its knowledge.

As we shall soon show, both Daniel and Revelation saw the very important judgment occurring in heaven. Now(today) is the time that we do indeed understand these things. This is part of the “restoring of all things” (truth for us today) as come through His Elijah prophet.

Let us now look at this subject.

To begin with we must look at the two preceding chapters 4 and 5. Let’s point out specific important points therein.

A Door was opened (Rev. 4: 1)

One Sitting on the Throne (Rev. 4: 2)

A Rainbow Around The Throne (Rev. 4: 3)

24 Elders (Rev 4: 4)

Seven Lamps (Rev. 4: 5)

Sea of Glass (Rev 4:6)

Four Beasts (with four faces, six wings, and full of eyes) (Rev 4: 6-8)

The Lamb (with seven eyes and horns) (Rev. 5:6)

Thousands of Angels (Rev 5: 11,12)

The Book (Rev. 5:1)

 

What is all this describing? As the verse says, ” a door was opened”. The only place where this door could be, is the door to the most holy place– The Heavenly Sanctuary. (See Early Writings, p.42 and Great Controversy, p.429-430)

And further proof comes from the fact that “Seven lamps of fire burning before the throne” shows the candlestick, a sanctuary fixture. So once we know “where” this scene takes place we can then ask “when” it takes place.

Since John was told of things to come “hereafter”, the only judgment known to us as SDA is–the investigative heavenly judgment beginning in 1844. So we are now in the great court where all those who “professed” Christ are to be judged. What a spectacle! So john beheld in vision the 1844 court being opened.

Let us now look at the striking similarities of Daniel’s vision and John’s vision.

Daniel’s vision (chapter 7)                                     John’s vision (Rev.)  

a. “Thrones were cast down” (Dan 7:9)  

a. “And I saw thrones”  (Rev.20:4)

b.”The Ancient of Days did sit”(Dan.7: 9)

 b. “And One sat on the throne” (Rev.4:2)

c.”And a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him”(Dan 7:10)

c. “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire” Rev. 15:2.

d. “One like the Son of man came…to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.” (Dan 7:13)

d. “In the midst of the throne and of the four beasts…stood the Lamb.” (Rev. 5:6)

e. “The books were opened.” (Dan 7:10)

e. “And the books were opened.” (Rev. 20:12)

f. “Thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.” (Dan 7:10)

f. “I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne…and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.” (Rev.5:11)

g. “The judgment was set, and the books were opened.” (Dan 7:10).

g. “And I saw the dead small and great stand Before God; and the books were opened…and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books…” (Rev. 20:12)

 

As we can see they both saw the judgment scene, however the difference being that Daniel saw the judgment being set up while John saw it in full session. As his visions were the “revelations” it only makes sense that John be revealed more.

John describes the judgment in three parts, one before the “half-hour silence (Rev. 8:1), one after it, and a third one during the thousand years (Rev.20:11,12). We’ll go into this more in part 2.

Concerning the judgment we know there will be three phases:

First phase:  The investigative judgment  of the dead (GC p. 390, EW p.280)

Second phase: The investigative judgment of the living (same quotes above)

Third phase: The judgment of the wicked–sentencing (GC p. 480, EW p.52, 53)

The first two phases are during probationary time while Jesus is still the “bleeding Lamb”. It involves ONLY those who have entered the service of God (See GC p.380,381  Christ’s Object Lessons , p.310) And we as SDA well know the third phase takes place during the 1000 years.

But as we go further we’ll notice that the Seven Seals deal primarily with the investigative judgment.

Let us now focus on the symbols and their meaning

Door  —   The door to the Most Holy Place. (EW p. 42)

The One who sat —  The JUDGE-God the Father

Rainbow —  God’s faithfulness to His promises. (Gen. 9:12-15, COL. 148, ED. 178,  DA. 834)

24 Elders — JURY. They are from among those who ascended with Christ. (Matt. 27: 51-53; DA 785, 786; EW 184.)

7 Lamps of Fire (Candlestick) — Completeness of truth—the church throughout all ages.

Seven spirits (Rev. 4:5) — Seven is complete—this shows that the Holy Spirit has been guiding the church from the very beginning by revealing light and truth.

Sea of Glass — Sea denotes expansive—endlessness. Clear as crystal denotes perfection. Together it represents eternal perfection—life eternal.

Four Beasts — The saints—The DEFENDANTS—those to be judged.(Rev. 5: 8,9)—only human beings have been redeemed. Note that the saints are not physically there yet represented there as beasts. (EW 54, 92)—like the beasts of Daniel and Revelation symbolizes nations.

The individual beasts as represent as-

Lion —  First period of the church before the ceremonial system.—Adam to Moses.

Calf  —  Period of the ceremonial system (Moses to Cross).

Man’s head — Cross to harvest period —144,000 & Great Multitude.

Eagle —  Period when the church is to be translated (144,000 & Great Multitude).

Full of eyes —  Eyes give light to the body, it provides sight. Thus it shows that God’s people had sufficient light in every age.

Eyes before and  —  Prophetic light-past, present and future.

behind Six Wings — Wings represent periods of time. Thus the six wings represent the sixth period of the judgment when the judgment begins.

Lamb —  Jesus—ADVOCATE—LAWYER—as a priest—a lamb bleeding, “as it had been slain.

Seven horns—Seven eyes —Seven spirits of God–  These symbols indicates that Jesus has complete power. (Matt. 28:18) Complete vision-knowledge ( Ps. 139:12 God’s Spirit at work in all ages. John 14:26.)

Many Angels —  The WITNESSES-Angels record and testify to all events. (GC 482,483.)

The Book —  The BOOK OF LIFE—the book that decides every man’s destiny.( Rev. 13:8, 20:12, 21:27, 22:19; EX 32:33; COL 294; GC 483. )The Book of Life is the only book that is specifically claimed for Christ. Christ alone opens the Book with seven seals. Thus they must be one and the same.

Next week we’ll look at the individual seals in chapter 6., stay tuned as it’s quite enlightening. For instance, what is the meaning of the different colored horses? What is the meaning of “take peace from the earth”? What is the meaning of the “1/2 silence in heaven”? What time span does each seal represent?

Stay tuned as it’s quite enlightening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Heaven, Revelation teachings | 2 Comments »

The Woman and the Dragon

March 29, 2014

rev_12

There are many sayings through the years that basically say–“Put up or shut up”.  Like, “Put your money where your mouth is”. Or, “The proof’s in the pudding.” I’m sure you have some others as well.

For a good two plus years we here on Godslovandlaw have continued to sound the warning of the Lord’s last message to us –the Elijah message. We’ve joined the growing body of believers, to proclaim that the “last” prophet of God that was to come to the SDA church (Mal 4:5, Test. to Ministers, p.475) was Victor T. Houteff. But as the sayings above demand —  “Let’s see some proof.” Show some things that make these interpretations stand out as unique and different than what we’ve been taught as SDA. To see if they have “truth”.

In the next few months, from time to time, we will be bringing prophetic interpretations of Scripture that hopefully you’ll find as we have –very deep and profound.

We shall begin with Revelation 12.  As many of us are aware this chapter deals with the “dragon” and the “woman”. If  you happen to have an understanding of the meaning of this chapter, then you can compare it to the following view.When we ask the Lord for His  “Spirit of Truth” to guide us and lead us into all truth, and we’ll be sure to find the real truth of prophecy.

**************************************************

“Our subject this afternoon is found in Revelation 12, and is illustrated on the following chart–(placed above)

Rev. 12:1-6 — “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: and she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red Dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the Dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.”

We all somewhat agree, I know, that this woman of Revelation 12 is symbolical of the Church; that the Dragon is symbolical of Satan; and that the child represents Christ. But inasmuch as we may not agree as to whether the woman is symbolical of the Old Testament church or of the New or of both, it is essential that we study to see eye to eye.

Now, the questions naturally arise, If Christ is the One Who brought forth the Christian church, then how can she be His mother? And was not Christ born at least thirty years before the Christian church came into being? Is not the egg laid before the chicken is hatched? And finally, is it not true that if we blunder forth on an erroneous premise that we shall find ourselves further and further from the truth on the subject? — Most assuredly. Let us, then, make certain of the foundation upon which we build.

We all know that Christ was born, not to the Christian church, but to the Jewish. This being so, then how can we escape the truth that this twelve-star-crowned woman is primarily the Jewish church who travailed and gave birth to the “world’s Redeemer” in the Old Testament period?

Moreover, before the child was born, and before the Gospel of Christ came to the Church, she was clothed with the sun, and the moon stood under her feet. There is therefore not the slightest excuse for one to conclude that the woman represents the Church clothed with the Gospel of Christ. And if her sun clothing does not represent the Gospel of Christ, then what does it represent?

Now, the questions naturally arise, If Christ is the One Who brought forth the Christian church, then how can she be His mother? And was not Christ born at least thirty years before the Christian church came into being? Is not the egg laid before the chicken is hatched? And finally, is it not true that if we blunder forth on an erroneous premise that we shall find ourselves further and further from the truth on the subject? — Most assuredly. Let us, then, make certain of the foundation upon which we build.

We all know that Christ was born, not to the Christian church, but to the Jewish. This being so, then how can we escape the truth that this twelve-star-crowned woman is primarily the Jewish church who travailed and gave birth to the “world’s Redeemer” in the Old Testament period?

Moreover, before the child was born, and before the Gospel of Christ came to the Church, she was clothed with the sun, and the moon stood under her feet. There is therefore not the slightest excuse for one to conclude that the woman represents the Church clothed with the Gospel of Christ. And if her sun clothing does not represent the Gospel of Christ, then what does it represent?

Since she was clothed with the sun before Christ’s birth, and before the Gospel came, then her sun-clothing must be the Bible, the Word of God that clothed her in the period of the prophets.

What is symbolized by the moon under her feet? — The fact that the moon of the heavens reflects the light from the sun to earth, the symbolical moon therefore being under the woman’s feet, and the sun shining directly upon her, not by reflection through the moon, denotes that her channel of light conveyance, the moon, was passing away, was no longer needed, that the sun itself, the source of her light, shining directly upon her, enveloped her with its bright rays.

What could the moon then symbolize but the period before the Bible came, the period before Moses, in which the Word of God did not shine directly on the people as It does to-day (for they had no Bible in those days), but was reflected on them by men of God, the medium, that is, the prophets before Moses never wrote down the messages of God but verbally passed them on.

Though this twelve-star-crowned woman symbolizes something in the Old Testament time, as we have already seen, she nevertheless is seen to symbolize something in the New Testament time. This we see from the fact that after the child was born, and after the Christian church came into being, the woman was given the wings of a great eagle, and was thus enabled to fly into the wilderness, there to be nourished “for a time, and times, and half a time.”

Moreover, her leaving the vineyard (her homeland — Palestine) and going into the wilderness (the lands of the Gentiles, for that is what wilderness symbolically stands for in contrast to a vineyard), again shows that she continued after her child was born.

Taking all these points into one common whole, they positively show that the woman is symbolical of God’s ever living Church for all times, and that she is His saving Truth, His true wife, the Truth that gave birth to Christ and that gives birth to all His “brethren” (His followers), “the remnant of her seed.” Rev. 12:17.

When the promise of the coming Saviour was made, it was then that the dragon learned that the Church was to give birth to the “man child,” and from then on he watched her closely, hoping to destroy the world’s Redeemer as soon as He was born. This he endeavored to accomplish through Herod, when he caused a multitude of little children to be slaughtered. The child Christ, nevertheless escaped, and the Devil met his first defeat in this connection.

Now the Dragon being fortified with seven heads and ten horns, denotes that he controlled all the civil and religious powers in that day (for the symbolical number “ten” denotes universality, just as do the ten toes of Daniel 2, the ten horns of the other Bible beasts, and the ten virgins of Matthew 25).

The horns represent all the civil powers, while the heads represent all the religious powers, for the Biblical number “seven” denotes completeness. Moreover, the fact that the Church (the Jews), the only agency through which God worked up to that time, crucified the Lord, is in itself sufficient proof that the Church had apostatized, that she had become the Dragon’s seventh head, and that thus was the Dragon armed with ten horns and seven heads, — with all the civil and religious powers. And, so, you see, the Dragon with his horns and heads represents the world captured by the Devil.

Thus it is that the world was lost in that day, and thus it was that Christ came to redeem it. To do all this He started a new church organization. In this light we see Christ, the world’s Redeemer, and His mission even more important than we have ever seen it before.

The Dragon’s drawing from heaven a third part of the stars (angels, Rev. 12:9) with his tail, not with his claws, denotes that in the beginning of Satan’s universal rebellion the angels volunteered to follow the rebel leader, and to unite with him in his evil work against the human family.

Rev. 12:7-17 — “And there was war in heaven: Michael and His angels fought against the Dragon; and the Dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great Dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the Devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

And when the Dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the Dragon cast out of his mouth. And the Dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

The main point to be noticed in these verses is that after the Dragon and his angels were cast out of Heaven (Satan’s second defeat), and after he had persecuted the Church, and she had taken her flight into the wilderness, the Dragon followed her there, but rather than persecuting her, he cast “water as a flood after her,” hoping to cause her to be carried away by it.

In other words, after he saw that he could not stop the growth of the Christian Church by persecuting her followers, he changed his tactics and instead compelled the Pagans to join her, expecting thereby to cause her to be paganized — “carried away.”

The Dragon, though, is again to miss the mark, for the earth is to open her mouth and swallow up the flood; that is, Inspiration definitely forecasts that those who join the Church for some purpose other than to follow and practice the Truth, shall be disposed of by a miracle, be swallowed by the earth, as it were. And when this comes to pass Satan shall have met his third defeat. Summarized, here are his three defeats: No. 1 — Failing to devour the child; No. 2 — Losing the war in Heaven; No. 3 — Failing to paganize the Church by flooding her with the unconverted.

When he meets his third defeat, when the tares which he sowed are burned (for as a flood they are swallowed by the earth, but as tares they are burned by the angels), then it is that the Church will appear “‘Fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners,’ she is to go forth into all the world, conquering and to conquer.” — Prophets and Kings, pg. 725.

Having met such a mighty defeat, and having seen that the Church is freed from his flood, the Dragon’s wrath is to be intensified. He will be wroth with the woman and “make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 12:17), “the Spirit of Prophecy” (Rev. 19:10).

Obviously, the remnant are those who are left after the earth opens her mouth and swallows up the flood. They as a body keep the commandments of God, and have the living Spirit of Prophecy, the Spirit Who dictated the Scriptures, Who has led God’s people into all Truth down through the ages, and Who still is. Thus it is that the Dragon’s wrath, and the Church’s purity, caused by the Dragon’s third defeat, are to bring the time of trouble such as never was:

“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.” Dan. 12:1.

Nothing in the world is worth as much as having our names written in the book. And therein we may have our names if we choose to follow the Spirit of Truth and to keep the commandments of God. Here we have seen that those who think that the law, the ten commandments, is “abolished,” that their lives need not comport with the law; and those who think that the Spirit of Prophecy is a thing of the past, that God has left the world to get along as best it can, that He no longer bothers Himself to send a prophet; that all such shall find themselves in league with Babylon the Great, the seat of the Dragon, and rather than having their names written in the Book, they will have the mark of the beast, and have a part in persecuting the remnant which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Now is the time for all to decide either to be swallowed up by the earth — cast into the fire — or to be delivered by Michael, our Prince.

Let us therefore choose deliverance rather than defeat. “O love the Lord, all ye His saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.” Psa. 31:23.

(Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 16, page 15- 23) 

Note- you can click above picture to enlarge

 

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