= 5 = MESSAGES TO THE
WORLD.
While the judgment hour of Revelation 14 is passing, two solemn
proclamations are made to men still in probation. And the judgment
scene of Daniel 7 is for the very purpose of closing our Lord's
priesthood, and of crowning him King of kings. But the closing work of
Christ as priest pertains to the acquittal of his people at his Father's
tribunal, the blotting out of their sins, and the decision accounting
them worthy of that world and the resurrection to immortality. Our Lord
cannot do this for people in a state of probation. His first work must
therefore relate to the righteous dead. And while their cases are
severally passing under examination and decision, the living righteous
are being prepared for the close of their probation, and for the
decision of the investigative judgment by the proclamation of the third
angel. This work being accomplished, and the living righteous being
accounted worthy to escape the things coming upon the earth, and to
stand before the Son of man, our Lord is crowned king, and takes his
seat upon the white cloud, with a crown of pure gold upon his head.
The priesthood of Christ began when he presented himself before the
Father at his ascension as our Advocate. It cannot terminate till he has
secured the acquittal of his people, and the blotting out of their sins
in the investigative judgment. Then his enemies, at his request, will
be given him to destroy. His Father shall crown him king upon his
throne, saying to him, "Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies." Psalm
110:1,2; Daniel 7:9-14; Psalm 2:6-9; Acts 3:19-21; Isaiah 44:22,23. His
entrance upon the priesthood was marked by the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit on the day of Pentecost. John 16:7; Acts 1:4; 2:1-4,16-18. The
blotting out of sins, which terminates his priesthood, brings the people
of God to the refreshing, from the presence of the Father, which
precedes his act of sending his Son from heaven. Acts 3:19-21.
As a priest our Lord presents the merits of his blood in behalf of
all who come to God through him. Hebrews 7:25. Even the cases of the
people of God who lived during the period of the Old Testament, have to
be acted upon by Christ as priest. Hebrews 9:15. They can only have
redemption through his blood; and the blotting out of their sins can
only be effected through his priestly work. Hebrews 9,10.
The whole multitude of the redeemed appear before the throne in
raiment that has been washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 7:13,14. The work of our High Priest in behalf of his people
involves an immense number of individual cases. He has not only borne
the sin of all these, but he makes intercession for them, and finally
obtains the blotting out of their sins on showing from the record that
they have completed the work of overcoming. Our Lord does not continue
in his priestly office to all eternity. When he comes again it is
without sin unto salvation. But he does not leave his work unfinished.
He brings every part of this immense work to a conclusion before he lays
it down. The following proposition is both reasonable and scriptural:-
There is a period of time at the close of this dispensation devoted
to the finishing of the work of human probation, i.e., to the completion
of Christ's work as priest, and of his gospel as the means of salvation.
But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall
begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath
declared to his servants the prophets. Revelation 10:7
The mystery of God is defined in the following passages:-
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery (as I
wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my
knowledge in the mystery of Christ); which in other ages was not made
known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy
apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be
fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in
Christ by the gospel. Ephesians 3:3-6
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from
generations, but now is made manifest to his saints; to whom God would
make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the
Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory; whom we preach,
warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may
present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Colossians 1:26-28
The mystery of God is therefore seen to be the work of salvation for
fallen man through the gospel of Christ. It is that which unites Jews
and Gentiles in one body as fellow-heirs, having Christ in them the hope
of glory. The finishing of the mystery of God is the accomplishment of
the work of the gospel. This must have a twofold bearing: 1. Upon the
priesthood of our Lord, to bring it to a close by completing all its
immense work. 2. Upon the preaching of the gospel to the inhabitants of
the earth, in causing the proclamation of its final closing messages of
warning.
This work is not closed instantaneously, for a space of time is
devoted to its completion. And the finishing of this work pertains both
to heaven and to earth; to the priesthood of Christ, and the
proclamation of his gospel to men. But the priesthood of Christ, as we
have seen, is finished at the time when the Ancient of Days sits in
judgment; and it is while that judgment is in session that the latest
messages of warning are addressed to men. Revelation 14:6-14. We do
therefore understand that the period of time devoted to the finishing of
the mystery of God is precisely that space occupied by the Father in the
work of the investigative judgment.
It is not stated that the mystery of God shall be finished when the
seventh angel begins to sound; for this would denote instantaneous
completion. But it is said, "In the days of the voice of the seventh
angel, when he shall begin to sound," etc. This shows beyond dispute
that a period of time is devoted to this work. The days of this
prophecy are prophetic days, i.e., years, as are those of the fifth and
sixth angels. Revelation 9. These years which are devoted to this
finishing of human probation begin with the sounding of the seventh
angel. They are the earliest years of his voice. The sounding of the
seventh angel begins, therefore, with the opening of that investigative
judgment that finishes human probation, that determines the blotting out
of the sins of the overcomers, that accounts them worthy of the world to
come, that terminates the priesthood of Christ, and that witnesses the
completion of the preaching of the gospel of the grace of God.
But is not the last trumpet of John's series of seven the same as
Paul's last trump? The reasons which forbid their identity are
perfectly conclusive. The seventh trumpet is the last of a series, no
one of which is literally heard by the inhabitants of the earth. It is
the accomplishment of certain events that indicates the transition from
one of the seven angels to another. The seventh is like each of the
preceding six in that it is the trumpet of an angel, and in that it is a
symbolic and not a literal trumpet. Revelation 8, 9, 10, 11. But the
trumpet which awakens the dead is not blown by an angel, but by the Son
of God himself. It is not a symbolic trumpet, for it is literally heard
by the inhabitants of the earth. Matthew 24:31; Zechariah 9:14-16; 1
Thessalonians 4:14-17. It is called the last trump because when the
Almighty descended upon Mount Sinai, in glory and majesty, like our
Lord's second advent (Exodus 19:16-19; Hebrews 12:18-27; Matthew 16:27;
2 Thessalonians 1:7,8), the trump of God was heard, as it will be once
more when the dead are raised. 1 Corinthians 15:51,52.
The commencement of the seventh angel's voice, as we have seen, is
the signal for the opening of the investigative judgment; and human
probation continues for a term of days, i.e., years, after that voice
begins. But the trump of God is not sounded till after that
investigative judgment has determined the cases of all the righteous;
for when it is heard, everyone that has been accounted worthy of a part
in the resurrection to immortality, is, in an instant, made immortal.
We conclude, therefore, that the seventh angel begins to sound before
the advent of Christ, and that the first years of his sounding are
devoted to the finishing of the work of human probation.
The events under the sounding of the seventh angel, though not given
in chronological order, are, from their nature not difficult to be
arranged in the order of their occurrence.
1. In the days, i.e., years, of the beginning of the voice of the
seventh angel, the work of human probation is finished. Revelation
10:7. This, as we have seen, involves the closing up of the immense
work of our High Priest. It also requires the proclamation of the final
warnings to mankind.
2. The most holy place of the temple in heaven is opened. Revelation
11:19. This is the place where our Lord's priesthood is finished, and,
as we shall hereafter see, is the place where the Ancient of Days sits
in judgment.
3. While Christ is finishing his priesthood at the tribunal of his
Father, in the holiest of the heavenly temple, the judgment of the
righteous dead takes place. Revelation 11:18.
4. The coronation of Christ is announced by the great voices in
heaven, and by the words of the twenty four elders. Revelation
11:15-17. This succeeds the close of his priesthood. When Christ
begins his reign, he is invested by the Father with that power which
Satan usurped from Adam the first. The reign of the second Adam is the
re-establishment of the empire of God in this revolted province. Christ
does not take his own throne to rule his enemies with a rod of iron till
he has closed up his priestly office at his Father's right hand.
5. The wrath of God comes upon the wicked when Christ begins to rule
them with the iron scepter of his justice. It comes in the seven last
plagues. Revelation 11:18,19; 14:9-11, 18:20; 15:16; 19:11-21.
6. The anger of the nations comes in consequence of the work of the
unclean spirits under the sixth plague, who incite them to the battle of
the great day of God Almighty. Revelation 11:18; 16:13,14; 19:19-21.
7. The giving of rewards to the servants of God is at the
resurrection of the just. Revelation 11:18; Luke 14:14; Matthew 16:27.
The final destruction of them that corrupt the earth is at the end of
the 1,000 years, in the second death. Revelation 11:18; 20:7-9. The
events of the seventh trumpet do therefore extend over the whole period
of the great day of judgment. The mighty proclamation which ushers in
the seventh angel and the investigative judgment and the work in the
second apartment of the heavenly temple for the completion of our Lord's
priestly office, we will now consider.
We have learned that there is a space of time at the beginning of the
voice of the seventh angel, which is employed in closing up the work of
human probation. During this period the living righteous conclude their
probation, and are accounted worthy to stand before the Son of man. Luke
21:36. This is the time of the dead that they should be judged, i.e.,
the time when the righteous dead are accounted worthy of a part in the
first resurrection. Luke 20:35,36; Revelation 11:18. It is when the
Ancient of Days sits in judgment that Christ is crowned king; and this
same event takes place under the sounding of the seventh angel. Daniel
7:9-14; Revelation 11:15-17. This shows that the judgment scene of
Daniel 7 is in the days of the seventh angel, and that the judgment of
the dead here brought to view is at the Father's tribunal. Two things
next claim our attention: 1. The mighty proclamation which heralds the
investigative judgment at the beginning of the voice of the seventh
angel. 2. The opening of the most holy place of the heavenly temple for
the session of that judgment.
The second and third woes come in consequence of the voices of the
sixth and seventh angels. Revelation 8:13. There is a short space of
time between the second and third woes, and hence such space must exist
between the close of the sixth angel's voice and the commencement of the
seventh. Revelation 11:14. The termination of the hour, day, month and
year of the sixth angel marks the conclusion of the second woe, August
11, 1840. Revelation 9:15.
At the close of the sixth angel's voice a mighty angel descends from
heaven to herald the sounding of the seventh trumpet. He has a little
book open in his hand; and he places his right foot upon the sea, and
his left foot on the earth, and cries with a loud voice, as when a lion
roareth. The seven thunders utter their voices, but John is forbidden
to write what they utter. The angel, having made proclamation to the
inhabitants of the earth, lifts his hand to heaven, and swears that time
shall be no longer, but that in the days of the beginning of the seventh
angel's voice the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared
to his servants the prophets. Revelation 10:1-7.
His act of placing one foot upon the sea, and one upon the land,
implies that his proclamation pertains to all the dwellers upon the
globe. He cries with a mighty voice like the roar of a lion, but it is
a voice that gives instruction and warning to mankind; for he has a
little book open in his hand, a fact which indicates that its contents
form the subject of his proclamation. When he has finished his
announcement he confirms it with a solemn oath. The words of this oath
give a definite idea of the nature of his proclamation.
1. That it relates to the definite time of some grand event.
2. That this event is the sounding of the seventh angel.
3. That this proclamation is based upon the prophets.
The book of Daniel contains the prophetic periods which mark the very
events of the seventh angel's voice. Among the earliest of these events
are the opening of the second apartment of the heavenly temple
(Revelation 11:19), the judgment of the righteous dead (Revelation
11:18), the finishing of the mystery of God (Revelation 10:7), and the
coronation of Christ for the destruction of his enemies (Revelation
11:15-19; Psalm 2:6-9). The prophecy of Daniel reveals this very
session of the investigative judgment, at which Christ is crowned king
upon his own throne (Daniel 7:9-14), and the final work in the sanctuary
of God for the closing up of human probation (Daniel 8:14), and marks
the very time for the beginning of this grand work.
The book of Daniel must therefore be that book out of which the angel
makes his proclamation of definite time; for this book alone contains
the prophetic periods, unless, indeed, we add the book of Revelation,
which is but a second edition of the prophecy of Daniel. Now it is a
remarkable fact that the book of Daniel was by divine direction closed
up and sealed till the time of the end, when the wise were to
understand. Daniel 12:4-10. The same power which placed the seal upon
it must be employed to take it off. It was by the agency of the angel
of God that this book was closed up; and it is by the same means that
the seal is removed. And hence when the angel descends to herald the
work under the seventh trumpet, that prophecy which reveals the very
events of that trumpet, and marks the time of their commencement, is
open in his hand. Having made his announcement therefrom, he swears
that time shall be no longer, i.e., that the events predicted shall
occur where he then stands - at the end of the periods contained in the
little book.
The time to the finishing of the mystery of God must be the burden of
the proclamation of this mighty angel; for the oath which he utters to
confirm his proclamation plainly indicates its nature. He swears that
time should be no longer, but that the mystery of God should be finished
in the days at the beginning of the seventh angel's voice. The time,
therefore, to which he swears must be the time contained in the little
book, which reaches to the events of the seventh angel's voice.
That this oath uttered by the angel with the open book relates to
prophetic time, is further evident from the record of the oath which was
uttered at the time when that book was sealed up; for the man clothed in
linen, standing at a time when the prophetic periods all lay in the
future solemnly attests with an oath the time contained in the sealed
book. Daniel 12:6,7. But the angel of Revelation 10, having the book
open in his hand, first proclaims their termination and then swears to
the truth of his announcement. His oath marks the end of the time in
question. It certainly does not mark the end of time considered as
duration, measured by days, or years, for the closing words of the oath
speak of days yet future under the seventh angel; nor does it mark the
end of human probation, for the words of the oath place this also yet
future under the sounding of the seventh angel. Verse 7.
Moreover, after the eating of the book by John, who in this
personates the church at the time of the fulfillment of this prophecy,
he was bidden to prophecy again before many peoples and nations - a
clear proof that there is a message of mercy and of warning to men after
the oath of the angel that time shall be no longer. Verses 7-11. We
must therefore conclude that this oath has reference to the time which
the angel had announced from the book open in his hand. This oath is
the complement of that in Daniel 12. In that, the man clothed in linen
swears to prophetic time yet to be; in this, the angel having made
solemn proclamation from the open book, lifts his hand to heaven and
swears to the accomplishment of the time.
What has been said is quite sufficient to show that the work of the
mighty angel of Revelation 10 is of the same nature with that of the
angel in Revelation 14:6,7. His message is uttered while the living are
yet in probation. It is termed the everlasting gospel, because it is
that which contains the good news of the coming kingdom of God. Like
the mighty proclamation of the angel of Revelation 10, which pertains to
all the dwellers upon the globe, this also is addressed to every nation,
and kindred, and tongue, and people. As the angel of Revelation 10
proclaims definite time connected with the seventh angel's voice, so
this angel says with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give glory to him; for
the hour of his judgment is come." There must be definite time to mark
the proclamation of this angel; and as men are addressed while yet in
probation, that time must be the prophetic periods of the Bible. And
herein have we a parallel to the case of the angel of Revelation 10 with
the open book in his hand, swearing to the fulfillment of time. That
relates to the sounding of the seventh angel and the finishing of the
mystery of God; this relates to the session of the investigative
judgment, which, as we have seen, is the same work. As a further work
of prophesying remains after the angel of Revelation 10 swears that time
shall be no longer, so in Revelation 14, after the angel has announced
that the hour of God's judgment is come, the like work remains to be
performed.
The period designated as the hour of God's judgment, or the days when
the mystery of God is to be finished, is not therefore ushered in by the
advent of Christ, for its work is preparatory to that event. But it is
announced to the inhabitants of the earth by solemn proclamation, based
on definite time and confirmed by an immutable oath. The time must
therefore be given rightly. Whenever, in fulfillment of Revelation
14:6,7, the announcement is made, "The hour of his judgment is come,"
the time must be truthfully given. And certainly when the angel of
Revelation 10 swears to the fulfillment of time, that time must there
expire. Yet in each case there is a further work of prophesying or
proclaiming truth to the children of men.
These scriptures can never have their fulfillment by a succession of
time messages, each disproving the truth of its predecessor, and each
being in turn disproved by the one which succeeds it. When God gives
these announcements they will be rightly given, though they are to be
followed by the proclamation of other truths before the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Those time movements which follow the genuine, and which repeat
themselves again and again in the persistent effort to fix the time of
Christ's advent, never can be in fulfillment of the solemn announcement,
"The hour of his judgment is come," or of the solemn oath that time
should be no longer; for these later time movements are but a succession
of efforts made to fix the definite time or Christ's advent, though that
is not revealed in the Bible, and though each movement is based upon the
failure of all which have preceded it. But the genuine is given for the
purpose of announcing the investigative judgment, and its truthfulness
being attested by the oath of the angel, it will never be retracted to
make way for successive announcements of the time of Christ's
revelation. The opening of the heavenly temple and the final work
therein we will now consider.
The investigative judgment, the finishing of the work of human
probation, the close of Christ's priesthood, and his coronation upon his
own throne, are events which transpire in the days of the voice of the
seventh angel when he begins to sound. They precede the revelation of
Christ in the clouds of heaven and are preparatory to that grand event.
The field of vision during this closing period of human probation is not
simply the earth, where, indeed, the fierce battle between truth and
error is being fought, but the temple of God in heaven is opened to our
view, and becomes the theme of prophetic discourse. Revelation 11:19;
15:5.
We have learned that the priesthood of Christ must continue till he
has secured the acquittal of his people at the tribunal of his Father,
where their sins are blotted out, and themselves accounted worthy of
eternal life. It is at this very time and place that the Saviour
changes from his priestly to his kingly office. Hence, wherever our
Lord closes his priestly office, there must be the place of the judgment
session described in Daniel 7.
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