By John Thiel, Third Angel’s Message, study 12, mp3

This angel’s message embraces a wide field of subjects that are also expressed in other scriptures. It is like a website with its links. We are linking other directly related scriptures with it.

Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

This is the third angel’s message. It talks about the beast and his image, which have been identified (in the previous studies) as Babylon. Under the third angel’s message there is a call for people not to become partakers of this terrible destruction.

Isaiah 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

This is the work of the third angel: he identifies the sins that are part of the beast, his image, and anyone that worships it. God’s people are being warned. Revelation 18 is another angel with a direct link to the third angel:

Revelation 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

This link of the third angel’s message is contained in Revelation 18. Babylon, the beast and his image and the mark of the beast, this is all going to culminate in the destruction of the plagues which God’s people are called out not to receive.

Zechariah 2 is another link to the third angel. Here is the same message as Revelation 18, “Come out of her, my people … that ye receive not of her plagues”:

Zechariah 2:6 Ho, ho, [come forth], and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD. 7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest [with] the daughter of Babylon.

Deliver yourself out of Babylon because the four winds of heaven are about to be let go. God’s people are spread all across the four winds of heaven. Separate yourself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. “Come out of her My people.”

Isaiah 52:11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean [thing]; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. 12 For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel [will be] your rereward.

These are the links to the third angel’s message, and there is the amplification of that in Early Writings which mentions the Revelation 18 angel just at such a time as this:

I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven, descending to the earth, and again ascending to heaven, preparing for the fulfillment of some important event. Then I saw another mighty angel commissioned to descend to the earth, to unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his message. {EW 277.1}

This fourth angel links together with the third angel.

The work of this angel comes in at the right time to join in the last great work of the third angel’s message as it swells to a loud cry. And the people of God are thus prepared to stand in the hour of temptation, which they are soon to meet. I saw a great light resting upon them, and they united to fearlessly proclaim the third angel’s message. {EW 277.1}

This is the link of the Revelation 18 angel to the third angel. It is the call to come out of Babylon so that we do not become partakers of those plagues. When all these messages in all their variations are over and the third angel has done his work, what follows? When he has finished his work of warning so that everybody who will can respond (it is Zion that is called to come out), after Revelation 14:12 which says “Here is the patience of the saints…” this is what follows:

Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

This relates to the 144,000 who are under the three angels’ messages (See The 144,000, study 25 of the 1^st Angel). If they die there is a blessing for them. We will read about it later in this study.

Revelation 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud [one] sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast [it] into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand [and] six hundred furlongs.

After the third angel has finished his work the next event is described in those words, “I looked, and behold a white cloud” – It is the coming of Jesus.

At the same time of this coming of Jesus there is this terrible destruction under the other angel that comes out with a sharp sickle and reaps the wine of the earth, the wicked people. There is blood, and fire, etc. We have studied this over the past two studies, The Plagues, and Armageddon. Here is then the actual immediate event following these warnings that the earth was given. When those warnings have done their work, then comes the completion. Everything we have studied is summarized here:

I was pointed down to the time when the third angel’s message was closing. The power of God had rested upon His people; they had accomplished their work and were prepared for the trying hour before them. They had received the latter rain, or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and the living testimony had been revived. The last great warning had sounded everywhere, and it had stirred up and enraged the inhabitants of the earth who would not receive the message. {EW 279.1}

We see here the latter rain, and the period just before, and after it.

I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven. An angel with a writer’s inkhorn by his side returned from the earth and reported to Jesus that his work was done, and the saints were numbered and sealed. Then I saw Jesus, who had been ministering before the ark containing the ten commandments, throw down the censer. He raised His hands, and with a loud voice said, “It is done.” And all the angelic host laid off their crowns as Jesus made the solemn declaration, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” {EW 279.2}

This was part of our studies in the past, Daniel 12:1-2 says that, “At that time shall Michael stand up,” and then there would a time of trouble such as never was; Ezekiel 9:5-7 talks about the angel with the writer’s inkhorn by his side marking the people, and as soon as he was finished, the other ones came in to destroy. The above statement is the summary of all that.

While Jesus had been standing between God and guilty man, a restraint was upon the people; but when He stepped out from between man and the Father, the restraint was removed and Satan had entire control of the finally impenitent. It was impossible for the plagues to be poured out while Jesus officiated in the sanctuary; but as His work there is finished, and His intercession closes, there is nothing to stay the wrath of God, and it breaks with fury upon the shelterless head of the guilty sinner, who has slighted salvation and hated reproof. {EW 280.2}

This is the real issue – slighting salvation (making little of it), and hating reproof. The people who do that are the ones who will suffer the wrath of God.

In that fearful time, after the close of Jesus’ mediation, the saints were living in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor. Every case was decided, every jewel numbered. Jesus tarried a moment in the outer apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, and the sins which had been confessed while He was in the most holy place were placed upon Satan, the originator of sin, who must suffer their punishment. {EW 280.2}

Then I saw Jesus lay off His priestly attire and clothe Himself with His most kingly robes. {EW 281.1}

As the warnings have been given and have had their results, those who are slighting all their hopes and who dislike reproof, are now delivered into the hands of Satan. As Jesus finishes His work in the heavenly sanctuary He now comes with His most kingly robes. Let us see the commencement of His coming.

The Commencement of the Coming of Jesus

When the Revelation 18 angel has finished his work, when he has said, Come out of her my people that you receive not of her plagues, what happens then?

Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

This makes good sense, doesn’t it? The angel has been warning the people, and now in righteousness, Jesus can come. If war is going to take place, and the nation says, We are going to destroy this place, get out; then when they come they have a right to do so. They’ve warned everybody. “In righteousness He doth judge and make war.”

Revelation 19:12 His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

What was He clothed in?

Revelation 19:13 And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

“The winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress.” The blood flows in the winepress.

Revelation 19:16 And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

This is His kingly robe.

Revelation 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all [men, both] free and bond, both small and great. 19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

The kings of the earth and the armies make war against Him.

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

This is what the third angel warned about – there would be this terrible time of trouble, the time of the plagues. These plagues were now unleashed when Jesus placed upon Him His most kingly robes, where is written, King of kings and Lord of Lords. This description of Jesus and His army doing this destructive work is also identifiable in Isaiah 24. Our study on the plagues showed us that it is God’s orchestration of the wicked which brings about their own destruction.

Isaiah 24:4 The earth mourneth [and] fadeth away, the world languisheth [and] fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. 5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

This is another reference of that scene. As we put these scriptures together you can see every detail that is included in this event. In the following scripture is another description of the few men left and what will happen with them at this time when Christ is coming with His angels:

2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

He has a sword coming out of His mouth. The Bible, the word of God, is that sword. Everything that was spoken by Him in prophecy (His prophetic word) now takes place. They are consumed with the spirit of His mouth, and they shall be destroyed with the brightness of His coming. There are two forms of destruction: the destruction that comes from His mouth, which is everything that has to happen (that has been prophesied) when He comes in His kingly array, and then the brightness of His coming. These two factors have to be clearly discerned for us to understand Christ’s second coming. The description of 2 Thessalonians is none other than the beast, the Wicked one who is to be revealed over the period during which the Papacy arose, and he will be consumed. The picture is unfolding by reading all the different statements which all describes little details that the other ones don’t describe, and they all fit in together.

During the plagues Jesus’ second coming has already taken place. He has begun to come. He left the sanctuary on horseback with angels and He came in His kingly robe with His sword in His mouth. This is the commencement of the coming of Jesus. We will carefully examine this because what Jesus described in reference to His coming can only be properly understood by what we have studied thus far. Jesus warns the people that His coming is going to be different to what they expect. It is not just being destroyed by the brightness of His coming, but also by the word of His mouth. If they are first destroyed by the word of His mouth, then a lot of people will be caught unawares, because when He appears in the brightness of His coming that is yet another destructive force. Jesus warns about this. It’s going to be different to what people expect.

Watch

Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

This is the warning that Jesus gave, You are going to be caught unawares. When Jesus comes in the clouds every man will see Him. But the issue here is that it’s going to come like a thief. It’s going to come in an hour and in a way that you don’t realize. Therefore He says, You must watch. This is echoed in Revelation 16:15, which is in reference to Armageddon. There we see a similar warning to the one Jesus gave in Matthew:

Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed [is] he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

That statement is right between verses14 and 16, which deal with Armageddon. He is saying, Be watchful, because My coming is different to what you expect. Unless you are watching, you won’t know exactly what is happening, and you will be caught unawares. By reading these scriptures very carefully we can see that Jesus is trying to get something across to the minds of the people:

Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34 [For the Son of man is] as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Is it necessary to watch beforehand to see Him coming in the clouds? He is not coming in the clouds in Revelation 19. He is coming on horseback with the angels first. When He comes in the clouds you will see it, no one will miss it. But in Revelation 19 you do not see Him coming; you can only see Him if you’re watching.

Jesus has left us word: “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” … What time is here referred to? Not to the revelation of Christ in the clouds of heaven to find a people asleep. No; but to His return from His ministration in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, {2T 190.1}

The angels have finished their work, Jesus finishes His work, and now He comes as a King of kings and Lord of lords on horseback with armies. That moment of Him leaving the sanctuary, that is what will catch people by surprise. There is no way out. They will still think that everything is going alright, no wars or troubles, but Jesus has come.

From what we have observed then, we see that when angels have finished their work and Jesus has completed His heavenly sanctuary work, the coming of Jesus commences, as in Revelation 19:11-21. That is the commencement of the coming. The Bible actually encompasses that with His coming. When He comes there is a great conflagration around Him, so that before you actually see Him, there is a lot of other tumult beforehand.

Very Tempestuous

Psalms 50:1 The mighty God, [even] the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. 3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. 4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. 5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. 6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God [is] judge himself.

As He comes from the heavenly sanctuary it is going to be very tempestuous round about him, and He is going to call upon the heavens and the earth. It is plain then that His coming starts with the plagues, and there is special reference made in connection of this with Armageddon. It is very tempestuous when He comes; there are the angels, the horsemen.

Jeremiah 25:31 A noise shall come [even] to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them [that are] wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.

Here He comes in the midst of a military conflagration. They will be given over to the sword. There will also be the natural events, fire, and all the plagues. Armageddon is a time in which God is doing the judging. The nations of the world are involved in His judgments.

We need to study the pouring out of the seventh vial. The powers of evil will not yield up the conflict without a struggle. But Providence has a part to act in the battle of Armageddon. When the earth is lighted with the glory of the angel of Revelation eighteen, the religious elements, good and evil, will awake from slumber, and the armies of the living God will take the field. (MS 175, 1899) {7BC 983.2}

Many people misread this statement. What is the Revelation 18 angel doing? Under the messages of the third angel the loud cry is given and people are taking sides. God’s faithful people are taking sides with God, and by rejecting these messages the wicked are taking their side with Satan. Here is where you get the armies. There are the two armies. Jesus is there with His army coming from heaven (God has told His people to hide themselves till the indignation is overpast), and on earth you have the armies who are resisting the word of His mouth. He uses the sword that comes out of His mouth to do the work which they have been resisting. What is that? The plagues. They are going to be destroyed. Everything He has said is going to happen.

But they are not going to give in. They are going to try and fight to keep themselves going, and to keep the earth going, to fight with the nations and conquer, and to gain a victory over the problems of the earth. The United Nations are fighting to bring peace, but they are only destroying each other as they do so. You can see that already shaping up now.

“When the earth is lighted with the glory of the angel of Revelation eighteen, the religious elements, good and evil, will awake from slumber, and the armies of the living God will take the field.” – The armies of the living God will take the field, this is Revelation 19. The other ones are doing their work because they are rejecting the very warning messages of the Revelation 18 angel.

Two Armies

Notice how the armies of God are taking their position in this scene of Armageddon. Here is the sword of God’s word:

Joel 3:9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: 10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I [am] strong. 11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. 12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. 13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness [is] great. 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD [is] near in the valley of decision.

As this picture of Armageddon is here described, it is the army of the wicked versus the armies of heaven. We read in Revelation 19 that the armies of heaven came down. Where will they go to?

Joel 3:11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.

“Thither,” where the armies will gather, “cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.”

The battle of Armageddon is soon to be fought. He on whose vesture is written the name, King of kings and Lord of lords, leads forth the armies of heaven on white horses, clothed in fine linen, clean and white. (MS 172, 1899) {7BC 982.5}

When does He come? Straight after the work of the third angel is finished.

Every form of evil is to spring into intense activity. Evil angels unite their powers with evil men, and as they have been in constant conflict and attained an experience in the best modes of deception and battle, and have been strengthening for centuries, they will not yield the last great final contest without a desperate struggle. All the world will be on one side or the other of the question. {7BC 982.6}

The third and fourth angels have done their work and people are on one side or the other.

The battle of Armageddon will be fought, and that day must find none of us sleeping. {7BC 982.6}

This is why it says, Don’t be found without garments on.

Wide awake we must be, as wise virgins having oil in our vessels with our lamps. . . . {7BC 982.6}

Can you see the wise virgins? By having the oil in their lamps they can see what is going on. It is much more than this romantic picture of just walking with Jesus into the wedding feast. This is to do with war. This is to do with destruction. Whose side are we on?

The power of the Holy Ghost must be upon us, and the Captain of the Lord’s host will stand at the head of the angels of heaven {7BC 982.7}

To do what? What are they doing?

…to direct the battle. {7BC 982.7}

What are the angels and Jesus doing? They are not actually fighting. They are directing the battle. This must be understood.

Solemn events before us are yet to transpire. Trumpet after trumpet is to be sounded, vial after vial poured out one after another upon the inhabitants of the earth. {7BC 982.7}

Vial after vial: this is to do with Armageddon; it is to do with the contest of Jesus and His angels and the wicked people and the evil angels. The contest is deception. It is to deceive the people and bring them together for destruction. The angels come down in obedience to the call, “Thither cause thy mighty ones to come down,” and they direct the battle. This is the coming of Jesus.

Scenes of stupendous interest are right upon us. (Letter 112, 1890) {7BC 982.7}

That was written in 1890, “right upon us.” Where are we today?

Orchestrating the Battle

Jesus and His angels come thither where these people are assembled for war, in the valley of Jehoshaphat. The angels and Jesus are conducting and directing the war. This is exactly the same picture as in the Old Testament. The conflict of the empires, one after another, was identified with angels orchestrating the battle. The conflict between Babylon and Medo-Persia is very well described here:

Daniel 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

Persia and Babylon were going to meet, and as the angel was orchestrating the king of Persia, the king of Persia was resisting his influence, so Michael the Archangel, Jesus, was brought in. This was the conducting of the conquering of Babylon by the Medo-Persian kingdom. At the end of the conflagration you have all the armies of heaven doing exactly the same thing, but on a greater scale.

Isaiah 13:4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. 5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, [even] the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. 6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD [is] at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

As the multitudes, the kingdoms of nations, are gathered together, the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. He is the one that is mustering it. “They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD,” and His angels, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.” God’s way of warfare is that of conducting the wickedness of the people. That is His way of working with them. Once you understand everything in its picture it all comes together perfectly; whereas if you don’t understand what you’ve studied before, then you are at sixes and sevens as to know the exact details of His coming.

The Sword of His Mouth

Revelation 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations:

How are the nations smitten? With the sword out of His mouth.

Revelation 19:15 …and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

This is what we read in Joel. That which comes out of His mouth, what we have read, is going to happen. Prophecy will be fulfilled. That is His sword: His word. You can read it in other scriptures; they will be destroyed by His word. They will destroy themselves because His word said that this is what is going to happen.

Revelation 14:18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast [it] into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand [and] six hundred furlongs.

There will be literal blood and destruction. This is not a spiritual battle. This is the coming of Jesus in destroying the wicked, and it will be very tempestuous about Him.

Joel 3:13 Put ye in the sickle,

“Thrust in thy sharp sickle.”

Joel 3:13 …for the harvest is ripe:

“…for her grapes are fully ripe.”

Joel 3:13 …come, get you down; for the press is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness [is] great. 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD [is] near in the valley of decision.

Multitudes are in the valley, the sickle is in, the sword is there, and the blood is flowing up to the horses’ bridle. This is the coming of Jesus.

We are now getting these connections so that it can be vivid in our minds. Remember the words of the Spirit of Prophecy, “We need to study the pouring out of the seventh vial.”

The Day of Vengeance

Jeremiah 25:30 Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread [the grapes], against all the inhabitants of the earth. 31 A noise shall come [even] to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them [that are] wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.

When He roars from heaven the scene of Armageddon is taking place. The blood is flowing, the winepress is taking place, and the following scripture is the description of an event that is also taking place. “He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood.”

Isaiah 63:1 Who [is] this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this [that is] glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2 Wherefore [art thou] red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people [there was] none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 4 For the day of vengeance [is] in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. 5 And I looked, and [there was] none to help; and I wondered that [there was] none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. 6 And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.

This is the One who is on horseback, the King of kings and Lord of lords, with His garment dipped in blood. It’s a connecting link of Gethsemane through to the end. His blood has been shed for His saints and now the year of His redeemed is come. But for those who have rejected His kingly love, His grief is too much, the wrath now takes place and He treads down the people in His anger. The coming of Jesus is to do with the destruction of the plagues and the roaring from heaven.

This is exactly the same way as God has worked in the past, but now it takes place in its grand finale. Here was an occasion where the servant of God was surrounded by the nation of the enemy:

2 Kings 6:15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that [be] with us [are] more than they that [be] with them. 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain [was] full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Only those who are watching know that these horses are around them. This is the day of His vengeance and the day of His redeemed. When the wicked are all gathered around to destroy both themselves and God’s people in the time of Jacob’s trouble, in the year of His redeemed, when the angels are around orchestrating the battle and destroying the wicked, as it was in Elisha’s day, there is nothing to fear. This is involved in Christ’s coming, the day of His redeemed.

The Year of My Redeemed

Isaiah 63:4 For the day of vengeance [is] in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

What will be the experience of the redeemed at His coming? They will be saved out of Jacob’s trouble. It is the year of the redeemed. At that time is Psalm 91 applicable.

Psalms 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 

While the world is in this terrible crushing experience God’s people have nothing to fear. It will not come night thee, only with your eyes will you see it. It’s going to be a terrible scene, it’s going to be horrific to watch, but it will not come nigh God’s people, although others will fall very close to them.

What is the situation of the redeemed?

Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. 18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; 19 When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place.

What is this referring to? It is exactly the same time. What happens in the seventh vial? This is the seventh vial. This is the year of My redeemed. You will be dwelling in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places when hail shall come down destroying the city.

The Seventh Vial

Revelation 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, [every stone] about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

When the plague of hail comes down God will have His people protected. It is the day of His redeemed. This detail takes place during the seventh vial.

Isaiah 42:13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war:

“The last great warning had … stirred up and enraged the inhabitants of the earth who would not receive the message.”

Isaiah 42:13 …he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. 14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, [and] refrained myself:

God has been waiting quietly for so long.

Isaiah 42:14 …[now] will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once. 15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.

He has been quiet for so long, but now He is letting it rip. God’s people will be safe during the day of His redeemed:

Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. 6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompense to his enemies.

Those who thought that they were doing God a favour in separating God’s people from themselves will be especially ashamed when the voice from the city of God comes, and they find themselves in the midst of all these the plagues. This is the day of His redeemed.

Joel 3:16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD [will be] the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

What did we read? They will cast you out. But at the roar I am going to take care of those who tremble at My word. It is at this time of the plagues that the deliverance of God’s people takes place. Notice the way that He roars from His temple in the seventh vial:

That voice shakes the heavens and the earth. There is a mighty earthquake, “such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.” Verses 17, 18. The firmament appears to open and shut. The glory from the throne of God seems flashing through. The mountains shake like a reed in the wind, and ragged rocks are scattered on every side. There is a roar as of a coming tempest. The sea is lashed into fury. There is heard the shriek of a hurricane like the voice of demons upon a mission of destruction. The whole earth heaves and swells like the waves of the sea. Its surface is breaking up. Its very foundations seem to be giving way. Mountain chains are sinking. Inhabited islands disappear. The seaports that have become like Sodom for wickedness are swallowed up by the angry waters. Babylon the great has come in remembrance before God, “to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.” Great hailstones, every one “about the weight of a talent,” are doing their work of destruction. Verses 19, 21. The proudest cities of the earth are laid low. The lordly palaces, upon which the world’s great men have lavished their wealth in order to glorify themselves, are crumbling to ruin before their eyes. Prison walls are rent asunder, and God’s people, who have been held in bondage for their faith, are set free. {GC 636.3}

Graves are opened, and “many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth. . . awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2. All who have died in the faith of the third angel’s message come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God’s covenant of peace with those who have kept His law. {GC 637.1}

This is the year of His redeemed, even for those who died. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.” They are now blessed as they come forth in the time of the seventh vial.

The voice of God is heard from heaven, declaring the day and hour of Jesus’ coming, and delivering the everlasting covenant to His people. Like peals of loudest thunder His words roll through the earth. The Israel of God stand listening, with their eyes fixed upward. Their countenances are lighted up with His glory, and shine as did the face of Moses when he came down from Sinai. {GC 640.2}

While everything is breaking up and in chaos, while the armies are fighting and the wicked are being destroyed, here comes the voice of God speaking to His people and announcing the visible coming of Jesus.

The wicked cannot look upon them. And when the blessing is pronounced on those who have honored God by keeping His Sabbath holy, there is a mighty shout of victory. {GC 640.2}

Here is the seventh plague, the culmination of all the plagues. Jesus has come down on horseback, but when He comes visibly He is not going to be seen on horseback, He will then be seen coming on a cloud.

And I saw a flaming cloud come where Jesus stood. Then Jesus . . . took His place on the cloud which carried Him to the East, where it first appeared to the saints on earth–a small black cloud which was the sign of the Son of man. While the cloud was passing from the Holiest to the East, which took a number of days, the synagogue of Satan worshipped at the saints’ feet. {Mar 287.7}

Note the sequence. The voice of God from heaven, the battle of Armageddon being fought, the faithful ones rising and hearing the voice of God giving the day and hour of Jesus’ coming, and the wicked worshipping at the saints’ feet. While that is happening Jesus is positioning himself upon the cloud, and it takes several days until finally it is visible.

The Visible Coming of Jesus

Soon there appears in the east a small black cloud, about half the size of a man’s hand. It is the cloud which surrounds the Saviour and which seems in the distance to be shrouded in darkness. The people of God know this to be the sign of the Son of man. In solemn silence they gaze upon it as it draws nearer the earth, becoming lighter and more glorious, until it is a great white cloud, its base a glory like consuming fire, and above it the rainbow of the covenant. Jesus rides forth as a mighty conqueror. Not now a “Man of Sorrows,” to drink the bitter cup of shame and woe, He comes, victor in heaven and earth, to judge the living and the dead. {GC 640.3}

That is the actual visible coming of Jesus.

Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

That is why they have to be resurrected. All the destruction that took place about Him, everything now comes to its zenith. So many people have already been slain, the armies have killed each other, the plagues have been doing their destructive work, and there are few men left.

Revelation 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Now they see it. Now they see that it was actually God and Jesus, and they cry for the mountains to cover them. This is the visible response. Those who were not slain in Armageddon or by the plagues, what are they now slain by?

Revelation 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

What was that? Killed with the sword that came out of His mouth. What was described out of His mouth? How will they be destroyed? They will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming (2 Thess. 2:8). That is what He has uttered.

There will be a great destruction and a few men left. The few men left are either those who are going to be taken away from the earth, or those are going to be destroyed by the brightness of His coming.

The derisive jests have ceased. Lying lips are hushed into silence. The clash of arms, the tumult of battle, “with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood” (Isaiah 9:5), is stilled. Nought now is heard but the voice of prayer and the sound of weeping and lamentation. The cry bursts forth from lips so lately scoffing: “The great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” The wicked pray to be buried beneath the rocks of the mountains rather than meet the face of Him whom they have despised and rejected. {GC 642.2}

Here is the conclusion of the visible coming of Jesus, which is the culmination of His coming ever since the beginning of the plagues:

Soon our eyes were drawn to the east, for a small black cloud had appeared, about half as large as a man’s hand, which we all knew was the sign of the Son of man. We all in solemn silence gazed on the cloud as it drew nearer and became lighter, glorious, and still more glorious, till it was a great white cloud. The bottom appeared like fire; a rainbow was over the cloud, while around it were ten thousand angels, singing a most lovely song; and upon it sat the Son of man. His hair was white and curly and lay on His shoulders; and upon His head were many crowns. His feet had the appearance of fire; in His right hand was a sharp sickle; in His left, a silver trumpet. His eyes were as a flame of fire, which searched His children through and through. Then all faces gathered paleness, and those that God had rejected gathered blackness. Then we all cried out, “Who shall be able to stand? Is my robe spotless?” Then the angels ceased to sing, and there was some time of awful silence, when Jesus spoke: “Those who have clean hands and pure hearts shall be able to stand; My grace is sufficient for you.” At this our faces lighted up, and joy filled every heart. And the angels struck a note higher and sang again, while the cloud drew still nearer the earth. {EW 15.2}

Then Jesus’ silver trumpet sounded, as He descended on the cloud, wrapped in flames of fire. He gazed on the graves of the sleeping saints, then raised His eyes and hands to heaven, and cried, “Awake! awake! awake! ye that sleep in the dust, and arise.” Then there was a mighty earthquake. The graves opened, and the dead came up clothed with immortality. The 144,000 shouted, “Alleluia!” as they recognized their friends who had been torn from them by death, and in the same moment we were changed and caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. {EW 16.1}

We all entered the cloud together, and were seven days ascending to the sea of glass, {EW 16.2}

This is the full scope of the third angel’s message.

Amen.