How God Viewed His Book

I believe that in the selling of your books [S.N. Haskell] you want to do just what is right. I believe the Lord will guide you with His counsel.  {PM 205.3}

The books of Daniel and the Revelation should be bound together and published. A few explanations of certain portions might be added, but I am not sure that these would be needed.  This is the suggestion that I made to Elder Haskell which resulted in the book he published.   {PM 98.2}

Excerpt from The Story of the Seer of Patmos (by S. N. Haskell)

“In 1844 the door into the inner apartment was opened, and Christ and the Father then took up the cases of those whose names appeared in the Book of Life. While Christ is still in that apartment, the closing events of chapter thirteen take place. The sealing, as described in the seventh chapter of Revelation, is going forward, while the beast and his image, the ruling powers of earth, are striving to gain the recognition of all. The interest of heaven centers in those few who receive the mark of the great Jehovah. In fact, this little company, numbering one hundred and forty-four thousand, is the most interesting class of people brought to view in the Word of God. John, in the opening verse of chapter fourteen, sees them as they gather about the Saviour on Mount Zion. God’s Word traces their history very minutely.

“In the year 1848, the four angels of the seventh chapter of Revelation took their stand upon the four corners of the earth, to hold the winds of strife until the servants of God were sealed. “And there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand.” Between 1798 and the close of time, the wound of the beast is fully healed, and he renews his work of oppression through the powers of the earth. In America the image to the beast is formed, and given life within that same period; and it exerciseth all the power of the first beast before it. Its special work of oppression is against those who have received the seal of God in the forehead. America and the European nations control the world, and were it not that the winds of strife are restrained by the four mighty angels, time would end before the sealing work is accomplished. But among all nations, and unto every tribe and language, the sealing angel makes his way. As far as the gospel of truth is proclaimed, so wide is the field from which he gathers. The interest of all heaven is centered in his work. When one compares the last race on earth with man as he came forth in strength and grandeur from the hand of his Creator, the work of redemption seems more wonderful than ever. From degraded, degenerate humanity, reeking with disease and crime; God chooses the last little company who, because of the soul communion which they have had with him, will have characters which admit them into the closest relationship with their Maker. Many acknowledge Jehovah in their minds, and many worship Him outwardly; only the few pass through Gethsemane with the Christ; but those who do know the realities of spiritual life, receive the name of the Father in their foreheads. These are the one hundred and forty-four thousand, — the chosen company, who reveal to the fullest extent the depths of redeeming love. John saw these surrounding the Saviour on the Mount of God, — “the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the North,” where Satan once stood, and where he attempted to raise a throne for himself. The one hundred and forty-four thousand occupy the place once filled by Lucifer and his angels. Oh what a commentary to the universe on the glorious triumph of truth over error! of love over selfishness!

“These men were redeemed from the earth, from among men, — the first fruits unto God and the Lamb. They have been snatched as brands from the burning. “They were not defiled with women; for they are virgins.” The prophet Isaiah, in describing the condition of the churches in the days when the sealing work is in progress, says: “In that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” The church is represented by a woman; and the relation of Christ to the true church, as the relation of the husband to his wife. The husband gives his name to the wife, and supplies her food and raiment; but apostate churches, while claiming the name of Christ, (Christian), eat their own bread and wear their own apparel, spurning the instruction Christ has given concerning the food and raiment of His bride. But the redeemed will be as virgins, undefiled, and Christ will present them to the Father as chaste virgins. During the last days the earth will be drunk with the wine of fornication offered by Babylon and her daughters, and the sealing angel places the name of the Father on the foreheads of those who turn from the world and all it offers. It will be known that bands of angels overshadow those who are pure in soul. “The Lord will create upon every [such] dwelling place of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for above all, the glory shall be a covering.” In the secret of His tabernacle He will hide them till the indignation be overpast.

“In their mouth was found no guile; for the soul temple had been so thoroughly cleansed before leaving the earth that the human mouth became a channel for the words of God. When the mind of Christ takes full possession of a man, he thinks and speaks and acts as Christ Himself would act. Mortals may have such close and constant communion with Jehovah that they have the assurance that they walk with Him. This was the Christ-life while on earth, and He lived to show that the same is also possible to-day. This will be the mind of those who are sealed. They are without fault; because Christ’s righteousness covers them as a garment. Walking untainted in the midst of self-righteousness, these have been clothed with the heavenly garments. Associated with those whose mouths are full of guile, these have been free from guile. They overcame by the blood of the Lamb. What wonder that they can sing a song in which no other beings can unite! They are given a place next to Christ; they alone of the redeemed can enter the temple. The new name which each one receives is there graven on a living tablet of stone, and they become pillars in that temple of life; living stones of a spiritual house. In that heavenly service they are called pillars, as James and Cephas by their faithfulness were termed pillars in the earthly church; and when the Lamb goes from place to place, this company follow Him as a trophy of grace. They are one with Him, as He is one with the Father; and being one, their souls are inseparably knit together. No power can separate them; for experience has made them what they are; and throughout eternity, they minister to Jehovah, showing forth forever the depths of redeeming love.

“Listening, John heard music from the Holy Mount; for this company are clothed in white and wear crowns of gold, and have harps in their hands. Music, such as mortal ear never heard, comes from those harps swept by the hands of the redeemed. Music is the voice of inspiration, — the melody of a soul when it communes with the great Spirit of life. Those who have known Him best will bring forth the clearest notes from the instruments, and each chord will tell the history of their lives. Their voices blend with these strains. In talking, the voices of Christ and His company sound as the voice of many waters. The melody is beyond description.

“Entering the temple, the one hundred and forty-four thousand sing a new song before the throne and before the four beasts and before the four and twenty elders. Song, with the redeemed, is not only the repetition of words, but the pouring forth of the inmost soul. Only he who knows of soul-development can tune his voice to the melody of heaven. And so all the choirs which make heaven’s arches ring, none compare with the music which issues from this little company. No other voice can join their song. Heaven is silent as they life their voices, and tell the story of their redemption.

“Their song is called the song of Moses and the Lamb. Moses, the servant of God, who gazed into the land of promise from the height of Pisgah, and then lay down to sleep on the very borders of the inheritance, is the type of those who in the closing message look into eternity, but lie down in the grave until the appearing of their Lord. Christ Himself came to earth, and claimed the body of Moses. He did not wait until all came from their graves. ***So those who have fallen asleep, having the seal of God, will have a special resurrection, and will be called forth to hear the covenant of peace, and to behold their Lord as He comes in the clouds of heaven.*** These join their voices with those who tell their life story of Christ the Lamb, — a story of sacrifice and love. “Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty,” and the response comes, “Just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints.” This is a song of “victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name.” Standing on the crystal sea, resplendent with the glory of God, they sing the songs of soul union with Jehovah. This is the consummation of the history as related in the thirteenth chapter of Revelation.” p. 252. [emphasis ours]

“As foretold in the Scriptures, the ministration of Christ in the most holy place began at the termination of the prophetic days in 1844. the words of the revelator apply to this time. “The temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament.” At the beginning of the work of the investigative judgment, when Christ entered the most holy place, the door in heaven was opened, and the law of God was seen as the foundation of His throne. It was immediately after the bitter disappointment of 1844, when earnest souls were still searching the Scriptures, that the sacredness of the law was revealed. As the Decalogue was presented, a special glory shone about the Fourth Commandment. The seal of the law stood out as if written in letters of fire, and a new significance was given to the measuring reed which the angel offered. The fuller significance of the trampling under foot of the law, and the thinking to change the times and laws of Jehovah by an earthly power, filled the people of God with reverential awe; and again the two witnesses were exalted to heaven. The sealing work began at this very time [just after 1844], and those who were looking heavenward, saw the light streaming from that open door. Upon those to whom these rays are shining, the sealing angel places the mark of God. This sealed company make up the one hundred and forty-four thousand, who are a part of the host for whom the “four and twenty elders’ are now waiting.” p. 206. [emphasis ours]