By John Thiel, Fourth Angel’s Message, study 4, mp3

From our previous studies we have seen clear evidence that the Revelation 18 angel is another movement.  This movement of messengers commenced in 1888.  Two messengers were specifically named – EJ Waggoner and AT Jones in the 1888 Minneapolis General Conference session. It was the revelation of Jesus to his people they would come forth who are faithful to all the Commandments of God.  The message of the 1888 angel created a rift in the church which some people opposed and had they not, it would have spread across the world and the Revelation 18 angel would have happened in great glory.

A new life is coming from heaven and taking possession of all God’s people. But divisions will come in the church. Two parties will be developed. The wheat and tares grow up together for the harvest.  {2SM 113.3}

The work will grow deeper and become more earnest to the very close of time. And all who are laborers together with God will contend most earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. They will not be turned from the present message, which is already lightening the earth with its glory. Nothing is worth contending for but the glory of God. The only rock that will stand is the Rock of Ages. The truth as it is in Jesus is the refuge in these days of error. . . .  {2SM 114.1}

As time went on it would become more and more intense and it created that other movement out of the third angel’s movement.

As trials thicken around us, both separation and unity will be seen in our ranks. {6T 400.3}

History revealed this message caused separation. We have explored the phenomenon that took place and we focused on the last movements of this angel and the circumstances that mold his behaviour right at the very end.  We look at the scriptures that elude to that fact that this angel was represented by the people;

You must remember that this angel represents the people that have this message to give to the world. Are you among that people?  {RH, August 18, 1885 par. 14}

To be among that people we read of the kind of people that were addressed by Jesus in this period of time that leads us to understand how we are to be among this people.  We read of the conclusion of the seven church periods.

Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Here is a terrible address by Jesus to the people of the period of the three angels messages.  He says to the angel of the church I’m going to spue you out of my mouth.  Why?

Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

He is addressing the leadership of this Laodicean people, the people of the judgment.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

According to that statement he is now addressing another class people in this period.  He is not addressing the angel anymore. That was the call.  Are you among that people that are represented by the Revelation 18 angel?  Here is the call to the ‘any’ man as the angel of the Laodicean people had become lukewarm.  Are you among this people responding to the call to open the door?

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

As we are studying the final scenes of the Revelation 18 angel and the final movement, we see a description of the experience in the final scenes.  We have a line up of the church in history of the time of Christ through to verse 12 when the church was persecuted by the dragon in the wilderness and then in verse 14 when she was nourished and now the dragon.

The Dragon Is Wrath With the Woman

Revelation 12:17 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.

We have a line up that leads us to the final scenes of the Revelation 18 angel.  It is a line up of the church and Satan being angry with the woman and then him making war with the remnant of her seed.  There are three stages;

• The woman (the angel of the church)
• The any man
• The overcomer, or the remnant of her seed

The Laodicean angel gives way to the any man angel. The people who decide to let Jesus come in which was the message of Waggoner and Jones in 1888.  Behold I say at the door and knock, I want to come in.  In Testimony volume 1 you see the demise of the angel of Laodicea and the entrance of the seed and the remnant of her seed.  Sr White saw the vision of the shaking and the people who were not resisting the darkness around them.

Some, I saw, did not participate in this work of agonizing and pleading. They seemed indifferent and careless. They were not resisting the darkness around them, and it shut them in like a thick cloud. The angels of God left these, and I saw them hastening to the assistance of those who were struggling with all their energies to resist the evil angels, and trying to help themselves by calling upon God with perseverance. But the angels left those who made no effort to help themselves, and I lost sight of them. {1T 180.2}

I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this will cause a shaking among God’s people. {1T 181.1}

The testimony of the True Witness has not been half heeded. {1T 181.2}

My attention was then turned to the company I had seen, who were mightily shaken. I was shown those whom I had before seen weeping and praying with agony of spirit. The company of guardian angels around them had been doubled, and they were clothed with an armor from their head to their feet. They moved in exact order, firmly, like a company of soldiers. Their countenances expressed the severe conflict which they had endured, the agonizing struggle they had passed through. Yet their features, marked with severe internal anguish, now shone with the light and glory of heaven. They had obtained the victory, and it called forth from them the deepest gratitude, and holy, sacred joy.  {1T 181.3}

The numbers of this company had lessened. Some had been shaken out, and left by the way. The careless and indifferent, who did not join with those who prized victory and salvation enough to perseveringly plead and agonize for it, did not obtain it, and they were left behind in darkness, but their numbers were immediately made up by others taking hold of the truth and coming into the ranks. Still the evil angels pressed around them, but they could have no power over them. {1T 182.1}

I heard those clothed with the armor speak forth the truth in great power. It had effect. I saw those who had been bound; some wives had been bound by their husbands, and some children had been bound by their parents. The honest who had been held or prevented from hearing the truth, now eagerly laid hold of it. {1T 182.2}

Here is the description of that shaking and how only those who were thoroughly dressed in the armour and were occupied and taking great interest and perseveringly praying to God to reach the standards and character perfections, they were able to come through to be part of this final scene of this angel. All along the shaking continued.  Some were shaken out and some came in.  As the body of faithful ones were progressing in the purity, the message they were pursuing intensified.  This took place because of the true witness to the Laodiceans.

I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans.  {1T 181.1}

Jesus addresses this period of time in his prophetic descriptions of Matthew 24.  This chapter is from his time through to the very end but it is a short hand terminology.

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.

Jesus is now speaking of the intense timing that is required.  We have to be ready as we don’t know the exact time.

Matthew 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite [his] fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for [him], and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

We are looking at the end culmination of the history of the fourth angel.  The faithful servant giving meat in due season and the unfaithful servant beginning to smite his fellow servants and taking sides against Gods faithful ones and uniting with the drunken.  These people pouring forth the straight truth intensifies and comes to a crescendo.  Just as everything comes to its final culmination, it is right at the coming of Jesus, the close of probation and it is like a wave coming up on to the sea shore and you can see the foamy crest and it’s about to break, this is the intensity we are studying.  Just before Jesus concludes his work, we see this intensity;

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. 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 intensity of the Revelation 18 angel coming to its final last breaking call.  Through this means only the faithful messengers as they are being marshalled through the events, the remnant of her seed verses the unfaithful ones, only the real faithful ones remain. This is the question.  Who are they?

As we’ve been reading the Laodicean message, he has something against them, he calls them and he sends them the angel;

Jeremiah 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: 15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

God will give them the faithful servant that gives meat in due season.

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.

Who are they?  They are the people one of a city two of a family that responds to the work of the messages of the Revelation 18 angel.  They are people that tremble at his word and who are segregated and separated from their brethren.  When Jesus comes, he will come to their joy but to the shame of those who put them out.

Zephaniah 3:12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.

These are the people who are fully dressed in their armour.  They come as an army but in terms of human appreciation they are a poor and afflicted people.

Amos 5:1 Hear ye this word which I take up against you, [even] a lamentation, O house of Israel. 2 The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; [there is] none to raise her up.

We recall Sr White could not see some of the company anymore.  Only the ones who were praying earnestly could she see.

Amos 5:3 For thus saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out [by] a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth [by] an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel.

A poor and afflicted people, the remnant of her seed.

Revelation 12:17 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 woman is gone, the seed is gone and all you’ve got are these faithful messengers who set their face like a flint who take it serous and will not become careless.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

This angel represents the people who have this message to give.  Are you that people?

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

With full victory the people of this angel, as we come to the crescendo, they come to full victory, there is one final call by these people before the final wave breaks.  These people are so much in tune they are the voice from heaven.

Revelation 18:4 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 message can only be given by a pure people because how can you say come into our company when our company is part of the sins of Babylon.  We can’t do that.  These people have been purified so that when it comes to the final scene, the last people in Babylon can be called saying come my people.  It is a voice from heaven speaking through these faithful people. This angel comes in at the right time;

Angels were sent to aid the mighty angel from heaven, and I heard voices which seemed to sound everywhere, “Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” This message seemed to be an addition to the third message, joining it as the midnight cry joined the second angel’s message in 1844. The glory of God rested upon the patient, waiting saints, and they fearlessly gave the last solemn warning, proclaiming the fall of Babylon and calling upon God’s people to come out of her that they might escape her fearful doom.  {EW 277.2}

The light that was shed upon the waiting ones penetrated everywhere, and those in the churches who had any light, who had not heard and rejected the three messages, obeyed the call and left the fallen churches.  {EW 278.1}

Here is a very strong hint that the only people who are called out of Babylon are those who have never heard it convincingly.

Everywhere there are hearts crying out for the living God. The Lord has His representatives in all the churches. These persons have not had the special testing truths for the last days presented to them under circumstances that brought conviction to the heart and mind; therefore they have not, by rejecting light, severed their connection with God. There are those that have faithfully walked in all the light that has shone upon their pathway. They hunger to know more of the ways and works of God. All over the world men and women are looking wistfully to heaven. Prayers and tears and inquiries go up from souls longing for light, for grace, for the Holy Spirit. Many are on the very verge of the kingdom, waiting to be gathered in. These demand the service of those to whom God has entrusted His truth.  {AUCR, August 1, 1902 par. 2}

They are people who have not heard the three angel’s messages convincingly that they have had to reject it.

Many had come to years of accountability since these messages had been given, and the light shone upon them, and they were privileged to choose life or death. Some chose life and took their stand with those who were looking for their Lord and keeping all His commandments. {EW 278.1}

Here you see that grand final work that is represented by the pure faithful people who have been purged and purified under the first, second, third and Revelation 18 angel. Let us understand the circumstances that identify this kind of experience.  Recall that it was two or three, a remnant, those that went by a hundred, end up with ten.  This very small remnant we read of in reference to these circumstances.

As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment keepers. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their faith. But their steadfast answer is: “Show us from the word of God our error”–the same plea that was made by Luther under similar circumstances. Those who are arraigned before the courts make a strong vindication of the truth, and some who hear them are led to take their stand to keep all the commandments of God. Thus light will be brought before thousands who otherwise would know nothing of these truths. {GC 607.1}

How was the light brought before thousands?  The circumstances that engendered these faithful ones to be heard is through their experiences of the law being invoked against them.  Here are they that keep the commandments of God. As they are arraigned before the courts, they make a strong vindication of the truth and some who hear are led to take their stand to keep the commandments of God.  It will be the circumstance of this nature that the force of the voice from heaven says come out of her my people.  These are the circumstances.

Now we seem to be unnoticed, but this will not always be. Movements are at work to bring us to the front, and if our theories of truth can be picked to pieces by historians or the world’s greatest men, it will be done.  {Ev 69.1}

These people need to be so filled with the words from heaven that as they are being picked at and brought before the courts, as movements will bring them there, these people have now been made ready by being shaken in the ranks of those who were meant to be of the three angels.  As they were being shaken, they were shaken out and now are at the point of being in court as the law will be invoked against them. Their former brethren will turn them in.  The experience of Revelation 18:4 will come into existence by these circumstances.  The experience and the call is very powerfully identified.  We see a company of people who have been brought about.  It has come up to a crashing wave but not quite crashed yet.  The wave is poised ready to destroy the planet but now the final call goes out.

Isaiah 26:20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

What are the chambers in which they are to hide?  They are the protection of Christ and holy angels. The people of God are not at this time all in one place. They are in different companies, and in all parts of the earth; and they will be tried singly, not in groups. Every one must stand the test for himself (RH Nov. 19, 1908).  {4BC 1143.6}

Because they were splintered, because the leaders rejected them, they were spread across the earth. Can you see why the messages have to prepare a people to achieve being tried alone?  This is why we are looking at this Revelation 18 angel at this point in the final scenes.  Are you among that people?  To make sure we are we must be in tune with the messages we are studying.

God will arouse His people; if other means fail, heresies will come in among them, which will sift them, separating the chaff from the wheat. The Lord calls upon all who believe His word to awake out of sleep. Precious light has come, appropriate for this time. It is Bible truth, showing the perils that are right upon us. This light should lead us to a diligent study of the Scriptures and a most critical examination of the positions which we hold.  {5T 707.3}

All the way along we must be sure are we walking according to the word.  We are to have very critical examinations of the positions we hold.

God would have all the bearings and positions of truth thoroughly and perseveringly searched, with prayer and fasting. Believers are not to rest in suppositions and ill-defined ideas of what constitutes truth. Their faith must be firmly founded upon the word of God so that when the testing time shall come and they are brought before councils to answer for their faith they may be able to give a reason for the hope that is in them, with meekness and fear.  {5T 707.3}

They need to be so prepared that the voice from heaven can use them.  They are so clearly illuminated with the truth, they know their positions, they are standing on the word of God so when they are in the councils, in the courts, and they must call the people out through their experience, that they will answer for their faith and give a reason for the things they are doing.  While they are in the court they will be able to give a reason.  That is how thousands will hear it. As the Revelation 18 angel is being used of the Lord, just before the destruction of the planet, the plagues, what is afoot?  What is intensifying in regards to the destruction of the world?  Is it not Armageddon?  We must not be part of that but we must be part of the fourth angel.  As the world is preparing for Armageddon by these three unclean spirits, it says don’t be found naked.  The people who are part of this angel are being prepared for that final scene and the world is preparing for its destruction.

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}

As Gods people are focusing and are in tune with the message of the Revelation 18 angel, the religious elements will awake from slumber as Gods faithful people have to be called out.  The preparation for Armageddon takes place before the plagues commence.  This is why we need to study the out pouring of the seventh vial and its connection with the Revelation 18 angel.  We need to have this is clear so we are not caught out by the three unclean spirits.  We must be among the people who are represented by the Revelation 18 angel giving this cry get out quick before the wave strikes.  Very intense timing and understanding is required. This is the call for us today because a lot of these things were written a long time ago.  Where are we standing now?  Only those who are really on track can God use to give that final cry before the whole thing closes up. We are right on the cusp of it. Our next study is our last study in our series on the three angel’s messages and is called The Last Urgent Call of the Church Triumphant.

Amen.