By John Thiel, Light in a Dark Place Seminar, Study 5, mp3

We are now getting a little closer to our time. In our previous study, our research took us to Revelation 3:7-13 – the period of Philadelphia. There, in 1833, God’s church identified where it stood by the study of two books. What were these books? Daniel and the Revelation. It was study of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation that William Miller researched, that was for him a light which shone in a dark place. He was an atheist who wanted to find his way as he was looking for a purpose and a meaning in life. He was asking, Where do I go here, Lord? and the Lord helped him through prophecy.

The prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation began to unfold before him, and there, with the beautiful study of the hour of God’s judgment come, the identification in Daniel 8:14 of a sanctuary being cleansed, the 2,300 day prophecy brought them right to 1844. What a revelation! If you were living in his situation, what a thrill would have been yours! Who accepted it? He was a very isolated person, until it gathered momentum. This prophecy brought about the study of the sanctuary, of the judgment, and of the second angel; because in this period of time, the first angel, and the second angel’s messages were being activated. “The hour of God’s judgment has come,” was the first angel’s message.

The Hour of God’s Judgment Has Come

In 1844, because the churches rejected what William Miller was preaching, the Adventists were cast out, and therefore the fifty thousand went forward and preached, Babylon the great is fallen. Why did they say that? Because these Protestant churches rejected … what? Didn’t they reject Jesus, just like the Jews did? As they proclaimed the coming of Jesus in 1844, thinking that the sanctuary being cleansed referred to the earth being cleansed, they of course came up to that date with all the prophecy gleaming before them, Yes, we are right, they thought, prophecy has told us that in 1844 that special event is to take place. But they had this experience of bitter disappointment. Was that prophesied? Did prophecy illuminate the darkness of that bitter disappointment? Here is a prophecy exactly relevant to that experience of God’s church in the Philadelphian period:

Revelation 10:8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go [and] take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.

What was that book in the angel’s hand that was open as he proclaimed the end? That was the book of Daniel.

Revelation 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take [it], and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. 10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. 

What was this meant to portray?

Revelation 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

The Book of Daniel

They thought Jesus was coming, and that all their work of preaching was about over, and they could go into the promised rest. They had that sweet anticipation, that taste of the study of the prophecies that showed them that they were really the people of God whom Jesus was blessing with such light; the day star was truly leading them to the day time, and lo and behold, they discovered that they were still in the dark. They were disappointed. It turned bitter in their mouth – they must go and preach some more. Although the two houses of Israel had rejected Christ again, it wasn’t the finish of the two houses of Israel yet. Here is a description of this disappointment, and of the great joy that they did have in anticipation:

But again they were destined to disappointment. The time of expectation passed, and their Saviour did not appear. With unwavering confidence they had looked forward to His coming, and now they felt as did Mary when, coming to the Saviour’s tomb and finding it empty, she exclaimed with weeping: “They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him.” John 20:13. {GC 403.2}

The earnest, sincere believers had given up all for Christ and had shared His presence as never before. {GC 404.1}

Was Jesus with them? Absolutely.

They had, as they believed, given their last warning to the world; and, expecting soon to be received into the society of their divine Master and the heavenly angels, they had, to a great extent, withdrawn from the society of those who did not receive the message. With intense desire they had prayed: “Come, Lord Jesus, and come quickly.” But He had not come. {GC 404.1}

As you are reading this, identify with it. This was a real, deep heart experience. Do you have a deep heart experience? Will you also fall into this experience of disappointment? Mark carefully as we proceed. This is why we are reading these things. Everything I am sharing with you is to go through the experience of the truth.

And now to take up again the heavy burden of life’s cares and perplexities, and to endure the taunts and sneers of a scoffing world, was a terrible trial of faith and patience. {GC 404.1}

Was that a present truth also in the time of Christ with the disciples?

Yet this disappointment was not as great as was that experienced by the disciples at the time of Christ’s first advent. When Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem, His followers believed that He was about to ascend the throne of David and deliver Israel from her oppressors. With high hopes and joyful anticipations they vied with one another in showing honour to their King. Many spread their outer garments as a carpet in His path, or strewed before Him the leafy branches of the palm. In their enthusiastic joy they united in the glad acclaim: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” When the Pharisees, disturbed and angered by this outburst of rejoicing, wished Jesus to rebuke His disciples, He replied: “If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:40. Prophecy must be fulfilled. The disciples were accomplishing the purpose of God; yet they were doomed to a bitter disappointment. {GC 404.2}

Mark this. Everyone fulfils the purpose of God. Prophecy foretells what is to happen. But still it is different to what they expect.

But a few days had passed ere they witnessed the Saviour’s agonizing death, and laid Him in the tomb. Their expectations had not been realized in a single particular, and their hopes died with Jesus. {GC 404.2}

Do you have expectations? You want certain things to turn out the way that you think the prophecies have been talking? You’ll go through the same experience. There is a striking similarity. Believe me, this is true. Unless we lay down our expectations and keep on walking quietly and tentatively as to how the Lord unravels things, we will always be disappointed. I have seen so many disappointed people in my life. We don’t have to be disappointed if we will study carefully the pure word, with that childlike dependence. But God permitted the people to misunderstand, and He was still with them.

There we come to the darkness of the disappointment, and observe the lineup of their experience as prophecy displayed it. Look at the prophecy of Jesus in the parable of the ten virgins. What was their experience? Here they were, they expected the bridegroom to come. The prophecy is very vivid. Jesus was just talking about the end (Matthew chapter 24), when it would come upon people as a thief, and then, at that time, this is what would happen:

Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish. 3 They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Here was a prophecy that the people just before the coming of Jesus were going through.

Near the close of the second angel’s message, I saw a great light from heaven shining upon the people of God. The rays of this light seemed bright as the sun. And I heard the voices of angels crying, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him!” {EW 238.1}

This was the midnight cry, which was to give power to the second angel’s message. Angels were sent from heaven to arouse the discouraged saints and prepare them for the great work before them. {EW 238.2}

They were already discouraged because it seemed as though the bridegroom tarried. They had expected Jesus to come at the wrong time, in 1843, when the prophecy actually ended in 1844. It was then that they began to slumber and sleep. Then came the message, Behold, the bridegroom cometh.

In every part of the land, light was given upon the second angel’s message, and the cry melted the hearts of thousands. It went from city to city, and from village to village, until the waiting people of God were fully aroused. In many churches the message was not permitted to be given, and a large company who had the living testimony left these fallen churches. {EW 238.3}

Why did they leave these fallen churches? Because it was not permitted to teach what they were teaching.

A mighty work was accomplished by the midnight cry. The message was heart-searching, leading the believers to seek a living experience for themselves. They knew that they could not lean upon one another. {EW 238.3}

This is very important.

The saints anxiously waited for their Lord with fasting, watching, and almost constant prayer. Even some sinners looked forward to the time with terror; {EW 238.4}

Then the midnight cry was followed, and their future is illuminated in this prophecy:

Matthew 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

What is this description meant to portray, this experience of, Behold, the bridegroom cometh, and of the virgins then going with Him to the marriage, and the door being shut? Was this a prophecy for them at that time? Remember, the faithful ones continued – the virgins were with the bridegroom, with Jesus. Where did Jesus go in 1844? He went into the most holy place. And what happened there in the most holy place? The marriage of Jesus to His church took place.

After Jesus opened the door of the most holy, the light of the Sabbath was seen, and the people of God were tested, as the children of Israel were tested anciently, to see if they would keep God’s law. I saw the third angel pointing upward, showing the disappointed ones the way to the holiest of the heavenly sanctuary. As they by faith enter the most holy, they find Jesus, and hope and joy spring up anew. I saw them looking back, reviewing the past, from the proclamation of the second advent of Jesus, down through their experience to the passing of the time in 1844. They see their disappointment explained, and joy and certainty again animate them. The third angel has lighted up the past, the present, and the future and they know that God has indeed led them by His mysterious providence. {EW 254.2}

According to the explanation here, the people of Philadelphia went through their disappointment, and then came the third angel’s message. And it is through this message that they found their way to the marriage into the most Holy place. There, in the most holy place, Jesus was receiving His kingdom. That was the marriage. And the door was shut. The people who went into the marriage left behind the foolish virgins, the fifty thousand who had thought that they were going to go to heaven. They all fell away, because they didn’t have enough oil in their vessels. Only the little handful that continued were the wise virgins that went into the most holy place.

The Third Angel – Laodicea

After 1844, we enter into another church period. What is it called?

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;

Laodiceans – what does that mean? “The people of the judgment” – Laodicea. Laodicea, in Asia Minor, was the place where the judges and the courts of the empire were. That was used by God. After the disappointment they understood that Laodicea was now relevant. They had come out of the Philadelphian period. They were the faithful ones. You will notice that in Philadelphia there is no statement made like, “I have something against you.” These were the disciples who found their way from the falling churches into God’s church.

Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

He opens the door into the most holy place. He opens and shuts the door. You can see here the ten virgins’ story. They come back afterwards, and they can’t find their way in.

I was shown that the testimony to the Laodiceans applies to God’s people at the present time, {1T 186.1}

During the time of the three angels Laodicea is the period.

Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.

Most people read that, and don’t know what this is talking about. Who are the people that come out of Philadelphia and make up the people of Laodicea? The people who are overcomers under the work of Jesus in the most holy place. They have written on their foreheads the name of God, the name of Jerusalem, and Jesus’ new name. What transpires with the overcomer that comes out of Philadelphia into the Laodicean period? What is the experience of these overcomers that go through the period of Laodicea? Mark these words – God’s name, and the city of God are in their foreheads, and also Christ’s new name.

Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty [and] four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

The people who are overcomers out of Philadelphia, who go with Jesus into the most holy place, what do they comprise? Notice that they have “His Father’s name written in their foreheads.”

The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus’ new name. {EW 15.1}

Under inspiration we identify the overcomer of the church of Philadelphia. Why do we find this important? In each generation the overcomers leave behind the churches that have fallen, and comprise the church that is faithful. The overcomers from 1844 to the coming of Jesus are to be the 144,000. The third angel now comes into play and begins to work. He illuminates the past, the present, and the future. Under the third angel’s message God’s people are going to be confirmed in their foreheads.

The Church of the Three Angels

Sr. White saw the whole world going into perdition, and only a little company left:

I asked the angel if there were none left. He bade me look in an opposite direction, and I saw a little company traveling a narrow pathway. All seemed to be firmly united, bound together by the truth, in bundles, or companies. Said the angel, “The third angel is binding, or sealing, them in bundles for the heavenly garner.” {EW 88.3}

I then saw the third angel. Said my accompanying angel, “Fearful is his work. Awful is his mission. He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the tares, and seal, or bind, the wheat for the heavenly garner. These things should engross the whole mind, the whole attention.” {EW 118.1}

The faithful overcomers from Philadelphia through to Laodicea are the people who are sealed by the third angel and his message. The history foretold of these people illuminated them, and exactly the same will happen as that which has happened before.

The work of God in the earth presents, from age to age, a striking similarity in every great reformation or religious movement. The principles of God’s dealing with men are ever the same. The important movements of the present have their parallel in those of the past, and the experience of the church in former ages has lessons of great value for our own time. {GC 343.1}

The Priesthood of Laodicea

We are looking at the development of the 144,000 in the period of the end of Philadelphia through to Laodicea. Is it possible that once again we are going to observe the two houses of Israel, and the 144,000? Are we going to see this again? Pay close attention to this. The message to Laodicea is a message that illuminates the experience.

Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write;

Who is the angel? The priesthood. They are the priests who are to be the messengers of the Lord.

Revelation 3:14 …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. 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 eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

In 1844 they came out of the fallen churches and were the overcomers which should now comprise and develop the 144,000. They developed into a church as a separate body. By 1852 what does the testimony of Jesus describe them as?

As I have of late looked around to find the humble followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, my mind has been much exercised. Many who profess to be looking for the speedy coming of Christ are becoming conformed to this world and seek more earnestly the applause of those around them than the approbation of God. They are cold and formal, like the nominal churches from which they but a short time since separated. The words addressed to the Laodicean church describe their present condition perfectly. (See Rev. 3:14-20.) {EW 107.2}

This was present truth to the people of 1852. A lot of people don’t remember time and place when they read the Spirit of Prophecy (See Selected Messages Vol. 1, p.57.2). They read it as though it is for us now. No, there is something else for us now. This is for 1852. It can be applied later on, but it is specifically for present truth, because she says she was shown that it applied to the church at that present time, when she wrote that, in Review and Herald, June 10, 1852.

They are “neither cold nor hot,” but “lukewarm”. And unless they heed the counsel of the “faithful and true Witness,” and zealously repent and obtain “gold tried in the fire,” “white raiment,” and “eye-salve,” He will spew them out of His mouth. {EW 107.2}

Unequivocal. This is the way it is going to be. We are looking for the development to be able to answer the question, Is there two houses of Israel again? We are seeing here a threat, a terrible, shocking suggestion to the church that God had blessed so much in 1844.

God is leading out a people. He has a chosen people, a church on the earth, whom He has made the depositaries of His law. He has committed to them sacred trust and eternal truth to be given to the world. He would reprove and correct them. The message to the Laodiceans is applicable to Seventh-day Adventists who have had great light and have not walked in the light. It is those who have made great profession, but have not kept in step with their Leader, that will be spewed out of His mouth unless they repent. {2SM 66.2}

Here is this picture of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the people who will not listen and repent, and will not take hold of this message, will be spewed out of His mouth. To the angel of the church that He is writing to, the ministry, He says, I will spue them out. Why? What is the attitude of this ministry? “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.” What is Jesus saying about this church? They are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, and they don’t know it. They say, This is the church. We are God’s church! We’ve got such a blessing, how can you say anything against us? But unless they wake up and repent, what are they? Wretched, poor, blind, and naked. This startling reality is strongly conveyed in the following statement. We want to identify the hallmark of people who say that they are God’s church; a ministry who claims, like a husband to the wife, I am your husband, do as you are told; people who exercise man’s authority.

I was shown that the testimony to the Laodiceans applies to God’s people at the present time, and the reason it has not accomplished a greater work is because of the hardness of their hearts. But God has given the message time to do its work. {1T 186.1}

Remember Pergamos. “I gave her space to repent.” He doesn’t immediately do what He says; He gives time.

The heart must be purified from sins which have so long shut out Jesus. This fearful message will do its work. {1T 186.1}

“Those who are reproved by the Spirit of God should not rise up against the humble instrument. {5T 682.1}

That is what people always do. The moment an instrument is used to correct something, they rise up against it. Why? Because they think, We are alright, how dare you say anything against us?

It is God, and not an erring mortal, who has spoken to save them from ruin.” [VOL. 3, P. 257 (1873).] It is not pleasing to human nature to receive reproof, nor is it possible for the heart of man, unenlightened by the Spirit of God, to realize the necessity of reproof or the blessing it is designed to bring. {5T 682.1}

If you say you are rich and increased with goods, would you accept reproof? Of course not. It is common sense.

As man yields to temptation, and indulges in sin, his mind becomes darkened. The moral sense is perverted. The warnings of conscience are disregarded, and its voice is less clearly heard. He gradually loses the power to distinguish between right and wrong, until he has no true sense or his standing before God. He may observe the forms of religion and zealously maintain its doctrines, while destitute of its spirit. {5T 682.1}

“We are the church, we are safeguarding the doctrines.”

His condition is that described by the True Witness: “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.” When the Spirit of God, by message of reproof, declares this to be his condition, he cannot see that the message is true. {5T 682.1}

He cannot see that it is true. If you were to meet these people and you point out to them, This is what is written about this church; they would say no, no, no, that doesn’t belong to me. I do know. You know you can be very proud of your humility. You can say, Yes, we are terrible sinners; but deep inside, the heart is proud of its humility (cf. Christ’s Object Lessons, p.159.1).

When it says in Revelation 3:16, “Because thou art lukewarm … I will spue thee out of my mouth;” what does that mean?

To those who are indifferent at this time Christ’s warning is: “Because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth.” Revelation 3:16. The figure of spewing out of His mouth means that He cannot offer up your prayers or your expressions of love to God. {6T 408.2}

What does that mean then ? Here is a church people who are praying and worshipping God, expressing love to Him. How high does it go? It doesn’t go to the Father. But they are expressing love to God!

He cannot endorse your teaching of His word or your spiritual work in anywise. He cannot present your religious exercises with the request that grace be given you. {6T 408.2}

What does this church do? It prays, it worships, it does religious exercises, but it is all spewed out. This being the reality, what was the prophetic forecast of this church? What would happen to them, as we now look at the past and see what has been fulfilled?

The end of all things is at hand. God is moving upon every mind that is open to receive the impressions of his Holy Spirit. He is sending out messengers that they may give the warning in every locality. … The standard of righteousness is to be exalted. The Spirit of God is moving upon men’s hearts, and those who respond to its influence will become lights in the world. Everywhere they are seen going forth to communicate to others the light they have received as they did after the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. And as they let their light shine, they receive more and more of the Spirit’s power. The earth is lighted with the glory of God. {RH, July 16, 1895 par. 10}

This is what she describes as the faithful ones do their work.

But O, sad picture! those who do not submit to the influence of the Holy Spirit soon lose the blessings received when they acknowledged the truth as from Heaven. They fall into a cold, spiritless formality; they lose their interest in perishing souls: they have “left their first love.” And Christ says unto them, “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” He will take his Holy Spirit from the church, and give it to others who will appreciate it. {RH, July 16, 1895 par. 11}

Remember what I read in reference to when Jesus spoke to the Pharisees, that the kingdom would be taken from them and given to others? Here it is happening again in the Laodicean period. Here is a declaration that when Jesus spues out the church she will end up like the Jews, or the Samaritans. “He will take his Holy Spirit from the church, and give it to others who will appreciate it.”

There is no greater evidence that those who have received great light do not appreciate that light, than is given by their refusal to let their light shine upon those who are in darkness, and devoting their time and energies in celebrating forms and ceremonies. Thoughts of the inner work, the necessary purity of heart, are not entertained. The absence of harmony with God becomes apparent. The light grows dim, goes out; the candlestick has been removed. {RH, July 16, 1895 par. 12}

Is this true?

There is much exercising of man-made authority by those to whom God has not given his wisdom because they did not feel the need of the wisdom from above. {RH, July 16, 1895 par. 12}

This was specifically in reference to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Laodicean period. We know the history of this. As the church verily did not listen, and ultimately became so full of itself, then, when the faithful people who were the overcomers in Philadelphia died, the people in Laodicea were being tested. What did these people do?

As the founders, those who possessed the true spirit of reform, pass away, their descendants come forward and “new-model the cause.” {GC 385.1}

Is that what happened? The founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the faithful ones of Philadelphia, the people of the 144,000, they died. Were they just about all dead by 1914? There was only one or two left. Sister White died in 1915, and she was a young lady when she came into the message, so you can guess what happened to all the other ones. They had died; and the new ones had remodelled the cause, and had departed widely from their fathers’ example of humility, self-denial and renunciation of the world. Did that happen in 1914? The following is a statement that was published because of the World War, by a paper in Cologne, Germany; this is the assessment of the world :

“Since the beginning of the war there has been a division among the Adventist people. During the period of the war, the majority wanted to see the fundamental teachings set aside, by force if necessary. The others asked that the sanctification of Saturday (Sabbath) be allowed them, even in these times of stress. The opposing faction finally brought about the disfellowshipment from the organization of the followers of the original principles of the faith.” {Koelnische Zeitung (Evening Edition) September 21, 1915}

That is what happened in 1914 in the Adventist church. The organisation, the leaders of the church, could not see that they were wrong, and they disfellowshipped the faithful who stood on the original principles of their faith. How did they do it? The Adventists wrote to another paper in Germany to announce to the world what they did with this offscouring of the people:

“At the beginning of the war our organization divided into two parts.” {Dresdener Neueste Nachrichten (Dresden newspaper), p. 3, April 12, 1918}

Two houses of Israel?

“Whilst ninety-eight percent of our members stepped out, after searching the Bible, on the ground that it was our conscientious duty to defend the Fatherland, with weapons, and that also on the Sabbath, and this decided position from the united leaders was at once forwarded to the War Department; two percent, however, did not submit to this resolution of the leaders, and therefore had to be disfellowshipped because of their antichristian conduct. These unprofitable elements set themselves up as preachers and, with little results, sought to make converts to their propaganda of foolish ideas. They call themselves, falsely, preachers and Adventists. They are not; they are deceivers. When such elements receive their merited punishment, we regard it, in fact, as a favour done to us.” {Dresdener Neueste Nachrichten (Dresden newspaper), p. 3, April 12, 1918}

As this position of total obedience to the commandments of God was not practised during World War I (1914-1918), a great crisis came upon the Seventh-day Adventist Church. While 98 percent of the members decided to obey the instruction of the officers of the denomination, taking part in the war, two percent decided to remain faithful to the law of God, upholding the original position, as taught and practised up to that time. These faithful believers were disfellowshipped from the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Europe because they chose to uphold the church’s original position in regard to keeping the Law of God (all Ten Commandments).

Can you see the mentality? If you research the detail of this mentality, you see this human authority that is not governed by the authority of heaven, or by the pure doctrines that had been established.

There is much exercising of man-made authority by those to whom God has not given his wisdom because they did not feel the need of the wisdom from above.” {RH, July 16, 1895 par. 12}

This faithful two percent comprised a splitting of the twelve tribes again. Remember that the 144,000 are taken out of the twelve tribes of Israel. “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved” (Romans 9:27).

Man-made authority. What happened as the organisation split? What did these two percent do?

Isaiah 66:2 For all those [things] hath mine hand made, and all those [things] have been, saith the LORD: but to this [man] will I look, [even] to [him that is] poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. … 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:

Isn’t that exactly what they did at that time? They condemned their brethren for “their antichristian conduct,” and they felt they were doing God a favour in casting them out (cf. John 16.2).

Isaiah 66:5 …but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

This was the cause of the split. Once again, as in every succeeding generation, the church, the ecclesiastical authorities, dismissed Christ from their ranks, and it created another split. The church that used to be God’s church, the faithful city, what has she become? A harlot. She is another daughter of Babylon. Where do these people turn to now? They have to leave the church of their fathers. Where do they turn to? It is very fascinating that there is something in prophecy that can be identified in reference to this. It is found in the message to Laodicea. Jesus had said unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans that unless they repented He would spue them out of His mouth. What is the next item?

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.

First we have: Revelation 3:14 – the angel of Laodicea; then Revelation 3:20. Who is this? The any man. Who are these “any men”? Where do they go to? What do they do? “I stand at the door, and knock, I want to come in. If you let Me in, I am going to come in, and sup with you.” Who is speaking? Jesus. It is the atonement. He wants to be at one with them.

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. 

An angel? Another angel. Who did the third angel of Revelation 14 represent? The angel of Laodicea. The angel of the judgment of the people. Then comes another angel. Is that also a movement? Another organisation? Prophecy?

Another Movement

Of Babylon, at the time brought to view in this prophecy, it is declared: “Her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” Revelation 18:5. She has filled up the measure of her guilt, and destruction is about to fall upon her. But God still has a people in Babylon; and before the visitation of His judgments these faithful ones must be called out, that they partake not of her sins and “receive not of her plagues.” Hence the movement symbolized by the angel coming down from heaven, lightening the earth with his glory and crying mightily with a strong voice, announcing the sins of Babylon. {GC 604.1}

What is this? Another movement. It is very simple. Like the overcomers of Philadelphia developed in Laodicea the movement of the third angel, so also now, there is another movement. The angel of Revelation 18 comprises the people who come from the church that was addressed in the Laodicean message, and now, within that church they are split into the Revelation 18 angel. Where did this Revelation 18 angel commence from? As we will see in the next study, it commenced in 1888, within the church of the third angel, and then it was split. But what do you see here? Is it going to happen again that there will be two houses of Israel? That was the question. Indeed, here it is. The ten tribes and the faithful ones, the two tribes. It happened again.

“The Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, Say ye not. A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.” {RH, July 18, 1907 par. 6}

In this representation of the prophet, we see that Satan is at work not only with worldlings, who have not the fear and love of God before them, but also with those who profess faith in Christ. Here are plainly represented two distinct parties, formed from a company that was once united. {RH, July 18, 1907 par. 7}

Here you see a split of a company that was once united – the twelve tribes split into ten and two. This is what she was foreshadowing.

The members of one of these parties are in resistance to the will of God. {RH, July 18, 1907 par. 7}

Is that not what we have read? That is what they were doing.

They have taken themselves from the side of the loyal and true, and are now resisting the warnings of the Spirit of God. {RH, July 18, 1907 par. 7}

That is exactly what they did. Here you have the split into two houses again, the same repetition. These are the dark chapters of the church in the period of Laodicea that segmented her into two houses. But it does not end here. Our next examination will be to look at the second house, the movement of Revelation 18.

Amen.

Further reading: http://sabbathsermons.com/category/the-two-houses-of-israel/