John Thiel

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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.

Where are we in God’s plan? Where are we positioned in time? Where are we positioned in prophetic fulfillment?

Luke 21:25-36 – The description of the time of the end that Jesus is making here.

Luke 21:25And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; ²⁶ Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. ²⁷ And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. ²⁹ And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; ³⁰ When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. ³¹ So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. ³² Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. ³³ Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. ³⁴ And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. ³⁵ For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Jesus is giving us a wide spectrum of the time of the end when he points to the signs in the sun and the moon and the stars and the distress of nations before his coming. We know that the signs in the sun and the moon and the stars have happened, and the distress of nations with perplexity has been ever since that time through the world wars and to our time now. Men’s hearts failing them for fear. Heart failure is rampant around us today because of the stress of these times in which we live. As he gives the final coming of Jesus in verse 27, then he turns us back to look at the unfolding of the things he has just been saying that when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads for your redemption draw at nigh and then he gives the parable of the fig tree.

We saw the cedar tree represented the Syrian kingdom, and the other tree – the fig tree – represents Jerusalem (the Hebrews, the Israelites). They all began to shoot and that’s the summer and the harvest time coming up. As they were shooting, all these nations were gathering power so that they can then be involved in the great battle of destruction that happens. He says, “this generation shall not pass”. We are living today in a position of the fulfillment of prophecy, which calls for us to really understand what is ours is to do right now.

We have already seen the fulfillment of the three angels’ messages from their beginning in Revelation 14:6-13 how the events of William Miller presenting the first angel’s message leading to the second angel’s message, leading to the great disappointment of 1844 and the rise of the Seventh Day Adventist movement taking us through to 1888, where a message was presented, which could have brought on the coming of Jesus if they would’ve accepted that message.

It takes us to look back to the first world war and the apostasy of Seventh Day Adventism by going to war, which was against their original belief. We see the description from the Spirt of Prophecy of the first world war and the second world war. This is all history of the past.

I was shown the inhabitants of the earth in the utmost confusion. War, bloodshed, privation, want, famine, and pestilence were abroad in the land. As these things surrounded God’s people, they began to press together, and to cast aside their little difficulties. Self-dignity no longer controlled them; deep humility took its place. Suffering, perplexity, and privation caused reason to resume its throne, and the passionate and unreasonable man became sane, and acted with discretion and wisdom. {1T 268.1}

My attention was then called from the scene. There seemed to be a little time of peace. Once more the inhabitants of the earth were presented before me; and again everything was in the utmost confusion. Strife, war, and bloodshed, with famine and pestilence, raged everywhere. Other nations were engaged in this war and confusion. War caused famine. Want and bloodshed caused pestilence. And then men’s hearts failed them for fear, “and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” {1T 268.2}

You can’t miss it. Can you? Sister White’s time, they didn’t quite know what that was all about, but here we have just been shown the two world wars of the past. We have been shown that not only there was war, but there was wants, the great depression after the first world war, and the Spanish flu, which was a terrible pestilence, which today with COVID 19, they are making comparisons – pestilence, privation, and so on.

This has happened and we are now from the end of 1945 to the 2020. Where are we? What is the position of God’s people now when in the time in which men’s hearts are failing them for fear, for the things that are coming on the earth more than ever before, it’s increasing its volatile. Since 1945, indeed was the cold war. After 1945, men’s hearts failing them for fear of that.

Now, where are we standing?

COVID 19 – Everything’s changed. People are really in a distressed state across the world. This is a world seeing and what’s coming for the future. Men’s hearts are failing them for fear, for what they can see coming. Is not Luke 21:28 so very relevant now?

Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

This has begun a long time ago. We are right in the very end of it. What are we to be doing? Lift up your heads. Lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh.

As we look at the prophecies in the term of the three angels’ messages, where are we today?  The first, the second, and third angels’ messages have already had their fulfillment in the advent movement.

Revelation 18:1-3 Another Angel. Another movement Sister White described. Another movement beyond the movement of the Seventh Day Adventist Organization. We know that this has arisen way back in history. What event marked the rising of this angel? What does inspiration tell us was the point in history that commenced this angel?

The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer. is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth. For it is the work of every one to whom the message of warning has come, to lift up Jesus, to present Him to the world as revealed in types, as shadowed in symbols, as manifested in the revelations of the prophets, as unveiled in the lessons given to His disciples and in the wonderful miracles wrought for the sons of men. Search the Scriptures; for they are they that testify of Him. {1SM 362.4}

When did the Revelation 18 angel commence his work? Sister White said there: at the time when the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer was given and that was in 1888. She said because that had happened there in 1888, the time of test is just upon us. From 1888 till 1915, they had the opportunity to be able to meet the time of test which was the first world war.

We have clear revelations by inspiration to identify the great spectrum of events that take us to our point right now. Ever since 1888, the angel Revelation 18 has been doing his work. Have we been missing something? This is quite an interesting question. What have Seventh Day Adventists been missing by looking at future to something that has happened in the past?

Here we are 132 years since that angel came to do his work. What is the next event of that angel after that angel in Revelation 18? What’s the next one?

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.

Another voice. That’s where we must be today because for 132 years, the Revelation 18 angel has been doing his work and we are now so, so close to the coming of Jesus. That Revelation 18 verse 4 must be relevant.

Let’s see exactly the picture that is looming before us and upon us.

The voice coming from heaven denotes that it will be a message of power attended with heavenly glory. How marked becomes the interposition of Heaven, and how the agents for the accomplishment of God’s work multiply, as the great crisis approaches! This voice from heaven is called “another” voice, showing that a new agency is here introduced. We now have five celestial messengers expressly mentioned as engaged in this last religious reformation. These are the first, second, and third angels of chapter 14; fourth, the angel of verse one of this chapter; and fifth, the agency indicated by the “voice” of verse 4, now before us. Three of these are already in operation. The second angel has joined the first, and the third has joined them. The first and second have not ceased. All three now have the field. The angel of verse 1 is entering upon his mission, as the conditions which call for his work are supplied; and the divine call from heaven must take place in connection with his work. {DAR1909 716.3}

While was when he was writing this, the angel was already doing that work according to Sister White’s revelation.

Proof has already been offered to show that the message of verses 1 and 2 of this chapter is to be given in connection with the now current third message, and will mark a new era in this work. An idea of its extent and power may be gathered from the description of the angel there given. The first message is said to go with a “loud voice;” the same is also said of the third message; but this angel, instead of simply flying “in the midst of heaven,” like the others, is said to “come down from heaven.” He comes, as it were, nearer to the earth, with a message more pointed and direct; and he has “great power,” and the earth is “lightened with his glory.” No such description of a message from heaven to man is elsewhere to be found in all the Bible. This is the last; and as is meet, it comes with surpassing glory and unwonted power. It is an awful hour when a world’s destiny is to be decided, – a most solemn crisis when an entire contemporaneous generation of the human family is to pass the bounds of probation, as the last note of mercy is sounded in their ears. In such a time, the world must not be left without warning. So amply must the great fact be heralded, that none can plead a reasonable ignorance of the impending doom. Every excuse must be taken away. The justice and long-suffering and forbearance of God in delaying threatened vengeance till all have had an opportunity to receive a knowledge of his will, and space to repent, must be vindicated. An angel is sent forth, panoplied with Heaven’s power. The light that encircles the throne enshrouds him. He comes to the earth. None but the spiritually dead – yea, “twice dead, and plucked up by the roots” – would fail to realize his presence. {DAR1909 717.1}

Where are people today who’ve realised the presence of that angel? How many must be dead twice over plucked up by the roots?

Light flashes everywhere. The dark places are lighted up. And while his presence dispels the shadows, his voice in thunder tones utters a warning. He cries “mightily.” He speaks in no feeble tones, and with no uncertain sound. It is no parlor announcement, but a cry, a mighty cry, a cry with a strong voice. The fatal defects in the profession of a worldly church are again pointed out. Their errors are once more, and for the last time, exposed. The inadequacy of the present standard of godliness to meet the final crisis is emphasized beyond all mistaking. The inevitable connection between their cherished errors and irretrievable and everlasting destruction is heralded till the earth resounds with the cry. Meanwhile, great Babylon’s sins mount up to the heavens, and the remembrance of her iniquities comes up before God. The storm of vengeance gathers. The great tidal wave of supernal wrath rolls onward. The feathery foam plays along its crest, indicating that but an instant remains ere it will burst upon the great city of confusion, and proud Babylon will go down as a millstone sinks in the depths of the sea. Suddenly another voice rings out from heaven, “Come out of her, my people!” The humble, sincere, devoted children of God, of whom there are some still left, and who sigh and cry over the abominations done in the land, heed the voice, wash their hands of her sins, separate from her communion, escape, and are saved, while Babylon becomes the victim of the just judgments of God. There are stirring times before the church. Let as be ready for the crisis. {DAR1909 717.1}

He wrote that just after 1888.

Can you see where we are positioned now?

Many people haven’t heard it. They say, “Where’s this loud voice? Where is this?” Which is described there. We’ve been living for 132 years from the time of 1888 and it hasn’t happened? It certainly has, but why haven’t the people noticed? Because they’re twice dead plucked up by the roots.

That’s what we are looking at. It was stated here, the humble, sincere, devoted children of God, of whom there are some still left. Who is the one that’s giving that message and who are the people that humble few that are still to come out? Can you see only a very small number? This idea of a grandiose response to the wonderful word of God is just not in the equation of these words. The great majority of churches and atheistic-minded people have received all the warnings, but they haven’t even registered properly.

We are living now at the time when that crest is already foaming at the top, are we not? Can’t we see it? Just at that time, another voice from heaven. Can we see the tsunami described? What do we know concerning the voice from heaven?

We, who stand as Seventh Day Adventist people today, have passed through the Seventh Day Adventist movement. The third angel Revelation 3:14 onwards and the description of Laodicea is given there. We’ve been through this for many, many, many years Laodicea has started way back.

That third angel. We’ve been through that. We’ve been into the fourth angel movement, another movement, which started in the first world war, the reform movement, the Seventh Day ministry reform movement. We’ve seen Revelation 18:1-3 and Revelation 3:20. He spoke to the Laodicea in ministry in verses 14 to 19. Now he’s speaking to any man and that any man who would open the heart to the 1888 message would move forward. That’s what we’ve seen in the reform movement in the past. So where are we now? Where are we now? Are we not in Revelation 18:4?

That Voice from Heaven

What is that voice from heaven? In Christ’s day, a voice came from heaven;

Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: ¹⁷And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

The people that heard it thought they heard thunder. They didn’t recognize it. “It was thunder, so what?” All the voices of God that have come in the past have not been registered by the majority, but there was the voice from heaven and it was what? It was who? The spirit of God that Jesus saw resting upon him. A voice from heaven, the Holy Spirit upon Jesus and that’s what launched out his ministry.

How was the voice from heaven in Jesus Christ’s day understood and received?

At the baptism the Holy Spirit had descended on Christ, and God’s voice had said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” But the Pharisees heard not the voice; they saw not the Spirit of God as a dove hovering over the Saviour. “Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape,” Christ declared. {RH March 26, 1901 par.6}

As at different times during Christ’s work divinity flashed through humanity, and He stood transfigured before the people, the Jewish leaders were deeply impressed. But as they talked it over with one another, their unbelief strengthened, and the evidence that should have convinced them was rejected. The strongest evidence was no evidence to them, while the weakest, most superficial arguments, if against the truth which the Saviour brought, were sound in their estimation. They had started upon a path leading to eternal ruin. {RH March 26, 1901 par.7}

Can you see why the third, the Revelation 18 angel with all the convincing power that touched the people, was treated the same way as the Pharisees treated the voice from heaven and treated Jesus’ powerful presentation? This is how it happens. Haven’t we seen this amongst our own company? Haven’t we seen how people have testified and were strongly impressed that what they were hearing was the truth? Then what happened? They talked it over. They talked it over and then it lost its power. This has happened all through history since the beginning of 1844. This has happened.

How is it received today – the power, the voice from heaven, the Holy Spirit, that is seen and experienced by Jesus and his people?

As we have been strongly impressed with the pure truth, and that has brought us to convictions, yet we’ve seen others just walking away from it and we wonder why. What is happening?

There must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have, will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it. {FLB 333.6}

When the Holy Spirit is poured out upon God’s people, that voice from heaven that’s going to give the last and final warning just before that the time the tsunami crest crashes down, how will it be received?

It may be falling on hearts all around, but it will not be discerned or received. This is why I asked in the beginning. It’s been for all these years, where are we standing now? Have we missed out on something? No, we haven’t. The Lord has been speaking powerfully. He’s been appealing to us, and he wants to use those who receive the Holy Spirit, the voice from heaven. He wants to use them as Jesus was used to go and convince God’s people in Babylon.

Let us pause to assess our experience, to assess our experience at this time in the light of the time that has passed that Jesus has said when these things begin to happen. These is all things of the past. We’ve seen as I described in the beginning, the whole story of the end of the world, passing in front of us with the first and the second world war and now this terrible tsunami, ready to burst upon the planet.

What’s my situation now? Where do I fit in now at this moment of time? Are we discerning the voice from heaven? What is needed to discern the voice from heaven?

Many have in a great measure failed to receive the former rain. They have not obtained all the benefits that God has thus provided for them. They expect that the lack will be supplied by the latter rain. When the richest abundance of grace shall be bestowed, they intend to open their hearts to receive it. They are making a terrible mistake. The work that God has begun in the human heart in giving His light and knowledge must be continually going forward. Every individual must realize his own necessity. The heart must be emptied of every defilement and cleansed for the indwelling of the Spirit. {TM 507.1}

Can you not feel that this is what the Lord’s been doing with us? This is the work that must be going on so that the voice from heaven will be received and will be passed on.

The heart must be emptied of every defilement and cleansed for the indwelling of the Spirit. It was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God, that the early disciples prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. {TM 507.1}

The point is to discern what is needed now.

The same work.. {TM 507.1}

What same work? Confession that the disciples did for confession, forsaking of sin, earnest prayer, and consecration of themselves to God prepared them to receive it.

The same work  only in greater degree, must be done now. Then the human agent had only to ask for the blessing, and wait for the Lord to perfect the work concerning him. It is God who began the work, and He will finish His work, making man complete in Jesus Christ. But there must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. {TM 507.1}

Do we clearly see where we stand in time? The position that we are in now? What is our responsibility to be able to recognize the Holy Spirit so that then we can be used when that voice is to be loudly proclaimed, “Come out of her my people.” If we discern and receive by confession and forsaking of sin by permitting God to cleanse us, haven’t we been going through this? Is this not the message that has been voiced from this pulpit time and time again, and by the power of the Holy Spirit?  Haven’t we experienced the moving of the Holy Spirit upon us? Well, it says here that unless we move under its direction, eventually, as we’ve experienced from others, there is a deterioration and people walking out and there are only a few little people left.

There must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain, which we’ve experienced.

Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. {TM 507.1}

If we discern and receive, then what is to follow when we have discerned, received, and the Lord has cleansed us and brought about a faithful people, smaller number, standing there cleanse, purified, and the Holy Spirit is fully poured upon them. What’s the next event?

Among the last acts of His ministry was the second cleansing of the temple. So in the last work for the warning of the world, two distinct calls are made to the churches. The second angel’s message is, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” And in the loud cry of the third angel’s message a voice is heard 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. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities” {7BC 985.5}

When God’s people are ready, this will be the core. This will be the message from heaven by this other agency, as Uriah Smith expressed. How will this unfold in our experience?

Let us conclude with this research, the unfolding of this in our experience, having received the fullness of the Holy Spirit, having recognized it, and having lived in harmony with it, put it into practice under the power of the Holy Spirit.

Recall the tidal wave that Uriah Smith expressed there. All the other work has been done. Now comes this tidal wave and the crest is already glistening, ready to burst. And just at that time, when it’s ready to burst, comes this other voice from heaven.

“Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life.” Every position of truth taken by our people will bear the criticism of the greatest minds; the highest of the world’s great men will be brought in contact with truth…{Ev 69.1}

Does that sound a little bit like Nebuchadnezzar brought in contact with Daniel?

Now we seem to be unnoticed…{Ev 69.1}

“What can you, small people do?” I hear Seventh Day Adventists telling me. The Seventh Day Adventists churches are noticed. The reforms are noticed. They’re all noticed. They’re all big confrontational situations out there, but these people are not noticed.

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}

We must individually know for ourselves what is truth, and be prepared to give a reason of the hope that we have with meekness and fear, not in a proud, boasting, self-sufficiency, but with the spirit of Christ. We are nearing the time when we shall stand individually alone to answer for our belief. Religious errors are multiplying and entwining themselves with Satanic power about the people. There is scarcely a doctrine of the Bible that has not been denied. {Ev 69.2}

Isn’t that what we’re feeling? Isn’t that what we’re seeing? Sister White is writing here that the time is coming, when we will be tested singly to stand for our belief. What will bring the few little people to the forefront? Movements, the tidal wave, everything moving towards this where we are today.

A single individual of enlarged conceptions of duty, whose soul is in communion with God and who is full of zeal for Christ, will exert a powerful influence for good. He drinks at no low, turbid, polluted stream, but from the pure, high waters at the fountainhead; and he can communicate a new spirit and power to the church. As the pressure from without increases, God would have His church vitalized by the sacred, solemn truths they believe. The Holy Spirit from heaven, working with the sons and daughters of God, will surmount obstacles and hold the vantage ground against the enemy. God has great victories in reserve for His truth-loving, commandment-keeping people. The fields are already whitening for the harvest. We have light, and rich, glorious endowments from heaven in the truth made ready to our hands; but men and women have not been educated and disciplined to work in the fast-ripening harvest fields. {5T 581.2}

I love the spirit of prophecy that gives us exactly the position we are in and what we should be doing at this present time. Here it is, even if it’s a single individual, there are other statements similar to this nature, as we stand singly and alone under the power that the Holy Spirit has impacted us with. We have an effect upon God’s church, God’s people in Babylon, and it is what the pressure increasing. The events that happen around us that will bring us to the forefront, the pressure increasing. So, what do we expect as the pressure increases that will bring us to the forefront here?

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…{GC 607.1}

Because now they’ve received the Holy Spirit and it’s the voice from heaven now. The pressure has come about to bring them to the forefront. Now, they stand in the courts. They 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}

What is the description that describes this in our experience, as we have to stand there and defend the truth because we’ve been brought to the courts? What’s the enlargement there?

The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of his Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. {GC88 606.2}

You don’t have to have been going to college, under the Holy Spirit, this will happen.

Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of Spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power,—all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from Heaven. As the people go to their former teachers with the eager inquiry, Are these things so? the ministers present fables, prophesy smooth things, to soothe their fears, and quiet the awakened conscience. But since many refuse to be satisfied with the mere authority of men, and demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” the popular ministry, like the Pharisees of old, filled with anger as their authority is questioned, will denounce the message as of Satan, and stir up the sin-loving multitudes to revile and persecute those who proclaim it. {GC88 606.2}

This is how it pans out in our experience. So where are we at this moment?

What is our specific task right now? I’ve said this time and time again in the past, and people have argued the point. What is our specific task right now? Is it there to just go along and try to impress the people?

“No, we are so small. We can’t make a big impact on the world. The movements have to bring us to the forefront. We can’t do anything like that.”

It’s true. What the Seventh Day Adventist, a small people can do? What could Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego do when the pressure was on? The pressure will come and that’s when we have to be ready.

Conclusion

It was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God, that the early disciples prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The same work, only in greater degree, must be done now. {YRP 25.4}

Yes, we are to witness to others, but that is only to strengthen us to be able to do His work.

It is God who began the work, and He will finish His work, making man complete in Jesus Christ. But there must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. {YRP 25.4}

This is our specific present activity, and don’t get laid off by the false teachings of modern Adventism that says, “Go and do mission work. Go and do mission work,” and neglect your personal preparation.

This is our work so that the Holy Spirit, the voice from heaven, when he has finished his work of purifying us will say, “this is my beloved son.”  Hear ye him and God’s people in Babylon will hear and come out. That voice from heaven is none other than the Holy Spirit. Speaking through the faithful remnant who have prepared themselves to receive him and be used by him.

And so let us go to and do what it takes to be moved by the Holy Spirit.

Amen.