By John Thiel mp3

Scripture Reading: Habbukuk 2:1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. 2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

The hunger and thirst for people to see Jesus coming in their lifetime was checked:

2 Thessalonians 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

He then goes into the description which is none other but the papacy. It had yet to be developed in the Christian era.

We who live today, we can look back over the years of the dark ages, the time of reformation, to the statement of the time of the end. When is the beginning of the time of the end?  It is when the papacy has been fully revealed and he is taken finally into captivity; a deadly wound would be given him. We all know the date is 1798. The papacy has been fully revealed. From 1798 onward, Christians began to become stirred. Jesus is coming again.  It’s all revealed now.  In consequence of that, there are messages we know well as Seventh Day Adventists such as Revelation 14:6-14. The three angels’ messages which declare that there is a judgement; the investigative judgement. The first angels’ message, the hour of Gods judgement is come and people who declare Babylon is fallen.  The third angel declares that Jesus is coming.

1844

We know the story well there was a terrible disappointment by those who expected Jesus to come in 1844. Looking at that prophecy of the 2300 days, he scripture reading that we read, was one they applied to their situation of their disappointment. 

As early as 1842 the direction given in this prophecy to “write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it,” had suggested to Charles Fitch the preparation of a prophetic chart to illustrate the visions of Daniel and the Revelation. The publication of this chart was regarded as a fulfillment of the command given by Habakkuk. No one, however, then noticed that an apparent delay in the accomplishment of the vision—a tarrying time—is presented in the same prophecy. After the disappointment, this scripture appeared very significant: “The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry…. The just shall live by his faith.” GC 392.2

We know the scripture application was not due to a delay of the vision but because they miscalculated the date. When they recalculated it carefully, 1844 came and they were again disappointed. From 1844 onwards, the anticipation of Seventh Day Adventists was that Jesus would come in their lifetime. They really believed that would take place.  True Adventists were occupied with watching according to the words of Jesus.

Luke 12:36 36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Those words were very significant to faithful Seventh Day Adventist’s at that time. They were watching and they were careful hoping of this event that Jesus was coming very soon; we must be ready for him.

I saw that watch after watch was in the past. Because of this, should there be a lack of vigilance? Oh, no! There is the greater necessity of unceasing watchfulness, for now the moments are fewer than before the passing of the first watch. Now the period of waiting is necessarily shorter than at first. If we watched with unabated vigilance then, how much more need of double watchfulness in the second watch. The passing of the second watch has brought us to the third, and now it is inexcusable to abate our watchfulness. The third watch calls for threefold earnestness. To become impatient now would be to lose all our earnest, persevering watching heretofore. 2T 193.3

Notice that the story of this watching was very much repeated in the writings of Sr White. As in the days of Noah. They were not watching and then flood came.  When was the doom sealed of the antediluvians? Not that the flood was coming, but when the door was closed of the ark. The shutting of the door of the close of probation for them is what Jesus is pointed to.

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.

Have you always thought it is Jesus coming in the cloud? Is this what you thought? He has just mentioned as in the days of Noah the door was shut.  What is He saying?

Jesus has left us word: “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” We are waiting and watching for the return of the Master, who is to bring the morning, lest coming suddenly He find us sleeping. What time is here referred to? Not to the revelation of Christ in the clouds of heaven to find a people asleep. No; but to His return from His ministration in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, when He lays off His priestly attire and clothes Himself with garments of vengeance, and when the mandate goes forth: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” 2T 190.1

What were they to be watching for? Not to see Jesus coming in the clouds. The thing that was going to capture and overwhelm them in surprise, will be when Jesus finishes His work in the sanctuary as our high priest.  That is what Sr white is saying Jesus is referring to. 

Watching for when Jesus is going to leave the heavenly sanctuary to put on His garments of vengeance. When the declaration is made, he who is righteous let him be righteous still. This is what they are to be watching for. In the days of Noah, it was obvious that the door was shut when the angel came and shut the door.

Probation Closing

How does scripture indicate to us a visible indication that we are to watch for?  Is there something we are something we are to watch for that we will identify, oh, probation has closed now. As it is coming close to it. In the days of Noah, the animals started to come. The events were pointing to the closing of the door.  Do we have any indication of what we are to watch for to identify the circumstances when Jesus leaves the most holy place; when He will finish His work? Do we have a visible object or circumstance to look for? 

Daniel 12: 1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Is this a description of Jesus finishing His work in the most holy place? He stands up, that’s it. This is the beginning of the plagues and the preparation of Jesus actually coming in the clouds. Did you notice the language? And at that time; what time is this pointing at?  The Bible was not originally separated into chapters.  Daniel 11:45 was just before 12:1.

Daniel 11:45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

He shall plant the tabernacles of his palace in the glorious holy mountain. And at that time, Michael shall stand up.

What are we looking for? For the coming of Jesus that shouldn’t catch us as a thief. What are we to look for? There is a particular event that marks the time for when Jesus finishes His work in the sanctuary above. Adventist pioneer ministries knew what this was about.

1905

We have no time to lose. We know not how soon our probation may close. At the longest, we have but a brief lifetime here, and we know not how soon the arrow of death may strike our hearts. We know not how soon we may be called to give up the world and all its interests. Eternity stretches before us. The curtain is about to be lifted. But a few short years, and for everyone now numbered with the living the mandate will go forth. MH 454.2

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: … and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:11. MH 454.3

Are we prepared? Have we become acquainted with God, the Governor of heaven, the Lawgiver, MH 454.4

In 1905 she wrote this and she said the curtain is about to be lifted. But a few short years; for everyone numbered with the living, the mandate will go forth.

They were looking at the signs at the fulfilment of what would happen before Jesus closes His work and she said, we only have a few more years. They were looking at the events. 

Follow what the pioneers of Adventism were expecting and watching for. In 1904 the Adventist church published a lesson pamphlet on the eastern question – The Prophecies of Daniel 11 first quarter.

In this sabbath lesson, the subject was the Prophecies of Daniel. As they come through all the different prophecies, they come to lesson 12 The Eastern Question. They deal with this subject of Daniel 11:45. What do they understand? What did they teach? I said they. Not an individual. We are hearing today they were not united on this subject. I beg to differ. If they were not united, why would they put a Sabbath lesson together?

“Question 3. How is the success of Turkey, “the king of the north,” still further foretold in this verse? What three powers were to escape the conquests of Turkey?” The Prophecies of Daniel 11 first quarter.

They were dealing with verses 41 and 42. Then they come to verse 45.

Note 5 – “According to this prophecy, where must Turkey remove her seat of government? What is suggested as the reason why Turkey will come to his end in Europe?  Has Turkey been upheld by other powers?” The Prophecies of Daniel 11 first quarter.

They were taking their students through the Sabbath school study of this subject. In note number 2 it says:

“It must be clear to ever careful reader that the driving of the Turk from the soil of Europe will be the fulfillment of the closing verse of the eleventh chapter of Daniel’s prophecy. What makes this kind of prophecy of momentous interest to every one now living is the fact that the downfall of the Turkish Empire will be the signal of the most sublime events that the world has ever witnessed. The prophecy closes with the first two verses of chapter 12”.  The Prophecies of Daniel 11 first quarter.

What were they teaching? What were they watching? They were watching the sick man of the east which was Turkey the headquarters of the Ottoman Empire that was melting away. They were watching the fulfilment of that prophecy that the king of the north in verse 45 will shift his palace into Jerusalem. Between the seas in the holy mountain.  They were watching the events and they were watching closely and they were expecting it to happen. 

Stephen Haskell in the books Prophetic Waymarks page 416, Uriah Smith, AG Daniels, all these ministers preached the same thing about the eastern question. Haskell puts it this way:

“The time will come when he (King of the North) will remove from Constantinople, and take up his abode in Palestine; that is, plant his tabernacles between the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Even the Turks themselves are looking forward to the time when they will have to remove their capital from Constantinople to Jerusalem.” Haskell’s Prophetic Waymarks p.416

This is taught by the Seventh Day Adventist church in 1904. Not by any individual but by the church. Let us observe something very important now. Sr Whites writings are often twisted and turned to say something different to what they believed back there:

Elder [Uriah] Smith spoke on the Sabbath question to a large congregation this morning, and this evening he speaks on the Eastern question. I feel so grateful that Brother Smith is not lost to the cause. He seems fully and thoroughly united with us; seems like Brother Smith of old. 4LtMs, Lt 55, 1884, par. 6

She said in the evening he spoke on the eastern question. It’s late now, it’s getting dark but I will give you a report tomorrow.

The evening meeting was largely attended. Elder Smith spoke with great clearness, and many listened with open eyes, ears, and mouths. The outsiders seemed to be intensely interested in the Eastern question. He closed with a very solemn address to those who had not been preparing for these great events in the near future. 4LtMs, Lt 55, 1884, par. 7

Sr White was right behind what he was preaching. To bring the point home, by the time we get to 1898, the subject of the eastern question continued to be circulated and taught by the ministers in their public meetings. We read the Sabbath School lesson in 1904.

Elder Daniells speaks this evening upon the Eastern Question. May the Lord give His Holy Spirit to inspire the hearts to make the truth plain.” Ms. 189 (December 25, 1898).

There was no question what the truth was and the truth had to be made plain as they were presenting it.  The truth of the Eastern question was taught in the sabbath school lesson and that is what they taught in public meetings.  They understood well when the day would come when the Caliphate that was head quartered in Turkey was going to be shifted to Jerusalem.  They knew that would mean what we have just been considering. That would mean that Jesus would finish his work and they were watching this closely.  What were the events that they were watching closely?

In the Crimean war, the Russians were at the gates of Constantinople ready to take it over and force the Turks to go and flee to the place they possess which is Jerusalem. At that time, Jerusalem belonged to them. But after the second world war, Jerusalem doesn’t fully belong to them anymore but at that time, it did. They were watching the events, the news by reading the newspapers that some serious things were taking place in Turkey by the Russians and that would force them out. This event kept on being elongated and didn’t come about. 

The Vision that Tarried

These were the 1870’s and 1880’s poised ready to go but God had to prepare a people. He gave the message of Waggoner and Jones in 1888. Sr White said if they would have accepted the message in 1888, Jesus would have come in two or three years. But due to the rejection of the message, what do we read in her heart broken expressions?

“If the people of God had gone to work as they should have gone to work right after the Minneapolis meeting in 1888, the world could have been warned in two years and the Lord would have come.” General Conference Bulletin, 1892.

We may have to remain here in this world because of insubordination many more years, as did the children of Israel; but for Christ’s sake, His people should not add sin to sin by charging God with the consequence of their own wrong course of action. Letter 184, 1901. Ev 696.3

We will have to remain in this world for what? For many more years. Is this a tarrying time for the fulfilment of that prophecy of that vision? That is where it shall tarry really applies because that vision could have been fulfilled shortly after 1888 and it was poised ready for it and if God would have let the winds go, it would have happened and Jesus would have finished his work but no; because of insubordination, they had to go back like the children of Israel into the wilderness again before they could get into Canaan.

Had Adventists, after the great disappointment in 1844, held fast their faith, and followed on unitedly in the opening providence of God, receiving the message of the third angel and in the power of the Holy Spirit proclaiming it to the world, they would have seen the salvation of God, the Lord would have wrought mightily with their efforts, the work would have been completed, and Christ would have come ere this to receive His people to their reward. 1SM 68.1

He would have come if they wouldn’t have opposed the work of the beautiful message of Christ our Righteousness in 1888.

It was not the will of God that the coming of Christ should be thus delayed. God did not design that His people, Israel, should wander forty years in the wilderness. He promised to lead them directly to the land of Canaan, and establish them there a holy, healthy, happy people. But those to whom it was first preached, went not in “because of unbelief” (Hebrews 3:19). Their hearts were filled with murmuring, rebellion, and hatred, and He could not fulfill His covenant with them. 1SM 68.3

He had to tarry for forty years and what does Sr White say now? 

For forty years did unbelief, murmuring, and rebellion shut out ancient Israel from the land of Canaan. The same sins have delayed the entrance of modern Israel into the heavenly Canaan. In neither case were the promises of God at fault. It is the unbelief, the worldliness, unconsecration, and strife among the Lord’s professed people that have kept us in this world of sin and sorrow so many years. 1SM 69.1

It is a heart cry isn’t it? Of people wanting Jesus to come in their life time but now like the Hebrews, they had to go out into the wilderness.  The vision of Daniel 11:45 tarried. What were the words of our scripture reading? That vision that would have had it’s fulfilment shortly after 1888 as we have so plainly seen, the language is very simple to understand.

Habakkuk 2:1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. 2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

It’s the faith of the true genuine seventh day Adventist that needs to study this closely. When Daniel was given the vision of chapter 11, the language was very interesting. The vision was given for an appointed time.

Daniel 10:14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

The whole story of the vision will come to it’s climax and it will not tarry although for a while it has to tarry. Why did it tarry? Because of the insubordination of the Adventist people at that time. Now we are at a point. We are watching. Jesus will soon finish in heaven. What do the watchers now behold?  If you are a watcher on the walls of Zion, what are we seeing?  If you are able to pick up on the presentation, I gave on the drying up of the river Euphrates on YouTube.  There will you hear these outcries.

“Our capital will not be Cairo, Mecca or Medina it will be Jerusalem! Our cry will be millions of martyrs march toward Jerusalem. Millions of martyrs march towards Jerusalem.   Banish the sleep from the eyes of the Jews. Come on you lovers of martydom, you are all Hamas (speaking to Egyptians). Banish the sleep from the eyes of the Jews. Brandish your weapons, say you prayers and pray to the Lord. Forget about the rest of the world, forget about their conferences. Come on, you lovers of martydom. Indeed, all the lovers of martyrdom are Hamas. Yes, Jerusalem is our goal or else we shall die as martyrs on it’s threshhold.” May 1 2012 – Egyptian Cleric Safwat Higazi launches Presidential Campaign for MB Candidate Muhammad Mursi.

Unfortunately we the Muslims lost our aim to head towards Jerusalem. The water of our eyes froze making us blind, and our hearts that was destined to beat for Jerusalem is now instead conditioned for rivalry being in a state of war with each other.” Turkish president called on citizens to «raise their hands in supplication for this blessed night towards Allah to restore the Al-Aqsa Mosque [Jerusalem] to be re-owned by Muslims, and to remove the mist from their eyes, to see Jerusalem in their hands at every moment and at every opportunity” President Erdogan – Turkey.

He is trying to bring together the whole Muslim world to march to Jerusalem to have it as their headquarters.  Check the word Caliphate on google. You will get all the information on the transferal from Turkey to Jerusalem. Are we seeing a revival of what the pioneers were expecting? Are we watching that Jesus is very close now to closing his work as our high priest in the most holy place? Jesus is nearly finished with you and me.  Very soon we shall watch the vision fulfilled and not tarry any longer.

What is the description according to Daniel 12:1? At that time when they place their caliphate in Jerusalem in the seas, in the glorious holy mountain. What will happen? It’s written in Revelation. The one who is standing as high priest in heave with the censor.

Revelation 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

What was happening here when He finishes His work? He cast down the censer.

Revelation 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. 19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

When that time of trouble is unleashed after Jesus and His finishing work, what is to unfold? 

Armageddon

The next lesson in the 1904 Sabbath lesson pamphlet is Armageddon and what they taught. 

Revelation 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

This is about Turkey being dried up. Turkey is the watershed of the river Euphrates. This is none other but the Muslim world and the river Euphrates is going to be dried up so the kings of the east can be prepared. The three unclean spirits will be gathered together.

Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon

I’m going to come as a thief, it will catch you unawares.  We need to understand or we will be caught out. Jesus here refers to what he says in Matthew 24. He says if you don’t watch, probation will close and you are going to be caught with no clothes on. What is the meaning of this?  What is the meaning of the words, blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments lest he walk naked? Are you watching? Are you keeping your garments right now? Are you aware of what’s going on? The 1888 message that was given back then, is being revived again and the people that hear it don’t want to accept it today. That message is clothing Gods people will Christs righteousness so they will be covered and protected when Jesus finishes his work in the most holy place.

What It Means To Watch And Make Sure You Have Your Garments On – The Wedding Garment

This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us. “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6. Everything that we of ourselves can do is defiled by sin. But the Son of God “was manifested to take away our sins; COL 311.4

By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah. COL 311.4

Can you see what we should be occupied with? Today, Seventh Day Adventists are occupied with everything but. They are occupied with arguing the point. They are occupied with arguing what the pioneers believed and have brought in completely new ideas.  They have brought in doctrines not brought in by early Adventists.  Today you hear the preaching that the King of the North is not Turkey but that the king of the north is the papacy. That is not what they taught as a church back there. They were occupied, the faithful Seventh Day Adventists in engaging together in this beautiful message of Christ our righteousness that was opposed by the Adventist church.  What we are to be occupied with is not getting into argument trying to deal with this disharmony going on. What we are to be occupied with is to get hold of the original Adventist message is about. 

I’m passionate that we get hold of the word that is to do at this time. We are to put on the robe of Christs righteousness. Don’t let me get distracted. I have been distracted over and over again as a minister. Both in the SDA Reform movement and in Adventism.  They want to rope me into discussion and wasting my time. My time and my ministry the Lord gave me, is the original ministry God gave to original Adventism. I have their books as my text books and it’s my work to present as a minister of God what it means to put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness. What is it? By his perfect obedience He has made it possible that every human being to obey Gods commandments.  When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united is united to his heart. The will merged into his will. Is your will merged into Gods will perfectly? Or are you holding onto certain ideas of you own?

The thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. COL 311.4

…the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind. 311.4

May God help us to be steadfast to each other to do this work as Jesus is very close to finishing His work right now.  Remember that the study of these prophecies that we are to study are not there to argue the point. They are there to study. This is what the prophecies are for:

2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

May God do this to us and may we do it in harmony with Him. Let us go to and study prophecy and truth for the purpose of putting on the garment of Christ’s righteousness and letting the day star arise in our hearts.

Amen.