This Sabbath school lesson explored the church triumphant—the 144,000—comprising faithful overcomers from the periods of Sardis (1798-1833), Philadelphia (1833-1844), and Laodicea (1844-present). These faithful believers, who have been sealed with the Father’s name and perfected in character, will have the unique privilege of entering the temple in heaven and sitting with Christ on His throne. Through the harvest time—the period of probationary time coming to a close—God is preparing His people for His second coming, with many of those who died in faith under the third angel’s message to be raised in a special resurrection to witness Christ’s return.

Last week’s lesson took us from Pergamos to Sardis. As we studied, we recalled that Pergamos was still God’s church, but in a deplorable condition—the development into the Roman Catholic Church. As we studied, the crucial question: whom is Jesus addressing in each church? The angel, the minister, the teachers, and preachers of the church. The ministry.

When He was talking to the angel of the church of Pergamos, what was His complaint? The teachers weren’t doing their job properly. The condition of the church was related to the condition that teachers were in. There were some among them—He’s talking about the ministers—teaching doctrine that displeased Him greatly.

The doctrine of Balaam and the Nicolaitans

The ministers and teachers at that time, being still the angel of the church—what was happening? Balaam was hired by Balak, one of the wicked nations at the time. Balak wanted Balaam to curse Israel because he knew that God was with them. He said, “I can’t withstand them. So please curse them, and then they can’t succeed.”

But Balaam couldn’t curse them, so he introduced a pagan festivity in the vicinity of the Hebrews—introducing paganism into the true worship to cause Israel to fall. And that’s what Jesus was referring to here. He said, “You have among you those who proclaim the doctrine of Balaam, who put a stumbling block in front of God’s people.”

At that time, under Pergamos, the headquarters were being placed in Rome. That was the period, because “Pergamos” means “high and elevated.” In the eyes of the world, they were elevated. The church was no longer being persecuted.

The Call to Repentance

In the message to Pergamos, what did He say to them at the end? What was His final message after He had told them what they were doing wrong?

Revelation 2:6 Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

That’s the important word: “Repent.”

Pergamos to Thyatira: The Transition to Papal Power

When we get to Thyatira, what did we learn? Thyatira was the next church, and that church of Pergamos had become corrupted and became what we know now as the papal church.

How did Jesus identify the papal church in Thyatira?

Revelation 2:20 I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants.21 I gave her space to repent.

Can you see what He had said in Pergamos? “Repent.” I haven’t thrown you out yet. Repent. Realise what you’re doing. But now she’s come into the period of Thyatira. From that point in time when it moved into the period of Thyatira, the people that He called upon to repent—the angel of the church of Pergamos—becomes Jezebel. That’s the picture. The church of Pergamos becomes Jezebel. I gave her time to repent, but she didn’t. In the period of Thyatira, what were the people that were identified as God’s true people? The Waldenses, the Huguenots—those faithful ones.

The History of Apostasy: Israel and the Church

How clearly does Jesus compare the history of apostasy in the ten tribes of Israel with the church during AD 538 to 1798? The reference is Ahab and Jezebel. These were the fallen tribes of Israel, and now He’s comparing that to Jezebel in the church period.

During this time, they were worshipping Baal—sun worship. Sunday keeping is Baal worship. The papal church was persecuting the faithful people in Thyatira.

The Period of Sardis: The Reformation

We come to a period of time when we move on to the period of Sardis, which is the period of the Reformers. Now we look at the study objective: to study the church during the time of the end and to discern the expression of the true witness that identifies believers arising from these three church periods to be included among those who see Jesus’ second coming. This is a completely new concept to modern Adventism today. We’re recognising the formation of the church triumphant out of these three periods: Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

The Time of the End—A Long Period?

Is the time of the end a long period of time? As you read Daniel 12:4, 9, and 10, what statements tell you this is a long period?

Daniel 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

This takes time. It’s a time in which many shall run to and fro. The running to and fro since 1798—they had some shipping; they didn’t have airplanes. Their running across the earth took a long time. But as knowledge increased, it took time to reach the point where now they’re flying from one end of the earth to the other. This knowledge has increased so people can travel fast. It’s a period that has been going on since 1798.

The note talks about the time of the end—the time in which the first angel’s message should be proclaimed to our world. But there’s a second and a third, and a fourth of Revelation 18. You can see the time is quite an extensive period—the time of the end.

The Harvest Time

How did Jesus indicate this period of time as being the end of the world? As you read Matthew 13:28-30 and 38-43, what did Jesus call the time of the end?

“The harvest.” The end of the world is the harvest, and the reapers are the angels.

Bear that in mind—the time of the end, Jesus said, is the harvest, and the reapers are the angels. This is the time in which God sends forth His angels to gather out of His kingdom the things which offend and them that do iniquity. Is that work quick, or is that a long period of time? That takes time.

The Third Angel’s Work

Sister White identifies one of the angels in reference to the period of the harvest. She says, “I then saw the third angel. Said my accompanying angel, ‘Fearful is his work. Awful is his mission.'” What is his work? He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the tares.

Isn’t that the harvest time? The third angel. The first angel does the cutting—the truth does the cutting. The second angel identifies Babylon, and the third angel is tying them in bundles. The selection of the wheat from the tares is going on from the time of the third angel. What year was the third angel’s beginning? 1844.

Understanding the Harvest

What is the harvest time? According to the note: it’s when the wheat and the tares are separated. In the Old Testament period, the harvest time is a lengthy period of time. It’s a season.

Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

It’s not saying “at” the time; it’s saying “in” that time—in that period.

The tares and the wheat are to grow together until the harvest; and the harvest is the end of probationary time. Christ’s Object Lessons 71.3

Probationary Time vs. Close of Probation

When did probationary time commence? After Adam’s sin. From that time, probation was given. Now we come to the time of the harvest, which the third angel is one of the angels doing. The probationary time is from there to the close of probation. But what does she say?

This is important to understand, because most people misunderstand this. They expect the close of probation to be something instant. But she’s saying “the end of probationary time”—it’s the period of probationary time coming to a close. That’s the harvest time. That’s where you would get caught if you think the harvest is at the end of the world. It’s at the end when probation has closed, but the world’s still going on.

Why is this such a differentiating timeline between 1798, the time of the end, and the close of probationary time? You would have thought that it would be the same.

That’s why all the Bible societies went up, so God’s word went to and fro and scattered itself all over the place, and the accountability was there. Who started the first angel’s message? William Miller. When did he start to preach? 1833. But before that time he was studying it. God was preparing him to proclaim the first angel’s message. The first angel’s message began in 1833—that was when he publicly began to preach.

The Date Marking the Time of the End

Does the Bible reveal a date that marks the commencement of the time of the end? When was the Pope taken captive? 1798.

As you were reading in Daniel 7:24, the papacy would be given a period of time. You add all them up together: 1,260. So “time, times, and half a time” is clearly identified there, and that finished in 1798.

And since that time, many have run to and fro, and knowledge on these prophetic subjects has marvelously increased. DAR1909 520.1

Uriah Smith only understood the revelation of the truth on the matter. He was still in a time where they were riding horse and buggy, traveling across the world with sailing ships. But then as time went on, the knowledge increased.

1798 is the commencement of the time of the end. in 1833, William Miller proclaimed the first angel’s message, and that’s when the end of probationary time started—it developed towards 1844. As you study God’s word, you discover God doesn’t just go “chop.” It all takes time. They couldn’t move forward until 1798 was achieved—papal persecution stopped altogether.

When Does Sardis Commence?

Where in time does the church of Sardis commence? The word “Sardis” means “that which remains,” or “prince of song of joy.”

If that time wouldn’t have been shortened, there would be none left. All of God’s people would have been slaughtered. Sardis had to begin when papal persecution ended.

Uriah Smith wrote:

If the dates of the preceding churches have been correctly fixed, the period covered by the church of Sardis must commence about the year 1798. Dar 363.2

If the dates of preceding churches have been correctly fixed, the period covered by the church of Sardis must commence about the year 1798, because it had to be when people remained who could continue to live as Christians. Sardis commenced about 1798—”that which remained.”

The Unready in Sardis

Sardis includes a company that will be surprised by Christ’s second advent. Identify the people in Sardis who are included among those unready for Christ’s second advent.

Revelation 3:1 Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 2 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.”  3 If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

He’s talking directly about the close of probation. Probation will come, and you won’t know. He is saying what Jesus said in Matthew 24: you’re going to be caught by surprise. There are going to be people that come out of that period of Sardis comprising a people who must know the coming of Jesus, and who, if they’re not watching—let’s follow that thought through.

The 1844 Disappointment

William Miller was correct that the door would close. He was correct in one thing: Jesus would close a certain opportunity for people. He would go into the Most Holy place, and that was afterwards clarified. They didn’t want to keep learning or studying. They basically rejected the first angel’s message, and that’s why it was declared that they have fallen. He proclaimed it, and it didn’t happen. So many left and went away. But many stayed and decided to keep studying.

From Sardis to Philadelphia to Laodicea

The period of Sardis started in 1798, and they were fully made aware that the coming of Jesus was very close. The period of Sardis concluded when? 1833, when they rejected what was being taught. Who was among the people that came out of the Methodist Church and other Protestant churches, which was Sardis? William Miller, Ellen White, James White, and all the other early pioneers. They came out of that period of Sardis. They all had common ground: they were persecuted for their faith, which led into their beautiful relationship.

The overcomer out of Sardis became Philadelphia. But that was a very short period: 1833 to 1844. And then beginning in 1844—and 1848 was Laodicea.

Can you see that all those people He’s addressing are associated with the coming of Jesus?

The Message to Each Church

We read, “I come quickly. Hold fast.” “You are in danger—if you’re not watching, it’s going to catch you by surprise.” Philadelphia.

Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly.

He’s talking to people who are expecting Jesus to come quickly.

Then comes Laodicea, which is the people of the judgment, Revelation 14:13-15.

The Special Resurrection

Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly. Hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Revelation 14:13 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth… that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.”

What do you depict from that scripture? These are still the people from Sardis that have moved into Philadelphia, and the faithful ones are moving into Laodicea. They fall asleep along the way and die, but they get to witness Jesus coming because they have a special resurrection.

These people are all identified as having seen the darkening of the sun, the falling of the stars, and the signs. The third angel’s message is the message that brought the Sabbath to them, but they were already under the first angel’s message. They were sealed by the third angel. It’s the overcomer out of Sardis and Philadelphia that is to be sealed among the Laodicean people. This is an important detail to understand. “This generation will not pass till all things be fulfilled.” The people of that generation that saw the falling of the stars—those signs—that generation and all the generations after that will be able to see Jesus coming. But in our generation, who have studied all these things and know all these things, that generation at the very end shall not die. How does it apply when Jesus says, “This generation will not pass till all things be fulfilled,” if those people have passed away? They have passed away, but they will be resurrected to see the coming of Jesus, and that was the promise in Revelation 14:13-15.

This event following these words—Christ coming in the clouds—in Revelation, that’s under the third angel’s message. As the third angel is giving his message, there is a special mention made: “Blessed are they which die in the Lord from henceforth.”

Remember who these people are who died from henceforth. They came out of Sardis. They went through Philadelphia. Can you see the connection? That’s why they shall not pass—even though they died, they’ll be brought back up.

That was the other aspect of that. But more fine-tuning in reference to our generation that is going to see all this—the most direct application of them not passing is people like us—that generation. But these people are included among those people that will see all these things happening. The generations that were in the period of Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea are all included together as one company. That’s the important thing to identify here. Philadelphia was such a short period of time compared to others—only ten years, not even ten years. It’s been compared to the ten days. In the Old Testament, as they were coming to the warning for the Day of Judgment, the Day of Atonement, there were ten days of warning, trumpet blowing. That’s what’s being referred to.

The Church Triumphant—The 144,000

The important issue is that out of those three periods, the faithful people out of Sardis, the faithful people out of Philadelphia, the faithful people out of Laodicea comprise the 144,000.

They were identified as clothed in white raiment—the overcomer. Then we come to the period of Philadelphia, 1833 to 1844. What does He say to the overcomer there? “He will make him a pillar in the temple of God.” Then Laodicea, 1844—the overcomer “He will sit with me on my throne.” Where is God’s throne? In the temple, in the sanctuary. Now look at the expression of the 144,000 in Revelation 7:14-17.

They “came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” These people in the period of the end become purified. The overcomer out of Sardis is going to have white garments. They washed their robes and made them white.

• Philadelphia—the overcomer is able to serve in the temple.
• Laodicea—the overcomer sits on the throne with Jesus.

What else did He say to Philadelphia? “I will write my name and the name of God upon him.” Going to the whole subject of the 144,000, what do they have in their foreheads? The name of God—the name of New Jerusalem. These 144,000 can all be identified in those three churches. The Father’s name is a character trait. Their characters have been perfected so that they are overcomers.

The 144,000 in the Temple

Sister White was in vision and she writes: “Who only can go into the temple?” Did they all want to go? They all tried to get into the temple, and we could not. Then I was taken away, and I could see those that were trying to get into the temple, and they could not get in… Those that did not get into the temple were talking and mourning, because they could not get into the temple.

Then Jesus raised His lovely voice … Only the 144,000 entered that place. EW 18.2

Those who could enter the temple were the overcomer of Sardis, the overcomer of Philadelphia, and the overcomer of Laodicea. This is the period of time—the time of the end: 1798 through to the close of probation. The harvest is the period of the end of probationary time.

Is there ever a time when—because the 144,000 are among a large multitude, the great multitude probably wanted to go into the temple as well?

Only the 144,000 are the only ones who can ever enter the temple. They had the position for eternity of walking with Jesus and governing with Jesus. They’re sitting on His throne. They were brought low in Laodicea, so that now they can be awarded the highest position ever given by God.

They literally become, in a way, higher than angels. We were made lower than the angels, but the 144,000 have become higher. There is a statement in Sister White’s writings that says we will be in an experience that they never understood. But the position that they have gained is expressed there, that because the 144,000 went through such a severe trial. They go through really severe trials, even in this time. God’s trials prepare them. We are put under such mental stress, mental pressure, in which the mind needs to understand how to come to Christ, to the priesthood of Christ.

They become like the Levitical priesthood, which was the symbol of that reality. They were the ones involved in the whole entire priestly work within the original sanctuary. They were the only ones that didn’t bow to the idol when everyone else did. They were the only tribe that did not bow down to the idol when Moses came down.

The Bible talks about “a holy priesthood.” It’s not talking about every single Christian. They had gone through a training process from Sardis through to Laodicea—a training experience that identified them as overcomers, part of the 144,000.

That was written to Sardis when He introduced it: “I have not found thy works perfect before God.” “Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die, for I have not found thy works perfect before God.” That’s the work of that specific 144,000 that they must have—the righteousness of Christ. The overcomer out of that—righteousness by faith, which is the perfect work of Christ. Now they have that period of time where the 144,000 are being chosen. Some of them—not until probation closes out of the period of Laodicea are they all gathered together.

What period are we in? We’re in the period of Laodicea from 1848 onwards. That period is still the period of developing of the 144,000. So some people have died—blessed are they who have died in the faith since that time. Those who are part of the 144,000 must go through the time of trouble. And those who pierced Him will see Him come. But that happens during the time just as He’s about to come. So that special resurrection is what we see under question eight.

The Special Resurrection

Who are raised in Daniel 12:1-2? The overcomers. Enduring the plagues:

..there is a mighty earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake and so great” (Revelation 16:18). “The whole earth heaves and swells like the waves of the sea. Its surface is breaking up. Its very foundations seem to be giving way. Graves are opened, and ‘many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth… awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt'” (Daniel 12:2). All who have died in the faith of the third angel’s message come forth from the tomb glorified to hear God’s covenant of peace with those who have kept His law. FLB 182

Those who died in faith under the third angel’s message, keeping the Sabbath, came forth from their dusty beds. That includes Sister White. “They that pierced Him”—then they see their friends, because their friends never heard the testimony of truth about the Sabbath. They can be among the great multitude.

There are people ever since 1844, 1848—people who have been the friends of God’s faithful preachers but have never come to the testing truth, and they continued to be saved among the great multitude. But those who receive that message or reject that message can’t be among them. Only those who receive it.

Clarifying the Church Triumphant

This is where the whole thing clarifies. We’re seeing here the overcomer out of Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, who are the church triumphant. That’s our study—the church triumphant. What makes this church triumphant? They succeeded.  Will they get glorified once we are caught up? No, they’re only glorified in character, not in body. So they’ll still get their new body?

When we look at the great Sunday law and the whole entire crisis that’s going to lead up to a death decree—although that is called the great testing time, that is just simply the great testing time of character for those people that are alive at that time?

The people that had passed into the grave—although, because a lot of people stumble on this, they say they didn’t have the testing time because they didn’t have the reality of the Sunday law. They did because the testing time was with character. The Sunday law is just the catalyst for the character development of the people that are alive at that time. It’s the final test. Because they will be resurrected at the beginning of the second plague. The Sabbath became a test for those who received the Sabbath message and rejected it. Those that passed that test were the ones that continued in the faith from 1848. Our time is up, but we keep on investigating this. There’s much to think about.