By John Thiel, First Angel’s Message, study 17, mp3

The question may be asked, what has discipleship to do with the First Angel’s Message or indeed any of the other Three Angels’ Messages? In order to identify what discipleship is we read:

The angels are represented as flying in the midst of heaven, proclaiming to the world a message of warning, and having a direct bearing upon the people living in the last days of this earth’s history. No one hears the voice of these angels, for they are a symbol to represent the people of God who are working in harmony with the universe of heaven. Men and women, enlightened by the Spirit of God and sanctified through the truth, proclaim the three messages in their order. {2SM 387.1}

From this statement we understand that the proclamation of the three angel’s messages has to do with a people who are practically engaged with the truth they proclaim. They are people who work in harmony with the universe of heaven so that they are working, living, and actively engaging in the discipleship activity. If we are to be identified with the three angels messages we need to have the messages in our very experience in order to proclaim them. How can we possibly receive the living practicality of the three angel’s messages unless we are disciples of Christ? To understand discipleship we need to watch and examine the work of Jesus with his twelve disciples.

Matthew 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. Read the rest of this entry →