The Third Angel’s Message

What is the core content of the third angel’s message?
Mediation of Christ and perpetuity of the law of God
Those who had accepted the light concerning the mediation of Christ and the perpetuity of the law of God, found that these were the truths brought to view in the third message. {4SP 275.2}

When did Jesus send the third angel’s message?
Jesus sent the third message after he entered the Most Holy Place, which was after the 2300 days ended on October 22, 1844.
“When Christ entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to perform the closing work of the atonement, he committed to his servants the last message of mercy to be given to the world. Such is the warning of the third angel of Revelation 14.” {4SP 273.1} “As foretold in the Scriptures, the ministration of Christ in the most holy place began at the termination of the prophetic days in 1844. To this time apply the words of the Revelator, “The temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.” [REV. 11:19] The ark of God’s testament is in the second apartment of the sanctuary. As Christ entered there, to minister in the sinner’s behalf, the inner temple was opened, and the ark of God was brought to view.“  {4SP 273.2}

How did the third angel light up the past, the present, and the future to the early advent believers after the passing of the time in 1844?
The third angel built upon what had already been proclaimed. The angel that following the third is now proclaiming it’s message to all parts of the world.
The message of the second angel’s message is repeated to the world by that other angel who lightens the earth with his glory. These messages all blend in one, to come before the people in the closing days of this earth’s history. {2SM 116.2} These messages are all related. It is a message with three parts. They are known as three because of the order of their rise. Once they are all risen, however, they are one.

Why does the evangelical Christian world not accept the truth of Christ’s change of ministration from the holy place to the most holy place in 1844?
 Because it requires them to acknowledge God’s Law as still valid, thus requiring them to keep the Sabbath. So rather than accepting the Sabbath, they choose not to accept the fact that Christ’s place of ministration has changed.
None could fail to see that if the earthly sanctuary was a figure or pattern of the heavenly, the law deposited in the ark on earth was an exact transcript of the law in the ark in Heaven, and that an acceptance of the truth concerning the heavenly sanctuary involved an acknowledgment of the claims of God’s law, and the obligation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Here was the secret of the bitter and determined opposition to the harmonious exposition of the Scriptures that brought to view the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary. How hard men tried to close the door which God had opened, and to open the door which he had closed! But “He that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth,” had declared, “Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” [REV. 3:7, 8.] Christ had opened the door, or ministration, of the most holy place, light was shining from that open door of the sanctuary in Heaven, and the fourth commandment was shown to be included in the law within the ark; what God had established, no man could overthrow.  {4SP 275.1}

How is the message of justification by faith the third angel’s message?
It is impossible for us to survive the judgment with out having Christ as out mediator. In the judgment, Christ displays his perfect character, instead of ours, to be judged. We must simply believe and follow Him .
“This message…presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ…All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent.”[Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 91-93. (1896) {Ev 190.4}]

What is the purpose of the numbering system for the angels’ messages of Revelation 14?
To lead people to have gradual progression of truth leading them from the Holy place into the Most Holy Place.
Many saw the perfect chain of truth in the angels’ messages, and gladly received them in their order, and followed Jesus by faith into the heavenly sanctuary. {EW 256.2}

How do the first, second, and third angels’ messages all blend into one?
The first message announces the Investigative Judgment (which happens in the Most Holy Place).  The second message proclaims the fall of the churches after they rejected the first message.  And the essence of third message is Christ’s move into the Most Holy Place and the perpetuity of the Law.  Therefore, the messages blend into one, in that they all have something to do with what is happening in and from the Most Holy Place.

How can you show that the mediation of Christ and the perpetuity of the law of God are the truths of the third angel’s message?
The common thread through the three messages is the Most Holy Place; so it can be understood that the third message would be on this subject also.  However, the Most Holy Place has little significance by itself; it is an important place because Christ has gone there to perform the final atonement.  It because of our faith in Christ’s ministration in the Most Holy Place that we will have the “patience” to endure trials and the terrible wrath of God that will come upon the wicked.  “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12  Now, the above verse says that the saints keep the commandments, showing that God’s Law is still valid and must still be kept.  We can know that we are to keep all the commandments (including the fourth) because the majority of the  third angel’s message warns the world of the consequences of disregarding God’s Sabbath and receiving the mark of the beast, which is Sunday worship.

Where is the “here” in Revelation 14:12: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God” “and their faith in Jesus.”?
The prophet John was shown in a vision the people  that were  represented by the five wise virgins. These people had accepted the third angel’s message.  This message is the most fearsome that has ever been uttered. It warns God’s people to be careful. They must constantly watching out lest they stumble. “They will be brought into close contact with the beast and his image.” If they they are faithful, if they remain steadfast, of they keep their gaze fixed in Jesus then they have the assurance of eternal life. their lives are now at stake, but they must have patience. If they are patient in enduring the trials and keeping the commandments of God then they will find that their persistence will finally pay off. They find that the price was cheap enough.

What is the “action step[s]” for the third angel’s message?

Enter the Most Holy Place with Jesus to prepare for the upcoming Marriage and put up a guard and pray that Jesus will help you to be ready for Marriage because, if Jesus does not cover you in marriage, you are with Satan.
But the third angel was pointing them to the most holy place, and those who had had an experience in the past messages were pointing them the way to the heavenly sanctuary. Many saw the perfect chain of truth in the angels’ messages, and gladly received them in their order, and followed Jesus by faith into the heavenly sanctuary.{EW 256.2}
This message was designed to put the children of God upon their guard, by showing them the hour of temptation and anguish that was before them{EW 254.1}

What are the two purposes for the warning against the beast and his image contained in the third message?
All may know why they are to be inflicted, and have opportunity to escape them. Also to put children of God on guard, by showing them the hour of temptation and anguish that was before them
As the ministration of Jesus closed in the holy place, and He passed into the holiest, and stood before the ark containing the law of God, He sent another mighty angel with a third message to the world. A parchment was placed in the angel’s hand, and as he descended to the earth in power and majesty, he proclaimed a fearful warning, with the most terrible threatening ever borne to man. This message was designed to put the children of God upon their guard, by showing them the hour of temptation and anguish that was before them {EW 254.1}
The most fearful threatening ever addressed to mortals is contained in the third angel’s message. That must be a terrible sin which calls down the wrath of God unmingled with mercy. Men are not to be left in darkness concerning this important matter; the warning against this sin is to be given to the world before the visitation of God’s judgments, that all may know why they are to be inflicted, and have opportunity to escape them…   The warning of the third angel…   will command the attention of the world. {GC 449.2}
What does it mean to receive the mark of the beast?
Receiving the mark of the beast means that you have gone directly against the laws that God has laid out out for us. Making the same choices as the beast and promoting the same day of worship that beast does.

What is “the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation”?
The seven last plagues are the “wine of the wrath of God” poured out upon the wicked, once probation is closed and God has withdrawn His protective mercy from the earth.
“When Christ ceases His intercession in the sanctuary, the unmingled wrath threatened against those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark (Revelation 14:9, 10), will be poured out. The plagues upon Egypt when God was about to deliver Israel were similar in character to those more terrible and extensive judgments which are to fall upon the world just before the final deliverance of God’s people.”   {GC 627.3} “These plagues are not universal, or the inhabitants of the earth would be wholly cut off. Yet they will be the most awful scourges that have ever been known to mortals. All the judgments upon men, prior to the close of probation, have been mingled with mercy. The pleading blood of Christ has shielded the sinner from receiving the full measure of his guilt; but in the final judgment, wrath is poured out unmixed with mercy.” {GC 628.2}

How are those who receive the mark of the beast “tormented with fire and brimstone” … ?
Probation has closed and they can no longer accept the mercy and love that they refused. Thus they must suffer the consequences. They must die the Second Death.

What does it mean that “the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever”?
This is a picture of sin and the eternal consequences it results in. Jude 7 says that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are “suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” however, these cities are not still burning. This fire and smoke represent the extinction of sin eternally.

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~ by bible11brad on June 16, 2009.