Sabbath, November 17, 2012

Memory verse

“And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God.” Revelation 7:2.

The angel with the seal

1. What did the apostle John see ascending from the east? What message did this angel proclaim with a loud voice?

Revelation 7:2, 3 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

2. Does the word “east” indicate specific direction or a place? Compare this with the fact that all the openings of the sanctuary faced eastward.

Revelation 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea.

John 10:9 I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.

“Then my attending angel directed me to the city again, where I saw four angels winging their way to the gate of the city….

“I saw four angels who had a work to do on the earth, and were on their way to accomplish it. Jesus was clothed with priestly garments. He gazed in pity on the remnant, then raised His hands, and with a voice of deep pity cried, ‘My blood, Father, My blood, My blood, My blood!’… Then I saw an angel with a commission from Jesus, swiftly flying to the four angels who had a work to do on the earth, and waving something up and down in his hand, and crying with a loud voice, ‘Hold! Hold! Hold! Hold! until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads.’ ” –Early Writings, pp. 37, 38.

3. Who represents the angel coming from the east having the seal of the living God?

Revelation 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God.

Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand.

“The prophet saw ‘four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.’ Another angel, ascending from the east, cried to them, saying, ‘Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.’ This points out the work we now have to do, which is to cry to God for the angels to hold the four winds until missionaries shall be sent to all parts of the world, and shall have proclaimed the warning against disobeying the law of Jehovah.” –(Review and Herald Extra, December 11, 1888) Last Day Events, p. 125.

“The third angel, flying in the midst of heaven and heralding the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus, represents our work. The message loses none of its force in the angel’s onward flight, for John sees it increasing in strength and power until the whole earth is lightened with its glory. The course of God’s commandment-keeping people is onward, ever onward. The message of truth that we bear must go to nations, tongues, and peoples. Soon it will go with a loud voice, and the earth will be lightened with its glory. Are we preparing for this great outpouring of the Spirit of God?” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 383.

“The third angel is represented as flying through the midst of heaven, crying with a loud voice, ‘Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus’ (Revelation 14:12).” –Selected Messages, book 2, p. 117.

Those who have the seal of God

4. What group did the apostle John see with the Lamb on Mount Zion? Who are they?

Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

“I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them, when a voice said to me, ‘Look again, and look a little higher.’ At this I raised my eyes, and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world….

“Soon we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus’ coming. The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake….

“The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus’ new name.” –Early Writings, pp. 14, 15.

5. At the end, why will many people be disappointed?

Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 25:11, 12 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

“The great mass of professing Christians will meet with bitter disappointment in the day of God. They have not upon their foreheads the seal of the living God.” –(Letter 121, 1903) …

“Only those who receive the seal of the living God will have the passport through the gates of the Holy City.” –(Letter 164, 1909) Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 970.

6. What will the enemy of present truth try to do during the sealing time?

Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

Isaiah 9:16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

“The enemies of the present truth have been trying to open the door of the holy place, that Jesus has shut, and to close the door of the most holy place, which He opened in 1844, where the ark is, containing the two tables of stone on which are written the ten commandments by the finger of Jehovah.

“Satan is now using every device in this sealing time to keep the minds of God’s people from the present truth and to cause them to waver. I saw a covering that God was drawing over His people to protect them in the time of trouble; and every soul that was decided on the truth and was pure in heart was to be covered with the covering of the Almighty.

“Satan knew this, and he was at work in mighty power to keep the minds of as many people as he possibly could wavering and unsettled on the truth.” –Early Writings, p. 43.

The sealing time

7. The work of the third angel started in 1844. What is his mission? When did his sealing work begin?

Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand.

“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….

“I then saw the third angel. Said my accompanying angel, ‘Fearful is his work. Awful is his mission. He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the tares, and seal, or bind, the wheat for the heavenly garner. These things should engross the whole mind, the whole attention.’ ” –Early Writings, pp. 254, 118.

8. What message does the sealing angel proclaim to those holding the winds of strife? Considering that the sealing vision (quoted in the following note) was given in 1849, what can be understood about when the sealing work began?

Revelation 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

“I saw four angels who had a work to do on the earth, and were on their way to accomplish it. Jesus was clothed with priestly garments. He gazed in pity on the remnant, then raised His hands, and with a voice of deep pity cried, ‘My blood, Father, My blood, My blood, My blood!’ Then I saw an exceeding bright light come from God, who sat upon the great white throne, and was shed all about Jesus. Then I saw an angel with a commission from Jesus, swiftly flying to the four angels who had a work to do on the earth, and waving something up and down in his hand, and crying with a loud voice, ‘Hold! Hold! Hold! Hold! until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads.’

“I asked my accompanying angel the meaning of what I heard, and what the four angels were about to do. He said to me that it was God that restrained the powers, and that He gave His angels charge over things on the earth; that the four angels had power from God to hold the four winds, and that they were about to let them go; but while their hands were loosening, and the four winds were about to blow, the merciful eye of Jesus gazed on the remnant that were not sealed, and He raised His hands to the Father and pleaded with Him that He had spilled His blood for them. Then another angel was commissioned to fly swiftly to the four angels and bid them hold, until the servants of God were sealed with the seal of the living God in their foreheads.” –Early Writings, p. 38.

For review and meditation

• What is the relationship between the third angel and the sealing angel?
• Why will many people be disappointed when Jesus comes?
• Is the beginning of the sealing work in the future or in the past?

“Another angel ascending from the east, cried to them, saying, ‘Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.’ This points out the work we now have to do, which is to cry to God for the angels to hold the four winds until missionaries shall be sent to all parts of the world, and shall have proclaimed the warning against disobeying the law of Jehovah.” –The Home Missionary, August 1, 1889.