Page 247 - Early Writings (1882)

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The Third Angel’s Message
[See Appendix.]
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. Said the angel, “They will be brought into close combat with
the beast and his image. Their only hope of eternal life is to remain
steadfast. Although their lives are at stake, they must hold fast the
truth.” The third angel closes his message thus: “Here is the patience
of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God,
and the faith of Jesus.” As he repeated these words, he pointed to
the heavenly sanctuary. The minds of all who embrace this message
are directed to the most holy place, where Jesus stands before the
ark, making His final intercession for all those for whom mercy
still lingers and for those who have ignorantly broken the law of
God. This atonement is made for the righteous dead as well as for
the righteous living. It includes all who died trusting in Christ, but
who, not having received the light upon God’s commandments, had
sinned ignorantly in transgressing its precepts.
After Jesus opened the door of the most holy, the light of the
Sabbath was seen, and the people of God were tested, as the children
of Israel were tested anciently, to see if they would keep God’s law. I
saw the third angel pointing upward, showing the disappointed ones
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the way to the holiest of the heavenly sanctuary. As they by faith
enter the most holy, they find Jesus, and hope and joy spring up anew.
I saw them looking back, reviewing the past, from the proclamation
of the second advent of Jesus, down through their experience to
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