Angels From Pentecost to the Last Days
169
which were to take place upon the earth, and the state of the church
down through to the end; her backslidings, and the position the church
should occupy if she would please God, and finally overcome.
The angel from heaven came to John in majesty. His counte-
nance beamed with the excellent glory of heaven. He revealed to John
scenes of deep and thrilling interest concerning the church of God,
and brought before him the perilous conflicts they were to endure.
John saw them pass through fiery trials, and made white and tried,
and, finally, victorious overcomers, gloriously saved in the kingdom
of God. The countenance of the angel grew radiant with joy, and was
exceeding glorious, as he showed to John the final triumph of the
church of God.
John was enraptured as he beheld the final deliverance of the
church, and as he was carried away with the glory of the scene, with
deep reverence and awe he fell at the feet of the angel to worship him.
The angel instantly raised him up, and gently reproved him, saying,
See thou do it not; I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that
have the testimony of Jesus; worship God; for the testimony of Jesus
is the spirit of prophecy.
The angel then showed John the heavenly city with all its splendor
and dazzling glory. John was enraptured and overwhelmed with the
glory of the city. He did not bear in mind his former reproof from the
[243]
angel, but again fell to worship before the feet of the angel, who again
gave the gentle reproof, See thou do it not; for I am thy fellowservant,
and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them that keep the sayings of
this book; worship God.—
Spiritual Gifts 1:130, 131
.
Christ, the royal messenger, came to John when on his sea-bound
isle, and gave him the most wonderful revelations of Himself.—
The
Signs of the Times, March 3, 1890
.
The mighty Angel [of
Revelation 10
] who instructed John was no
less a personage than Jesus Christ. Setting His right foot on the sea,
and His left upon the dry land, shows the part which He is acting in
the closing scenes of the great controversy with Satan. This position
denotes His supreme power and authority over the whole earth. The
controversy has waxed stronger and more determined from age to age,
and will continue to do so, to the concluding scenes when the masterly
working of the powers of darkness shall reach their height. Satan,
united with evil men, will deceive the whole world and the churches