Posted By: Charity
When Michael Stands Up - 04/08/19 03:14 AM
Quote:
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. Daniel 12:1.
Cleansing the Temple
On the first day of the week before the Passover, the ninth day of the first Hebrew month, Christ rode triumphantly into Jerusalem and the record says he viewed the temple and then went out. The following day, on the tenth day of the month, he drove out the money changers for the second time. We know that it was the tenth day because 1) it is strongly implied by the text that it was the following day Mark 11:11-15, and 2) in the type, the Passover lamb was set aside on the tenth day. Christ became a marked man from that day because it settled the Jews in their purpose to put Him to death.
Inspiration tells us that the first time he drove out the money changers He was announcing his mission. While the gospels do not say directly what day he did this, they do tell us that it was just before the Passover, and since Ellen White tells us that this was his announcement of His mission, the type points us again to the 10th day. Notice what He did: He stood up in the temple as guardian and judge, king and priest, and cleansed it.
It struck me today that this may also be a type of when Michael stands up and cleanses and delivers the church one last time in the final battle. Ellen White tells us that Christ's dual cleansing of the temple is a type of the second and third angel's messages, both of them cleansing messages.
Quote:
When Jesus began His public ministry, He cleansed the temple from its sacrilegious profanation. Among the last acts of His ministry was the second cleansing of the temple. So in the last work for the warning of the world, two distinct calls are made to the [fallen] churches. The second angel’s message is: “Babylon is fallen is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” And in the loud cry of the third angel’s message a voice is heard from heaven saying, “come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins. Review and Herald, Dec. 6, 1892.
The Conquest of Canaan
Israel crossed the Jordan and began to possess the Promised Land on the 10th day of the first month as well. Joshua is a type of Christ who brings spiritual Israel to her inheritance. He, as captain of the hosts of heaven leads the armies of Israel triumphantly in her final conquest. Since anciently the 10th day of the month is the day Christ, captain of the hosts lead Israel by Joshua into Canaan, this date is a leading candidate for that time prophesied by Daniel when He will stand up again and lead us fearlessly on white horses into the great final battle.
But before the armies of light and darkness fully engage the prophecy tells us there is a dramatic pause, a prophetic half hour of silence, seven days, as God takes His place as judge of all the earth. Revelation 8:1. Anciently, when Israel crossed the Jordan on the 10th day, the men were circumcised and the record states that the Lord removed the reproach of Israel on that day. Again this is a type of Michael standing up for His people, removing the reproach that Satan, the accuser of the brethren has cast on them. In Zechariah 2 and 3 we have the same picture. At the close of chapter 2, God rises to judge and vindicate Israel. In the next scene of Joshua and the Angel, the Lord removes Joshua's reproach. Joshua's filthy garments, a symbol of the sins of Israel and his own sins that he bears as high priest are exchanged for the righteousness of Christ and the crown of His glory.
The pause over and the reproach of Israel removed, seven days later on the 16th of the month which is the Feast of First Fruits, the armies of spiritual Israel swing into action. The seven trumpets sound culminating in the overthrow of spiritual Jericho, Babylon the Great at the seventh trumpet.
Some such as Pastor Henrique are teaching that the 144,000 are manifested on the Feast of First Fruits and this is a reasonable interpretation. The only caution I'd give is that no one knows he is fully sealed until he passes the test of the death decree and hears the voice of God announce the everlasting covenant. And as I mentioned above Ellen White also cautions us that there will be two distinct cleansings of the church at the end brought about by the second and third angels. She states in another place that the third angel's message is the sealing message. So notice that the cleansing of the second angel's message is not the sealing message. It precedes the sealing message of the third.
Daniel also cautions that among the wise (those who receive the wisdom and grace of the latter rain), some of these will fall to purify and refine those who remain. So while the 144,000 may be manifested on the Feast of First Fruits at the beginning of the battle of Armageddon, it is only those who are victorious right to the end of the battle who will be sealed.
Many Adventists still hold to the view that Michael standing up marks the close of probation and that Armageddon takes place after this. While all of the inspired sources do teach that probation closes for many when Michael stands up, (the unwise virgin class), they also teach that probation doesn't close for the rest of humanity – the wise virgins and the rest of the wedding guests - until the end of the battle. Regarding the perils of Armageddon the Lord Himself cautions us: Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. Revelation 16:15. He forewarns us that during Armageddon it is entirely possible to loose our salvation because probation has not yet closed.
I'd be grateful for any comments, questions, feedback, etc pro or con.