Third Angel's Message

Revelation 14:9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,
10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
11 "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."
12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and (their faith in Jesus.
13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them."

I posted this originally in the Sabbath School site, but I think we need a topic devoted to this subject, as some seem to think the message is focused on "Look out for the beast". Ellen White certainly didn't see it that way.



Notice here, it is JUSTIFICATION by faith. Don't miss that. It isn't the ten commandments. The next paragraph further explains:



Please note the words "RECEIVE" the righteousness of Christ, and the evidence of having received this is obedience. So obedience is a by-product of receiving Christ's righteousness. And Christ's righteousness is a GIFT.


The gospel of His GRACE.
So the Everlasting Gospel is that we have peace with God because of what Jesus has done for us, and God will GIVE us the GIFT of HIS righteousness. HIS love, HIS merits are to be our focus, not the works of man. This is the Third Angel's message.

The focus is being subtly shifted to personal effort to obey, when obedience is a GIFT. Satan himself appears as an angel of light, the scriptures say, and he says, "Of course you are justified. Now you must put effort into being good." But the real effort is to come to Jesus and accept HIS gift. One of the biggest and most effective hurdles Satan has invented is the doctrine of reasonableness and common sense. In human terms, obedience is something we DO. But in Christian terms, obedience (or right-doing, which is the definition of righteousness or sanctification) is something we RECEIVE, and our efforts which will allow us to succeed are those which bring us again and again to the foot of the cross, where we behold our Saviour, and by beholding, we are changed.

I thank God today for His complete and utterly thorough salvation, that can save even me.<p>Now, can someone "marry" all these texts into the message of justification by faith for me?

[ March 30, 2002: Message edited by: zyph ]
[ March 30, 2002: Message edited by: zyph ]

One of the ideas that is gaining ground within Adventism is that the mark of the beast is not Sunday observance. If that is so, then the converse of that belief - that Sabbath observance is not the seal of God - will logically follow.

These ideas - that the mark and seal are not really outward acts - have some legitimacy if the church ever taught that an outward act could save you or damn you. But our pioneers, who understood what the mark and the seal are, also understood that a Jew is one who is a Jew inwardly, and that true obedience is a matter of the heart.

Zyph, in my opinion, the third angel's message is as you point out a matter of the heart. Christ is ministering his grace from the Most Holy Place where the law is enshrined. As a minister of the New Covenant, he is preparing the final generation translation, clothing them in His righteousness. How is he doing that?

The third angel's message is the final warning call to the world. It is the essence of Adventism. Since the third angel's message is the essence of Adventism, it entails our whole message. Because of that, you may want to break your topic down into specific issues so that the how question can be given more focus;

For example
1) What is the mark of the beast
2) What is the seal of God.
3) How does one receive the rob of Christ's righteousness
4) How do we participate in the Most Holy Place ministry of Christ.

This is your topic though, and so these are only suggestions.

Zyph, A study on the three Angels messages, points out that the three are actually one and should not be separated in these last days.


I suggest we all look at the definition of " righteousness" and "justification".

DEFINITION S BY Strong #8217;s Concordance
1345 dikaioma {dik-ah'-yo-mah}
from 1344; TDNT - 2:219,168; n n
AV - righteousness 4, ordinance 3, judgment 2, justification 1; 10
1) that which has been deemed right so as to have force of law 1a) what has been established, and ordained by law, an ordinance 1b) a judicial decision, sentence 1b1) of God 1b1a) either the favourable judgment by which he acquits man and declares them acceptable to Him 1b1b) unfavourable: sentence of condemnation 2) a righteous act or deed

1347 dikaiosis {dik-ah'-yo-sis}
from 1344; TDNT - 2:223,168; n f
AV - justification 2; 2
1) the act of God declaring men free from guilt and acceptable to him 2) abjuring to be righteous , justification<p>This is a very, very important topic....and essential to our salvation.

Thank you for bringing it to our attention. Are the messages of Righteousness by Faith/justification by Faith connected? Let us find out. I pray our understanding to be from the Bible and SOP.

quote:

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Chap. 14 - The Experience of Righteousness by Faith Outlined

PORTION OF REVIEW AND HERALD ARTICLE, NOVEMBER 4, 1890, TITLED "CHRIST THE WAY OF LIFE." PUBLISHED IN SELECTED MESSAGES, BOOK ONE, PP. 365-368.

"Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:14, 15). {FW 99.1}

Repentance is associated with faith and is urged in the gospel as essential to salvation. Paul preached repentance. He said, "I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:20, 21).

There is no salvation without repentance. No impenitent sinner can believe with his heart unto righteousness, Repentance is described by Paul as a godly sorrow for sin that "worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of" (2 Corinthians 7:10). This repentance has in it nothing of the nature of merit, but it prepares the heart for the acceptance of Christ as the only Saviour, the only hope of the lost sinner. {FW 99.2}

As the sinner looks to the law, his guilt is made plain to him and pressed home to his conscience, and he is condemned. His only comfort and hope is found in looking to the cross of Calvary. As he ventures upon the promises, taking God at His word, relief and peace come to his soul. He cries, "Lord,
100
Thou hast promised to save all who come unto Thee in the name of Thy Son. I am a lost, helpless, hopeless soul. Lord, save, or I perish." His faith lays hold on Christ, and he is justified before God. {FW 99.3}

But while God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through the merits of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ's righteousness while practicing known sins or neglecting known duties. God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the soul. {FW 100.1}

James writes of Abraham and says, "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:21-24). In order for man to be justified by faith, faith must reach a point where it will control the affections and impulses of the heart; and it is by obedience that faith itself is made perfect. {FW 100.2}

Faith the Condition of Promise

Without the grace of Christ, the sinner is in a hopeless condition; nothing can be done for him; but through divine grace, supernatural power is imparted to the man and works in mind and heart and character. It is through the impartation of the grace of Christ that sin is discerned in its hateful nature and finally driven from the soul temple. It is through grace that we are brought into fellowship with Christ, to be associated with Him in the work of salvation. Faith is the condition upon which God has seen fit to promise pardon to sinners; not that there is any virtue in faith whereby salvation is merited, but
101
because faith can lay hold of the merits of Christ, the remedy provided for sin. Faith can present Christ's perfect obedience instead of the sinner's transgression and defection. When the sinner believes that Christ is his personal Saviour, then according to His unfailing promises, God pardons his sin and justifies him freely. The repentant soul realizes that his justification comes because Christ, as his Substitute and Surety, has died for him, is his atonement and righteousness. {FW 100.3}

"Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Romans 4:3-5). Righteousness is obedience to the law. The law demands righteousness, and this the sinner owes to the law; but he is incapable of rendering it. The only way in which he can attain to righteousness is through faith. By faith he can bring to God the merits of Christ, and the Lord places the obedience of His Son to the sinner's account. Christ's righteousness is accepted in place of man's failure, and God receives, pardons, justifies, the repentant, believing soul, treats him as though he were righteous, and loves him as He loves His Son.

This is how faith is accounted righteousness; and the pardoned soul goes on from grace to grace, from light to a greater light. He can say with rejoicing, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:5-7). {FW 101.1}

Again: it is written, "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12, 13). Jesus declared, "Except a man be born again,
102
he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (verse 5). It is not a low standard that is placed before us, for we are to become the children of God. We are to be saved as individuals, and in the day of test and trial we shall be able to discern between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not. We are saved as individual believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. {FW 101.2}

Many are losing the right way, in consequence of thinking that they must climb to heaven, that they must do something to merit the favor of God. They seek to make themselves better by their own unaided efforts. This they can never accomplish. Christ has made the way by dying our Sacrifice, by living our Example, by becoming our great High Priest. He declares, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). If by any effort of our own we could advance one step toward the ladder, the words of Christ would not be true. But when we accept Christ, good works will appear as fruitful evidence that we are in the way of life, that Christ is our way, and that we are treading the true path that leads to heaven. {FW 102.1}

He Becomes Our Righteousness

Christ looks at the spirit, and when He sees us carrying our burden with faith, His perfect holiness atones for our shortcomings. When we do our best, He becomes our righteousness. It takes every ray of light that God sends to us to make us the light of the world--Letter 22, 1889. {FW 102.2}

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You are right Charlene this study is much needed as it deals with our salvation. I am on way to church at this moment..but wanted to post this.

Charlene, thanks for pointing that out - the need to take all three messages as a package in our study. They build on each other.

That statement about taxing our faculties to the utmost is quite a challenge. I've known many godly SDA's, but even with most of these, they study their bibles and lessons on the couch or a high back chair that makes it easy to go to sleep and difficult to spead out several resouces and do a careful examination of a topic or passage. The Holy Spirit does all the enlightening, but we have to do the digging.

Avalee, excellent, excellent balanced statement of the Christian's relationship to Christ, and true faith. No wonder that Ellen White could say in all honesty that the message of Jones and Waggoner was the clearest teaching she had ever heard on the subject - except her own discussions with her husband. This might have been an egocentric statement, except that it was/is true.

There is really no way we can separate the two messages. Both are essential for Salvation. Justification by faith leads to Righteouness by faith and works of the Spirit, manifested by true obedience of His law, this shows that the faith is genuine. Can a person be justified without the law?

The law is embodied in all the teachings of God. If it be Justification or righteousness, salvation is by faith that is manifested in obedience, the acts of Love.

The message for this day, the present truth for this time in history is the "everlasting Gospel" the justifying message of Righteousness by faith, the three angel's messages that contains the law, judgement, the warnings of the false doctrine and the false Sabbath. The invitation to the sinners in Babylon to come out sin and into the truth of God. The above Quote Zyph has brought to us umderlines what needs to be said: TM pg 91-93

The messages of the angels must be presented to the whole world...because "it presents the gospel, binding up the two [righteousness and the obedience to the law] in a perfect whole [see Romans 5 and John 3:9 and onward.<p>Faith is Active or Passive. The promises of God and all conditional. The condition is, we must cooperate with God So He may enable us to do His will. True faith is Active. Faith without works [of the spirit] is dead.

Grace is enabling power.
There was a time when our SDA Church preached the law, the law and more law. They left out Jesus, His power to overcome and the complete trust in Jesus needed to claim every promise.

"My grace is sufficient for you"
The Message of 1888 was rejected by the church that taught a works oriented message. What has since creeped into our church is a grace, grace teaching minus the good works of the Spirit. The fruit of the converted heart.

2 Cor. 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Grace not only is unmerited favor but its God's strength to do His commands. His enabling power is Grace.

When the Bible states we are saved by Grace through Faith it does not mean "only believe",
We also must find out what it means "to Believe.
Rom 2:13 For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Zyph, let me post a part of your presentation,

I will post the Bible's "Everlasting gospel" found In Rev. 14---KJV
Rev 14:6 "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Rev 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,
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."

The only place in these passages that refere to works of any kind is in verse 12.

Zyph? might you be thinking of the everlasting covenant?
Heb 13:20 "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them].

Jer 31:33 But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people."

These text's focus are on our relationship with Christ. What He is willing to do for us/in us with our total submission, through His enabling power of Grace with complete trust and unwavering faith in Him. And true Obedience will be the fruit of this saving faith.

[ March 30, 2002: Message edited by: Charlene Van Hook ]</p>

The Signs of the Times- 03-12-96-God's Law Immutable


Just a short comment on the LAW.
As shone in the quote above, the Law is Jesus Christ. The law is the transcript of His character. When we leave the obedience of the law out of any teaching of God, we are leaving out God. To teach creation, faith, Love of God, judgement, Mercy and Grace without the Law is a half truths. The fact that God wants the law to be written on our hearts is for Him to say, "i want you to have my character".

The Jews of old did not understand this....they kept the law in it's place in the Ark and never allowed it to come into their hearts. They added to it so that it became a burden for them. When we allow God to put the law in our hearts, it does not do away with the law, for it is the law that shows us our sins...it is the mirror of what we shall become when we die to self. The law is the measuring stick during the judgement that is taking place now. The law being taught, is the character of Jesus being taught. If we teach just obedience without the focus of His Character.....that is again only half of the message. If we teach grace without the law it is not a whole truth,

For "without me you can do nothing"...but "With me, all things are possible"
Praise God for His law, for when God's character is perfectly reflected in us, He will come for His own.

We actively choose to be saved. We actively choose to do His will. We actively cooperate with Him in our salvation. We actively embrace His Character [law] for it leads to eternity.

quote:

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Third Angel's Message a Life-and-Death Question

We know that now everything is at stake. The third angel's message is to be at this time regarded as of the highest importance. It is a life-and-death question. {9MR 290.1}

The eighteenth chapter of Revelation reveals the importance of presenting the truth in no measured terms, but with boldness and power. There must be no toning down of the truth, no muffling of the message for this time. Satan has devised a state of things whereby the proclamation of the third angel's message shall be bound about. We must beware of his plans and methods. The third angel's message is to be strengthened and confirmed. . . . {9MR 290.2}

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This message from God tells us there must not be a toning down of the truth or muffling of the message. How do we tone down or muffle the 3 Third Angels Message? Does anyone have any ideas on how this may be done or is is happening in our churches now? I can say it is not happening in the church I attend and I praise God for that. Amen

In The Blessed Hope

Avalee

[ April 01, 2002: Message edited by: Avalee ]

How important is the messages of the three angels?

Counsels to Writers and Editors--Integrity of the Message----PG- 53



The hour of His judgment is come: {sorry for the caps, i am cutting and pasting from the Appendix pages
304 of Early Writings of Ellen G. White---

Notes for PAGE 238: "CLOSE OF THE SECOND ANGEL'S MESSAGE.
"WHILE WE UNDERSTAND CLEARLY THAT THE MESSAGES OF THE FIRST AND SECOND AND THIRD ANGELS ARE MESSAGES THAT HAVE THEIR APPLICATION TODAY, WE RECOGNIZE ALSO THAT IN THEIR INITIAL PROCLAMATION THE SOUNDING OF THE FIRST ANGEL'S MESSAGE WITH ITS DECLARATION THAT "THE HOUR OF GOD'S JUDGMENT IS COME" IS LINKED WITH THE PROCLAMATION OF THE EXPECTED ADVENT OF CHRIST IN THE 1830'S AND EARLY 1840'S. THE SECOND ANGEL'S MESSAGE HAD ITS INITIAL SOUNDING EARLY IN THE SUMMER OF 1844 IN THE CALL TO THE ADVENT BELIEVERS TO COME OUT OF THE NOMINAL CHURCHES THAT HAD REJECTED THE PROCLAMATION OF THE FIRST ANGEL'S MESSAGE. AND WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT THE SECOND ANGEL'S MESSAGE CONTINUES TO BE PRESENT TRUTH, THERE WAS A CLIMACTIC CLOSING UP OF THE SECOND ANGEL'S MESSAGE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING OCTOBER 22, 1844.

WHEN THE MESSAGES OF THE THREE ANGELS COME PROMINENTLY BEFORE THE WORLD AGAIN JUST BEFORE THE SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST, THE ANGEL OF REVELATION 18:1 JOINS IN THE PROCLAMATION OF THE SECOND ANGEL IN THE MESSAGE THAT "BABYLON IS FALLEN." "COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE." SEE THE CHAPTER "THE FINAL WARNING" IN THE GREAT CONTROVERSY," PAGES 603-612.

We are living in the day of judgment soon to close.

"The hour of His judgment has come"

Maranatha--Judging the Cases of the Living-- 250
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Rev. 3:3. At the time appointed for the judgment--the close of the 2300 days, in 1844--began the work of investigation and blotting out of sins. All who have ever taken upon themselves the name of Christ must pass its searching scrutiny. Both the living and the dead are to be judged "out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." Rev. 20:12.

The Great Controversy [1888 edition]-- God's Law Immutable----PG- 435
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 presented in Revelation 14. The messages of this chapter constitute a threefold warning, which is to prepare the inhabitants of the earth for the Lord's second coming.

The announcement, "The hour of his Judgment is come," points to the closing work of Christ's ministration for the salvation of men. It heralds a truth which must be proclaimed until the Saviour's intercession shall cease, and he shall return to the earth to [436]to take his people to himself. The work of judgment which began in 1844, must continue until the cases of all are decided, both of the living and the dead; hence it will extend to the close of human probation.

That men may be prepared to stand in the Judgment, the message commands them to "fear God, and give glory to him," "and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." The result of an acceptance of these messages is given in the words, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." In order to be prepared for the Judgment, it is necessary that men should keep the law of God. That law will be the standard of character in the Judgment. The apostle Paul declares, "As many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; . . . in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ." And he says that "the doers of the law shall be justified."[1 ROM. 2:12-16.]

Faith is essential in order to the keeping of the law of God; for "without faith it is impossible to please him." And "whatsoever is not of faith is sin."[2 HEB. 11:6; ROM. 14:23.]

Zyph:
That was just a beautiful post. God must have inspired that post. Thank you for allowing yourself to be a channel.

Now for my feeble attempt to answer your question. The first angels message is to present the gospel to all the world. A function of the gospel is to present the law that tells that we have sinned and then that same law points us to Jesus as the only power there is that can save us from ourselves. Since Jesus is the Creator we are to worship Him for His Creative power and for His ability to work out His salvation in our hearts. Another facet of the first angels message is that judgment is beginning. Judgment is the glory of God in that He saves us, He writes His laws in our hearts and our minds, and He lives out His law in our lives. When we are presented for judgment the law sees Jesus and pronounces us prepared for heaven.

The second angels message is to come out of the Babylonian lifestyle of trying to work out our salvation ourselves. Babylon states that we must have the form of godliness but not get the power from Him. Babylon says that when we take care of ourselves then we will be prepared to come to Him. The second angels says that we must come out of that lifestyle and cling to Jesus in Jerusalem just like Ruth did.

The third angels message is to avoid the mark of the beast, thus implying that we must have the seal of God. The mark of the beast is to violate the relationship with God while acting like we are surrendering ourselves to Him. One of the greatest displays of mark of the beast behavior is when the USA claims to be protestant and then speaks like the dragon. Another display of this is when Christians say that they love Jesus but they can love Him without keeping His commandments.

The seal of God is to love Him and keep His commandment. We do this by keeping His commandments through the faith of Jesus. This produces the patience the allow God to work out His plan just like He did for Abraham and Sarah. They had a child when it was physically impossible for them to have a child. When it was physically impossible for them God could say but it is possible for me. Now let me do this miracle for you by faith in me. This is the righteousness by faith event. That impure beings can be perfect in Jesus and that He will live out His perfect life in us by our resting in HIM, the true Sabbath experience.

Hope this partially answers your question.

"The churches that refused to receive the first angel's message, rejected light from Heaven. That message was sent in mercy to arouse them to see their true condition of worldliness and backsliding, and to seek a preparation to meet their Lord. God has ever required his people to remain separate from the world, that they might not be allured from their allegiance to him. He delivered the Israelites from bondage in Egypt because he would not have them corrupted by the idolatry with which they were there surrounded. The children of this world are the children of darkness. Their attention is not directed to the Sun of Righteousness, but is centered upon themselves and the treasures of earth. Blinded by the god of this world, they have no just perception of the glory and majesty of the true God. While they enjoy his gifts, they forget the claims of the Giver. Such have chosen to walk in darkness, and they are led by the prince of the powers of darkness. They do not love and enjoy divine things, because they do not discern their value or loveliness. They have alienated themselves from the light of God, and their understanding becomes so confused in regard to that which is right, true, and holy, that the things of the Spirit of God are foolishness to them. {4SP 230.1}

It was to separate the church of Christ from the corrupting influence of the world that the first angel's message was given. But with the multitude, even of professed Christians, the ties which bound them to earth were stronger than the attractions heavenward. They chose to listen to the voice of worldly wisdom, and turned away from the heart-searching message of truth. {4SP 231.1}

I don't see how it possible to explain the importance of the Three angels messages/righteousness by faith in a few paragraphs. Volumes have been written on the multi parts of each verse and to fully explain these parts they must be studied separately., and then, go deeper in ones own personal study.

Like as is quoted above, "the understanding of this subject is essential for salvation". Remember also, the message was given with a "loud Voice", meaning "this is important, Listen up"

And worship Him that made heaven and earth and the fountains of water"...Rev 14:7
Exo 20:11 For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

The importance of Sabbath sacredness is a vital part of the first angel's message, and all the meaning of keeping this Holy day of worshiping our Creator God. There is so much false worship in the world today and God is pointing out that there is only One true God of creation and He is the one to be worshiped.

Advent Review and Sabbath Herald--- 11-12-03


The Sabbath of this message is the fourth commandment Sabbath....Our choice, our loyalty is shown by who we choose to worship.

[April 02, 2002: Message edited by: Charlene Van Hook ]

bumping this thread back up even though it is about twenty years old--
Next quarter's Sabbath School Lessons are devoted to understanding the three angel's messages.
Wish all these people were here to continue the discussion, as there are many good comments.

Yes this is the spiritual truth of the message of the three angels

How do we combine that with the responsibilities of God's people that EGW also addresses?

The banner of truth and religious liberty



From Adventist History we realize there were movements by government agencies toward enforcing Sunday laws around 1888. Those messages preached preached at the time, especially by A.T. Jones concerning righteousness by faith, also included a lot of messages about religious liberty. The third angel's message is about religious liberty AND about righteousness by faith. The two were combined. We can't sweep the rather strong emphasis of the beast, image and mark right out of the third angel's message, but some have attempted to do just that..
We need to find out how they are united.

How do we reconcile that? How can we understand the full import of the mark of the beast upon righteousness by faith?

Well -- for starters:
what is it when a government tells everyone they have to do religious duties whether the person wants to or not, they must do it to remove God's displeasure from the land?

What is it when government enforces religious duties upon people, that are even opposed to God's laws, as a means to save the earth?

Is it enforcing salvation by works?

The difference between the "mark" and the "seal".

Both are based on the premise that the one we give our allegiance to, we obey. Obedience is not optional on either side.

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

The beast FORCES people to obey, whether they want to or not. It is not obedience from a transformed heart and mind. He seeks allegiance BY FORCE. If everyone can be corralled into obedience he feels in control.

God wants obedience from a transformed mind and heart that responds to His goodness, saving grace and love, that wants to give Him glory, and doesn't want to give or show any allegiance to the enemy.

Both lead to obedience.
but one is only a mark of compliance, an outward bowing to the enforced demands while the heart isn't really submitted.
the other is loving commitment of the heart and mind, sealed "to belong to HIM, totally, lovingly" and long to do His will in everything.

The seal is not ONLY the Sabbath, though the Sabbath is the sign, and very much part of the seal.
Yet a person who outwardly stops work on the Sabbath and attends worship services without his heart and mind surrendered to God, is not sealed and will in all probability switch when the pressure is applied.
To be sealed means to give our complete allegiance to our Redeemer and Savior, Jesus Christ, which leads to a life of complete obedience.

And it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit and the righteousness of Christ accepted in our lives that this transformation can take place.

Called to be Witnesses

Volume 9 Testimonies to the church.

"In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the word of God. They have been given a work of the most solemn import?the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels? messages. There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention.

...The world is to be warned, and God's people are to be true to the trust committed to them. ...

The Holy Spirit is to animate and pervade the whole church, purifying and cementing hearts. Those who have been buried with Christ in baptism are to rise to newness of life, giving a living representation of the life of Christ. Upon us is laid a sacred charge. The commission has been given us: ?Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world.?

The worshipers of God will be especially distinguished by their regard for the fourth commandment, since this is the sign of God's creative power and the witness to His claim upon man's reverence and homage. The wicked will be distinguished by their efforts to tear down the Creator's memorial and to exalt the institution of Rome. In the issue of the conflict all Christendom will be divided into two great classes, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and those who worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark. Although church and state will unite their power to compel all, ?both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,? to receive the mark of the beast, yet the people of God will not receive it. Revelation 13:16. The prophet of Patmos beholds ?them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass having the harps of God and singing the song of Moses and the Lamb." (Rev. 15:2)