by Dionne Sabbay Thompson January 1, 2009
Christ, the Head of the Church, completed the work, however, His harvest, the body of Christ, his remnant, must be ripe in order for Him to return to reap the harvest (Matthew 5:48, Ephesians 4:12-13, 5:21-31, 1 John 3:9, Revelation 14:1-5, 14:14-16, Christ Object Lessons page 330, SDA Bible Commentary Volume 6 page 1096.4, Testimonies For The Church Volume 3 page 43). A reaper will not return for a harvest that is not ripe, so God the Father, The Husbandman and Pruner, must be granted permission from mankind to initiate the work of removing branches that are not Christ-like, replacing them with fruits of the Holy Spirit (John 15:1-7, Galatians 5:22-23). Sealing requires pro-activity on the part of mankind, as Christ promises to form and fill willing vessels with Latter rain, the Holy Spirit's Outpouring (Zechariah 10:1, Matthew 5:48; Galatians 2:20, 4:19; Colossians 1:27; 1 John 3:9). Remembering that Enoch and Elijah were not perfectly sinless throughout their lives, one can acknowledge that such Prophets did however reach a point where they were found completely blameless and faultless, successfully overcoming sin, reproducing the Messiah's character while clothed with His perfect righteousness, later being translated from this earth (Genesis 5:24, 2 Kings 2:11, Hebrews 11:5, Philippians 3:9, Revelation 14:1-5). Following our Divine teacher and Savior Christ, Yeshua, our Messiah (who overcame the world John 16:33), we must advance in sanctification, being made holy, daily walking with God, reaching the point of “the ear” as God will not be mocked by Satan (Mark 4:26-29, Romans 8:29-30, Galatians 6:7-8, 2 Peter 3:18). God's word will not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11).
As diligent students of prophecy, we must look for the prophetic waymarks directly connected to the work of God. The Lord has given us His Word as a sure guide, edifying us about where we are in earth’s history. The Development of the world and the work of the enemy must be understood by the remnant, as we journey into the future, unto Christ’s imminent return. We view history based on what is happening in the church; worldly events can be considered as a barometer of such. We should always view history and events in direct proportion to the church. The winds of strife loosening imply that the spirit of God has begun the sealing work (Revelation 7:1-4, Early Writings page 36-38). Winds of strife in prophecy symbolize commotion, natural disasters and/or war. What we see happening in the church is an indication of forthcoming events in the world. Worldly occurrences are a direct indication of what is happening in the church. We must view everything in light of the work of God and His people on the earth.
The prophetic waymarks are an illustration of where we presently stand in history, as we embark now on Revelation 14, in the ongoing saga of the Great controversy. We are now living under the second beast in Revelation 13:11-18, the United States of America, the “Lamb-like Beast”. Such a ruling power is currently marshalling the global world, leading into a time when a death sentence, Enforced Sunday law will be imposed upon the righteous, 144,000, God’s remnant. Before the winds of strife are completely loosed, God’s people must be securely sealed; otherwise they will be symbolically swept away by America’s campaign for Sunday sacredness, unto the Mark of the Beast (Revelation 7:1-5, 13:11-18).
Revelation 14 is a significant chapter in the Seventh-day Adventist movement’s history as well as a significant time period regarding God’s work on the earth. In 1888, God resent the Everlasting Gospel, in full measure to the Adventist Church, through messengers Jones and Waggoner, empowering the Adventist world to proceed in completing His work (Romans 1:16,17, Revelation 14:6,7, Testimonies to Ministers & Gospel Workers page 91-92). This Seventh-day Adventist movement represents God’s attempt to bring an end to the great controversy (Revelation 14:1, Great Controversy page 662). It is thus the duty of the body of Christ, through the power of God to bring closure to His righteous duties.
Revelation 14:1-5 edifies mankind about peculiar individuals who will manifest the character of Christ (1 Peter 2:9). Revelation 14:6-12 is the message of the Gospel that will produce that character of Christ within His people, 144,000 in number. God’s remnant can not be perfected without the everlasting gospel which is God’s power. It required all of the Power of the Godhead to create the earth, bringing something out of nothing. Similarly, it will take something within the power of God to bring sinful man from a state of less than nothing to “having his father’s name written in their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1). Isaiah 40:17 states that as man is sinful, they are less than nothing. Thus, it takes God’s power to recreate, revive and reform mankind, aligning with the Elijah directives, as "the Reformation did not, as many suppose, end with Luther. It is to be continued to the close of this world's history" (Great Controversy page 148, Malachi 4:5-6, Matthew 3:2-3, 11:9-15). 2 Corinthians 5:17 edifies that if any man be in Christ, they are a new creature. This is why the gospel was given by God. Finally, Revelation 14:14-16 edifies that when God’s people are perfected, then God will return to claim them as His own.
The remnant, God’s harvest must be ripe, His character must be fully reproduced within us, leading into His return to claim us as His own. Spiritual Israelites, preparing for translation from earth must reproduce the character of Christ, following the Lamb, Yeshua, where ever He goes, refuting false doctrine with guile-free, deceit-free mouths (1 Corinthians 15:50-52, 2 Corinthians 11:2, 1 Peter 2:22, Revelation 14:1-5). The righteous living by faith, by placing themselves in perfect harmony with the Most High and keeping His Ten Commandments, will stand through the day of final destruction (Ephesians 4:30, Revelation 6:17, 7:1-4, 12:17, 14:12, 22:14). We must not fixate only on the Three Angel’s messages but, we must also focus on producing the spot-free character of Christ (Ephesians 5:27). As it appears throughout the course of the history of the Adventist World, teachers have been focused solely on Revelation 14:6-12, failing to preach the required reproduction of the Character of Christ,unto His consequent reaping of the harvest (Revelation 14:14-16). An indicator that one has the gospel of Christ is inherent Character Perfecting goals and objectives; and continual utilization of God’s full gospel power within one’s life (Romans 1:16-20). The Apostle Paul edifies that the gospel is not just a theory, but it is the power of God unto all who believe, delivering us from sin unto eternal salvation (Romans 1:16-17, 20).
