The Third Angel’s Message

 

A Worldwide Warning

The Third Angel’s Message

 

While you hold the banner of truth firmly, proclaiming the law of God, let every soul remember that the faith of Jesus is connected with the commandments of God. The third angel is represented as flying through the midst of heaven, crying with a loud voice, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12). The first, second, and third angels' messages are all linked together. The evidences of the abiding, ever-living truth of these grand messages, that mean so much to us, that have awakened such intense opposition from the religious world, cannot be extinguished. Satan is constantly seeking to cast his hellish shadow about these messages, so that the remnant people of God shall not clearly discern their import, their time, and place; but they live, and are to exert their power upon our religious experience while time shall last.  {2SM 117.2}

 

     The influence of these messages has been deepening and widening, setting in motion the springs of action in thousands of hearts, bringing into existence institutions of learning, publishing houses, and health institutions; all these are the instrumentalities of God to cooperate in the grand work represented by the first, second, and third angels flying in the midst of heaven to warn the inhabitants of the world that Christ is coming again with power and great glory.  {2SM 117.3}

 

But is not the Third Angel’s Message also already in the world?

Most assuredly it is and has been for forty-two years. Starting in

February, 1845, with but one person, it has spread from the Atlantic

to the Pacific, and from British Columbia to Mexico; building

up thirty-eight Conferences; establishing two large printing houses,

issuing millions upon millions of pages of printed matter

every year; building one of the largest health institutions in the

world, besides other important health and educational institutions—

all in our own country.

 

 

The “few” everywhere receive the love of the truth which it embodies,

while the “many” believe not its truth, and receive not the

love of it, but have pleasure in unrighteousness.

That the Third Angel’s Message shall encompass the earth, even

to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, giving them

ample opportunity to receive the truth and the love of it, which, if

received, will deliver them from the power of Satan and give

them victory over all his deceivableness of unrighteousness, is

clear from the word of God. This we shall now make plain. {December 8, 1887 ATJ, SITI 743.6}

 

1. This is the "third" in a series of messages in which the second and the third follow the first in quick succession. Rev. 14:6-12. The first of the three (verses 6, 7) said with a loud voice to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people; the second followed this one, and the third angel followed them. As, therefore, the first one was to go to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, and as the third one follows, it likewise must go to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. {December 8, 1887 ATJ, SITI 743.7}

2. The third angel says with a loud voice, "If any man worship the beast and his image," etc. This phrase, "If any man," shows that it is to all men; that it is a universal message. {December 8, 1887 ATJ, SITI 743.8}

3. Of the beast it is said that, "All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb." Rev. 13, 8. The work of the image of the beast is to cause the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the beast, as well as himself; therefore, the worship of the image of the beast is indirectly the worship of the beast, and it is the mark of the beast which the image causes men to receive. Now as the worship of the beast is to be by "all them that dwell on the earth;" as the Third Angel's Message is the warning against that worship; and as obedience to this message is the only means of escaping that worship and the wrath of God; it is, therefore, certain that this message must go to "all that dwell on the earth"—the warning must be as extensive as the worship will be. {December 8, 1887 ATJ, SITI 743.9}

 

This makes it incumbent upon all people now to study the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus as they have never studied them before, asking themselves the question, "Am I one o whom this scripture speaks? Am I one who truly keeps the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus? Have I received such a love of this truth that I can stand against all the wiles of Satan when he shall work with all power and signs and lying wonders?" {December 8, 1887 ATJ, SITI 743.10}

 

By the evidences which we have now presented from the word of God, it is certain that we have reached the day and generation when all these things shall be. God sends no message to a people to whom its warnings do not apply. He did not send a warning of a coming flood to a people who should never see a flood; the people whom the Lord warned of a coming flood, those were the very people who saw the flood come. The people whom the Lord besought to escape from the impending doom of Sodom, those were the people who saw the doom of Sodom. So the people to whom the Lord sends this message of warning against the worship of the beast and his image, these are the people who will see the worship of the beast and his image. The people upon whom God calls to keep his commandments and the faith of Jesus, that they may escape the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, these are the very people who will see the wrath of God poured out without mixture—these are the people who will see the seven last plagues poured upon the earth. {December 8, 1887 ATJ, SITI 743.11}

 

The third angel is represented as flying in the midst of the heavens, showing that the message is to go forth throughout the length and breadth of the earth. It is the most solemn message ever given to mortals, and all who connect with the work should first feel their need of an education, and a most thorough training process for the work, in reference to their future usefulness; and there should be plans made and efforts adopted for the improvement of that class who anticipate connecting with any branch of the work.  {CE 45.1} 

 

Who among our teachers are awake and as faithful stewards of the grace of God are giving the trumpet a certain sound? Who are voicing the message of the third angel, calling upon the world to make ready for the great day of God? The message we bear has the seal of the living God.   {CT 459.2}

"Time is almost finished. Do you reflect the lovely image of Jesus as you should?" Then I was pointed to the earth and saw that there would have to be a getting ready among those who have of late embraced the third angel's message. Said the angel, "Get ready, get ready, get ready. Ye will have to die a greater death to the world than ye have ever yet died." I saw that there was a great work to do for them and but little time in which to do it.  {EW 64.1}

The Lord has shown me that the message of the third angel must go, and be proclaimed to the scattered children of the Lord, but it must not be hung on time. I saw that some were getting a false excitement, arising from preaching time; but the third angel's message is stronger than time can be. I saw that this message can stand on its own foundation and needs not time to strengthen it; and that it will go in mighty power, and do its work, and will be cut short in righteousness.  {EW 75.1}

 

Many who embraced the third message had not had an experience in the two former messages. Satan understood this, and his evil eye was upon them to overthrow them; but the third angel was pointing them to the most holy place, and those who had had an experience in the past messages were pointing them the way to the heavenly sanctuary. Many saw the perfect chain of truth in the angels' messages, and gladly received them in their order, and followed Jesus by faith into the heavenly sanctuary. These messages were represented to me as an anchor to the people of God. Those who understand and receive them will be kept from being swept away by the many delusions of Satan.  {EW 256.2}