The Sprit of Prophecy in looking down to the last parabolical
hour shows that importance of this last hour of labor as it says: "But
I speak not my own words when I say that God's Spirit will pass by those
who have had their day of test and opportunity, but who have not distinguished
the voice of God or appreciated the movings of His Spirit. Then thousands
in the eleventh hour will see and acknowledge the truth." Selected Messages
Book 2, pp. 16.
It must be during the eleventh hour, the last hour of
probationary time for the world, that some will have their first opportunity
to accept the truth which others prior to the eleventh hour have turned
down, as the servant of the Lord says: "Large Numbers Accept the Truth.
--The time of God's destructive judgments is the time of mercy for those
who have no opportunity to learn what is truth. Tenderly will the Lord
look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched; His hand is still stretched
out to save, while the door is closed to those who would not enter. Large
numbers will be admitted who in these last days hear the truth for the
first time (RH July 5, 1906)." S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 7, pp. 979.
In speaking of this time of the Eleventh hour, or Loud
Cry, the servant of the Lord says: "Notwithstanding the spiritual darkness
and alienation from God that exist in the churches which constitute Babylon,
the great body of Christ's true followers are still to be found in their
communion. There are many of these who have never seen the special truths
for this time. Not a few are dissatisfied with their present condition
and are longing for clearer light. . .
". . . the light of truth will shine upon all whose hearts
are open to receive it, and all the children of the Lord that remain in
Babylon will heed the call: 'Come out of her, My people' (Revelation 18:4)."
Great Controversy, pp. 390.
Our study in this booklet deals with the parable of the
householder who went out at five different times to hire laborers to work
in His vineyard. As Seventh-day Adventist most of us have not understood
the meaning of this parable in its fullness. As we understand this parable
in the light of the fact that during one of these calls, the Lord commissioned
us as a people to labor in His vineyard, this parable takes on a new significance
and meaning.
Old Truths Seen In A New Light.
There is yet much precious truth to be revealed to the
people in this time of peril and darkness, but it is Satan's determined
purpose to prevent the light of truth from shining into the hearts of men.
If we would have the light that has been provided for us, we should show
our desire for it by diligently searching the Word of God. Precious truths
that have long been in obscurity are to be revealed in a light that will
make manifest their sacred worth; for God will glorify His Word, that it
may appear in a light in which we have never before beheld it." Testimonies
on Sabbath School Work p. 62.
"The old truths will be presented, but they will be seen
in a new light. There will be a new perception of truth, a clearness and
a power that all will discern. Those who have the privilege of sitting
under such a ministry will, if susceptible to the Holy Spirit's influence,
feel the energizing power of a new life. The fire of God's love will be
kindled within them. their perceptive faculties will be quickened to discern
the beauty and majesty of truth." Christ's Object Lessons pp. 130-131.
Being in a Laodicean condition, we truly need the Holy
Spirit's energizing power of a new life and to have our perceptive faculties
quickened to discern the beauty and majesty of truth as never before and
to accept whatever channels the Lord may choose to use. With this thought
in mind let us go into the subject of Matthew 20:
Five Call For Laborers.
"For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is
an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into
his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day,
he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and
saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye
also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they
went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did
likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing
idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say
unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also
into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive." Matt.20:1-7.
How can we know for a certainty in which hour we find
ourselves, and if our own call to service has come? We can know only by
establishing the time in which the last parabolic hour expires. And to
do this we must first establish the time of the first call for servants,
then in turn the time of each successive call, culminating with the last.
First, though, pursuant to this end, we must bring into focus the parable's
significant points:
(1) The "Householder," as every Bible student knows, is
the Lord Himself, (2) The laborers are His servants. (3) The penny is their
reward. (4) His vineyard is the place where they are to labor. (5) The
day is parabolical-representing a period of time which is illuminated by
some great light (John 9:4). (6) The period of labor must be preceded and
succeeded by a night---else there could be no "early" and no "late" part
to the day. (7) The Householder hires laborers at five different times.
(8) There are four three-hour periods. (9) In each of the first three periods,
only one group is hired. (10) In the fourth and last period of three hours,
two groups are hired. (11) The agreement for a penny a day is made only
with the first group. (12) The other groups are to receive "whatsoever
is right." (13) At the day's end all are given the same pay---a penny,
even though the last worked only an hour. (14) The first were paid last;
the last, first.
At Breaking Of Day.
Now to find out in which hour we are told. "Go ye also,
" we must here at the outset of this go-to-work study, determine where
in time the parable begins and where it ends. To gain this vital knowledge
is simply to reckon with the sequentially amplifying facts that the parabolical
night which preceded the parabolical day must necessarily be the period
before the spiritual "Light of the world," the Bible, came up---before
the light of the Scriptures, the written Word of God, began to shine forth
into the hearts of men. For back there, it must be remembered, the will
of God was transmitted, not by the Bible, but orally from father to son,
just as the light of the sun at night is transmitted to the earth by the
moon, rather than directly by the sun itself. For this reason it has come
to be regarded as the time of oral tradition. The Spirit of Prophecy tells
us: "During the first twenty-five hundred years of human history, there
was no written revelation. Those who had been taught of God, communicated
their knowledge to others, and it was handed down from father to son, through
successive generations. The preparation of the written word began in the
time of Moses. Inspired revelations were then embodied in an inspired book.
This work continued during the long period of sixteen hundred years--from
Moses, the historian of creation and the law, to John, the recorder of
the most sublime truths of the gospel." Great Controversy ( Introduction
p. (V).
But the day of labor obviously represents the period in
which "the Light of the world," the Bible itself, lightens man's path.
Thus it is that in His parable, the Master, the Lord of the vineyard, regards
the Old and New Testament dispensations as the only day period of all probationary
time, in which He goes to the market-place at five consecutive times to
hire servants to work in His vineyard.
Night-Time
Finally, the night following the day can only represent
the period after the gospel work is finished, after probation for man's
salvation is closed. Then, as the "Light of the World" (the Word of God)
sinks beyond the horizon of the day, darkness covers "the earth, and gross
darkness the people." Isa. 60:2. It is the time which finds the destiny
of every being forever fixed. Then follows the Lord's irrevocable finality:
"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which
is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be
righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." Rev . 22:11.
It is the time when men "shall run to and fro to seek
the Word of the Lord, and shall not find it" (Amos 8:12); the time when
the unmindful of the Master's call, and the impenitent of sin, realize
and cry out in frenzied and agonized despair: "The harvest is past, the
summer is ended, and we are not saved!" Jer. 8:20.
It is only logical to assume that in the spiritual as
well as the literal harvest, it would be foolish to send out laborers after
all the harvest had been gathered in and nothing was left but the tares.
The truth has now become clear that the parable divides
the time of salvation into two equal parts of twelve symbolical hours each-the
period before the Bible (the night), and the period during the Bible (the
day). Lending additional force to the fact that the parable thus divides
time, Jesus declares:
"Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day?
If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light
of this world." John 11:9.
Same Pay---Less Hours.
Proceeding now, we come to another point of special significance:
the first four groups were hired at consecutive intervals three parabolical
hours apart; whereas the fifth, the last group, the one hired at the eleventh
hour, came only two, instead of three hours, later than the fourth group,
and thus only one parabolical hour before the day's end---shortly before
probation closes.
This two-hour period, from the ninth hour to the eleventh
hour, is a singularity which comes as a climatic exception to the master
pattern of sequential and regular three-hour intervals between calls. It
obviously reveals that the last call comes unexpectedly and surprisingly
within the period of the ninth-hour group. Hence there are only two parabolical
hours for the one group, and only one parabolical hour for the other group.
Although the last group of laborers work only one hour
they receive the same pay as the others.
Early In The Morning---First Call For Laborers.
To determine the identity of the laborers participating
in each of the five different calls, we necessarily begin our quest with
the servants of the First Call:
We have already seen that it is the Bible, the spiritual
"Light of the world," that makes the parabolical day. We all know, moreover,
that the Bible arrived with the Exodus movement; as the Spirit of Prophecy
told us that "the preparation of the written word began in the time of
Moses." Great Controversy, Introduction p. V. Since the arrival of the
written word, the Lord never bargained, as it were, with another people,
and that they were the only ones to whom He ever committed the ceremonial
covenants and all their rewards and promises. (See Ex. 19:S-8, Deut. 28:)
Inescapably, therefore, the first group of the parable, those who went
to labor "Early in the Morning," at the rising of the spiritual light,
the Bible, and with whom the bargain was made to receive a penny a day,
were ancient Israel as they were going out of Egypt, the time of which
was early in the parabolical day. In concord the Spirit of Prophecy declares:
"The Jews had been first called into the Lord's vineyard...."
Christ's Object Lessons p. 400.
First Incorporated Church.
"Soon after the encampment at Sinai, Moses was called
up into the mountain to meet with God. Alone he climbed the steep and rugged
path, and drew near to the cloud that marked the place of Jehovah's presence.
Israel was now to be taken into a close and peculiar relation to the Most
High--to be incorporated as a church and a nation under the government
of God." Patriarchs and Prophets p. 303.
Israel To Evangelize The Whole World.
"The children of Israel were to occupy all the territory
which God appointed them. Those nations that rejected the worship and service
of the true God were to be dispossessed. But it was God's purpose that
by the revelation of His character through Israel men should be drawn unto
Him. To all the world the gospel invitation was to be given. Through the
teaching of the sacrificial service, Christ was to be uplifted before the
nations, and all who would look unto Him should live. All who, like Rahab
the Canaanite and Ruth the Moabitess, turned from idolatry to the worship
of the true God were to unite themselves with His chosen people. As the
numbers of Israel increased, they were to enlarge their borders until their
kingdom should embrace the world.'' Prophets and Kings. p. 19.
At that early hour, as God began to indite the Scriptures
(as the Light that lightens the hearts of men began to rise), "He hath
remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand
generations. Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;
And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting
covenant:" Ps. 105: 8-10.
The Third Hour---Second Call For Laborers.
Having thus by the first call for servants solidly established
the time in which the parabolical go-to-work calls started, we are now
to ascertain the call-time and work-period of the servants of the Second
Call.
The second group, those sent at the Third Parabolical
Hour, must necessarily be the ones who were called to the work next. And
they were, of course, the early Christians. Significantly enough, too,
the Lord was crucified at the Third Hour of the day (Mark 15:25), and likewise
Pentecost came at the Third Hour of the day (Acts 2:15).
A New Message Each Time.
Another point of significance of which we should take
note is the fact that the messages borne by these first two groups, by
ancient Israel and by the early Christians, were not of a reformatory nature;
they were not old, forgotten truths in process of revival and restoration;
rather each was a new revelation, "meat in due season"---present Truth
especially adapted to meet the needs of the people in their respective
times. " In every age there is a new development of truth, a message of
God to the people of that generation." Christ's Object Lessons p. 127.
"For His church in every generation God has a special truth and a special
work." Christ's Object Lessons p. 78. The former group were inspired and
commissioned to teach and practice the truths of salvation as embodied
in the ceremonial system; and practice the same immutable truths in their
advanced light---advanced from typical to antitypical representation, from
the ministration in the earthly tabernacle to the ministration in the heavenly
one; that is, from the sacrifice of a lamb of the flock to the sacrifice
of Christ Himself, the Lamb of God. Thus the latter group taught the old
truths in a new and original light, in the light of the gospel---that Christ
was crucified for the remission of sin, resurrected in triumph over sin
and death, and ascended to make atonement and reconciliation for the penitent
sinner, not in an earthly, but in an heavenly, tabernacle.
Since the messages of the first two groups (the one carried
by the Exodus Movement, and the other carried by the Christians) were each
in their respective times fresh from glory, that fact logically establishes
itself as Divine precedent and pattern for all the messages of the parable.
Accordingly, each of the three remaining groups must likewise be entrusted
with a message of new and distinctive revelation, of "meat in due season"---truth
adapted especially and fully to meet the needs of God's people at the time
then present. Therefore, we need only to trace down through the annals
of church history the unfolding of the scroll, till we come upon a newly
and originally revealed and proclaimed truth subsequent to the message
of the first advent of Christ. It must point out the servants of the Third
Call:
The Sixth Hour---Third Call For Laborers.
The Protestant Reformation, being purely an endeavor to
restore old, down-trodden truths, and not to reveal new, advanced ones,
had no new message of its own-nothing that had not already been taught
in times past. It therefore follows that the third group and message must
be sought during the years following the Reformation.
The only revelation of New Prophetic Truth, subsequent
to the Reformation, is the announcement of the year in which was to begin
the work of cleansing the sanctuary, primarily in behalf of the dead (based
on Daniel 8:14, but not then fully understood). As its announcement was
made by the First-day Adventists, it necessarily follows that they were
the third group of servants with a new and distinctive message. And as
it is well known, they started proclaiming it in the year 1833, announcing
that the cleansing of the sanctuary was to commence in the year 1844. Thus
in 1833 the clock of parabolic time struck the hour of six. See Great Controversy
pp. 317-422.
The Ninth Hour---fourth Call For Laborers.
The statement, "Again He went out about the sixth and
ninth hour, and did likewise," in speaking of the two calls, not singly,
as in the cases of the two preceding calls, but conjointly, shows that
the "sixth hour" message and servants were to be closely related to and
associated with the message and with the servants of the fourth Call:
So it was that the sixth-hour group and message, that
of the First-day Adventists, and the ninth-hour group and message, that
of our Seventh-day Adventist denomination, fused into one because the message
of the former was in itself Divinely designed to bring the message of the
latter to light. Moreover, as soon as the terminus of the prophetic "2300
days" (Daniel 8:14) was reached in October, 1844, just then Daniel 8:14;
7:9; 12:10-12, along with Revelation 14:6,7 (the First Angel's Message
in its primary phase),were first proclaimed by our Seventh-day Adventist
denomination, "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." Revelation 14:7.
Thus we as Seventh-day Adventists in 1844 began to proclaim
what was termed "the investigative judgment of the dead," which in Scriptural
terms is the casting out of those who have not the wedding garment on (Matt.
22:11-13), the shutting out of the five foolish virgins (Matt. 25:10),
the dividing of the sheep and goats (Matt. 25:32,33), the separating of
the bad "fish" from the good "fish" (Matt. 13:48)---each of these among
the dead. Symonymously, we rightly understood it to be "the antitypical
day of atonement"---the day in which are removed from the Books in Heaven
the names of those who in closing their life's career failed to attain
eligibility to come up in the first resurrection, in the resurrection of
the holy ones (Rev. 20:5,6). All these aspects are comprehended in the
words: "Then shall the Sanctuary be cleansed." Dan. 8:14.
As the cleansing of the Sanctuary in behalf of the dead
is necessarily purely a book transaction, that is the reason for its taking
place only in the Heavenly Sanctuary. Hence, the names of the ineligible
for the "first resurrection" are screened from the names of the eligible
ones. That Heaven's books deal with all aspects of life is evident from
Ps. 56:8; 69:28; 139:16; Dan. 12:1; Mal. 3:16; Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5, etc.
Hence, prophecy reveals that when "the judgment was set, . . . the books
were opened." Dan. 7:10.
As the judgment-hour message is of a character and importance
singular in all church history; also as it is the only prophetic message
to sound subsequent to the sixth-hour message; nothing can be more certain
than as it went forth in 1844 for the first time, God's parabolic timepiece
then struck Nine.
Consequently the Ninth-Hour Group in the parable can be
none other than our Seventh-day Adventist denomination, who was then on
foot to proclaim that "the judgment was set, and the books were opened"
(Dan. 7:10), and that any one who then, during the antitypical Day of Atonement
for the dead, should be found among the dead with his sins unconfessed
(his soul not afflicted, and without the wedding garment on) would be "cut
off from among his people." Matt. 22:11-13; Lev. 23:29. In brief, the message
declared that the separation in the congregation of the dead had then begun.
Now that for the first time the parable is ablaze with
light, none but the eye that is hopelessly gone out in dungeon darkness
can fail to see distinctly that the message with which we Seventh-day Adventists
were entrusted in 1844, at the ninth hour, is not the eleventh-hour message,
not the message of the judgment of the living, but rather only of the judgment
of the dead. Most of us have failed to perceive that the judgment hour
message is in two sections. From 1844 to the present time, we have been
declaring only that first phase which deals only with the dead. In giving
the Loud Cry, we must proclaim the final section of the judgment---the
judgment for the living.
Judgment Of The Dead To Be Proclaimed To Many.
The next decisive point of truth is that the judgment
of the dead was to be proclaimed to "many peoples, and nations, and tongues,
and kings." Rev. 10:11. It is interesting to note how explicit the Scriptures
are regarding the chronological order of William Miller's message being
followed by our own denomination's message of the judgment for the dead,
as John the Revelator says: "And I went unto the angel, and said unto him,
Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and
it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in they mouth sweet as
honey. And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up;
and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my
belly was bitter." Rev. 10:9,10. All Seventh-day Adventists recognize this
prophecy as applying to William Miller's message, which is also known as
the "great disappointment." See Great Controversy pp. 374, 422
Now let us see what the Lord commissioned those to do
who experienced that "great disappointment": "And he said unto me, Thou
must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and
kings." Rev. 10:11. Mark the word "many." It never means "all," and never
means "every." Since this verse of scripture foretells the expansion of
the ninth-hour group and message, it will highly repay each one carefully
to examine what Revelation 10:11 says on the subject. You dare not add
to the Word nor subtract from it. Then compare it with the scriptures to
follow, foretelling the expansion of the eleventh-hour group and message,
and you will have the whole truth in reference to the finishing of the
work.
Judgment Of The Living To Be Proclaimed To All.
The Judgment you see is in two phases, the judgment for
the dead comes first, and then the judgment for the living commences, as
the Spirit of Prophecy tells us: "As the books of record are opened in
the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review
before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate
presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the Living."
Great Controversy p. 483. "The judgment is now passing in the sanctuary
above. For many years this work has been in progress. Soon-none know how
soon---it will pass to the cases of the living." Great Controversy p. 490.
" In 1844 our great High Priest entered the most holy place of the heavenly
sanctuary, to begin the work of the investigative judgment. The cases of
the righteous dead have been passing in review before God. When that work
shall be completed , judgment is to be pronounced upon the living." 1 Selected
Messages p. 125.
Thus we see that the Judgment for the Living takes place
at the commencement of the Loud Cry, which is yet future. As we have brought
out before in our previous booklets, the judgment for the living commences
when the wheat is separated from the tares in our church. Just as the judgment
for the dead deals only with those who have professed Christ (G.C. 480)
likewise when the judgment for the living commences here on earth, it commences
at the house of God as Peter tells us: "For the time is come that Judgment
must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall
the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" I Peter 4:17. The
Spirit of Prophecy also tells us: "The time of the judgment is a most solemn
period, when the Lord gathers His own from among the tares. Those who have
been members of the same family are separated. A mark is placed upon the
righteous." Testimonies to Ministers p. 234.
The Eleventh Hour-Fifth Call For Laborers.
Thus we see that it is the second phase of the Judgment,
the Judgment that deals with the living that will be Proclaimed as the
last message. The eleventh-hour servants during the Loud Cry will proclaim
not only that part of the judgment hour message which dealt with the dead,
but will more especially proclaim that part of the judgment which deals
with the living. We are told that the three angel's messages are to be
repeated as it says: "The fourteenth chapter of Revelation is a chapter
of the deepest interest. This scripture will soon be understood in all
its bearings, and the messages given to John the revelator will be repeated
with distinct utterance (RH Oct. 13, 1904)." 7 Bible Commentary p. 978.
When the three angel's messages are repeated during the Loud cry, it will
be dealing with the second phase of the judgment, that part that deals
with the living saints that are to be judged at that particular time.
I think we will all agree that from the 11th to the 12th
hour is the last hour of probationary time. The servant of the Lord forwarned
us many years ago that those of us that do not remain faithful will not
have a part in proclaiming the message during the 11th hour as she said:
"But I speak not my own words when I say that God's Spirit will pass by
those who have had their day of test and opportunity, but who have not
distinguished the voice of God or appreciated the movings of His Spirit.
Then thousands in the eleventh hour will see and acknowledge the truth."
2 Selected Messages p. 16. "The third angel's message is to lighten the
earth with its glory; but only those who have withstood temptation in the
strength of the Mighty One will be permitted to act a part in proclaiming
it when it shall have swelled into the loud cry." R&H Nov. 19, 1908.
Now that the time has finally come for the Lord to recruit
His eleventh-hour servants, this priceless parable is unfolded, and for
the first time it is plainly seen that whereas the judgment for the dead
was to be proclaimed to many nations and people, the judgment of the living
is to be proclaimed to all nations and Inspiration Itself says:
Three Angel's Messages Repeated During The Loud Cry.
"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, 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. 14:6,7. Thus we see that when the first angel's
message is repeated again during the Loud Cry it will have a much greater
emphasis as it will be dealing especially with those who are to be judged
while they are living.
That the servants of the eleventh-hour call---those who
"escape," who are not "cut off" (Lev. 23:29) while "the house of God" is
being judged (1 Peter 4:17), the event which signalizes the commencement
of the judgment of the living, world-wide-are to be sent to all nations,
Inspiration attests through the prophet Isaiah:
Final Harvest Reaped By Escaped Ones.
"For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his
chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke
with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with
all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many. . . .And I will set
a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations,
to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the
isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory;
and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And they shall bring
all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon
horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift
beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children
of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord."
Isa. 66:15, 16, 19,20.
With these solemn words the Lord warns that the separation
of the wheat from the tares (the antitypical Passover---Testimonies, Vol.
5, pp. 505,211; Vol. 1, pp. 190,198) is to take place among those who are
of the household of God, the church, for the escaped ones are sent to the
Gentiles who as yet have not heard of God's fame and His glory. Obviously
the angels who execute this slaughter are to take away from the church
the unrighteous---those who are figuratively depicted in one instance as
bad "fish", and in another instance as "guests" not having "the wedding
garment" on.
Here, let every serious-minded reader pause to ponder
what Inspiration says: Verses 19 and 20 explain that those who escape the
slaughter of verses 15 and 16, are to be sent as missionaries to the Gentiles,
who as yet know not God. Hence these escaped (remaining) ones are God's
remnant, His first fruits of the harvest, His guileless servants, the 144,000---the
elect. In Isaiah chapter 4: He calls those that remain in the church after
the purification "holy". "In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful
and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely
for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he
that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called
holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: When
the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and
shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the
spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning." Isa. 4:2-4. "And they
shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt
be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken." Isa. 62:12. And only they,
none others, the Scriptures declare, shall bring all their brethren from
all nations, in a clean vessel, into the purified house of the Lord. What
is more, no right-thinking mind can even begin to conceive of the possibility
that with any less holy and formidable an agency than such a mighty ministry-one
escaped from sin, sinners, and judgment-can and will the Lord ever "finish
the work, and cut it short in righteousness" (Rom. 9:28), thereby saving
His people from the terrible tempest that is now about to break upon the
earth and lash it length and breadth.
The servant of the Lord years ago told us of this mighty
Loud Cry ministry that was to be disclosed to view when she said: "The
great issue so near at hand will weed out those whom God has not appointed
and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter
rain...." Selected Messages Book 3, pp. 385.
The servant of the Lord in speaking of the separation
of the wheat from the tares said it was to be an "awful ordeal, but nevertheless
it must take place." "The church may appear as about to fall, but it does
not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out--the
chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but
nevertheless it must take place. None but those who have been overcoming
by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found
with the loyal and true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in
their mouths. We must be divested of our self-righteousness and arrayed
in the righteousness of Christ." 2 Selected Messages p. 380.
Satan's Waterloo.
Satan grimly knows this. He knows his time is short and
growing fearfully shorter. He knows that this faithful ministry are soon
to be disclosed to view, and to take the field against him, as we are told:
"When the earth is lighted with the glory of the angel of Revelation eighteen,
the religious elements, good and evil, will awake from slumber, and the
armies of the living God will take the field." 7 Bible Commentary 983 -E.
G. White. Satan knows that the purification, the church which will result
in the bringing forth of the 144,000, the Loud Cry ministry, will be his
Waterloo. Hence his supreme effort now to eliminate them. Finding out at
last, though, that he cannot do so, his consequent aim will be to bring
the time of trouble such as never was (Dan. 12:1), in hope of destroying
all.
It was a similar mass-murder method that he employed in
the days of Pharaoh, in his drowning the Hebrew male children (Ex. 1:22),
in hope of doing away with Moses; and again in the days of Herod, in his
fiendishly slaying all the infants "from two years old and under" (Matt.
2:16), in hope of doing away with Christ. But as God spared His own then,
He will likewise spare His own today: Michael, the great Prince and Deliverer,
shall stand up (Dan. 12:1) for all who stand up for Him, and whose names
consequently are retained in the Book of life, and shall gloriously deliver
them. These two aspects of the conflict---Satan's aim to destroy God's
elect, and Michael's aim to deliver them---bring "the great and dreadful
day of the Lord," which commences with the purification of God's church.
Clearer Views Of Truth.
Although the newly revealed light of Truth now shining
on the subject is new to all of us, it is not, of course new in the Bible.
To keep us wide awake and on the alert to progressive unfoldment of Truth,
the Spirit of God has through the years signaled our attention in the ensuing
statements:
"I have been shown that Jesus will reveal to us precious
old truths in a new light, if we are ready to receive them; but they must
be received in the very way in which the Lord shall choose to send them.
With humble, softened hearts, with respect and love for one another, search
your Bibles. The light may not come in accordance with plans that men may
devise." The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, pp. 167.
"Wonderful possibilities are open to those who lay hold
of the divine assurances of God's word. There are glorious truths to come
before the people of God. Privileges and duties which they do not even
suspect to be in the Bible will be laid open before them. As they follow
on in the path of humble obedience, doing His will, they will know more
and more of the oracles of God." Testimonies, Vol . 8, p. 322.
"We talk about the first angel's message and the second
angel's message, and we think we have some understanding of the third angel's
message. But as long as we are content with a limited knowledge, we shall
be disqualified to obtain clearer views of truth." Gospel Workers p. 251.
The prophecies, we all know, are Heaven's light to our
feet. If we fail to open our eyes and hearts to them at the time the Lord
would have us profit by the unrolling of the Scroll, how then shall we
escape being like the blind leading the blind?
Is It Necessary To Know The Prophecies, Or Is The Love
Of Jesus Enough?
We occasionally hear some say, "It isn't necessary to
understand doctrine or prophecies, to know the love of Jesus is sufficient."
Let us go to the inspired counsel of the Spirit of Prophecy and see what
information we can find.
Must Grow In Grace And Knowledge.
"Peter exhorts his brethren to "grow in grace, and in
the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." Whenever the people
of God are growing in grace, they will be constantly obtaining a clearer
understanding of His word. They will discern new light and beauty in its
sacred truths. This has been true in the history of the church in all ages,
and thus it will continue to the end. But as real spiritual life declines,
it has ever been the tendency to cease to advance in the knowledge of the
truth. Men rest satisfied with the light already received from God's word
and discourage any further investigation of the Scriptures. They become
conservative and seek to avoid discussion." Testimonies, Vol. 5, pp. 706-707.
"The perils of the last days are upon us, and in our work
we are to warn the people of the danger they are in. Let not the solemn
scenes which prophecy has revealed be left untouched." Testimonies to Ministers
p. 118.
"Give the Trumpet a Certain Sound. --There are many who
do not understand the prophecies relating to these days, and they must
be enlightened. It is the duty of both watchmen and laymen to give the
trumpet a certain sound. Be in earnest, "cry aloud, spare not, lift up
thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the
house of Jacob their sins."-- Letter 1, 1875." Evangelism 194-195.
"Familiar With Every Line of Prophetic History.--Young
men who desire to give themselves to the ministry, or who have already
done so, should become familiar with every line of prophetic history.--
Gospel Workers, p. 98. (1915)" Evangelism 198.
"Increased Light on the Prophecies.--Increased light will
shine upon all the grand truths of prophecy, and they will be seen in freshness
and brilliancy, because the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness will
illuminate the whole." Evangelism p. 198.
"Are we to wait until the fulfillment of the prophecies
of the end before we say anything concerning them? Of what value will our
words be then? Shall we wait until God's judgments fall upon the transgressor
before we tell him how to avoid them?" Testimonies, Vol. 9 p. 20.
"In the visions of the night a very impressive scene passed
before me. I saw an immense ball of fire fall among some beautiful mansions,
causing their instant destruction. I heard someone say: 'We knew that the
judgments of God were coming upon the earth, but we did not know that they
would come so soon.' Others, with agonized voices, said: 'You knew! Why
then did you not tell us? We did not know.' On every side I heard similar
words of reproach spoken." Testimonies, Vol. 9 p. 28.
I believe the above quotations are adequate enough to
convince any honest soul that it is very vital to understand the prophecies,
especially those pertaining to our day.
In 1888-1890, when Elders Jones and Waagoner attempted
to bring the message of "the righteousness of Christ", some accused them
of removing the old landmarks. The same cry is again heard today. The Spirit
of Prophecy defines for us what the old landmarks are:
"The Landmarks Defined.--In Minneapolis God gave precious
gems of truth to His people in new settings. This light from heaven by
some was rejected with all the stubbornness the Jews manifested in rejecting
Christ, and there was much talk about standing by the old landmarks. But
there was evidence they knew not what the old landmarks were. There was
evidence and there was reasoning from the word that commended itself to
the conscience; but the minds of men were fixed, sealed against the entrance
of light, because they had decided it was a dangerous error removing the
"old landmarks" when it was not moving a peg of the old landmarks, but
they had perverted ideas of what constituted the old landmarks.
"The passing of the time in 1844 was a period of great
events, opening to our astonished eyes the cleansing of the sanctuary transpiring
in heaven, and having decided relation to God's people upon the earth,
[also] the first and second angels' messages and the third, unfurling the
banner on which was inscribed, "The commandments of God and the faith of
Jesus." One of the landmarks under this message was the temple of God,
seen by His truth-loving people in heaven, and the ark containing the law
of God. The light of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment flashed its
strong rays in the pathway of the transgressors of God's law. The nonimmortality
of the wicked is an old landmark. I can call to mind nothing more that
can come under the head of the old landmarks. All this cry about changing
the old landmarks is all imaginary.
"Now at the present time God designs a new and fresh impetus
shall be given to His work. Satan sees this, and he is determined it shall
be hindered. He knows that if he can deceive the people who claim to believe
present truth, [and make them believe that] the work the Lord designs to
do for His people is a removing of the old landmarks, something which they
should, with most determined zeal, resist, then he exults over the deception
he has led them to believe." Counsels to Writers and Editors pp. 30-31.
Apostles accused Of Preaching Contrary To Established
doctrines.
"'The angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors,
and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to
the people all the words of this life." We see here that the men in authority
are not always to be obeyed, even though they may profess to be teachers
of Bible doctrine. There are many today who feel indignant and aggrieved
that any voice should be raised presenting ideas that differ from their
own in regard to points of religious belief. Have they not long advocated
their ideas as truth? So the priests and rabbis reasoned in apostolic days:
What mean these men who are unlearned, some of them mere fishermen, who
are presenting ideas contrary to the doctrines which the learned priests
and rulers are teaching the people? They have no right to meddle with the
fundamental principles of our faith.
"But we see that the God of heaven sometimes commissions
men to teach that which is regarded as contrary to the established doctrines.
Because those who were once the depositaries of truth became unfaithful
to their sacred trust, the Lord chose others who would receive the bright
beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and would advocate truths that were
not in accordance with the ideas of the religious leaders. And then these
leaders, in the blindness of their minds, give full sway to what is supposed
to be righteous indignation against the ones who have set aside cherished
fables. They act like men who have lost their reason. They do not consider
the possibility that they themselves have not rightly understood the word.
They will not open their eyes to discern the fact that they have misinterpreted
and misapplied the Scriptures, and have built up false theories, calling
them fundamental doctrines of the faith.
"But the Holy Spirit will, from time to time, reveal the
truth through its own chosen agencies; and no man, not even a priest or
ruler, has a right to say, You shall not give publicity to your opinions,
because I do not believe them. That wonderful "I" may attempt to put down
the Holy Spirit's teaching. Men may for a time attempt to smother it and
kill it; but that will not make error truth, or truth error. The inventive
minds of men have advanced speculative opinions in various lines, and when
the Holy Spirit lets light shine into human minds, it does not respect
every point of man's application of the word. God impressed His servants
to speak the truth irrespective of what men had taken for granted as truth.
"Present Dangers ---Even Seventh-day Adventists are in
danger of closing their eyes to truth as it is in Jesus, because it contradicts
something which they have taken for granted as truth but which the Holy
Spirit teaches is not truth.
"But let us follow the history of the men whom the Jewish
priests and rulers thought so dangerous, because they were bringing in
new and strange teaching on almost every theological subject." Testimonies
to Ministers pp. 69-71.
Brethren, for your soul's sake, do not pass lightly over
this life-and-death matter, for, as you have seen, the light shining on
the subject illuminates the fact that subsequent to the ninth-hour group
and message, there were first to come an addition to the message, then
sealed servants---the all consequential message of the judgment of the
living, and the all-powerful servants, "the escaped" ones, who are to go
to "all nations," rather than only to "many." Initial assurance that there
was to be an addition to the Third Angel's Message, came to us long ago
in the following words:
"I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven, descending
to the earth, and again ascending to heaven, preparing for the fulfillment
of some important event. Then I saw another mighty angel commissioned to
descend to the earth, to unite his voice with the third angel, and give
power and force to his message...
"...This message seemed to be an addition to the third
message, joining it as the midnight cry joined the second angel's message
in 1844." Early Writings p. 277.
In the book entitled, "A Word to the Little Flock", a
compilation by Elder James White, Mrs. E.G. White and Elder Joseph Bates,
we are told there are five distinct messages in Rev. 14. As a denomination
we have been teaching only the first three. (See Booklet #5 pp. 22-26)
"All classes of second advent believers agree, that the
angel brought to view in the 6th, and 7th verses of this chapter, (Rev.
14:) represents the advent message, to the church and world. If this is
true, then all five of the angels brought to view in this chapter represent
five distinct messages, prior to the advent, or we are left without a rule
to interpret this chapter.
"...it is plain that we live in the time of the third
angel's message. The last two angels are messages of prayer. We shall,
no doubt, better understand them at the time of their fulfillment. "A Word
to the Little Flock, pp. 10, 11.
Could it be that the 4th angel has the Judgment for the
Living message that seals the 144,000 (the Loud-Cry Ministry), and the
5th angel represents that great power that will attend the Judgment hour
message when it is given to bring in the great multitude during the time
of the Loud Cry?
Plainly then, it is the eleventh-hour servants with the
additional message, the message of the judgment of the living, who rescue
God's people out of Babylon. Indeed never until the Church herself has
been freed from the hypocrites and the abominable, and thus made white
and clean, can God morally pour out His Spirit in pentecostal power upon
His people, and sound the cry: "Come out of her, My people, that ye be
not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Rev.
18:4.
Many years ago the Spirit of Prophecy confirms this as
it says: "God's displeasure is upon His people, and He will not manifest
His power in the midst of them while sins exist among them and are fostered
by those in responsible positions." Testimonies, Vol. 3 p. 270.
Note that the Voice which calls God's people out of Babylon,
clearly implies that there is no sin in the place to which the Voice calls
them. Moreover, there could be no justification in calling them out of
Babylon, to save them from the plagues which are to overtake her because
of her sins, if the called-out ones are to be brought into another place
of sin. The wages of sin could be no more or no less damaging in one place
of sin than in another.
From these now unfolding scriptures it is plainly seen,
too, that the message of the judgment of the living is Heaven's final edition
of glad tidings for the saints, and of sad tidings for the sinners. Hence
it is to be proclaimed by guileless servants, the 144,000---The Servants
of the Eleventh Hour:
Standing Idle In The Market Place
"And he went out about the third hour, and saw others
standing idle in the marketplace, . . . Again he went out about the sixth
and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out,
and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here
all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith
unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that
shall ye receive." Matt. 20:3,5-7.
No Man Hath Hired Us.
What is implied in the statement, "no man hath hired us"?
Let us turn to the Spirit of Prophecy to find our answer: "When the householder
went to the market place at the eleventh hour and found men unemployed
he said, 'Why stand ye here all the day idle?' The answer was, 'Because
no man hath hired us.'" Christ's Object Lessons p. 399.
If the market place represents the church, the place where
the householder recruits his laborers, then the statement by the laborers
that "no man hath hired us" implies that they were not previously employed
by the church. Would this not imply a laymen's movement? Please note that
the laborers hired were all standing idle when the householder came to
hire laborers to work in His vineyard (Matt. 20: 1-7). Let us go back in
history and see if the laborers hired were mostly composed of laymen or
if they were of the recognized leaders of that day. Let us begin our search
with those hired "Early in the Morning."
Ancient Israel. (Early In The Morning)
Let us go back to the time of the first call, to ancient
Israel going out of Egypt. You recall that the Exodus movement was a nation
of slaves before their deliverance as the Spirit of Prophecy says: "God
had promised to be their God, to take them to Himself as a people, and
to lead them to a large and good land; but they were ready to faint at
every obstacle encountered in the way to that land. In a marvelous manner
He had brought them out from their bondage in Egypt, that He might elevate
and ennoble them and make them a praise in the earth. But it was necessary
for them to encounter difficulties and to endure privations. God was bringing
them from a state of degradation and fitting them to occupy an honorable
place among the nations and to receive important and sacred trusts." Patriarchs
and Prophets, p. 292
Even Moses their leader spent forty years in the school
of Christ. While keeping sheep he exchanged his Egyptian training for the
knowledge and wisdom of the Great I Am. The Spirit of Prophecy in commenting
on this says: "Man would have dispensed with that long period of toil and
obscurity, deeming it a great loss of time. But Infinite Wisdom called
him who was to become the leader of his people to spend forty years in
the humble work of a shepherd. The habits of caretaking, of self-forgetfulness
and tender solicitude for his flock, thus developed, would prepare him
to become the compassionate, longsuffering shepherd of Israel. No advantage
that human training or culture could bestow, could be a substitute for
this experience. Moses had been learning much that he must unlearn." Patriarchs
and Prophets p. 248. Thus we see that Moses, the worlds greatest general
(Patriarchs and Prophets p. 246) had to unlearn much of what he had learned
in Egypt's finest schools of his day by herding sheep for 40 years, to
enable him to become the leader of ancient Israel.
In The Apostles Day. (3rd Hour)
"The first pupils of Jesus were chosen from the ranks
of the common people. They were humble, unlettered men, these fishers of
Galilee; men unschooled in the learning and customs of the rabbis, but
trained by the stern discipline of toil and hardship." Education p. 85.
"When Christ came to speak the words of life, the common
people heard Him gladly; and many, even of the priests and rulers, believed
on Him. But the chief of the priesthood and the leading men of the nation
were determined to condemn and repudiate His teachings. . . .These opponents
of Jesus were men whom the people had been taught from infancy to reverence,
to whose authority they had been accustomed implicitly to bow. "How is
it," they asked, "that our rulers and learned scribes do not believe on
Jesus? Would not these pious men receive Him if He were the Christ?" It
was the influence of such teachers that led the Jewish nation to reject
their Redeemer." Great Controversy, pp. 595, 596.
Christ "chose unlearned fishermen for the work of the
gospel because they had not been schooled in the false customs and traditions
of the world. . . It was such men whom Jesus connected with himself; and
he gave them the advantages of three years training under his own care.
No course of study in the schools of the rabbis or the halls of philosophy
could have equaled this in value. The Son of God was the greatest educator
the world ever knew.
"The learned lawyers, priests, and scribes scorned to
be taught by Christ. They desired to teach him, and frequently made the
attempt, only to be defeated by the wisdom that laid bare their ignorance,
and rebuked their folly. . . They knew that he had not learned in the schools
of the prophets, and they could not discern the divine excellence of his
character beneath the lowly disguise of the Man of Nazareth." Second Advent
Review and Sabbath Herald, 09-25-83.
First-Day Adventists. (6th Hour)
"To William Miller and his co-laborers it was given to
preach the warning in America...There were comparatively few ministers,
however, who would accept this message; therefore it was largely committed
to humble laymen.
"The fact that the message was, to a great extent, preached
by laymen, was urged as an argument against it. As of old, the plain testimony
of God's word was met with the inquiry: 'Have any of the rulers or the
Pharisees believed?"' Great Controversy 308, 380.
Seventh-Day Adventist. (9th Hour)
As the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist movement
were those who survived the "great disappointment" of 1844, and as they
were mostly made up of laymen, so those laborers who were first called
at the ninth hour were mainly composed of laymen. (See: Great Controversy
pp. 353,354, Life Sketches pp. 59-63.)
Ellen G. White, the Lord's special messenger to the Seventh-day
Adventist movement, was a laymen from the Methodist church. (See: Life
Sketches pp. 43-54.)
The Addition To The Third Angel's Message---Loud Cry.
(11th Hour)
"Thus the message of the third angel will be proclaimed.
As the time comes for it to be given with greatest power, the Lord will
work through humble instruments, leading the minds of those who consecrate
themselves to His service. The laborers will be qualified rather by the
unction of His Spirit than by the training of literary institutions." Great
Controversyp. 606.
"The truth is soon to triumph gloriously, and all who
now choose to be laborers together with God will triumph with it. The time
is short; the night soon cometh when no man can work." Testimonies, Vol.
9, p. 135.
"But the Lord will use in the accomplishment of His work
means that we do not now see. He will raise up from among the common people,
men and women to do His work, even as of old He called fishermen to be
his disciples. There will soon be an awakening that will surprise many.
Those who do not realize the necessity of what is to be done, will be passed
by, and the heavenly messengers will work with those who are called the
common people, fitting them to carry the truth to many places." The Paulson
Collection of Ellen G. White Letters, pp. 319.
"Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent
will not then stand at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace
with the light. Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then
be entrusted with the flock. In the last solemn work few great men will
be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot
use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time
will be disclosed to view." Testimonies, Vol. 5 p. 80-81, See also pp.
211, 212.
"The great issue so near at hand will weed out those whom
God has not appointed and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry
prepared for the latter rain. . . ." Selected Messages Book 3, pp. 385.
"The reason why He does not oftener choose men of learning
and high position to lead out in reform movements is that they trust to
their creeds, theories, and theological systems, and feel no need to be
taught of God." Great Controversy p. 456.
Our object in quoting these statements as recorded in
the Spirit of Prophecy is not to cast reflection upon the ministry of our
church but to simply point out the truth that the last servants commissioned
to bring in the final harvest will be mostly composed of laymen. We know
of course that the Lord has faithful ones among the ministry as well as
the laity. All those who are faithful will have a part in the final harvest.
We dare not refuse to publish what is written as it would not only imperil
our own souls, but also the souls of others.
The Last Shall Be First.
"So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith
unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning
from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about
the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first
came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise
received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured
against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one
hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden
and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do
thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine
is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it
not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because
I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be
called, but few chosen." Matt. 20:8-16.
They that murmured represent that part of the Jewish nation
who were unworthy, and the phrase, "Friend, I do thee no wrong....Take
that thine is, and go thy way," denotes the rejection of the nation.
Note that those who were hired last were paid first, and
the first, last. As all were equally regarded, the ones hired first murmured,
though they were paid in full. Their disdainful act denotes that the Jewish
nation was unworthy of their hire, and the Goodman said to them, "Take
that thine is, and go thy way." As ancient Israel is represented by the
first call, as previously explained, to them the words apply, and as they
were the ones who murmured, it proves the parable correct.
Why were the first paid last, and the last first? Answer.-The
pay God's servants receive is eternal life, and is characterized by the
penny (see Christ's Object Lessons p. 402, Rom. 6:23). Therefore, those
who are granted the assurance of a never ending life first, are those who
were hired last, and according to the parable, it was the company called
at the eleventh hour. They are those who are marked or sealed by the man
with the writer's inkhorn of Ezekiel 9, or as John calls him, the angel
with the seal of God; and he sealed, or marked, 144,000. (See: Rev. 7:1-8.)
This glorious company is the first who are granted the assurance of never
tasting death (See Great Controversy p. 649). Thus they are paid first,
but those who were called early in the morning (Ancient Israel) are to
receive their reward, eternal life when they are resurrected. "So that
the last shall be first, and the first, last." For this reason, those who
were sealed and saved by the Third Angel's Message since 1844, are resurrected
in the special resurrection of Dan. 12:2, (Early Writings p. 285 ) which
transpires before the second coming of Christ.
Summary.
(1) At the beginning of our study we found that old truths
were to be seen in a new light.
(2) We found that the Lord has made five (5) calls for
laborers to labor in His vineyard.
(3) The parable of Matthew 20: depicts a parabolical period
of 24 hours. The day part commences at the time the Scriptures first began
to be written, thereby illuminating man's spiritual pathway.
The night part represents that part of this worlds history
before we had the illumination of the Scriptures, the time of oral tradition,
when the Word was handed down from
(4) Each one of these calls carried with it a new message,
present-truth, especially adapted to the necessities of God's people of
that particular time.
(5) All the laborers received the same pay-a penny-eternal
life.
(6) The first call was "early in the morning." We found
that Ancient Israel was the first ones the Lord bargained with, the first
incorporated church. Their message was concerning the Ceremonial system.
(7) The second call which was given at the Third hour
was the Early Christian Church, in the time of the apostles. Their message
consisted of the Resurrection, Ascension and heavenly Priesthood of Christ.
(8) The third call which was at the sixth hour was in
the time of William Miller or better known as the First-day Adventists.
His message was concerning the 2300 days and was accompanied by a "great
disappointment" as they thought Christ was coming to this earth instead
of going into the most Holy Apartment of the heavenly Sanctuary.
(9) It is interesting to note how the Scriptures show
a connection between the third and fourth calls sixth and ninth hour) as
it does not mention the calls separately as it does the others. (Matt.
20:5) All Seventh-day Adventists will agree that history and the Scriptures
(Rev. 10:9-11) show that those who continued on to follow the Lord in Truth
from William Miller's movement continued right on into the Seventh-day
Adventist movement in 1844.
(10) The fourth call which came at the ninth hour was
the call given to our Seventh-day Adventist denomination which logically
followed William Miller's movement. Our denomination was founded upon the
Judgment hour message. We as a people, since 1844 have proclaimed the first
phase of the judgment-the judgment for the dead.
(11) We found that the first phase of the judgment-the
judgment for the dead was to be proclaimed to many peoples, nations and
tongues .
(12) The fifth and last call for laborers comes at the
eleventh hour-just one hour before sunset. Their message is concerning
the second phase of the judgment---that part which deals with the judgment
for the living, which will begin with the purification of the Laodicean
church, resulting in the bringing forth of the 144,000, the Lord's Loud-Cry
ministry. This message goes to all nations.
(13) We found how vital it is to understand all the prophecies
for our day as they are a light to lighten our pathway that we stumble
not in darkness ( 1 Thess. 5:4-5).
(14) Some have feared that if we accept anything different
from what we have always understood, that we would be removing the old
landmarks and preaching contrary to the established doctrines. However
we found in the truths brought out on this parable of Matthew 20: that
not a peg of the old landmarks was removed. This same fear existed in 1888
when Elders Jones and Waggoner presented the message of Righteousness By
Faith.
(15) It was discovered that each one of these calls for
laborers was initiated as a laymen's movement as they were standing idle
at the time the call was made. Our next booklet will go into the prophecy
of this last laymen's movement.
(16) At the eleventh hour, the eleventh hour servants---the
144,000 receive their pay as they are sealed for translation, which guarantees
them eternal life. They receive this promise prior to the second Advent.
The laborers that were hired during the other 4 calls will not receive
their reward until they are resurrected. Thus the "last shall be first,
and the first last."
(17) Now we can see clearly how the completion of the
1888 message, was to come back to us as a denomination in its fullness
after our "forty years wilderness wandering" from 1890-1930. The 1888 message
in its fullness was to evolve into the second phase of the judgment hour
message---the judgment for the living. The eleventh hour servants will
proclaim anew the 1888 message in its fullness when the earth is lightened
with the glory of the angel of Revelation 18. And since the latter rain
comes first in the from of a message, before the power is poured out, the
Lord is now recruiting His eleventh hour servants. It is our sincere prayer
that you will let nothing distract you from making your "calling and election
sure" now, so that when the Householder commission