The Great Threefold Message

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Apr 10, 1916

The Great Threefold Message

BIBLE STUDIES

The First Angel's Message

The Hour of God's Judgment

1. What message announces the judgment hour come? “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.

2. In view of the judgment hour, what gospel is proclaimed anew? “The everlasting gospel.” Verse 6, first part.

3. How extensively is this message to be proclaimed? “To every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” Same verse, last part.

4. What is the whole world called upon to do? “To fear God, and give glory to him.” Verse 7.

5. What special reason is given for this? “The hour of his judgment is come.” Same verse.

6. Whom are all called upon to worship? “Him that made heaven and earth.” Same verse.

NOTE.—There is only one gospel (Rom. 1:16, 17; Gal. 1:8), first announced in Eden (Gen. 3:15), preached to Abraham (Gal. 3:8) and to the children of Israel (Heb. 4:1, 2), and proclaimed anew in every generation. In its development, the gospel meets the needs of every crisis in the world's history. John the Baptist in his preaching announced the kingdom of heaven at hand (Matt. 3:1, 2), and prepared the way for the first advent (John 1:22, 23). Christ himself in his preaching of the gospel announced the

fulfilment of a definite-time prophecy (the sixty-nine weeks, or 483 years, of Dan. 9:25), and called the people to repentance, in view of the coming of the predicted Messiah. Mark 1:14, 15. So when the time of judgment comes, and Christ's second advent is near, a world-wide announcement of these events is to be made in the preaching of the everlasting gospel, adapted to meet the need of the hour.

The 2300 Days

7. What prophetic period extends to the time of the cleansing of the sanctuary, or the investigative judgment? “He said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Dan. 8:14.

8. When did this long period expire? In A. D. 1844.

NOTE.—Our Lord based his preaching of the gospel upon the fulfilment of the first part of the 2300 days, or years (Mark 1:14, 15), a prophecy which determined the time of the first advent. The whole period extends to the time of the judgment, just preceding the second advent, and at its expiration a special gospel message is sent to all the world, proclaiming the judgment hour at hand and calling upon all to worship the Creator. The facts of history answer to this interpretation of the prophecy; for at this very time (1844) just such a movement had developed in different parts of the world. This was the beginning of the great second advent message which is now being proclaimed throughout the world.