p. 119 | REVELATION 14 by S. N. H.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Feb 19, 1901

By S. N. H.

S. N. H.

(Concluded)

“AND I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” Rev. 14:13.

Several things in this verse are worthy of consideration: (1) It was a voice direct from heaven; (2) the message to be borne was something for the prophet to write; (3) the word “henceforth” locates it under the Third Angel’s Message; (4) not only does it come from the throne, but it is confirmed by “Yea, saith the Spirit;” (5) to those who die in the Third Angel’s Message, the blessing is rest from their labors, and their works follow them. Their works will come up to the judgment the same as if they had lived and performed them themselves, so in no sense will they be losers. But on the contrary, they will receive a special blessing in resting from their labors. When God pronounces a special blessing, it is because there are opposing influences that would oppress. Ex. 22:21–24; Rom. 14:4. Why is such a blessing pronounced upon those who die in the Third Angel’s Message, when all who die in the Lord are and ever were blessed? There are some who are saying of those faithful souls who fall asleep in Christ, that they have in some way sinned, and that they will not share in all the blessings of the one hundred and forty-four thousand. But there is a statute in Israel that those who become weary and rest will “part alike” with those who go forth to battle. 1 Sam. 30:21–25. When the message was received, it was taken for all there is in it. Fierce were the battles, and difficult the struggles, which the pioneers of this work endured, who now sleep in Jesus. God will reward them according to their works. Ps. 116:15.

The next event of interest to the people of God is the coming of the great white cloud, with Christ seated upon it. Many are the scenes that cluster around His coming. He comes to reap the harvest of the earth; for the cup of iniquity is come to the full. The two vines have yielded their fruit. Christ is the true vine, and His followers are the branches. John 15:1–7. The same nourishment that sustains the vine sustains the branches. It comes through the vine. There are no two branches exactly alike, yet each branch represents the vine; so the believers are one in Christ, as Christ and the Father are one. John 17:21–23. And yet each believer bears his own individuality; but the fruits are all the same. A oneness in diversity is a divine characteristic.

But there is a false vine, Satan and his branches. And the root and branch have one common end. Mal. 4:1. It is called the “vine of the earth.” “Another angel came out of the temple [for the work of interceding is now over], crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.” “In the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles, to burn them.” “The reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Matt. 13:30, 39–42. Isa. 8:11–15 indicates race war, war between labor and capital, help from the various earthly combinations, and these are all in the first reaping.

But there is another angel that comes out of the temple, and he also has a sharp sickle, and he gathers the clusters of the vine of the earth, and casts them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. This results in the battle of Armageddon. The time once was when the river Seine in Paris flowed with blood, and dead bodies nearly blocked the river; but here is blood that flows “even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs,” or two hundred miles. Another angel also comes out from the altar, who has power over fire. It was upon the golden altar was the sacrifice of sweet incense, representing Christ’s righteousness. And on a certain occasion even this fire came forth and destroyed those who would offer strange fire before the Lord. Compare Lev. 10:3 with Rev. 16:8, 9; 2 Cor. 2:14–17; and Heb. 12:28, 29.

The period of time covered in verses 15–20 of chapter 14 is the same as is covered by the seven last plagues. A description of this time will be briefly described in the suggestions on Revelation 16. No language can describe the terribleness of that time. Prophets prayed to be hid during that period. Hab. 3:16. Those who are so desirous of living through the time of trouble as to offer prayer to that effect, have but little realizing sense of the nature of that time. Amos 5:18–20.