p. 58 | 2 Esdras 2 by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 8, 1871

2 Esdras 2.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

This is a most interesting chapter. It seems to me to give good evidence of inspiration. To the believer in present truth it is of especial interest. I will notice a few points. To the righteous, he says, “I will give thee the first place in my resurrection.” Verse 23. This is equivalent to the first resurrection in Rev. 20. Again he says, “Remember thy children that sleep, for I shall bring them out of the sides of the earth, and show mercy unto them.” Verse 31. This teaches that the saints sleep in the earth, the same as in 1 Thess. 4:13–18. There are many things in this chapter that seem clearly to refer to the work of the third message. Verse 33 says, “I, Esdras, received a charge of the Lord upon the mount Oreb, that I should go unto Israel; but when I came unto them, they set me at naught, and despised the commandment of the Lord.” This seems to refer to the same work concerning the commandments that is introduced in Rev. 14:12; 12:17. The next verse says, “And therefore I say unto you, O ye heathen, that hear and understand, look for your Shepherd, he shall give you everlasting rest; for he is nigh at hand, that shall come in the end of the world.” This so clearly refers to the coming of Christ that it cannot be mistaken. Esdras continues: “Be ready to the reward of the kingdom, for the everlasting light shall shine upon you forevermore. Flee the shadow of this world; receive the joyfulness of your glory; I testify my Saviour openly. O, receive the gift that is given you, and be glad, giving thanks unto him that hath called you to the heavenly kingdom.” Verses 35–37. Then he introduces the subject of those who are sealed for the marriage supper of the Lamb. “Arise up and stand, behold the number of those that be sealed in the feast of the Lord; which are departed from the shadow of the world, and have received glorious garments of the Lord. Take thy number, O Zion, and shut up those of thine that are clothed in white, which have fulfilled the law of the Lord. The number of thy children, whom thou longedest for is fulfilled; beseech the power of the Lord that thy people, which have been called from the beginning, may be hallowed.” Verses 38–41. In Revelation 7, we are told that there is to be a certain “number” sealed, viz., 144,000. These are sealed for the feast of the marriage of the Lamb. Rev. 19. Esdras speaks of a time when this number is made up. He farther says that they have received glorious garments of the Lord, and are clothed in white. John says the same of the 144,000. Rev. 7. Esdras says this number was made up and clothed in white for fulfilling the law of the Lord. Verse 40. Further, he says: “I, Esdras, saw upon the Mount Zion a great people, whom I could not number, and they all praised the Lord with songs.” Verse 42. Who can fail to see similarity between this and Revelation 14:1–3. Again he says: “And in the midst of them, there was a young man of a high stature, taller than all the rest, and upon every one of their heads he set crowns, and was more exalted; which I marveled at greatly. So I asked the angel, and said, Sir, what are these? He answered and said unto me, These be they that have put off the mortal clothing, and put on the immortal, and have confessed the name of God; now are they crowned, and receive palms. Then said I unto the angel, What young person is it that crowned them, and giveth them palms in their hands? So he answered and said unto me, It is the Son of God, whom they have confessed in the world. Then began I greatly to commend them that stood so stiffly for the name of the Lord.” Verses 43–47. How very plain this language is, and how well it compares with the teaching of the Revelation with regard to the coming of Christ, the 144,000, their final victory on Mount Zion, &c. D. M. CANRIGHT.