REVELATION TWELVE by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 8, 1857

REVELATION TWELVE.

By James White

This chapter gives a brief outline of the perils of the church through the entire christian age. In this chapter we have first presented the birth and ascension of Christ in the period of the Pagan dragon; second, the woman, or church of Christ, in the wilderness during the 1260 years of the Papal beast. This brings us within fifty-nine years of the present time. What next? The chapter closes with the prophecy of the wrath of the lamb-dragon, because the remnant keep the Commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Here the scene closes with the last persecution to be endured by the church of Jesus Christ.

THE REMNANT.

Who are the remnant? To what portion of the christian age shall we look for that body of christians called [Rev. xii, 17,] the remnant? This people, and the period in which they flourish, may be definitely ascertained as follows:

1. The place which the prophecy concerning the remnant holds in the prophetic chain. The prophecy concerning the remnant, and the war made on them, has its fulfillment after the 1260 years of Papal persecution. It is the last link of the prophetic chain of Rev. xii.

2. The figurative word, remnant, must represent the latest members of the church of Jesus Christ, living just before his second coming. This figure is wisely chosen, and is forcible. The seller of dry goods, after taking garment after garment from the piece of cloth, often has a remnant left. This remnant is not only a small piece, but is the last of the web. This must represent the living church who are waiting for Christ's return from the wedding, to which he says, "Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

3. By what they do. They keep the Commandments of God. The fact that those who are looking for the speedy second advent are turning to keep all ten of the Commandments of God, must be regarded by the careful observer and student of the Scriptures as a wonderful fulfillment of prophecy. It is said of the people of God under the Third Angel's Message, (which just precedes the coming of the Son of man,) "Here are they that keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus."

THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD.

We see the Commandments of God classed with the Faith of Jesus in Rev. xiv, 12, and with the Testimony of Jesus Christ in chap. xii, 19, as something distinct from either. As the Faith or Testimony of Jesus embraces the entire doctrines of the New Testament, with all its gifts and promised blessings, we are shut up to the faith that these Commandments of God are nothing more nor less than the ten unchangeable precepts spoken from Sinai, and written in the tables of stone by the finger of God. Hence the remnant who keep the Commandments of God will be found engaged in the Sabbath reform.

THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS.

What is it? Let the angel at whose feet John fell to worship [Rev. xxi, 10] testify: "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." If the church had ever followed Jesus Christ instead of uniting with the world, they would have kept the Commandments of God. They would also have ever had the Testimony of Jesus Christ, or what is the same thing, the spirit of prophecy.

Says Paul, "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that, miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." 1 Cor. xii, 28. Can it be shown that God has taken these out of the church? No, it cannot.

The same apostle testifies, "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man; for I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Gal. i, 11, 12. Paul received the gospel in open vision with Jesus Christ.

Again he says, "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations there was given me a thorn in the flesh," &c. 2 Cor. xii, 7.

But in the last days the work of restoring the Commandments of God, and the Testimony of Jesus Christ to the church will be seen, according to the word and promise of God. "Here are they that keep the Commandments of God," under the Third Angel's Message, will then be a fact. The dragon's war on the remnant which keep the Commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ, will then be no longer a prophecy only, but a fact. Joel's prophecy of the last days will then be a fact also, in all its fullness. "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered; for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call." Joel ii, 28-32. Here is seen, and will soon be realized, the Testimony of Jesus Christ, to the "remnant whom the Lord shall call."

REVELATION THIRTEEN.

This chapter gives an outline of the perils of the true church from the sixth century down to the close of the christian age. In this chapter we have first presented the Papal beast, its acts, and time of its supremacy, from 538 to 1798. Next the two-horned beast, or lamb-dragon. The acts of this beast close the scene of peril and persecution of the church.

How much of the prophecy relating the two-horned beast remains to be fulfilled? It has arisen with its lamb-like horns. Its dragon voice has been heard speaking forth sentiments of oppression, the reverse of its lamb-like profession of freedom and equal rights among all men. We believe his voice is yet to be heard denying the true christian his right of conscience in the service of God. His wonders and miracles, to a great extent at least, are in the past. There remains therefore only those oppressive acts to be put forth against the people of God, for keeping the Commandments of God and having the testimony of Jesus Christ.

CAUSE AND EFFECT.

And the dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed which keep the Commandments of God, and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev. xii, 17.

This text mentions a cause and effect. The cause is the keeping of the Commandments of God and having the Testimony of Jesus. The effect is the wrath of the dragon, and his war on the saints.

Some have reversed this order, and have placed the effect before the cause. That is, they have been looking out upon the world for some movement there to give rise to the great work of the Third Message. They have supposed that we must wait to witness the dragon's ire before we could see the Message move off with power. That persecution would cut the saints loose from the world, and lead them out to give the loud cry.

What a mistake! How evident that the dragon would be quiet as long as the saints might remain lukewarm, waiting for the loud cry to come along! It is evident that the loud cry moves the wrath of the dragon, and that nothing remains to be done before the great movement of the Message shall commence, only for the present lukewarm church to be zealous, and repent; to buy gold tried in the fire, white raiment and eye-salve.

And, thank the Lord, this work will not be pressed onward by human energy alone. No, no. Jesus stands at the door knocking for admission. If the Laodicean church will let him in, he will go before them to battle. Glory to his dear name! He will sup with us and we with him. Here strength will be obtained in holding communion with Christ to go forth in the last great work of salvation.

Some have put the coming of the Lord far in the future, supposing that it would take several years to fulfill the prophecy of the two-horned beast, and are now drowning themselves in perdition with the cares of this life. But we have already seen that all the specifications in the prophecy of the two-horned beast are already fulfilled, or are fulfilling, except those oppressive acts to be put forth against the saints for keeping the Commandments of God, and having the Testimony of Jesus Christ. Then what comes next in God's order? Answer. The loud cry of the Message, as the cause, and the wrath and oppressive acts of the lamb-dragon as the effect. Next comes glory, honor, immortality, eternal life. Amen.