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Commentary on "The Gift of Prophecy and
God's Remnant Church"
Day 6: Thursday, January 22, 2009
The lesson for today states,
"Thus, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is not just one church among many. It is a church prophetically foreseen. God has called this church into existence for a very specific purpose—to proclaim the three angles’ messages to a dying world.
The text upon which this is based is Revelation 14:6-12:
And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters." And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality." Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
Adventists interpret the "hour of His judgment" to be October 22, 1844. The focus on this judgment has historically concerned believers. God is said to be comparing the characters of those who profess faith in God with His law. In order to pass in the judgment in Adventist theology, one must believe in Christ, obey the Ten Commandments, especially the Sabbath Commandment, and have no unconfessed sin—among many other things.
Again, this is another doctrine built on apocalyptic prophecy. When one compares the use of "the hour of judgment" with other texts in Revelation, it is quite obvious that the focus of judgment is not the saints; rather, it is against the wicked.
Revelation 17:1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters,
Revelation 18:10 standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.'
Revelation 18:20 "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her."
The focus of God’s judgment is not believers. This is clear.
John 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
Summary
There is no one human organization which is the true church. Rather look for a local gathering of Christian believers who confess and worship Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, who make Him the center of their theology, derive their doctrines from clear, didactic teaching of Scripture, who demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit in their lives, who proclaim the simple gospel of God’s grace, who practice water baptism and celebrate the Lord’s Supper, who study and obey God’s word, and who express their forgiven condition by loving one another—even immature sinners who need God. There you will find God’s true church regardless of its name.
Copyright 2009 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised January 17, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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