Greetings MOL Family!
Welcome back to our survival series! We have a great interest in these closing events that form the finale of human history, as we have seen it for 6,000 years. The whole Bible is a survival manual, telling us how to go through the various experiences of trouble; and finally, to survive the wreck of a world…
Enter Into The Experience
Of all the books of the Bible, the last book, the book of Revelation is especially focused on our time — earth’s last hour. This is indicated in the opening words of the book:
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. – Revelation 1:1-3
Some things that John wrote about were at hand when he wrote them; but many of the things that this book deals with are, in a special sense, at hand right now. Therefore, you and I are privileged to enter into the experience and receive the blessing spoken of in this book.
This book Revelation is of special importance to the remnant church. Elder Richards (who was with the Voice of Prophecy) tells about a minister of another denomination who said it was too bad that that book of Revelation was in the Bible. If it weren’t for that book, he said, we wouldn’t be troubled with these Seventh-day Adventists. I think he had a point there. I am so glad for this book of Revelation. What do you say?
The great theme of the book of Revelation is the controversy between Christ and satan. The 12th chapter shows how it began in Heaven – war in heaven transferred to this earth. But the focal point of the book is the last battle in that age-long conflict. It is that battle that we’re preparing now to enter. The only reason that that battle has not come and gone long ago is simply that God has held back the winds of war and persecution, as the 7th chapter of Revelation shows, until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads.
Earth’s Last War
In a battle, in war, there is a period of preparation during which each side, if it knows there’s going to be a war, marshals its forces and trains them and equips them. Then the battle is joined. The devil would like to launch all the fury of his final attach on the remnant; he would like to do that now. But God is the one who calls the signals. For years the Son of God has been holding up His hands in the Sanctuary, pleading that there might be a little longer time granted to the remnant. The angels have actually held back the powers of earth and the powers of hell from launching the final attack upon the remnant church. Oh, how thankful we should be for the prayers of Jesus.
Now I ask you, what are we doing with the time that He has purchased at such a dear price? What are we using it for? Our time today is not to make money. It isn’t to have fun. It isn’t to make a living. It’s to make a life, to make a character that God can put His seal on. When the servants of God are sealed, then the battle will be joined. Thank God, every one of us can be winners instead of losers in earth’s last war.
May I tell you friends, according to the book of Revelation (many of you are familiar with this, but we want to be reminded as Peter says, and be established in the present truth) this war into which we are soon to enter on a global scale is one in which all the soldiers on one side will be slain, and not one of the soldiers on the other side will be even wounded. Isn’t that a wonderful thing?
Now let’s notice a few texts in the book of Revelation, that focus on this finale conflict:
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. – Revelation 19:11
Who is this coming on the White horse? – Jesus! Notice the 14th verse:
…the armies which were in heaven followed Him… – Revelation 19:14
Soon Jesus is coming with all the armies of Heaven, and He’s coming to make war. The Prince of peace coming to fight? — Oh, yes. And it’s a righteous war, a holy war. The 11th verse says in righteousness he doth judge and make war. Who is He coming to oppose? Who are lined up to oppose Him?
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army. – Revelation 19:19
Think of it, friend: All the powers of earth are confederated to fight against Jesus Christ. When He came 2,000 years ago, satan got Jews and Gentiles, the religious and the irreligious, to confederate together to nail Him to the cross. They would do it again this time if they could. But He’s not coming this time as the sin-bearer. He’s coming to take vengeance upon His foes, and to rescue His people who stand for Him in this wicked, Godless, law-breaking world. He’s coming to the rescue; He’s coming to redeem His people out of this world of rebellion. As you see hear, He’s going to find confederated against Him all the powers of earth.
Notice the 17th chapter. Speaking of the powers of earth:
These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb… – Revelation 17:13-14
Here’s this war again, a war between the powers of earth headed by satan and his representatives on one side; and Jesus and the armies of Heaven, and His remnant church, on the other. I want to read you an interesting statement:
The world is filled with storm and war and variance. Yet under one head – the papal power – the people will unite to oppose God in the person of His witnesses. This union is cemented by the great apostate. – Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 7, pg. 182
Who’s going to head this last battle on the enemy side? — Communism? No, my friends. The power that heads up the union of all the satanic forces in this last war is none other than the Church of Rome, the papal power. And that’s what this verse says over here. Revelation 19:19: I saw the beast, that’s the beast of Revelation 13 – the Papal power. The beast, and kings of the earth, and their armies gather together, to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army. Under one head (the Papal power), the people will unite to oppose God in
the person of his witnesses. This union is cemented by the great apostate.
So, we know who our foe is. The unseen foe — satan, and the visible foe – the powers of earth under his leadership (that man who sits on the Tiber claiming to be the representative of God); under his leadership the whole world will form in a satanic federation to oppose Christ in the person of His saints.
Tell me friends, do we see any omens of that at the present time? We could fill this study with interesting incidents, facts, statistics showing how Protestantism is rapidly rallying together, and in turn making overtures to the Bishop of Rome, the Pope of Rome.
Prophecy is fulfilling before our very eyes. Things that a few years ago would have been unthinkable now are commonplace. Leaders of great Protestant churches making their pilgrimage to Rome, as the Mohammedans make their pilgrimage to Mecca. There is a good feeling. But the one who is planning these things behind the scenes, the great enemy, he is soon to focus all the power of all these confederacies upon the remnant church.
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. – Revelation 12:17
We have looked at 4 texts, from Revelation 19, Revelation 17, Revelation 12 — all of them having in them the expression “make war.” Believe me friends; this will be war to the hilt. This will be war with no quarter asked or given. This will be war to the death. This is the devil’s last attack. This is his final effort to become indeed the king of this world, and blot out all who keep the commandments of God. Oh friends, thank God, victory is assured for our Lord!
To The Chosen & Faithful
Back to Revelation 17:17. We stopped with the first line, but now I want to go on. Speaking of the powers of earth under the leadership of the Papal beast:
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and they that are with him, are called and chosen and faithful. – Revelation 17:14
Who’s going to win? Not the dragon, but the Lamb. Not the beast, the woman and her children who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Now Revelation 15:2. Oh, here John sees them in holy vision, on the sea of glass; beyond the din of battle, above the smoke of war. The conflict is ended.
…I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. – Revelation 15:2-3
These are the survivors. These are the victors in earth’s last war. They get the victory through the blood of Jesus Christ and the word of their testimony. They get the victory over the beast, over the dragon, over the false prophet, over the whole triumviri…
Next week, we will look a little closer at the events leading up to this final war. Invite a friend, and we’ll see you then…
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* This study has been adapted from classes taken by Elder W.D. Frazee.