The hour of Judgement is Come - The cleansing of the sanctuary

Pre-advent judgment

ten commandments This study is an examination into when the hour of judgment began. As we can see from the following verses, this angel which is a messenger has come to send a message to a people telling them that the hour of Gods judgment is come, and this message goes forth with the gospel call.

Rev 14:6-7 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Now after reading these verses and realizing that the hour of God’s judgment has come, please note that 2 other angels with messages of Babylon is fallen, and the mark of the beast are to follow this angel.[Rev 14:8-13] Therefore we can conclude that God’s hour of judgment is come before the second advent of Christ.

When Christ comes back he comes with his reward for every man. Therefore judgment must be pre-determined before the second coming.

Mat 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Notice these other verses and you will see that this concept of a pre-advent judgment is quite biblical.

Act 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Let’s look at Daniel’s vision of the judgment scene. And please note the timing of the judgement is pre-advent and is also before Jesus is crowned King of Kings which we will see is when he comes back. Also notice the books were opened and that the four beasts or Kingdoms as Daniel defines a beast as a kingdom [Dan 7:23] had their dominion taken from them, however they were not destroyed as their lives were prolonged. This judgment scene is pre-advent, however after the dominion of the first 3 beasts are taken and the little horn is speaking.

Dan 7:9-14 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Notice as we have read when this hour of judgment comes, the second advent is near. Christ is next to receive his kingdom and be crowned King of Kings. And as Revelation 14:7-13 talks about it is to be proclaimed to every nation and tongue as a worldwide announcement to prepare a people to meet the Lord in the air[1 Thess 4:16].

Let’s look at another verse in Revelation that talks about Gods judgment being given to his saints and see what the standard is for that judgment. We can also see in this verse that the saints have been judged pre-advent.

Rev 11:18-19 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Well, there is a lot to see in those verses. Firstly that the saints have been judged pre-advent, and Christ is coming with his reward to the saints. Notice that the temple of God was opened in heaven. And this is the heavenly temple where the judgement of Daniel 7 was held in front of the angels with Christ as our high priest and mediator as we read in [Daniel 7:9-14]. This concept of the heavenly temple is seen throughout the scriptures and is very important to understand.

The standard which is in the Most Holy Place is the “ark of his testament” which is opened in heaven and in the ark which was contained in the most holy place in the earthly tabernacle which was patterned after the temple in heaven was contained the tables of his testimony. The ten commandments.

A Heavenly Tabernacle

Heb 9:1-4 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all; Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

So we can see that at the second coming the tables of the covenant revealing the ten commandments are revealed in heaven as the standard by which the judgment has taken place. The mercy seat in the most holy place is on top of the “ark of the testament”. This is also where the father would dwell with his people. This was a type of his seat of judgment in the most holy place in heaven. And this earthly sanctuary was patterned after the heavenly sanctuary.

Heb 9:11 But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Heb 9:23-24 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

This sanctuary Paul is speaking about where Christ is doing his priestly duties is in heaven.

Also shortly after this ark is revealed in heaven we see the hail.[Rev 11:19] The hail is the seventh and final plague. [See Revelation 16:17-21]

The heavenly sanctuary or temple in heaven as it is known, is very important to understand as the books of Revelation and Daniel are filled with symbols from the sanctuary throughout.

Exo 25:8-9 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

A prophecy by Daniel was given which would allow us to understand this hour of judgment. There are also several symbols and rituals from the earthly sanctuary which we will examine as God has shown us that the patterns in the earthly sanctuary were actually patterned after the work that was to be done in the heavenly sanctuary.

All of the sanctuary and the work done in the sanctuary actually point to the ministration of Christ and his work as prophet, high priest, and finally after the mediatory work in the hour of judgment, he is crowned the king [Dan 7:13, 14, 12:1] and leaves off his mediatory work as the intercessor and a short time passes after he is done his work as mediator called the time of trouble after which he returns to deliver his people.

The vision of Daniel 8

Daniel sees a vision in Daniel Chapter 8 of Kingdoms to rule the earth and then Daniel tells us of a period where all these events were to take place then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.

Dan 8:13-14 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spoke, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

The events described earlier in the vision which we will look at all happen during the 2300 days, then after this vision is ended then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

Let’s look at the verses that tell us of the events that lead up to this cleansing of the sanctuary. Daniel was near the river Ulai in his dream.

Dan 8:2 And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.

What first appeared to the Prophet?

Dan 8:3-4 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.

So we see a ram with two horns, this beast became “great”. What happened next upon the scene?

Dan 8:5-7 And as I was considering, behold, a he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with anger against him, and smote the ram, and broke his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.

A he goat came up with a notable horn, then came to the ram, smote the ram and broke the rams horns. When the notable horn was broken, what came up?

Dan 8:8-12 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven. And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.And a host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered.

Gabriel Explains the Vision

Dan 8:16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

As Daniel is in the midst of this vision by the river Ulai a man’s voice called to him who was the angel Gabriel.

Dan 8:17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.

Some have thought the vision occurs at the time of the end. However, as we will shortly see the 2300 days actually spans centuries and the “cleansing of the sanctuary” occurs after the events of this vision. Let’s take a look at the beasts contained in this prophecy and who Daniel interprets them to represent and when they ruled.

Who did the ram and the rough goat in the vision represent according to Daniel?

Dan 8:20-21 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Greece: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

The vision took place in the third year of Belshazzar[Dan 8:1] as Daniel is in the Kingdom of Babylon.

Darius the Mede took the Kingdom of Babylon in 538 B.C. The Persian Kingdom came up second however became the stronger kingdom of the two as noted by the horn which came up last grew higher. So this vision is telling us of the events that bring us to the “Cleansing of God’s sanctuary” which occurs at “the time of the end”. This will become much clearer as we continue.

Please also note that the first observation by Daniel of this 2300 days vision begins during the rule of the Medo-Persian Kingdom as the vision begins with the Ram ruling.[Daniel 8:3] This Kingdom ruled from 538 B.C to 331 B.C. The vision therefore must begin in this time period. The exact start of this prophecy is 457 BC. Daniel is shown this later.

Now notice in the verse above as Daniel was shown that this next Kingdom which ruled the earth was the Kingdom of Greece which ruled from the years 331 B.C to 168 B.C. The goat touched not the ground it says. This is referring to the speed with which it conquered the world.

It also notes the first king as the “Great horn” between the goat’s eyes. This is a clear reference to Alexander the Great.

Here is a description of the scene, quoting from Uriah Smith’s book Daniel and the Revelation.

A concise account of the overthrow of the Persian Empire by Alexander is given in verses 6 and 7. The battles between the Greeks and the Persians are said to have been exceedingly fierce. Some of the scenes recorded in history vividly bring to mind the figure used in the prophecy--a ram standing before the river, and the goat running toward him "the fury of his power." Alexander first vanquished the generals of Darius at the River Granicus in Phrygia. He next attacked and routed Darius at the passes of Issus in Cilicia, and afterward defeated him on the plains of Arbela in Syria. This latter battle occurred in 331 B.C., and marked the fall of the Persian Empire. By this event Alexander became master of the whole country. Concerning verse 6--"He [the goat] came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power"--Thomas Newton says: "One can hardly read these words without having some image of Darius's army standing and guarding the River Granicus, and of Alexander on the other side with his forces plunging in, swimming across the stream, and rushing on the enemy with all the fire and fury that can be imagined."[Uriah Smith Daniel and the Revelation PP 152,153]

Now the first horn which was Alexander was “broken while it was strong” [Daniel 8:8]. As Alexander died in the prime of his life, and at the height of his conquests, being only about thirty-three years old at the time he died.

What happened after the death of Alexander according to the prophecy?

Dan 8:8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.

Dan 8:22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

So the Kingdom of Greece was divided into four. The four generals who came to head the kingdom were: Cassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy, and Seleucus.

What happens in the latter time of the Grecian empire after the division?

Dan 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

This little horn is the Kingdom of Rome.

The little horn comes froth from one of the horns of the goat. How, it may be asked, can that be true of Rome? Earthly governments are not introduced into prophecy until they become in some way connected with the people of God. Rome became connected with the Jews, the people of God at that time, by the famous Jewish League in 161 B.C. But seven years before this, that is, 168 B.C., Rome had conquered Macedonia, and made that country a part of its empire. Rome is therefore introduced into prophecy just as, from the overthrow of the Macedonian horn of the goat, it is going forth to new conquests in other directions. It appeared to the prophet as coming forth from of the horns of the goat. –Uriah Smith Daniel and the Revelation Page 158

Some have said this “little horn” denotes a different Kingdom then Rome. However this “little horn” Kingdom is said to “Wax exceeding great”[Dan 8:9]. Whereas the Kingdom of Greece “Waxed very great”[Dan 8:8] and finally the Medo Persian Kingdom “became great”[Daniel 8:4]. Therefore seeing this we can see that the little horn that came out of the Grecian Kingdom actually became greater than the Grecian Kingdom. And also note that almost all aspects of the Roman civilization reveals unmistakable traces or the Grecian civilization. The Roman civilization was basically thronged with Greek teachers, traders, architects, artists, doctors, and with household slaves.

If you’ve studied Daniel 7 also you will note the Bronze nails on the fourth beast which is Rome. The Bronze on the statue of Daniel 2 represents the Kingdom of Greece. So you can see that those nails represent traits past down to the iron monarchy of Rome. The fourth beast with iron teeth.

There is also a little horn in Daniel 7. What happens as this little horn is doing it’s persecuting work.

Dan 7:25-26 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

In the seventh chapter is traced the history of the rise and fall of four great kingdoms. The fourth Kingdom is divided into 10 represented by 10 horns. , and the establishment of the Papacy occurs and is symbolized by the little horn, by whom 3 of the first horns fell.

As the prophet watches the persecutions of the little horn, he saw the Ancient of days sit and the judgment begin. Following the judgment the kingdom was to be given to Christ and the saints at the second coming.

The eighth chapter of Daniel reviews the history of the kingdoms Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. And predicts the persecution of the chosen people by pagan and papal Rome, and gives a remarkable prophecy of the sanctuary locating the beginning of the investigative judgment.

To what time period does the vision point us to?

Dan 8:17-19 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.

This prophecy points to the time of the end. However we can see that this prophecy actually starts in the time of the Medo-Persian empire and goes through the history of the world right down to our time. The start of this prophecy is given. However it was not given in chapter 8. Let’s look carefully at the writings of Daniel.

Also at the end of the prophecy of the 2300 days the sanctuary is to be cleansed. And at the time of the end shall the sanctuary be cleansed. In order to find out when the end time is in this prophecy we must find out when this prophecy of 2300 days began.

None understood it

Something happened to Daniel, and Daniel was not given the time that this prophecy was to start.

Dan 8:26-27 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

The vision of the evening and morning is the 2300 days which is translated “evenings and mornings”. Now here Daniel says, I fainted as Gabriel was to give Daniel understanding of the vision. Daniel could not understand when this prophecy would begin. No date or event was given to mark exactly when this would begin.

Daniel was aged, and could not bear the rest of the interpretation. Daniel had missed the final part of this prophecy which was given to him in Daniel chapter 9.

Daniel 9 begins with a beautiful prayer for Israel which lasts the first 20 verses of the chapter. And then Gabriel comes again. And he is about to give Daniel understanding as in the previous vision he “None understood it”.

Understanding of the previous vision given

Dan 9:21-22 Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.

So Gabriel had come back to give Daniel an understanding of the vision before. The vision which Daniel had seen “at the beginning.” The vision Daniel had “none understood” could only be the vision in Daniel chapter 8 in which he fainted before Gabriel had finished explaining.

Gabriel came back to give Daniel understanding of the vision which he none understood[Dan 8:26-27].

Now Daniel is about to be given the decree that tells us when this vision of the 2300 days begun. And also that another prophecy which is 70 weeks[490 days] runs concurrent with the 2300 days and is “Cut off” of the 2300 days.

Dan 9:23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

Daniel is now told to understand the vision from the beginning. Gabriel then explains when the 2300 days were to begin.

Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

First Daniel is to understand something else. The word “determined” in this verse actually means “cut off”. In actuality the verse is saying “70 weeks[490 days] are cut off of the 2300 days for Daniels people to make an end of sins, reconcile, and bring in everlasting righteousness”. The 490 days is to be cut off the 2300 days.

A day for a year

An important principle of Daniels prophecy should be understood at this point and it is well understood by most Christians that the 70 weeks prophecy points to the Messiah. Daniel has many time prophecy’s. 1260 days, 1290 days, 1335 days, 2300 days, and 70 weeks[490 days].

Eze 4:6 ….. I have appointed thee each day for a year.

Num 14:34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.

All of Daniels prophecies must be understood with this principle. Most Christians understand the 70 weeks prophecy with this principle, however they do not apply this principle to the other prophecies of Daniel. God is consistent with this application to the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation.

So understanding that God has given us a day for a year in Daniel’s prophecies, we can see that the 70 weeks is equivalent to 490 years and the 2300 days is equivalent to 2300 years.

Also please understand that 490 years of this prophecy of the 2300 years were allotted to the Jews to make an end of sin, make reconciliation for iniquity and bring in everlasting righteousness. We are going to see that a New Covenant was about to be made with the people of God in the 70th week. Conditions were given to Daniels people the Jews that if they would do these things they would welcome the Messiah.

Anoint the most Holy

[The beginning of the ministration in the heavenly sanctuary]

Some have thought this refers to Christ. However, a careful study will find that this is referring to the sanctuary in heaven.

In the OT when Ministration was to begin in the earthly sanctuary. They were to “anoint” it before the ministration began.

Lev 8:10-11 And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them. And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them.

Before ministration begins in the heavenly sanctuary, it must first be anointed as well after the pattern of the earthly. Does the heavenly sanctuary need to be “anointed” before the high priest begins his work in the heavenly?

Heb 9:11 But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Heb 9:20-24 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Now please don’t miss the points. There is a tabernacle in heaven, which was anointed in the same manner as the sanctuary on the earth with the blood of the New Covenant which we will see shortly was established at the end of the 70 weeks with “many”.

Mar 14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

So as paul said. All the symbols and patterns of the earthly sanctuary in the OT were figures that point to the heavenly sanctuary. We will shortly see that the anointing of the sanctuary in heaven happened shortly after the cross when Christ went up to heaven to begin his role as the high priest in the heavenly sanctuary.

The following verses which as we’ve noted refer to Rome[Pagan and Papal] are referring to the heavenly sanctuary. Lets first look at the verses.

Dan 8:11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. And a host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered. Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spoke, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

Now some will object that this is not the heavenly sanctuary. However, we will analyze these verses and see shortly that these verses can only be referring to the sanctuary in heaven and the judgement hour that is spoken of in Revelation 14:7 and Revelation 11:18, 19.

Rev 11:18-19 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

This is the temple that we will see shortly that the little horn of Daniel cast down and was trodden under foot. Some object that the things in the heavens can be trodden under foot.

Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Heb 8:1-2 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such a high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Please notice that the minister of this sanctuary in heaven can be trodden down. Therefore it is altogether possible to trodden down the temple in heaven.

So the “Most Holy” in heaven is anointed at the end of the 70 weeks as the tabernacle that is referred to in the prophecy of Daniel 8. And the remainder of the 2300 days which is 1810 days is allotted to the sanctuary in heaven.

Mat 23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

Christ here is referencing the earthly sanctuary being left desolate. This was a signal that the end of the allotted 70 weeks to the earthly sanctuary was closing and that rest of the 2300 days in which the 70 weeks were cut off was allotted to the Most Holy in heaven which Christ “anointed” at the beginning of his ministration in the temple in heaven.

When do the prophecies of the 2300 days and 70 weeks start?

Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

So after all of those prophecies, Gabriel has given us the start of the prophecy. “From the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem”. Now this again must be carefully understood. Four decrees were given in the OT.

The first decree was by Cyrus in 536 BC. This decree was to restore the temple only[Ezra 1:1-4] and therefore cannot be the decree. A decree was given by Darius to continue the work of Cyrus. However the decree that is referred to in Daniel 9:25 is to “Restore and Rebuild Jerusalem”.

A decree went forth in 457 which fits the decree of Daniel 9:25. Which is to restore and rebuild the Holy city. [Ezra 7]. This decree was given to Ezra by Artaxerxes which was to restore a full Jewish government and making provision for the enforcement of their laws. The letter from Artaxerxes to Ezra which gives Ezra this authority is found in [Ezra 7:11-26].

69 weeks

A score is 20 years. Threescore would be 3 20’s which is equal to 60. So we have 7 weeks and 60[threescore] and 2 weeks which is 69 weeks from the decree to restore and build Jerusalem to the Messiah.

7 weeks is 49 days. The decree to restore the city was given in 457 B.C and the reconstruction of Jerusalem carried to completion during the first 49 years of this prophecy. The work was finished in 408 B.C.

So from this decree was 7 and 62 weeks which is 69 weeks until the Messiah the Prince. 69 weeks is 483 days. The decree was given in 457 BC. If we use the principle of a day for a year and we go 483 years into the future we come to 27 A.D.

This brings us to the time of Christ’s baptism and “Seals up” or “makes sure” the prophecy. Below is a chart for reference to the dates in the prophecy.

not sure

The 70th week

So we’ve come to the time of the Baptism of the Messiah. 27 A.D. What does Daniel say happens in the 70th week.

Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Covenant confirmed with many- The 70th week was the confirmation of the new Covenant with many. Notice Christ uses the same word “Many” as did Daniel.

Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Mar 14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

In the midst of the week-Christ was sacrificed on the Passover in 31 AD. 3 and a half years after his Baptism.

Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off

The words “cut off” can mean to “perish, be destroyed”. It was a reference to his mission to be crucified and die for the sins of “many”.

Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Sacrifice and the oblation to cease- So Christ is confirming this covenant with many by his blood which he as the lamb was a type that would cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease.

Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Heb 10:9-12 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;

So the body of Christ has caused sacrifice and oblation to cease.

1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Make it desolate-This is referring to the earthly sanctuary. Let’s read the verse before verse 27 to understand that this is the case.

Dan 9:26-27 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Now this is the case just as Jesus stated using the same language as Daniel in reference to the City and the Jewish sanctuary[house].

Mat 23:37-38 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

So therefore Jesus is speaking of the city and the sanctuary[house] which just as Daniel said were left desolate. No longer was the earthly sanctuary to be the sanctuary where God was dwelling.

The sanctuary was made so that God could dwell with them. God was to be dwelling behind the veil on the mercy seat which was a type of the throne of God in heaven. When Christ was crucified on the cross the veil was torn in two. This was to signify that God was not dwelling with them.

Mat 27:50, 51 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Half a week left-So this brings us to 31 A.D and the crucifixion of Christ at the Passover. Half a week was still allotted to the Jews till the 70 weeks is cutoff after Christ was crucified in the midst of the week. The end of the 70th week would be in 34 AD.

What was the commission of Christ in the midst of the 69th week to his disciples.

Mat 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Note they were not to go into any of the cities of the Samaritans as well as the way of the Gentiles.

Act 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

In the autumn of A.D 34 Stephen was stoned[Acts 7:54-58] and from that time the gospel was preached to the gentiles. This ended the 70 weeks allotted to Jerusalem.

Act 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Act 8:4-5 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them

So we can see that at this point the time allotted to Daniels people was 70 weeks, and they had failed to make an end of sins, and make reconciliation, so the kingdom was taken from them and given to others. The Jews were commissioned not to go into Samaria and the cities of the gentiles. However, right after the stoning of Stephen we can see that the gospel had been fully rejected by the Jewish nation and was then given to others.

Mat 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

So the stoning of Stephen and the great persecution led to the preaching of the word to the gentiles and to the Samaritans. This was the close of the 70 weeks probation which was allotted to Daniels people. Jesus said it in so many words.

Mat 18:21-22 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Seventy times seven[seventy weeks] was the limit of national forgiveness to the Jewish Nation.

1844 and the Cleansing of the Sanctuary

Now of the 2300 days of Daniel 8:14, 490 of those days were allotted to the Jewish nation. Using the day for year principle of understanding of prophecy[Eze 4:6, Num 14:34] Those 490 days bring us from the decree of Artaxerxes in 457 B.C to the Stoning of Stephen in 34 A.D. There still remains on the 2300 day prophecy 1810 days left following the stoning of Stephen. 34+1810 would bring us to 1844 A.D.

This closes the vision and brings us to the “Cleansing of the sanctuary”.[Dan 8:14] and the “Time of the end”. This sanctuary of the New Covenant could only be referring to the sanctuary in heaven. [Heb 8, 9,10]

not sure 2

Above is an overview of the earthly sanctuary which was a pattern of the heavenly tabernacle. Paul describes the sanctuary in Hebrews. As we can see there is a Courtyard, Holy Place and a Most Holy Place. It is important to understand the furniture and the positions of the furniture from the courtyard to the Most Holy Place.

Heb 9:1-5 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all; Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; And over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

So that is a description of the furniture in the sanctuary. And the above diagram is there to help us understand. The veil that divides the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place has cherubim’s drawn on it.[Exo 26:31].

The above is also a picture of the judgment scene and the work of the judgment which was performed every year on the day of atonement. The mercy seat is on top of the ark. And on top of the ark is the dwelling place of the father.

Exo 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

Exo 25:22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

So we can see we have the father dwelling on the mercy seat and the veil of angels which surround the seat which was in the Most Holy Place. This is a pattern of the judgment scene in heaven.

Dan 7:9-10 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

Notice the father is in heaven on his throne. This is where the high priest meets him. Angel’s surrounding him. The high priest has a work to do every year on this day of judgment for the nation. And this work was a symbol of the work that Christ would do in the heavenly sanctuary before the second coming in the hour of judgment[Rev 14:7].

Heb 9:6-7 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always[daily] into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

There are two ministrations by the high priest. The daily, and the yearly. Once a year on the day of atonement, the high priest went into the Most Holy Place. This typified Christ going into the sanctuary on the day of the investigative judgment when the books were opened. Notice the following verses, and we will see that this actually was what was happening in 1844. The names of each person are coming up before the judgment and the blood of Christ is being presented on behalf of those who repented.

Heb 9:11 But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Heb 9:25-27 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

So the sacrifice was finished in 31 A.D. After this the judgement where Christ also as high priest enters into the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary. This scene is what Daniel observes next before Christ takes off the priestly robes and is crowned king.

Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

There is a period of time in which the books are looked over which is the time of judgement. Then Christ is crowned as King. But first Christ mediates on our behalf as the high priest who enters the sanctuary on the Day of Atonement.

The Daily Service

Sinners who wanted to be pardoned were instructed of what they were to bring by faith.

Lev 4:27-29 And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering.

For ignorant[unknown, not willful] sin after coming to the knowledge of this sin the sinner was instructed on what to do to be pardoned. “The penalty for sin is death”[Romans 6:23]. So the sinner needed a substitute. The sacrifices pointed to their faith in the coming redeemer who would die in their place.

The Ten commandments were contained under the mercy seat in the Most Holy Place. The substitute for his sins would meet the demands of the law, and the sinner would then obtain mercy.

What was done with the blood of the offering?

Lev 4:30 And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar.

The sinner when he discovered his sin, he brought his offering, then confessed his sin while laying his hands on the head of the victim, thus, in figure his sins were transferred to the victim. The victim then was slain for your sin in the court, and it’s blood was put on the horns of the altar and poured at the foot of the altar. In this were the sins transferred to the sanctuary.

This service took place daily.

The day of atonement[The sanctuary cleansed]

The Yearly Ministration in the Earthly Sanctuary

All of the sins from the daily ministration accumulated throughout the year. A cleansing was to take place at the end of the year on this day of Atonement.

After this accumulation what service took place on the 10th day of the 7th month.

Lev 16:29-30 And this shall be a statute forever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.

This was a day of judgment in Israel. Where they could go forward knowing their sins were forgiven.

How was the sanctuary itself to be cleansed and it’s sins disposed of?

Lev 16:5-8 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.

One Goat is for the LORD. The goat to be slain was the one for the LORD which was a type of Christ and his sacrifice for our sins. The Hebrew word for scapegoat the second goat is “Azazel”. It is used as a proper name, and, according to the opinion of the most ancient Hebrews and Christians, refers to Satan, or the angel who revolted and persisted in rebellion and sin.

The goat slain was brought into the Most Holy Place and sprinkled on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.

Lev 16:15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:

Now note, the sanctuary needed atonement and cleansing because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

Lev 16:16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.

Sins were transferred to the sanctuary during the year by blood and flesh of the sin offerings made daily at the door of the tabernacle. Here they remained until the Day of Atonement, when the high priest went into the Most Holy Place with the blood of the goat on which the LORD’s lot fell; and, bearing the accumulated sins of the year in before the mercy seat, he there, in type, atoned for them, and so cleansed the sanctuary.

Lev 16:19-20 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:

After this cleansing of the sanctuary and the atonement for the people and the holy place. The sins are then transferred onto the scapegoat and the goat is sent to another land with the sins of the children of Israel.

Lev 16:20-22 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

The offering of the LORD’s goat was given in place of the children on behalf of their sins. The sins of the people were transferred to the sanctuary during the year, then at the end of the year, though they already were atoned for, these sins were finally disposed of at the end of the year when the scapegoat symbolizing Satan was brought to the sanctuary and the already atoned for sins of the people placed upon his head, and he was sent away into the wilderness separating the sins forever from the people.

Sacrifices nailed to the cross

Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,

Just as we have faith in the sacrifice of the saviour, Abel had faith in the coming sacrifice of the saviour. These all pointed to the cross. And the sacrificial ceremonies were nailed to the cross in the form of Jesus Christ.

Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

The greek word for “handwriting” is “cheirographon” which also means the “bond” or “penalty”. None of the law was nailed to the cross. The penalty for breaking the law was actually nailed to the cross. The bond we owe for breaking the law was nailed to the cross. Our penalty for sin is death[Rom 6:23]. This is what we owe. Christ died in our place on the cross where we deserved to be. The only thing nailed to the cross was the debt we owed.

Some will actually nail the Holy Days to the cross. However, these were shadows that pointed past the cross[Col 2:17, Isaiah 66:23]. Notice this quote by Ellen White of what the Feast of Tabernacles is a shadow of. This is one of many, however due to lack of space I will not dwell on this topic. But the Holy Days as Paul spoke about in Colossians 2 verse 16 did not point to the cross. They pointed past the cross.

"The feast of Tabernacles was not only commemorative but typical. It not only pointed back to the wilderness sojourn, but as the feast of harvest, it celebrated the ingathering of the fruits of the earth, and pointed forward to the great day of final ingathering, when the Lord of harvest shall send forth His reapers to gather the tares together in bundles for the fire, and to gather the wheat into His garner." [Ellen White PP 541]

This agrees with Paul. Paul differentiated between the sacrifices and the feasts. Verse 14 was clearly talking about the sacrifices when we understand that it is referring to the debt that we owed. However, the feasts were not nailed to the cross as they pointed forward as Ellen White just said, and Paul also mentions here.

Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

We will be keeping the Sabbaths and New Moons in the new heaven and new earth. {Isaiah 66:23, Revelation 22:2]. Therefore they could not have been nailed to the cross and then taken back off.

Paul also distinguishes between feasts and sacrifices to the Corinthians as well.

1Co 5:7-8 ….. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

This is in reference to the feast of Unleavened Bread which Paul kept. Some will argue that you have to be in Jerusalem to keep the feast and sacrifice animals. When in actual reality Paul kept it with gentiles in Phillipi many years after the cross.

Act 20:6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

“The Philippians were the most loving and true-hearted of [Paul] the apostle’s converts, and he enjoyed a peaceful and happy visit with them during the eight days of the Feast.” [Ellen White LP 196]

So the early gentile church was keeping feasts. I would ask you to be a Berean and search the scriptures further to see if these things are true. I believe that an honest heart as the saints have will recognize that there is as much support for keeping feasts in the new covenant as there is for keeping Sabbaths. And also you will find that the same arguments used against the feasts are used against Sabbaths.

Paul was a feast keeper, and so was Jesus. I would ask you to follow Paul as he followed Christ. Many of the greatest events happened on the feast days such as Pentecost 50 days after the cross.[Acts 2] And if you search the scriptures you will see that those who go up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles are those who receive the latter rain. [Zech 14]

Many will try to spiritualize 1 Corinthians 5 as is done by Sunday Keepers with Hebrews chapter 4 and the Sabbath. However Paul is speaking of literal feast keeping and literal gathering and eating.

1Co 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

1Co 5:11 …. with such a one no not to eat.

Paul differentiated between the Feasts and the sacrifices. A careful analysis of Ms. Whites writings if you enjoy them you will actually see that she differentiated between the sacrificial ceremonies and the feast days as well.

"Shall we not keep holy festivals unto God? Shall we not show that we have some enthusiasm in His service? With the grand, ennobling theme of salvation before us, shall we be as cold as statues of marble? If men can become so excited over a match game of cricket, or a horse race, or over foolish things that bring no good to anyone, shall we be unmoved when the plan of salvation is unfolded before us? Let the school and the church henceforth have festivals of rejoicing unto the Lord".—[Ellen White Special Testimonies on Education, pages 77-78].

“If the children of Israel needed the benefit of these holy convocations in their time, how much more do we need them in these last days of peril and conflict! And if the people of the world then needed the light which God had committed to His church, how much more do they need it now!” [Testimonies for the Church Volume Six, page 39, paragraphs 3, 4; page 40, paragraph 2]

Shadows that pointed to the cross were the sacrifices. [Heb 10:1-5]. However as we are seeing the Day of Atonement was a shadow that pointed to A.D 1844. 1813 years past the cross. And also as the Feast of Tabernacles which is a shadow that points to the second coming.

Some have felt to put the sacrificial ceremonies with the Holy days and nail the holy days to the cross with the debt we owed for breaking the law. However the sacrifices were performed to point to the cross, just as the Lords supper points back to the cross. These ceremonies were performed in faith.

The Ministration in the Heavenly Sanctuary

Now understand that these days all had shadows that pointed to something.

Col 2:16-17 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

And as we’ve already seen the Day of Atonement was a shadow of the cleansing of the sanctuary, once in the end of the world in 1844. The earthly sanctuary was a shadow of the true sanctuary in heaven.

Christ is our sacrifice, and he has went before the father on the mercy seat in heaven as we read in Daniel 7 and is mediating on our behalf as our high priest, presenting his blood before the mercy seat and performing the work of the cleansing of the sanctuary that was performed each year in the earthly sanctuary.

This day is a day of judgment to the people of God. All who did not on this day have their sins atoned for were “cut off” and the camp was cleansed from sin. This is why this day was a day of judgment. The people who’s sins were atoned for were free from sin, and could enter upon the services of the new year clean in the sight of God.

In the services of the heavenly sanctuary we have seen that there is one sacrifice and one atonement, or cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary. The sanctuary work was a work that pointed to things to come, and also pointed to the humble savior.

All things in the earthly sanctuary were example and shadows of the things in the heavenly.

Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.

Did the heavenly sanctuary need cleansing as well?

Heb 9:21-23 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

After Christ is done his role as mediator in the heavenly sanctuary and is crowned King of Kings. The solemn announcement is made.

Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

The judgment closes and the cases have been decided. Therefore his reward is with him to give to every one at the second coming.

This day is obviously a pre-advent judgement in which God has given us understanding as to when it occurs.

Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

Dan 8:17 ….for at the time of the end shall be the vision.

So we are living in the time of the end. And there is a judgment hour message of three angels in Revelation 14.

Rev 14:6-13 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall 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 ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 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.

This message is brought forth in the time of the end. This is the judgment hour message. This message takes place while Christ is in the Most Holy Place in heaven and before he takes off the priestly robe and is crowned King.

From Priest to King

This topic is very important to understand. When Christ is crowned. The very next verse after these three angels have announced judgment and given the gospel to the world is about Christ coming back as King.

Rev 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

On his head is a golden crown. So therefore ministration within the heavenly sanctuary is closed. The priestly garments are removed and there is no more mediator within the holy place.

This theme of priest to king can be observed in several places in scriptures.

Dan 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

We can observe in Daniel 7 that the judgement takes place. Shortly after the judgement Christ is crowned the King.

Dan 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

We can observe this in Revelation 19 where God has judged the great whore. And following the judgement Christ comes back as KING of KINGS.

Rev 19:2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

During the time of the 7th angel sounding in Revelation 11. The saints are judged righteous. They must first be judged before receiving the reward.

Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

This is a reference to judgment being given to the saints. Shortly following this is the 1000 years rest of the earth.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Michael King of Kings and the Two Resurrections

Michael the archangel is the Lord himself, Jesus Christ. Notice here that Michael’s voice raises the dead in the first resurrection.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

So Jesus descends and raises the dead and has the voice of the archangel. Who’s voice is it that raises the dead. Please also note the concept of two resurrections.

Joh 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

John says they are raised with the voice of the son of God. Paul says the voice of the archangel. There is no contradiction here as you will see that Michael and Jesus are one and the same.

Joh 5:28-29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

John says “All that are in the graves” shall hear his voice. There are 2 resurrections here. John the prophet is subject to Daniel the prophet. Now let’s go back to the book of Daniel.

Dan 12:1-2 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Now that great prince Michael otherwise known as Jesus Christ raises the dead with his voice. “Every one that is written in the book”. Some have tended to think this was only literal Jews. However Daniel is quite clear as he says “Every one written in the book” and John says “All that are in the graves”. There are 2 resurrections to both Daniel as well as John.

One resurrection to[everlasting] life. The second resurrection of damnation and [everlasting contempt]. Paul said he wanted to obtain to the better resurrection. John says the second resurrection is after the 1000 years.

Rev 20:5-6 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

There is a second resurrection as John, Daniel and Paul have told us about. They that rise in that resurrection are resurrected to damnation.

Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

What is meant by Michael standing up according to Daniel? This actually is a reference to him being crowned King of Kings and taking dominion of his Kingdom. Let’s look at a couple verses from Daniel to see this concept.

Dan 11:2-3 And now will I show thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

So when Daniel says “Stand up” he actually means that the king is receiving his kingdom.

Please note who Daniels Prince is.

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth

Dan 9:25 …… the Messiah the Prince

Dan 10:21 ….. Michael your prince.

Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince

So when Michael stands up this is really the inauguration of Christ from prince to king. Then he comes back to resurrect every one written in the book in the first resurrection. [1 Thess 4:16, Rev 20:4] This giving of the Kingdom can also be seen in the following verses.

Dan 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Dan 7:26-27 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

Rev 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

Probation closed at this time of trouble

Now, some have thought that after Christ receives the Kingdom that there will be a time still to repent. However when Michael stands up, or in other words Christ is inaugurated King. Christ at this point has removed the priestly garments. There is no more high priest in the heavenly sanctuary. The Judgment has been given.

Many have thought that when the time of trouble comes and the mark of the beast is fully enforced they will repent. This will be a most terrible time for them.

Here are a couple quotes from the book the Great Controversy as I think that this has been clearly set forth already by the scriptures. Here is some of the awful insight into that time for the wicked.

"At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." [DAN. 12:1.] {Ellen White 4SP 431.1}

When the third message closes, mercy no longer pleads for the guilty inhabitants of the earth. The people of God have accomplished their work; they have received the latter rain, or the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and they are prepared for the trying hour before them. Angels are hurrying to and fro in Heaven. An angel returning from the earth announces that his work is done, that the seal of God has been placed upon his people. Then Jesus ceases his intercession in the sanctuary above. He lifts his hands, and with a loud voice says, "It is done;" and all the angelic host lay off their crowns as he makes the solemn announcement: "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still." [REV. 22:11] Every case has been decided for life or death. Christ has made the atonement for his people, and blotted out their sins. The number of his subjects is made up; "the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven," is about to be given to the heirs of salvation, and Jesus is to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. {Ellen White 4SP 431.2}

Those who delay a preparation for the day of God cannot obtain it in the time of trouble or at any subsequent time. The case of all such is hopeless. Those professed Christians who come up to that last fearful conflict unprepared, will, in their despair, confess their sins in words of burning anguish, while the wicked exult over their distress. {Ellen White 4SP 437.3}

If Christ has taken off the priestly garments. There really is no mediator in the sanctuary. A short time of trouble must pass which purifies the saints to get them ready for translation without death as Enoch and Elijah.

The Books

Jud 1:14-15 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

The judgment is executed as Christ comes back with his angels. This indicates the judgment has been pre-determined as we’ve went over.

Act 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained;

And that day was prophecied by Daniel. Now when judgment takes place the facts of the case must be presented. Daniel says.

Dan 7:10 ….the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

John also witnesses the books, and another book however this is after the saints receive judgment and go over the books themselves.

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Now your sins must be blotted out of the books or else you cannot even receive the times of refreshing which is the latter rain which prepares you for the harvesting of God’s people.

Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

The book of life is to be examined before the resurrection of the just.

Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Every one that is written in the book of life will be delivered at this time. This again is another proof that an investigative judgment has taken place before the second coming.

Our failure to turn from our filthy rags of unrighteousness and trusting self rather than fully trusting and allowing Christ to clothe us with his righteousness will blot us from the book. Christ will not be able to confess our names as happens below in Revelation 3 happens at the judgment scene of Daniel 7 before the second coming.

Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

The Book of life seems to contain only the names of the saints(Luke 10:20; Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5; 13:8; 17:8). According to the bible there is also a book of remembrance which actually writes the deeds of the righteous.

Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

Psa 56:8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

God has a record of what we’ve suffered through in his name. And he will remember us at the judgment. However if we turn back to sin. All of these things will be forgotten. The book of remembrance only contains the deeds of those that feared the LORD.

Eze 3:20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

God is keeping a record of our words for the day when we stand before the judgement and we will have to give an account.

Mat 12:36-37 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

The saints will give an account and their names will be found written in the book of life, and God’s book of remembrance will show that they have turned from their sinful course and God will blot out their sins. [Acts 3:19,20]. This has to happen before the second coming that the saints may receive the refreshing of the Lord.

Act 3:19-20 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

The closing of the work announces the solemn judgment.

Rev 22:11-12 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

These words announce the close of Christ’s work as high priest in heaven. He has “confessed our names before the father, and the angels”[Rev 3:5]. And succeeding this announcement is the crowning of Christ as KING of KINGS and the time of trouble then begins.

Now, the books of record show that the wicked have been judged out of them.

Rev 20:12-13 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Earth Desolate during the 1000 years

This final review of the books has occurred after the saints have reviewed the books and the 2nd resurrection has taken place. The people in the second resurrection are not written in the book of life.

Rev 20:4-9 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

So the rest of the dead who are guilty are not delivered at the second coming. And they will remain guilty still even after the 1000 years. However, after the 1000 years God resurrects them for a final revelation of the selfish kingdom of Satan.

Many in Christianity today have thought that there would be a time of preaching on the earth during the 1000 years. However this is kind of hard to believe when the “rest of the dead lived not again during the 1000 years”. And especially considering as we have seen that the second resurrection is “the resurrection of damnation”[John 5:29].

If we remember the scapegoat which represented Satan was left in an uninhabited land after the judgment on the Day of Atonement.

Lev 16:21-22 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness. And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

This is a type. Satan will occupy an uninhabited earth for 1000 years. Remember that Satan is chained.

Rev 20:1-3 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

These verses are signified[Rev 1:1]. The bottomless pit is a symbol of the earth. They shall be gathered in a pit. Note what Isaiah says here.

Isa 24:19-22 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

After the 1000 years Jesus would come with the saints.

That the expression, "bottomless pit," represents the earth in a state of confusion and darkness, is evident from other scriptures. Concerning the condition of the earth "in the beginning," the Bible record says that it "was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep." [GEN. 1:2; THE WORD HERE TRANSLATED "DEEP" IS THE SAME THAT IN REV. 20:1-3 IS RENDERED "BOTTOMLESS PIT." See also Jeremiah 4:23] Satan is actually on the earth for the 1000 years.

Jer 4:23-27 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger. For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.

The world is left in a state of chaos after the Lord has gathered his people.

Jer 25:33 And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.

2Pe 3:10-12 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Just as Isaiah said “clean dissolved”. So none will be preaching on the earth during the thousand years. Interestingly in this same chapter Peter talks about the judgment.

Judgment given to the saints

Judgment has been executed at the coronation of Christ. [Dan. 7:9-14; Ps. 110; 45:1-7; 2:6-9.]The work of judgment Christ shares with him people[Rev 3:21, 2:26,27]

They are to sit with Christ in the judgment, but not to determine who shall be saved or who is lost. God the Father has already pronounced the decision who shall have immortality, and the Son has executed that decision by immortalizing his saints. And thus all other’s are counted unworthy of eternal life, and must receive the second death as their portion. But there are degrees of punishment. Some shall receive greater damnation than others.

Luk 20:47 Which devour widows' houses, and for a show make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

Luk 12:47-48 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

The work of judgment is committed to the saints, a work so vast that we may well conceive the long period which lies between the two resurrections to be requisite for its accomplishment. Rev. 20:4-6. The sitting of the saints in judgment upon the wicked must begin after they have heard the words of Christ approving them in his Father’s name, and before the sentence “Depart ye cursed,” is pronounced by the Saviour upon those who shall be thus judged.

Dan 7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:

1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

During the thousand years between the first and the second resurrection, the Judgment of the wicked takes place. The apostle Paul points to this Judgment as an event that follows the second advent. "Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts." [1 COR. 4:5.] Daniel declares that when the Ancient of days came, "Judgment was given to the saints of the Most High." [DAN. 7:22.] At this time the righteous reign as kings and priests unto God.

This is also telling us that judgment is placed in our hands and that we will go over the books of record and at that time the hidden things of darkness will be brought to light.

“The saints shall judge angels” is referring to the angels that have sinned.

2Pe 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

Jud 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

These two facts are decisive as to the nature of the judgment which the saints are to engage in when exalted at Christ’s right hand. They are not to be judges over men in a state of probation, something as the ancient judges of Israel were raised up to rule over God’s ancient people, but their judgment is to be rendered in the case of wicked men, when the Lord brings “to light the hidden things of darkness,” and it is to be exercised alike in the case of sinful men and fallen angels. It is not a judgment to determine the guilt or innocence of the parties to be judged; for the guilt of the angels was virtually pronounced to be unpardonable when they were cast out of heaven, and delivered to chains of darkness, i.e., to utter despair, and to the hopeless bondage of their own sins. And the last condition of wicked men has, before their judgment by the saints, already been determined by the resurrection and translation of the just, leaving all others as unworthy of eternal life. This judgment of the saints is, therefore, simply designed to determine the measure of the guilt of wicked men and fallen angels. As their rejection from the kingdom of God is determined by God the Father before they are thus judged by the saints, this judgment by them for the determination of the measure of each man’s guilt, is a most convincing proof that God designs, in rendering to every man according to his deeds, to inflict tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil.

Rom 2:5-9 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

So the saints work of judgment happens after the resurrection and determination of those guilty and innocent. A 1000 years are necessary in this work.

Psa 149:5-9 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two edged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

Rev 2:26-27 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

The saints have no participation in the work of judgment until judgment has been given and the son has executed judgment. [Dan 7:9-14, 1 Cor 4:5, Jude 14,15]. After this occurs the saints sit down with Christ and go over the books during the 1000 years. The measure of the guilt of the wicked is determined, and Christ returns with the saints at the end of the 1000 years where the wicked are resurrected for a short time. And then the final phase of the judgment is executed on the wicked.

The message that has been going to the world since 1844

1Pe 4:17-18 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Now, here we are in the time of this judgment where even the righteous shall scarcely be saved which has began in the heavenly sanctuary where our high priest is advocating on behalf of those who have ceased to sin[1 Pet 4:1].

The message of the 3 angels of Revelation in this judgment hour are going forward. They include the gospel going to the world while Babylon is fallen, and the warning of the enforcement of the mark of the beast and the seal of Jesus which is the seal of righteousness that comes by faith[Romans 4:11, Revelation 14:12].

This work is declared in Revelation 14 as well as in Revelation 10 where John talks about the prophecy of Daniel and the 2300 days.

In this hour of judgment before Christ is crowned, the gospel goes forth to all nations, languages and people. The call is made to worship the true God who made heaven earth and the sea. Then the work is finished.

Rev 10:2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

Looking at this little book we can see that it is open. Daniels book was sealed till the time of the end. Notice the parallel’s and also remember that in Daniel 8 the sanctuary in heaven was to be cleansed at “the time of the end” which signifies this judgment hour message when the gospel goes forth.

Dan 12:5-9 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and swore by him that liveth forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

The word of Daniel were sealed up to the time of the end. Notice he “swore by him that liveth forever” also. John uses the same words in Revelation 10

Rev 10:5-7 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And swore by him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

There are several parallels here to the judgment message. It is speaking of worshipping him who created the heaven and earth and sea and all things therein. [Revelation 14:7, 10:6]. Also it is talking about a “Time no longer”. This is also referring to the prophecy at the time of the end that Daniel spoke about. The 2300 days. And then the voice of the seventh angel would sound. And what is the message of the seventh angel?

Rev 11:15-19 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshiped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Christ is given the Kingdom in this time which closes the priestly ministry. The judgment hour has come and the temple of God is opened in heaven revealing the standard of the ten commandments by which God uses to judge the world. The Sabbath is still the seventh day when this is shown to the people, and the little horn of Daniel 7 has attempted to “Change times and laws”[Dan 7:25]. But as will clearly be seen in this hour. “God does not change”[Mal 3:6].

Exo 20:10-11 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Notice also the creator of the heaven and earth and sea. Same language is used in Revelation 10:6 and Revelation 14:7.

So the seventh trumpet announced the judgement. And This is the hour in which “the mystery of God should be finished”. What is the mystery of God?

The mystery of God is the salvation of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ as is sent to the world in Revelation 14:6.

Eph 3:3-6 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

This is “the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.”[Rev 10:7] as Paul said he made known this mystery to him and revealed it to “the holy apostles and prophets”[Eph 3:6].

Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

The declaration of this mystery of the gospel that he has declared to his prophets is finally finished here.

Rev 14:6-7 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

After the hour of judgment is come in 1844 and the little book of Daniel is unsealed to us. They must give this gospel to the world.

Rev 10:8-11 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

Here in the time of the sounding of the 7th angel in the hour of God’s judgment they are told to prophecy and go forth and prophecy giving the gospel to all nations tongues and people. This little book that we have swallowed is none other than the book of Daniel which as we can see has be unsealed in this time of the end.

It is a sweet thing to understand this book, however it will bring bitterness against us as we prophecy before many peoples, nations, tongues and kings of this great event in the hour of God’s judgment.

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