“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Matthew 28:19, 20
One of the most important aspect of any
organization is a clear knowledge of its mission/purpose. At its foundation,
our church has as its mission the preaching of the three angels’ messages of
Revelation 14. However, within our worldwide church body each subsidiary
organization, whether church, school or health care institution, have all
seemed to have their own mission that has diminished the importance of these
grave yet hopeful messages.
This mission of preaching the three angels’
messages is derived from our church’s particular revelation which no other
church shares. In the early to mid 1800’s many churches were studying the
prophecies of Daniel and coming to varying understandings of the meaning of
‘the cleansing of the sanctuary’ (Daniel 8). However, it was after the events
of the Great Disappointment (1844), that those who persisted in studying the
scriptures were enlightened to the full meaning of the prophecy, giving rise to
the Seventh-day Adventist Movement (GC 409.1).
Our pioneers learnt, through the guidance
of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26), that the cleansing of the sanctuary – which
began at the close of 2300 years in 1844 – coordinated with the symbolic
ceremony the Israelites performed every year known as the Day of Atonement
(Leviticus 23:26-32; Daniel 8:14; GC 417.1 – 420.1, 486.1). On this day all of
Israel was in a state of solemnity, reviewing their own lives to make sure all
their sins were properly confessed. All the sins transferred to the Temple
throughout the year were removed from the temple and placed on the scapegoat.
If anyone had unrepented sins or disobeyed any of God’s directives for that
day, at the close of the day they were “cut off” from the nation. The pioneers also
learnt that the real temple is in heaven, not on earth, and this is where the
review of all lives on earth would be taking place (Hebrews 9:1-14).
This is the state of life in which we now
find ourselves living, a time of self-examination and “affliction of soul”. We
are living in the final judgement of this world; therefore, it is imperative
that the whole world be warned. Thus, the importance of the three angel’s
messages of Revelation 14. Whether preaching, teaching, or healing this is our
message (5T 455.2). Over the next three weeks please join me as I examine
briefly, each of these messages.
God Bless
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