The Dangers of Incorrect "Chronology"
(The Order of the Final Events)
In nature, the rain does not bring the storm.
The storm brings the rain.
Added 2007-07-06
1. There are some movements right now "among the people of the Lord" that are stating that the Latter Rain comes before National Sunday Laws. This backwards "rain brings the storm" theology is dangerous for several reasons:
a. The storm brings the rain, to say otherwise is against the order specified by God.
i. 'When the storm of persecution really breaks upon us, . . . then will the message of the third angel swell to a loud cry, and the whole earth will be lightened with the glory of the Lord.' --6T 401 (1900). {LDE 208.2}
ii. If we state that the latter rain comes before the storm, then we are boldly violating counsel given about bringing on a time of trouble before the time.
b. Places the great crisis and test over the Sabbath after the latter rain & sealing
i. 'None are condemned until they have had the light and have seen the obligation of the fourth commandment. But when the decree shall go forth enforcing the counterfeit sabbath, and the loud cry of the third angel shall warn men against the worship of the beast and his image, the line will be clearly drawn between the false and the true. Then those who still continue in transgression will receive the mark of the beast.' --Ev 234, 235 (1899). {LDE 225.4}
c. Tears down, or displaces the very object that the loud cry is raised against which is National Sunday Law enforcement. What is the loud cry against if the latter rain and loud cry begin before National Sunday Laws?
i. 'The beast with two horns is also to say "to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast;" and, furthermore, it is to command all, "both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond," to receive "the mark of the beast." [REV. 13:11-16.] It has been shown that the United States is the power represented by the beast with lamb-like horns, and that this prophecy will be fulfilled when the United States shall enforce Sunday observance, which Rome claims as the special acknowledgment of her supremacy. But in this homage to papacy the United States will not be alone.' {GC 578.3}
ii. 'As foretold in the eighteenth of Revelation, the third angel's message is to be proclaimed with great power by those who give the final warning against the beast and his image: "I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double." Revelation 18:1-6. This is the message given by God to be sounded forth in the loud cry of the third angel. {8T 118.1,2}
iii. ''the loud cry of the third angel shall warn men against the worship of the beast and his image'' -Ev 234, 235 (1899). {LDE 225.4}
iv. 'But the time to receive the mark of the beast, as designated in prophecy, has not yet come. The testing time has not yet come. There are true Christians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholic communion. None are condemned until they have had the light and have seen the obligation of the fourth commandment. But when the decree shall go forth enforcing the counterfeit Sabbath, and when the loud cry of the third angel shall warn men against the worship of the beast and his image, the line will be clearly drawn between the false and the true. Then those who still continue in transgression will receive the mark of the beast in their foreheads or in their hands.' {BTS, February 1, 1913 par. 5}
v. National Sunday Law enforcement is the image to the beast
A. 'But in the very act of enforcing a religious duty by secular power, the churches would themselves form an image to the beast; hence the enforcement of Sundaykeeping in the United States would be an enforcement of the worship of the beast and his image.' {GC 448.3}
B. 'But when Sunday observance shall be enforced by law, and the world shall be enlightened concerning the obligation of the true Sabbath, then whoever shall transgress the command of God, to obey a precept which has no higher authority than that of Rome, will thereby honor popery above God. He is paying homage to Rome and to the power which enforces the institution ordained by Rome. He is worshipping the beast and his image." {GC 449.1}
C. 'When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result. . . .' {LDE 131.1}
D. 'What is the "image to the beast"? and how is it to be formed? The image is made by the two-horned beast, and is an image to the beast. It is also called an image of the beast. [THE TWO-HORNED BEAST OF REVELATION 13:11-17 MAKES AN IMAGE TO THE BEAST PORTRAYED IN REVELATION 13:1-10.] Then to learn what the image is like and how it is to be formed, we must study the characteristics of the beast itself--the papacy.' {LDE 228.1}
E. 'The "image to the beast" represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas.' --GC 443, 445 (1911). {LDE 228.3}
F. 'The Sunday idol is set up as was this image." {12MR 219.2}
vi. If we state that the latter rain comes before the storm, then we are boldly violating counsel given about bringing on a time of trouble before the time.
d. Bringing on a time of trouble before the time by attempting to use the latter rain and loud cry to bring on the loud cry, persecution and Sunday Laws.
i. 'The Lord does not move upon His workers to make them take a course which will bring on the time of trouble before the time. Let them not build up a wall of separation between themselves and the world by advancing their own ideas and notions. There is now altogether too much of this throughout our borders. The message of warning has not reached large numbers of the world in the very cities that are right at hand, and to number Israel is not to work after God's order. There is abundance of earnest work in cities that have not been worked. Let your pen and will work to enlighten these souls in simple, stirring articles upon faith and love.' {16MR 169.1} & {TM 202.1}
ii. If we state that the latter rain and loud cry come before National Sunday Laws
2. Comments on the dangers of incorrect chronology concerning the latter rain by one of our leading SDA, end time event theologians.
a. "...it is now being taught in our denomination that the latter rain and sealing precede the national Sunday law crisis. It is frequently stated in our denominational papers and gatherings that the latter rain is falling somewhere else in the world-as evinced by lots of baptisms. (1) If the Sunday law crisis precedes and leads into the other events (including the sealing and latter rain) before the general close of probation, then a terrible crisis is ahead of our denomination! This view, fully supported by the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy, is the correct one. (2) If the latter rain and sealing come first, then it is easier to conjecture that we can remain in our sins while we receive the latter rain and are sealed, still continuing in those sins until the second advent -with the denomination experiencing no great crisis over strict obedience to the law of God. This view is incorrect, and is bringing a false hope to many of our people." -Pr. Vance Ferrell - "The End of Time - A REMARKABLY COMPLETE COLLECTION OF SPIRIT OF PROPHECY STATEMENTS ON FINAL EVENTS" Pg. 77 (The section in parentheses above about the sealing and latter rain has not been added but is directly quoted out of the book.) (Vance Ferrell is a well known theologian, pastor, and author of many SDA books including the common "National Sunday Law Crisis" in print for many, many years and available at any ABC.)
i. 'Vance Ferrell is an older member who now spends most of his time publishing lowest-cost paperbacks of Spirit of Prophecy books for widespread distribution (see back of this book). In earlier years, he was an Adventist denominational canvasser, teacher, and pastor. His educational background includes 22 years of formal education (based on 9 months per year), which resulted in a B.A., M.A., and B.D. in theology and Biblical Languages from our schools (Pacific Union College and Andrews University), plus training in professional education. His only concern is to ground you in the faith and encourage you to stand in its defense.' 'www.present-truth.org
Jesus is coming soon! Are you ready? Is your family ready? Have you shared with someone today?
--
Thanks,
Ryan McCoy
Sealing Time Ministries
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Nampa, ID 83653
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-- 'What is the defense of the people of God at this time?--It is a living connection with heaven.' {RH, November 19, 1908 par. 8}