Have We Missed Something?

  

   Adventists have long touted and been proud that they would be the arbiters of the Loud Cry, the final heralding of the gospel message before Jesus returns. But a seldom asked question: “What are they to present in that Loud Cry?” The aged worn answer would be the three angels’ messages. But, a retort question comes – What is that? It talks about a judgment timing issue, a newsworthy event and a spiritual matter (Revelation 14:6-11). Is that the summation of the Loud Cry? Hardly! For over one hundred years the first angel has been emphasized, the second briefly noted and the issues of the third avoided.

If God has a plan for a particular group of people to finish His work, it must be something big, dramatic, of current interest and so magnetic the attention of the world is riveted on it. A vibrant spirit and powerful message will reverberate interest in truths that will be relevant, of end-time interest and answer fearful questions of current importance. The gospel will sound fresh with a creative appeal. How will all this be done? By moving prophetic truths out of the past into a “now” understanding. Those truths will not be “day old bread.”

Amazing! But ... That concern was talked about over a hundred years ago.

“When God’s people are at ease and satisfied with their present enlightenment, we may be sure that He will not favor them. It is His will that they should be ever moving forward to receive the increased and ever-increasing light which is shining for them. The present attitude of the church is not pleasing to God. There has come in a self-confidence that has led them to feel no necessity for more truth and greater light.”[1]

What does that mean? – “Increased light – more truth – greater light?” Could it be the Advent movement has become like an old crust of bread – stale, stiff and almost inedible. Might God be warning us that “fresh bread is coming out of the oven?”

There’s another issue!

“A great work will be done in a short time. A message will soon be given by God’s appointment that will swell into a loud cry. Then Daniel will stand in his lot, to give his testimony.”[2]

Where does it talk about Daniel standing in his lot? It is Daniel 12. But, many claim that is old historical prophecy! Not in our understanding. A remarkable three angels’ motif is found right there in those three timed prophecies. It is becoming increasingly clear that part of the Loud Cry message is right there in Daniel 12. We never saw it because – well, just because.

“We are to know more than we do at the present time. We are to comprehend the deep things of God. There are themes to be dwelt upon which are worthy of more than a passing notice. Angels have desired to look into the truths which are revealed to the people who are searching God's Word and with contrite hearts praying for wisdom, for greater lengths and breadths and heights of that knowledge which God alone can give.–Ms 75, 1899, p. 4.”[3]

But, that just can’t refer to Daniel – that ancient old book written hundreds of years before Christ – maybe around 536 B.C.! Perhaps it would be better if we looked at Matthew 24 or Mark 13 or Luke 21. There Jesus is telling us just like it will be.

But wait! Jesus did say something about Daniel: “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, ...” Matthew 24:15. Where does Daniel talk about that? Daniel 12 (8, 9 and 11)! Shame on us for being so satisfied with day old bread!

“Prophecy has been fulfilling, line upon line. The more firmly we stand under the banner of the third angel’s message, the more clearly shall we understand the prophecy of Daniel; for the Revelation is the supplement of Daniel. The more fully we accept the light presented by the Holy Spirit through the consecrated servants of God, the deeper and surer, even as the eternal throne, will appear the truths of ancient prophecy; we shall be assured that men of God spake as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost. Men must themselves be under the influence of the Holy Spirit in order to understand the Spirit’s utterances through the prophets. These messages were given, not for those that uttered the prophecies, but for us who are living amid the scenes of their fulfillment.”[4]

If Revelation is the supplement, then we need to understand the “book.” Daniel is to stand in his lot, and it relates directly to that last message of the Loud Cry, the events and the timing of those events.

“Daniel, God’s prophet, stands in his place. John stands in his place. In the Revelation, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has opened to the students of prophecy the book of Daniel, and thus is Daniel standing in his place. He bears his testimony, that which the Lord revealed to him in vision of the great and solemn events which we must know as we stand on the very threshold of their fulfillment.”[5] [Future]

Let not continued shame come to this people, to those desiring to herald the final truths to the world before the great consummation. Biblical study is causing a stir in the Protestant world. Truths that have lain dormant are being called into question. Adventist lay people all over the world are independently discovering end-time applications of prophecy – prophecy that previously was thought old and completed.

“When a message is presented to God’s people, they should not rise up in opposition to it; they should go to the Bible, comparing it with the law and the testimony, and if it does not bear this test, it is not true. God wants our minds to expand.”[6]

Note! “Increased light will shine upon all the grand truths of prophecy, and they will be seen in freshness and brilliancy, because the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness will illuminate the whole.”[7]

“They [previous generations] had the Bible, as we have; but the time for the unfolding of special truth in relation to the closing scenes of this earth’s history is during the last generations that shall live upon the earth.”[8]

Awake! Are we that last generation? “Fresh bread is coming out of the oven.” It is time to eat. We have overslept. Soon this ministry will begin to share prophetic issues from research it has been doing over the past three years in one of its divisions – Prophecy Research Initiative! It is not time to be sensational but cautious thinkers, analyzing truth, praying for understanding and setting aside all prejudice. We are challenged to ask: “Are their any hermeneutic techniques we are using that  might impede the working of God’s Spirit? I fear that that is a serious issue waiting to be addressed.                                    

References:

1. Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 708-709.

2. Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, p. 20 (Letter 54, 1906).

3. bid., p. 18.

4. Selected Messages, bk 2, p. 114 (MS 32, 1896).

5. Ibid., p. 109 (MS 32, 1896).

6. Testimonies to Ministers, p. 119.

7. Evangelism, p. 198 (MS 18, 1888).

8. Testimonies, vol. 2, pp. 692-693.

Franklin S. Fowler Jr., M.D.; EndTime Issues..., Prophecy Research Initiative
EndTime Issues..., May 2003 - endtimeissues.com