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Prophecy’s Pathway to the Marriage Supper
By Norman Bradley (Retired worker, student and friend of Jesus’)
[This was presented to a group of believers at a special campmeeting in April of 2006. Its foundation is built on wonderful prophecies and promises. Ed.] [For the many rich graphics within this article, see the PDF format]
This study is about a love story. How many of you have read a good love story lately? All of you should have raised your hand, if you have read your Bible. The Bible is about the greatest love story ever told. This love story encompasses six thousand years. We get glimpses of it in the story of Isaac and Rebecca – love at first sight, and also in the story of Jacob and Rachel. Think of how long he worked for her hand in marriage. Then there are mountaintop experiences, such as the Song of Solomon, where two hearts are merged together. In contrast we read the book of Hosea and see the bride going off committing adultery and then bringing home an illegitimate child, not once but twice. The third time she left, she never came back. So the prophet went searching for her and found her ready to be sold as a slave. He paid the price of a slave and bought her back. The story of Hosea does not have an ending, but we do see the ending in the Gospels where the Prophet changes places with her and is sold for the price of a slave to set her free. But even then her hard heart was not broken. We see him standing on the Mount of Olives weeping, heart broken, saying, “Jerusalem, my bride, how often would I have gathered you together as a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wing. But you would not. I must leave you to your fate.” Matt. 23:37-39 (paraphrased). So he turns to some of the daughters of Jerusalem and takes out a bride to be. The love story continues for a time. Later she plays the part of a harlot and becomes the mother of harlot daughters. Some of these daughters, however, did not become harlots, instead they laid themselves down at the foot of the bridegroom, and he covered them with the wedding garment, His cloak of righteousness. They have determined to remain virgins with no guile in their mouths and follow Him wheresoever He goes. In spite of the time of trouble “such as never was,” they are committed to remain pure. Let’s get on with the rest of the story and tie this all together. Let’s discover the prophetic pathway to the marriage supper. We will pretend this is a “The scripture which above all others had been both the foundation and the central pillar of the advent faith was the declaration: ‘Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.’ Daniel 8:14. ‘The subject of the sanctuary was the key which unlocked the mystery of the disappointment of 1844. It opened to view a complete system of truth, connected and harmonious, showing that God’s hand had directed the great Advent movement, and revealing present duty as it brought to light the position and work of his people.’” (G.C.409 and 423) I’m sure we all understand this prophecy. I would like to draw your attention to the 490 years or 70 prophetic weeks which were cut off from the 2300 day/years. These 70 weeks or 490 years of Daniel 9:24 were allocated to the Jewish nation to complete the covenant to become Christ’s kingdom of priests and kings. The last week of the 70 was called the covenant 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.” Later we will see how the three time prophecies of Daniel 12, the 1260, 1290 and 1335 days, are connected to the covenant week. Read Daniel chapter 12. Remember the quote about “the system of truth, connected, and harmonious.” We will see this happen as we connect all these prophecies together. There is one common thread that ties them all together. This also ties them with the book of Revelation. The book of Daniel is the foundation upon which the book of Revelation builds. The common thread that ties them together is the marriage covenant that God made with the Hebrew nation at Ex.19:5 – “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth [is] mine: 19:6 – And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These [are] the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. 19:7 – And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. 19:8 – And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people, unto the LORD. Can you see a marriage proposal taking place here? Christ proposes and they say, “Yes, we accept your proposal.” This covenant was based on keeping theTen Commandments, the Statutes, and the Judgments, according to Deuteronomy 5:1-3. 5:1 – And Moses called all Israel and said to them, “Hear,O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. 5:2 – The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 5:3 – The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, [even] us, who [are] all of us here alive this day.” He had already given them the Sabbath, as a sign of betrothal and loyalty to Him, which was like an engagement ring. “The Sabbath is a golden clasp that unites [binds] God and His people.” 6T p.361. Later we see a wedding band put around the bride just before the consummation of the marriage. Ellen white has some things to say about this covenant. “And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do.” (1BC 1103.9) “This covenant is of just as much force today as it was when the Lord made it with ancient Israel” (SW March 1, 1904). (1BC 1103.10) “Ex.19:7, 8 (Isa. 56:5) (quoted) . A Pledge to the Covenant.—This is the pledge that God’s people are to make in these last days. Their acceptance with God depends on a faithful fulfillment of the terms of their agreement with Him. God includes in His covenant all who will obey Him.” (RH June 23,1904; 1BC 1103.11) “That which God purposed to do for the world through Israel, the chosen nation, He will finally accomplish through His church on earth today. He has ‘let out His vineyard unto other husbandmen,’ even to His covenant-keeping people, who faithfully ‘render Him the fruits in their seasons.’ Never has the Lord been without true representatives on this earth who have made His interests their own. These witnesses for God are numbered among the spiritual Israel, and to them will be fulfilled all the covenant promises made by Jehovah to His ancient people.” (PK 713.1) This means the marriage covenant is as much ours today as it was when given at
We will be concentrating on the covenant week or the last week of the 70-week period. This week or 7-year period began with the baptism of Christ in the autumn of 27 A.D. and ended with the stoning of Stephen in the autumn of 34 A.D. with the cross in the middle of the week on Passover. The first two, Christ’s baptism and the stoning of Stephen, were most likely on days of Atonement, as are all the other important dates (events) in the 2300-year prophecy. If it ended on a Day of Atonement in 1844, then it began also on a Day of Atonement in 457 BC. The first 3½ years of this covenant week was when Christ did his part in preparing for the marriage to be completed. The last 3½ years were given as probationary time to the Jewish nation to fulfill their part of the covenant. “Mercy was extended to them, and their probation was lengthened, until three years and a half after the death of Christ, when the apostles declared: ‘It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you; but seeing you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.’ [RH March 10, 1896]. Luke 19:44 says, ‘They knew not the hour of their visitation.’ They failed their marriage agreement. Daniel 9:24 lists the six requirements that were needed to be completed by the bride to be, but she broke off the engagement. As a result, the marriage covenant had to be put on hold – until a new bride could be found that would make herself ready for the marriage. The events of the last 3½ years of the covenant week will come to pass during the last 3½ years of this earth’s history. Daniel 12:7 tells of the time, times, and the dividing of time in which this will happen. These things will be completed before Christ comes or there would be no bride to come for. God’s original purpose with Israel was to make them the head of all the nations so they could teach them the plan of salvation. Deut. 15:6 – “For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.” They were to be priests and kings to govern those saved nations. Some would not accept and come against Israel and God would fight for them during the Battle of Armageddon. That would have been fought in the Christ would have died and paid the redemption price in the process. This was plan A. But the conditions were not met, so now we are in plan B which includes the New Testament church. Listen to what Vol. 4 of the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary (pages 25-38) says: “It is a known fact that the majority of the predictions about ancient Israel have not been fulfilled. SDA’s believe that generally speaking, the promises and predictions given through the Old Testament prophets originally applied to literal Israel and were to have been fulfilled to them on the condition that they obey God and remain loyal to Him. But the Scriptures record the fact that they disobeyed God and proved disloyal to Him instead. Accordingly, what He purposed to do for the world through Israel of old He will finally accomplish through His church today, and many of the promises originally made to Israel will be fulfilled to His remnant people at the close of time.” (4BC 25.7, 26) “If the nation had been faithful to its trust… He [Christ] would have come, He would have died, and He would have risen again.” (4BC 29.3) Other than this interpretation, I don’t know how to understand many of the things the Old Testament prophets predicted. “Had Israel as a nation preserved her allegiance to heaven, Jerusalem would have stood forever, the elect of God. But the history of that favored people was a record of backsliding and rebellion. They had resisted heaven’s grace, abused their privileges and slighted their opportunities.” (GC 19.1) Not only did Israel fail to fulfill their part of this covenant during the 490 years allotted to them, they killed the Bridegroom half way through the 70th week. Also, they failed to complete their part during the last 3½ years of that week. That was a special probationary time given to them for that purpose. Since the marriage covenant was put on hold until the end of time, just when will it be completed? When will the Bride make herself ready? We know from Rev.19, He will have a Bride when He comes. What are the requirements that Israel of old failed to do and must be fulfilled by the NT bride in order to be ready for the coming of the Bridegroom? They are listed in Daniel 9:24, where the 70-week prophecy is introduced. “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.” Six requirements are listed that are required of the bride-to-be to fulfill, before she is ready to meet the Bridegroom. Item # 1. “To finish the transgression.” The transgression or rebellion against God’s law must stop. How will it stop? When we fully surrender our will to Him, we will let the law be written in our hearts so that we will not sin against Him. We must become sinless. “Those only who through faith in Christ obey all of God’s commandments will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression. They testify to their love of Christ by obeying all His precepts (MS 122, 1901). (6BC 1118.10)” 1John 3:9 – “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” “Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept His Father’s commandments, and there was no sin in Him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.” (GC 623.1) Then the transgression will be finished. Those who believe that they will continue to sin until Jesus comes cannot fulfill this specification of the bride of Christ. Item#2. “To make an end of sins.” The Hebrew word khaw-tham means to seal up, to authenticate, or validate that sin is sin!! To stop sinning or to become sinless is necessary before you can be sealed. Until this is manifested among God’s people there cannot be a sealing up or authentication that sin is really sin, and should be stopped. Christ did fulfill His part in all six items but the bride has to fulfill her part before the marriage can be completed. The 144,000 will be the ones to complete this. Item #3. “To make reconciliation for iniquity.” Kaphar means atonement, cleanse, or purge. Kaphar is from Kippur or Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Your sins must be purged or cleansed before there can be a reconciliation. Christ made it possible by His death on the cross, but we must do our part and claim this gift by faith. Item #4. “To bring in everlasting righteousness.” Hebrew wording means to “bring in Righteousness of everlasting ones.” Only when we accept His righteousness to be ours, so that both He and we are fully righteous can there be an everlasting righteousness for eternity. The term “everlasting ones indicates that we have a part to play in making this become a reality. None of this is meant to be construed that we are earning our salvation. Ellen White urges us to cooperate with heaven in order to bring in everlasting righteousness. (1SM 374) Item #5. “Seal up the vision and the prophecy.” Seal= chathan – “to authenticate.” This is speaking of the visions of Daniel 8–12. This includes the 3 time prophecies of 1260, 1290 and 1335 days. Only when these things are completed by the bride-to-be in these last days, will this vision containing this prophecy be proven to be authentic. Then the seal of completion can be put on this vision and prophecy. Item #6. “To anoint the most holy.” This is the most misunderstood, most needed and the most interesting of all. The true meaning is “the Holy of Holiest, Most Holy.” This does not apply to the anointing of Christ at His baptism. It does apply to an anointing of a High priesthood in the last days. A special priesthood, a Melchisedec type, just like Christ has. This applies to the anointing of the 144,000 to the High Priesthood office. Do you find this hard to believe? Do you want proof? I’ll let the Hebrew scholars and the insights of E. G. White tell you. William Shea, well-known theologian, recognizes this phrase as not applying to Christ’s anointing but to the sanctuary or something connected to it (see Daniel and Revelation Series, 1986, pages 82-83). The article is too long to reproduce here. But I will read much of an article by Jacques Doukhan, another SDA theologian, and editor of the Shabbat Shalom SDA magazine. “It is highly significant that the same associations of these three notions of atonement (Kpr), anointing (Meh) and the Holy of Holies (qodes qodasim) is found in Exodus 29:36-37. The only other Bibical reference to use these expressions in conjunction. This passage deals with the consecration of Aaron and his sons to their High priesthood…. The accumulation of common patterns and wording between the prophecy of the 70 weeks and this passage in Exodus is most striking indeed. We may now see the relationship expressed in the parallism between the atonement and the anointment of a “Holy of Holies,” i.e., such as the consecration of a new High priesthood. (“The Seventy Weeks of Daniel,” page 259 as quoted in RH 1981) Apparently a higher order of priests are scheduled for the last days, which will be composed of the 144,000. That quote by Jacques Doukhan is beginning to back up what I said earlier, but it is not enough. He did not carry it through to its last day conclusion. For this we must turn to Ellen White. In the chapter “The Vision of Joshua and the Angel” in 5T (page 472), based on Zechariah 3, she says, “Zechariah’s vision of Joshua and the Angel applies with peculiar force to the experience of God’s people in the closing up of the great day of atonement.” What does peculiar force mean? As we proceed we will find out. Have you read the third chapter of Zechariah and this chapter in volume 5 of the Testimonies? It is a most revealing commentary of the work and office of the 144,000. Quoting again from 5T, “As the intercession of Joshua is accepted, the command is given, ‘Take away the filthy garments from him,’ and to Joshua, the Angel declares, ‘Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.’ ‘So they set a fair miter upon his head, and clothed him with garments.” His own sins and those of his people were pardoned. Israel was clothed with a ‘change of raiment’—the righteousness of Christ imputed to them. The miter placed upon Joshua’s head was such as was worn by the priests and bore the inscription, ‘Holiness to the Lord,’ signifying that, notwithstanding his former transgressions, he was now qualified to minister before God in His sanctuary. (5T 469.2) I want to remind you that this should take place in the closing up in the great Day of Atonement. After thus solemnly investing him with the dignity of the priesthood, the Angel declared: “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in My ways, and if thou wilt keep My charge, [the covenant], then thou shalt also judge My house, and shalt also keep My courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.” He would be honored as the judge or ruler over the temple and all its services; he should walk among attending angels, even in this life, and should at last join the glorified throng around the throne of God. (5T 469.3) “‘Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth My servant the Branch.’ Here is revealed the hope of Israel. It was by faith in the coming Saviour that Joshua and his people received pardon. Through faith in Christ they were restored to God’s favor. By virtue of His merits, if they walked in His ways and kept His statutes, they would be ‘men wondered at,’ honored as the chosen of heaven among the nations of the earth. Christ was their hope, their defense, their justification and redemption, as He is the hope of His church today.” (5T 469.4) If this comment applies with “peculiar force” to these last days, then we had better do some heavy praying and thinking about this if we intend to be among the 144,000. Because as you read on in that chapter, you will quickly see that this is referring to the 144,000. Consider this, there will be no temple here on the earth at that time. There is much more that could be said on this subject, but I must get back to my task of tying it all together to find the path to the marrige supper. But it is extremely important to discuss these six items. You see, if these six items are not fulfilled, there will never be a bride for Jesus to come back for. Now the key to unlocking the sealed time prophecies of Daniel 12 is found in Revelation 10:6. This chapter starts with Christ holding the little book of Daniel open in His hand. Verse 4 tells of the seven thunders. Ellen White calls them “a delineation of events that will transpire under the first and second angels messages.” (7BC 971) These thunderous events will take place during these three time prophecies of Daniel 12. These are all future events. No further comment on them at this time. In Revelation 10:6 the phrase “time should be no longer” [KJV] should read “there shall be no more delay” [NKJV]. No more delay of what? What part of the book of Daniel was put on hold? The last 3½ years of the marriage covenant. It was put on hold at the cross because Israel broke off the engagement and the marriage did not take place. The events of these 3½ years must happen, and they will happen during the “time of trouble such as never was.” 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. 12:2 – 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.” For 3½ years God’s people will come under the control and persecution of the papacy again. Dan. 12:7 – “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 sware by him that liveth for ever that [it shall be] for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these [things] shall be finished.” Rev. 11:2 – “But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty [and] two months” and Rev. 13:5 – “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months.” 13:7 – “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” In Manuscript 88, 1897, it says this about Revelation 13. After quoting verses 4-8 she says, “This whole chapter is a revelation of what will surely take place.” This includes the forty-two months of verse 5 of papal control in the future. So far the New Testament church has failed, almost as badly as the Old Testament church. But out of this a remnant church will come, the 144,000 priests–kings that will fulfill all of these requirements and become the true bride of Christ. We see a symbol of her in Revelation 12. The sun over her head and the moon under her feet, a crown of twelve stars, and dressed in the wedding garment. In Revelation 19:7, 8 she is ready for the wedding, dressed in the white garment the Bridegroom covers her with. A beautiful illustration of this is in the story of Ruth and Boaz where she lies down at his feet and he covers her with his robe. Ruth 3:7-14. When is the timing for this to happen? When will this 3½ years take place? We have examined several interpretations of these three time prophecies of Daniel 12 and have accepted the one by Dr. Franklin Fowler, Director of the Prophecy Research Initiative of the Christian Heritage Foundation, as being the one that is the most correct. All these interpretations have agreed on one thing, that the Sunday law is the trigger event that begins the countdown to the end of time. Let’s look at the three time prophecies of Daniel 12. The 1260 days does not have a beginning date but does have an ending event. Daniel asked, “How long [shall it be to] the end of these wonders?”
Dan. 12:7 – “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 sware by him that liveth for ever that [it shall be] for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these [things] shall be finished.” What things will be finished? Daniel’s prophecies concerning the time of the end. 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.” This includes the special resurrection. It is during this time that the power of God’s people will be scattered. It appears that Satan has triumphed, but at the end of the 1260 days God delivers His people. That is the ending event for the 1260 days. In order to find a beginning event for the 1260 days we must study the 1290 days first. The 1290 has a beginning event but no ending event. Dan. 12:11 – “And from the time [that] the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up [Sunday Law] there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.” That gives us a beginning event. Dan. 12:12 – “Blessed [is] he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” The 1335 days have neither a beginning nor an ending event, until you put the other two inside that timeframe. There is not a single quote in the Spirit of Prophecy that says the abomination of desolation is the Sunday Law. But by merging several quotes together the evidence becomes very clear that they are the same. Proof that the Sunday Law is the “abomination that maketh desolate” in the last days is found in GC 25-26, 5T 564 and 451. As we view these quotes, watch how E. G. White ties the abomination of desolation spoken by Christ and Daniel to the Roman army standing in the holy grounds, as a sign, or signal, or warning sign, to the time when the U.S. government will pass a Sunday law in our day. This is proof that the abomination of desolation must be the Sunday Law. “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains.” Matthew 24:15, 16; Luke 21:20, 21. When the idolatrous standards of the Romans should be set up in the holy ground, which extended some furlongs outside the city walls, then the followers of Christ were to find safety in flight. When the warning sign should be seen, those who would escape must make no delay. Throughout the land of It is no time now for God’s people to be fixing their affections or laying up their treasure in the world. The time is not far distant, when, like the early disciples, we shall be forced to seek a refuge in desolate and solitary places. As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the signal for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation in the decree enforcing the papal sabbath will be a warning to us. (5T 464) By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. (5T 451.1) “As the approach of the Roman armies was a sign to the disciples of the impending destruction of Jerusalem, so may this apostasy [Sunday Law] be a sign to us that the limit of God’s forbearance is reached, that the measure of our nation’s iniquity is full, and that the angel of mercy is about to take her flight, never to return. The people of God will then be plunged into those scenes of affliction and distress which prophets have described as the time of Jacob’s trouble. The cries of the faithful, persecuted ones ascend to heaven. And as the blood of Abel cried from the ground, there are voices also crying to God from martyrs’ graves, from the sepulchers of the sea, from mountain caverns, from convent vaults: ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?’” (5T 451.2) If this is correct, then the 1290 days begin at the Sunday Law, and 75 days later it has enforcement laws with it. That will start the 1260-day timeline of the last 3½ years to complete the marriage covenant that was put on hold at the cross. Revelation 10: 6 says, “no more delay” [after the Sunday Law]! “A time is coming when the law of God is, in a special sense, to be made void in our land [the United States]. The rulers of our nation will, by legislative enactments, enforce the Sunday law, and thus God’s people will be brought into great peril. When our nation, in its legislative councils, shall enact laws to bind the consciences of men in regard to their religious privileges, enforcing Sunday observance, and bringing oppressive power to bear against those who keep the seventh-day Sabbath, the law of God will, to all intents and purposes, be made void in our land.” (Mar 179.1, 7BC 977) We have been taught that the three time prophecies of Daniel 12 had their fulfillment in time past. According to Ellen White they are still in the future. “The prophetic periods of Daniel extend to the eve of the great consummation” RH9/25/1883. There are many dual fulfillments of some of these prophecies. The major fulfillment of these are yet future. “The book that was sealed was not the book of Revelation, but that portion of the prophecy of Daniel which related to the last days. The Scripture says, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4). When the book was opened, the proclamation was made, “Time shall be no longer” (see Revelation 10:6) (no more delay). “The book of Daniel is now unsealed, and the revelation made by Christ to John is to come to all the inhabitants of the earth. By the increase of knowledge a people is to be prepared to stand in the latter days.” (2SM 105.1) (See TM 114-115; RH Dec. 18, 1888; and 7BC 977.2.) These quotes are added proof that these prophecies are last day events. Daniel 12 speaks of a time of trouble “such as never was,” which is yet future. “It is impossible to give any idea of the experience of the people of God who shall be alive upon the earth when celestial glory and a repetition of the persecutions of the past are blended. They will walk in the light proceeding from the throne of God. By means of the angels there will be constant communication between heaven and earth.” (LDE 266.3) “In the midst of the time of trouble that is coming—a time of trouble such as has not been since there was a nation—God’s chosen people will stand unmoved. Satan and his host cannot destroy them, for angels that excel in strength will protect them.” (9T 16, 17 (1909); LDE 267.1) The saints will stand true as the needle to the pole, even while the heavens are falling around them. The seventh plague of hail will literally fulfill that saying. So let’s tie it all together. The 2300-year prophecy was like a road map, showing the work of God’s people and the devil’s forces at work down through history. In that timeframe we see the 490 years cut off for God’s people to fulfill the covenant. In the 70 weeks or 490 years, we concentrated on the last week, called the covenant week. This was the most crucial part of this prophecy up until that time. Since the marriage covenant of the last 3½ years of that week was put on hold because of the failure of Israel to do their part, then we will see a repeat of the last 3½ years of the covenant week come back into focus in the closing events of this earth’s history. At that time the marriage covenant will be fulfilled or completed by a last-day people. It is then that the three time lines of Daniel 12 begin to take place. Revelation10 is the key to unseal this sealed part of Daniel. In turn, this unsealed part of Daniel unseals the sealed part of Rev.10:4, the Thunders. It appears that almost all of the book of Revelation from at least chapter 8 onward will take place within the timeframe of the 1335 days, except for the first part of Revelation 12 which is an interlude (see verses 1-11). The Sunday Law or the abomination that makes desolate is the event that begins all these last day fulfillments (see Mar. 180; 7BC 977; and 5T 451). If we are planning to have a part in making this happen, we need to look at the 6 requirements again. Are we preparing to become the anointed High Priests of Item #6? If so, then are we fulfilling the first 5 items? That will mean we are finishing the transgression of all of God’s laws, including the statutes and feasts. Then we will be making an end of sins in our lives. We will become fully reconciled from our iniquity and rebellion. We will help to bring in the everlasting righteousness. Then we can put a seal on the vision and prophecy as being validated. “That God who reads the hearts of everyone, will bring to light hidden things of darkness where they are often least suspected, that stumbling blocks which have hindered the progress of truth may be removed, and God have a clean and holy people to declare His statutes and judgments.” (1T 332.3) “The Captain of our salvation leads His people on step by step, purifying and fitting them for translation, and leaving in the rear those who are disposed to draw off from the body, who are not willing to be led, and are satisfied with their own righteousness.” (1T 333.1) When this happens, our heavenly Father will look down and say, “Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Rev.14:12). They are the ones I have been waiting for. They have vindicated my law and my character, and made void the charges Satan has made against me. Son, they will be a fitting bride for you. Why don’t you go and rescue her and bring her to our house to be with us for eternity? So Christ leaves heaven and comes to earth to rescue His bride. “In both the Old and the New Testaments, the marriage relation is employed to represent the tender and sacred union that exists between Christ and His people. To the mind of Jesus the gladness of the wedding festivities pointed forward to the rejoicing of that day when He shall bring home His bride to the Father’s house, and the redeemed with the Redeemer shall sit down to the marriage supper of the Lamb. He says, ‘As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.’ ‘Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; . . . but thou shalt be called My Delight; . . . for the Lord delighteth in thee.’ ‘He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.’ Isa. 62:5, 4, margin; Zeph. 3:17.” (DA 151) At this time the Bride is going through a serious time of trouble. The death decree is upon them. They are being assaulted by the devil’s followers—they are being met “With shouts of triumph, jeering, and imprecation, throngs of evil men are about to rush upon their prey, when, lo, a dense blackness, deeper than the darkness of the night, falls upon the earth. Then a rainbow, shining with the glory from the throne of God, spans the heavens and seems to encircle each praying company. … they gaze upon the symbol of God’s covenant.” (GC 635.3) This is when Christ is seen in the clouds, coming to take His bride home. He has just placed the wedding band, the rainbow, around them. The rainbow is also a symbol of the everlasting covenant between the Father and Son, that Christ would come and rescue His bride and take her home. This is the time where the Marriage Covenant and the Everlasting Covenant unite. Gen. 9:16 – “And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that [is] upon the earth.” To us it is a covenant that there will never be another worldwide flood again. But to God, He remembers the everlasting covenant between Himself and His Son that they will save mankind. This is where the Everlasting Covenant was introduced, but it was made in heaven long before creation. “There is the throne, and around it the rainbow of promise…. Before the foundations of the earth were laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped Their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race. This pledge Christ has fulfilled.” (DA 834) When Christ takes His bride home, she follows Him wherever He goes. Can you imagine sometime in the great beyond when you are visiting an unfallen world with Him and someone sees the scars and asks Him, “What happened to your hands? He will say, “I got them in the house of my friends” [Zechariah 13:6 (paraphrased)]. And then He would turn to you or me and say, “You tell them how it happened.” What an awesome privilege to say “He got those scars while rescuing me from eternal death.” Do you still want to be among the 144,000 and become one of the priests that shepherd the great multitude that comes out of Babylon during the great time of trouble? If so, you now know what is expected of you – you must fulfill the marriage covenant of Daniel 9:24. Read Revelation 19:6-9. See you at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!
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