Transcription by Mark Swett
Dear Brother Steve and friends, this is Vernon speaking.
I’m very thankful that we’re able in these days to have the wonderful messages
of truth, and we’re going to share at this present time with you the
understanding God has given in regard to the writings of the prophets. Brethren
in Wisconsin, Revelation Chapter 10. If you’ll turn with me in your Bibles to
this chapter - let’s see what the Bible is saying. For those of you who wish
confirmation in these statements from Sister White, I’d like to refer you to
Second Selected Messages page 52 where Sister White says: Those who not
accept the word of God just as it reads will be snared in the devil’s
trap. So, that’s the statement I want to read from Ellen White at this
season.
Now, Revelation Chapter 10. What is the lesson to be
taught there. John witnesses a mighty angel come down form heaven clothed
with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as
it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. Notice this messenger from
heaven is a messenger of magnitude. Why is it that he is in such garments as
these: the clouds, face as the sun, rainbow upon his head, feet a pillars of
fire. For those who inquire - the answer that I can give you is found in
Deuteronomy Chapter 32 which begins God speaking: My doctrine shall drop as
the rain and shall distil as the dew. God’s truth, God’s word is holy
an perfect. We know that don’t we. God has a message for the last days. It’s
called the refreshing from the presence of the Lord. People are familiar with
Joel 2: 28 which God promises the former and latter rain. This is a message of
truth which is to be given to God’s people that they may know the work that God
has prepared for them to do. But notice how it comes.
An angel is sent from heaven. OK. Are we to believe an
angel from heaven? Well, notice this angel - verse two: and he had in his
hand a little book opened. What do we think that book is? Could it be the
Bible? Could it be the book of Daniel as Adventists believe? For sake of
argument it might even be the book of Obadiah. There’s only one chapter in that
book, and that’s definitely a little book isn’t it? But regardless of the point,
we know that whatever the angel has to present is found - contained in a little
book: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot upon the
earth, and he cried with a loud voice as when a lion roarrth: and when he
had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. Now notice. If we
could really witness an angel it would wake us up wouldn’t it? Or would it?
Christ stated that if they believe not Moses and the prophets though one rose
from the dead they would not believe. So, if somebody rose from the dead and we
would not believe, I think it hard that we would even believe if an angel came
from heaven. But notice; when the angel cried as when a lion roareth,
seven thunders uttered their voices. Whatever the message is about -
that little book - it’s designed to wake us up. Seven thunders - what more could
God uses to shake his people that they may know his purpose as written in the
book. And when the seven thunders verse four, had uttered their
voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven
saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and
write them not. Now notice. Seven thunders - uttered and yet sealed.
John the revelator was not permitted to reveal this truth about the book, which
means simply to us today that there is a message, or a truth contained in the
book, which God has not permitted his people to fully understand. And the
angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to
heaven, and sware by him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven, and
the things that therein are, the earth and the things that therein are, and the
sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer.
Now, we as Seventh Day Adventists understand this to refer to prophetic
time.
But who has the right to say that when itself does not
say that. The scripture in its context says time no longer. No longer referring
to what. The Book? The seven thunders? What is this mystery about the seven
thunders that John was not permitted to write? Well, verse seven explains by
stating: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel - not the
third angel, not the fourth, fifth, or sixth. 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. Now notice.
Brethren in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, you have proclaimed for years that
you are presenting this message to the world. But notice. Do you know the
writings of the prophets? Can you harmonize and chronicalize all that they have
spoken in the message for the seventh angel? You, as well as I, must admit that
you have not this ability. The book of Daniel is definitely a little book, but
it contains twelve chapters. Whereas I know of many books of the Old Testament
dealing with prophecy have far less chapters then twelve. They have far far less
chapters. But here is the key. Whatever the mystery may or may not be, it is
found in the writings of the prophets because God has declared to them. And
the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto to me again, and said, Go
and take the little book which is opened in the hands 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, [eat it]
Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall
be sweet 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. Now, what book of the
Bible do you think possibly could be considered a small book, and be bitter in
the belly? Well, you know the book of Obadiah for instance, it talks about Esau.
Esau had an eating problem. But, the book turns out to be a good book when it
states that on Mt. Zion shall come forth saviours which shall judge the mount of
Esau. Well, that reminds me of Revelation Chapter 14 where there will be a
144,000 on Mt. Zion at a specific time, at a specific place, in a specific
manner. But this is just my thoughts. But nevertheless, what the scripture has
emphasized that in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, the
mystery of God shall be finished as he hath declared to his servants
the prophets. John is commanded to take this book and eat it up, and in his
mouth it is sweet, but the effect of the book is bitter in the belly. And he
said unto me, thou must prophecy again. That’s the bitter experience. We
have not understood the writings of the prophets. We have not eaten the book,
but once upon eating it, we find that there is a responsibility, because the
prophecies explain what God’s people must and must not do in the latter days to
be saved - before many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings. Was there a
second angel’s message? Was there a third? Yes. But in the days of the voice
of the seventh angel, the mystery of God should be finished as he hath
declared to his servants the prophets. Now for our study let’s simply go
back to the writings of the prophets. But, see that there is a far gap between
my understanding and individuals understandings pertaining to the
prophecies.
Let’s begin with the Book of Daniel. Let’s review all
that we have learned about Daniel. We know that Daniel was one of the captives
taken by King Nebuchadneezer according to the fulfillment of Isaiah Chapter 39.
Isaiah told King Hezekiah that his son’s - his seed - would be eunuchs in the
palace of the king of Babylon. This was a fulfillment of prophecy. Daniel was
told, in the second chapter, the history of the world relating to the kingdoms
of Babylon, Medio-Persia, Greece, and Rome. But according to the prophecies of
Daniel, additional light came.
The additional light referred to more complex events;
like for instance in the seventh chapter of Daniel. Daniel beheld the four winds
striving upon the great sea, and he saw four empires rise up. But, instead of
being symbolized as a man’s image: with a head of gold, arms of silver, belly of
brass, legs of iron, feet part of iron and part of clay - he witnessed in this
vision the same kingdoms that had been illustrated as beasts - beast kingdoms:
lion, the bear, the leopard, and the eagle. This is the burden of the seventh
chapter. We find that he was given additional information about future events in
the eighth chapter. In the ninth chapter, even again, Daniel is given certain
prophetic events which must be understood. Now people say to me consistently,
“Vernon, why is it you don’t talk about the Gospel?” “How come you always
want to talk about prophecy?” Well, you see, prophecy, Peter tell us, is a light
that shines in a dark place. Now, how would you have liked to have been Cyrus
the King of Persia who came according to prophecy, and understood the
prophecies, and demanded that Gath be returned to the land, and yet they did not
because they did not fully understand the prophecies. How would you like to have
been Alexander the Great who died a death because simply he was fulfilling
prophecy, and knew not the day of his visitation. How would you like to be the
Jews, who did not fully understand the significance of Daniel Chapter 9 - so
that when the Messiah came, he found them unprepared for his Gospel, and yet
today, we ourselves are in a period of time where we don’t even understand the
prophecies.
Revelation 10 is the Messiah to us - that mighty angel
who comes down bears the word of the Lord, and states that in the days of the
voice of the seventh angel, the mystery of God will be finished as he hath
declared to who? His servants the prophets. For instance, let’s take a look at
Daniel Chapter10, verse 19. That is Gabriel speaking to Daniel and say’s: O
man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be
strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I had been strengthened, and said, Let
my Lord speak; for thy hast strengthened me. Then said he, Knowest thou
wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the
prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia
shall come. But I will show thee, [Gabriel tells Daniel,] that which
is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with
me in these things, but Michael your prince. Now notice, Gabriel is
to teach Daniel in the eleventh chapter that which is noted already in the
scripture of truth. What books were available to Daniel in his day? Well, take
notice that in Revelation - excuse me - Daniel Chapter 9, we find that Daniel
was studying the Book of Jeremiah. This is found in the second verse of Chapter
9. Daniel’s whole prayer in the ninth chapter is based upon the deliverance of
God’s people out of Babylon - to be restored back into their land. What we see
here, whatever may be contained in the eleventh chapter, Gabriel explains
clearly that the mystery is simply that he will now show unto Daniel that which
is noted in the scripture of truth. So, the Book of Isaiah, Hosea, Amos,
Obadiah, Jeremiah - such books were written way before the Book of Daniel was
written . What great mysteries contained therein? We are not going to belabor
this chapter. What we’re going to simply do is cover some simple ground to make
people think, or at least to try to make people think, that they may hunger and
thirst after truth as it is Christ. Notice - we see the work of the king of the
north as being a work that takes place all the way from the time of Messiah to
the end of the world. Now, no man has really lived that long, but we know there
has been a power in the world who has inspired man to do his bidding, as there
is a power in heaven, who by the Holy Ghost inspires man to do his bidding. So,
the power between good and evil has been a consistent war of variance since the
beginning of time.
But notice about the king of the north. We find out in
verse 40: and at the time of the end shall the king of the south push
at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a
whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships: and he
shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. Now
what does this verse mean? Well, at the time of the end, this king of the south,
whoever he may or may not be, is going to push at who? Him - referring to the
king of the north - verse forty Chapter 11. That’s what it say’s: at the time
of the end shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, with
horsemen, and with many ships: and he shall enter into the countries, [not
just one country but many] and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter
also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown.
Now notice verse forty-two. This northern kingdom, or king of the north, enters
into the glorious land. What is the glorious land? Well, many people believe it
to be Palestine or Israel. And this must be so, because the next verse says:
many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his
hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. Well,
clearly the glorious land must be Israel, because these nations of Edom, Moab,
and Ammon are now known as the Arab countries. Now notice. He shall stretch
for his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt [which is a
southern country] shall not escape. But he,[ referring to the king of the
north verse thirty-three] shall have power over the treasures of gold and
of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the
Ethiopians shall be at his steps [even the parts of North Africa]. Now
notice. Let’s review. From verses forty to verse forty-three what do we find?
The time of the end - this king of the south pushes at the king of the north.
The king of the north in turn comes against the king of the south like a
whirlwind. He overflows the countries, and many shall be overthrown by him. He
goes into Palestine, or the glorious land, but the Arab countries escape. He
even goes and stretches forth his hand against Egypt - and he has all the power
of gold, and silver, and treasure, and the precious things of Egypt. But tidings
- verse forty-four - states, or news out of the east and out of the north shall
trouble him. That’s important information to know. After the king of the north
has apparently done away with all of these kingdoms, he hears these tidings
eastward and from the north: therefore he shall go forth with great fury
to destroy, and to utterly make away many [or utterly take away
many] . Who does he want to take away? Well, let’s find out. He
[the king of the north] shall plant the tabernacles of his palace
between the seas - what seas? Remember now, the glorious land is Israel - so
we have the Mediterranean and the Persian, right? In the glorious holy
mountain. What holy mountain? Yet he shall come to his end, and none
shall help him. Now, people say, “Well, why do I have to worry about that?”
“I believe in Jesus.” Well, now notice - Chapter 12 verse1: And at that
time. At what time? The time he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace
between the seas and the glorious holy mountain. 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 unto that same time: and at time thy people shall be
delivered, everyone that is found written in the book. Now brethren,
honestly before God. If we do not know the events that are foretold by Christ’s
own testimony - which Revelation 19 tell us; the testimony of Jesus Christ is
the spirit of prophecy - then we can be assured that our name is not in that
book, because how can we fulfill that which we know not. The Pharisees fulfilled
prophecy. They killed the Son of God did they not. They did, because they knew
not the truth pertaining to the events of their day.
But here is a prophecy that tells us about the king of
the north, and it also tells us about these tidings of which the king of the
north hears - makes him go forth with fury to utterly take away many. Now
notice, at this time Michael stands up, Chapter 12 verse one says clearly.
Verses two of Chapter 12: 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. Not only will many of the righteous be raised, but
many of the wicked likewise. Revelation says they shall see him whom they have
pierced. Now, notice verse three: And they that be wise [the margin says
teachers] shall shine as the brightness of the firmament: and they
that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
That’s good good news. Don’t you think it’s important to know who the king of
the north is? Don’t you think it’s important to know why he goes into Palestine
for? And who he tries to take away? Now notice verse four Chapter 12. But
thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even unto the time
of the end: [this book’s been sealed even to the time of the end] many
shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. That’s a sign
we can see today isn’t it? Then I Daniel looked, and behold there
stood other two. Other two people were there listening to this message,
right? Watch. The one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on
the other 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? It’s a mystery. How long will it be? Verse
seven: 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 to heaven. Not like
the angel of Revelation Chapter 10 who holds up one hand, right? This angel
holds up both hands: and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever
that it shall be for a time, [which is one year] times, and a half.
That say’s three and one half years, isn’t it? And when he shall have
accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people... Now
wait a second. Who is the he brought to view in this verse. Can anybody guess.
Notice in Chapter 11 verse forty-four: But tidings out of the east and
out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with a great
fury to destroy, and to utterly make away many [ or make away many].
Verse seven, Chapter 12: time, times, and half the time, and when he [the
king of the north] shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy
people, all these things shall be finished. Now wait, the king of the north
goes into Palestine. He hears tidings out of the east and out of the north which
trouble him. He goes forth to utterly take away many, and he sets up his
tabernacles between the seas and the glorious holy mountain. He goes to scatter
the what! Holy people. Which means the holy people at this time must be where?
The glorious land. Which is where? Palestine. Now notice: And I heard,
[verse eight] but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord,
what shall be 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. Many shall be
purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none
of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. So, how can
we be wise if we do not know these prophecies and what they really mean? Key -
and from the time of the daily, the word sacrifice being in funny looking
letters there means that it was added by the translators, though it was not a
part of the original Hebrew text. So we read it as this: And from the time
that the daily shall be taken away, and the
abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred
and ninety-days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three
hundred five and thirty days. But go thy way till the end be: thou shalt rest,
and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
Now as Adventists, it’s taught that this refers to
the prophecies relating to the twelve hundred sixty, and the thirteen hundred
thirty-five days - each day for a year. But, there is no where in this Bible
that it states - for the prophecy of Daniel 11 and 12 - that God is given a day
for a year. It does state that it is a time, times, and a half which is three
and one half years. We obtain that from the third and fourth chapter of Daniel
where it talks about Nebuchadneezer being a tree saying that; seven times shall
pass over him, which was seven years. But, in this prophecy, no where can we
obtain as a rule by faith - a day for a year - any true theological facts
relating this time period; except it is literal days. And notice - there was
nobody that arose from the graves in 1844 was there. Neither good or bad. The
only people who were delivered in the book were those who were a part of the
judgment of the dead. Let’s review. From verse forty to verse forty-five of
Chapter 11 - the time of the end. The king of the south pushes against the king
of the north. Verse forty-one - the king of the north goes into the glorious
land - the Arab countries: Edom , Moab, and Ammon escape. Verse forty-two: He
shall set forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall
not escape. Egypt is also taken into captivity by this northern army. Then
verse forty-three, note that the army has plenty of finances - plenty of money.
But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over
all the precious things of Egypt. Now - even parts of North Africa shall be
within his reach. That’s where all the gold and silver and oil is, isn’t it?
Verse forty-four - but he hears something: tidings out of the east and north
shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to utterly take
away many. He tries to plant the tabernacles of his palace, or
miniature headquarters, between the seas, Mediterranean, Persian
Gulf, in the glorious holy mountain which would be what mountain? Well,
how about Mt. Zion in Jerusalem? Yet he shall come to his end, and none shall
help him. Why? Chapter 12, verse one: And at that time shall Michael
stand up and deliver God’s people from the king of the north. We need to
understand these things. Read this prophecy over and over and over again. And
these people that are to be delivered are to wait 1,290 days - within what
period? Well, time, times and a half is 3 1/2 years, but how can this prophecy
be harmonized perfectly with the prophecies of today. Well, Revelation 10
states: that in the days of the voice of the
seventh angel, the mystery of God shall be finished, as he hath declared to his
servants the prophets.
Let’s look into the book of Joel and see what wisdom
God has placed there that we might understand these things; as God has given
each messenger a portion of the truth we must harmonize each prophecy of the
Bible that we may know the whole truth and be prepared to be delivered, because
we are written in the book. If we are the ones who fulfill prophecy in these
days then it is God who has spoken of us long ago that through the writings of
the prophets God may foreknow us by the spirit of prophecy. If we do not fulfill
God’s word we are not written in this book, but if we fulfill that which is
written we are in God’s book as assurety, we are children of light.
Joel Chapter 1, verse one: The word of the Lord that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. Hear
this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been
in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? Tell ye your children of
it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another
generation. That which the palmerworm hath left the locust eaten; and that which
the locust hath left the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath
left hath the caterpillar eaten.
Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers
of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.
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