Rev. 14 , 15 - At the Probation's End, Graves Cease

INTRODUCTION;:

This study will describe how the probation ended through God’s judgment (which begins in the house of God-1Pet. 4:17) resulted to a Triumphant Church (AA 593-602) and the gathering of the second fruit (the Great Multitude – Rev. 7:9; Isa. 66:19).

Prayer Thought:

However trying their labor, the true workers do not regard it as drudgery. They are ready to spend and to be spent; but it is a cheerful work, done with a glad heart. Joy in God is expressed through Jesus Christ. Their joy is the joy set before Christ--"to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work." John 4:34. They are in co-operation with the Lord of glory. This thought sweetens all toil, it braces the will, it nerves the spirit for whatever may befall. Working with unselfish heart, ennobled by being partakers of Christ's sufferings, sharing His sympathies, and co-operating with Him in His labor, they help to swell the tide of His joy and bring honor and praise to His exalted name. {COL 402.5}

This is the spirit of all true service for God. Through a lack of this spirit, many who appear to be first will become last, while those who possess it, though accounted last, will become first. {COL 403.1}

1. Read Rev. 14:1

"And I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads."

Explanation: The "Lamb" denotes Christ, signifying the position He occupies before the close of probation, while yet interceding for His people; therefore, the specific number of saints stand with Him on earth while He is yet in the Most Holy place. Mount Zion in old Jerusalem was an ancient spot of that city, and the place of the royal residence of David and his successors. Therefore, from that viewpoint we must present the meaning of the "Lamb" that stood on the mount Zion. We are told by the following Scriptures the Lord had made a promise that the house of David (Mount Zion) was a light to him and to his sons forever. "Howbeit the Lord

would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons forever." (2 Chron. 21:7.) The promise was not to Mount Zion (house of David) in ancient Jerusalem, for the existence of the Jewish nation was conditional.

Additional Text Gal. 3:16; Ps. 122:5; Zech. 13:1

2. Is there a great work for the 144,000?

Yes, they have duties to perform in connection with the judgment for the living – the gathering of the second fruit – Rev. 7:9.

Explanation: John's vision of the 144,000 as they stood on Mount Zion with the Lamb, is an incident after this special company of saints had been sealed, and some time before the close of probation. The sealing of the 144,000 is at the closing of the judgment of the dead, and at the beginning of the judgment of the living. Therefore, they have a great duty to perform upon the earth in connection with the judgment. Their service was typified by ancient Israel when they were obliged to possess the Promised Land. The prophet Zechariah has well described the time: "In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David, and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem [the church]. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, [because He died for their sins] and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first born." (Zech. 12:8-11.) What a wonderful experience it will be when we fully comprehend the love of God and the price paid for our redemption!

Additional proof: Micah 5:6-9, 15; Jer. 51:19-23; GC 427

3. Read: Rev. 14:2,3

"And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth." (Rev. 14:2, 3.)

Explanation: The song was sung in heaven by heavenly beings before the throne, and before the beasts, and the elders. Therefore, it is evident that the judgment was in progress. Note that the 144,000 did not sing, but they only could learn the "song" as it was sung in heaven; that is, they alone understood the heavenly truth in that particular time and their position in connection with the message they must bear.

Passages to consider: Rev. 14:13; CH 375

4. Read Rev. 14:12

What are the characteristics of God’s Remnant people?

Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Israel being a type of this Advent movement is not a new idea just thought of in this lesson. The whole denomination believes so, for we read in the Review and Herald of Oct. 10, 1929, the following statements: "While the exodus movement was a great movement the second advent movement will be still greater. God will take out a people, not from one nation only, but from every nation under heaven, and He will lead them into the heavenly Canaan. This advent movement, of which the exodus movement was a type, we believe was foretold in prophecy in the following stirring language: 'It shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left,' 'There shall be a highway for the remnant of His people;...like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.' Isa. 11:16."

The word "type" means the same as the word "photograph". The very first photo invented was called "tin type." Thus we have the approval of the denomination that "Israel after the flesh" is a photograph of Israel by the promise (the 144,000). As God called out Israel from Egypt anciently, just so now, God is calling His church out from worldlings and worldliness, to be a separate, peculiar people to His honor and glory. This does not mean another movement, but it does mean that God is to deal with the entire body, and those who escape are Israel, the 144,000.

5. What happens during the Loud Cry?

While some of the saints shall be laid to sleep in the time of the "loud cry," it is made clear by Revelation 15:1, 2, that all who are alive after probation has closed and before the commencement of the pouring out of the plagues will be translated without tasting death: "And I saw another sign in heaven, great, and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass having the harps of God." The "sea of glass" is a symbol of life eternal. (Explained in another chapter.) In as much as all who had gotten the victory stand on the sea, it denotes that they have passed from death to life, and their destination now is "God, new Jerusalem."

6. Read Read 15:5-8

"And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled."

Explanation: After the investigation is completed and every case decided, the temple of the testimony will open similar to when the typical opened at the close of the sacrificial system: and the vial which divided the two apartments rent in twain from the top to the bottom." (See Matt. 27:51.)

The door that is opened after the close of probation is the entrance to the holy place which was closed in 1844. After the close of probation the temple is to be filled with the power and glory of God so that no man shall be able to enter in till after the seven plagues are fulfilled. Showing that all God's people stood on the sea of glass (eternal life) and then probation closed. Thus after Jesus leaves the most holy place, God's servants shall have no funeral sermons to preach and no gospels for sinners. (2SR 173)