PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY

To show that the Revival and Reformation which started in the Dark Ages is still on foot up to the purification of the Church.

INTRODUCTION

Definition of Revival and Reformation:

Dictionary: Revival = "to restore, renew, re awaken, re-establish." Reform = "to make better morally, change for the better."

The Spirit of Prophecy definition:

1SM 128 - "A revival and a reformation must take place, under the ministration of the Holy Spirit …Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death. Reformation signifies reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits, and practices"

** NO wonder, reformation hurts very much those who sponsor the wrong theories, habits, practices; especially painful is the call for the re-organization of the government system they have laboured for many years to establish! Change is painful at times, and it demands a humble heart. Many saints died because of calling for Revival and Reformation because the leaders hated Change, and the majority fear their leaders. So it is now. The question before us now is: Do we – the SDA Church need Revival and Reformation ?

1. DO WE NEED REVIVAL AND REFORMATION NOW?

GC 78 - "The Reformation that began in the time of Wycliffe, grew broad and deep in the days of Luther, and is to be carried forward to the close of time by those who also are willing to suffer all things for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

1SM 121, 128 - "A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work … God calls for a spiritual revival and a spiritual reformation. Unless this takes place, those who are Lukewarm will continue to grow more abhorrent to the Lord until He will refuse to acknowledge them as His children."

Only a pure church, without sin and sinners need no revival and reformation. God has ever kept on sending messages of revival and reformation to the backsliding church, at least to keep its light shining in the world. Therefore, only a lukewarm and most blind Christian will think he/she is rich, increased with goods, in need of nothing! The Laodicean Church –the SDA Church, by saying it is rich when Jesus is calling it poor, wretched, miserable and blind; is proof that it urgently needs Revival and Reformation.

Rev. 3:14 – 16 “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”

(i) WHICH ARE THESE SEVEN CHURCHES?

(a) Ephesus: " of the church at Ephesus, which the Lord Jesus used as a symbol of the entire Christian church in the apostolic age, the faithful and true witness declared: I know thy works, and thy labor… AA 578.

Ephesus = the early Christian church from the apostolic to the time it entered the Dark Ages - captured by the Papacy.

(b) Smyrna: GC 143, 120 = the Lutherans - by Luther

(c) Pergamos: GC 250, 251 = Presbyterian (Pentecostal) by Knox.

(d) Thyatira: GC 256 - 259 = Methodist - by Wesley

(e) Sardis: GC 331, 332 = Baptist - by Campbell.

(f) Philadelphia - GC 368, Counsels to Writes & Editors P. 26, 27 = Millerite (FDA)

(ii) WHO ARE THE 7 ANGELS

The letters to the 7 churches are addressed to the 7 angels of the 7 churches. Rev. 1:20 - they are the 7 stars in Jesus' right hand.

"The sweet influences that are to be abundant in the church are bound up with God's Ministers, who are to reveal the love of Christ. The stars of heaven are under His control. He fills them with light….so with His Minister" AA 586.

"God's Ministers are symbolized by the seven stars, which He who is the first and the last has under His special care and protection..." Gospel Workers 13.

Note that the angels, stars or God's Ministers represent Christ and are answerable to God for their influence and the condition of their churches. "The watchmen are responsible for the condition of the people…" 5T. 235

(iii) WHO IS LAODECEA (REV 3:14-18)?

"The message to the church of the Laodiceans is a startling denunciations, and is applicable to the people of God at the present time" 3T. 252.

"The message to the Laodiceans is applicable to Seventh-day Adventists who have had great light and have not walked in the light…" 2SM 66.

2. WHY DO WE NEED REVIVAL AND REFORMATION?

TM 451-452 "The standards must be elevated. The work must have a higher mold. There must be a coming out from the customs and practices of the world and being separated. There must be a coming up upon a higher platform by both Ministers and people."

5T. 217 "I am filled with sadness when I think of our condition as a people…The church has turned back from following Christ as her Leader - and is steady retreating toward Egypt.…Doubt and even disbelief of the testimonies of the Spirit of God, is leavening our churches everywhere. Satan would have it thus. Ministers who preach self-instead of Christ would have it thus.”

COL 315-316 -"The professed followers of Christ are no longer a separate and peculiar people. The line of demarcation is indistinct. The people are subordinating themselves to the world, to its practices, its customs, its selfishness. The church has gone over to the world in transgression of the law, when the world should have come over to the church in obedience to the law. Daily the church is being converted to the world.”

1T608-609 "In the last vision given me, I was shown the startling fact that but a small portion of those who now profess the truth will be sanctified by it and be saved. Many will get above the simplicity of the work. They will conform to the world, cherish idols, and become spiritually dead. The humble self- sacrificing followers of Jesus will pass on to perfection, leaving behind the indifferent and lovers of the world. I was pointed back to ancient Israel. But two of the adults of the vast army that left Egypt entered the land of Canaan…..Modern Israel are in greater danger…many idols are worshipped, even by professed Sabbath keepers."

2T. 337 - "Men and women are in the last hours of probation, and yet are careless and stupid, and Ministers have no power to arouse them, they are asleep themselves. Sleeping preachers preaching to a sleeping people!…Reproof is more to be prized than flattery"

3. WHAT ARE THE MAIN AREAS OF REFORM?

In a typical Revival and Reformation which took place during ancient Judah in her Babylonian captivity (See Ezra 6:16-21 / Haggai 1:1 / Nehemiah 13:10 - 19), the major areas of Reform were on: Marriage, Sabbath and Tithe. These are the big Institutions God had blessed and sanctified. So it should be with modern Judah now in her Egyptian captivity.

The main areas of reform are: 6T. 356 - 360 = strict Sabbath observance. Mal 4:5-6 / Adventist Home, whole Book = Marriage reforms, and Mal 3:1 - 10 = observing and supporting Elijah's message of reform (Mal 3:1) - the 4^th Angel's message announcing the purification in verses 2-3, and the finishing of the work by the purified church verses 3 - 4!

All those not doing so, will feel it (verse 5) and are all called robbers (verses 8- 10): The whole nation

i.e. whole denomination robs God by rejecting the message of purification of the church (verses 1-4), while collecting His tithes and use it to fight the very message of God! And leave the church ignorant about the fast approaching Judgment of the Living!.

“The Lord has shown me that precious souls are starving and dying for want of the Present Truth, sealing truth, the meat in due season” –RH Vol. 1, No.3, Aug 1849.

The other areas of Reform are: Counsel on Diet and Food / Ministry of Healing / Temperance = Health Reform.

MH 287 - 300 = Dress Reform. Etc.

SPECIAL COUNSELS

“Those who have the light and do not follow it, but disregard the requirements of God, will find that their blessings will be changed to curses, and their mercies into judgments” – CD 379.

“I am the Lord that healeth thee” Exodus 15:26 “He (God) is the owner of the whole man” –Youth Instr.

Sept 7, 1893 Psalms

“Obedience to them must be made a matter of personal duty. Ignorance in these things is sin” –CD 18. Therefore True Health “is the result of obedience to law”- MH128.

Said God: “I kill and make alive. I wound and I heal” – Deut. 32:39.

Paul was a health reformer. Said he, “I keep under my body and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast away…if Paul was in danger from intemperance, we are in greater danger, because we do not feel and realize as he did…” CD 133.

“I saw that the reason why God did not hear the prayers of His servants for the sick among us more fully was that He could not be glorified in so doing while they were violating the laws of health “CD 25-26

“Sick persons cannot be healed while knowingly committing sin” – Sons & Daughters of God 297.

“It is labor lost to teach people to look to God as a healer of their infirmities, unless they are taught also to lay aside unhealthful practices. In order to receive His blessing in answer to prayer, they must cease to do evil and learn to do well” – MH227.

“It was at the home of Brother A. Hilliard, at Otsego, Michigan, June 6, 1863, that the great subject of health reform was opened before me in vision” (CD481). Nine years later the vision was repeated with an addition that “Health reform…..is part of the third angel’s message, and is just as closely connected with it as are the arm and hand with the human body” (IT.486-487 /CD33).

“The time has come for a thorough reformation to take place….” -8T.251

”We have come to a time when every member of the church should take hold of medical missionary work…” (CD 455-457).

“Medical Missionary work is to be bound up with Gospel Ministry …ministers, do not confine your work to giving Bible instruction. Do practical work, seek to restore the sick to health. This is true Ministry….read the scriptures carefully, and you will find that Christ spent the largest part of His Ministry in restoring the suffering and afflicted to health”- MM 240.

WHAT ARE THE ABOMINATIONS TO SIGH & CRY FOR?

There are so many, here are some of the them:

Rejecting Elijah's message (4^th Angel's message) RH May 27 1890 /TM 475. 5T. 70Rejecting the Spirit of Prophecy - 5T.217, 680.

Rejecting - health Reform, Dress reform, Sabbath reform, Counsels on Diet /Ministry of Healing / 5T. 356 -360, 378

Lukewarmness and refuse personal investigation of unfolding truth. Counsels to Writers and Editors (CWE) 33 - 36 /TM 70, 106 - 107, 300 / Rev. 3:14-17 2SM 66 8 - 709 /3T. 252 - 253.

Use of un-inspired Literature and traditions of men (CWE 33-34, 5T. 681 /TM 70-71) to refute the 4^th Angel's message.

Irreverence in the House of God Eva. 641 - 642, 147 / TM 142 - 143 / and improper attitude in prayer

e.g standing in prayer (IISM 312 - 314) and Merchandise in the House of God; i.e. building promotions, fund raising, sales promotions on the Sabbath day (Isa 56:71 /IT . 471 - 472 / 8T. 250 / Counsels on Sabbath School Work 129 - 130, 3T. 411 - 412.

There are other deeper abominations that provoke "the Lord Jesus shall rise up from His mediatorial work in the heavenly sanctuary and shall cloth Himself with the garment of vengeance and surprise them at their unholy feast…" 5T. 690. This is during the half hour (7 days) silence in the Heavenly Sanctuary - time of Ezek 9 slaughter. The deeper abominations include: Rejection of the 3^rd Angel's message, etc due to ecumenical agreements - to suit other churches (See CWE 26-27/IT. 578 /Mal 3:5/Ezek 8:3-16 /GC 234 - 235 /EW 123 /EW 258 - 259 /2SM 384 –385).

4. HOW WILL REVIVAL AND REFORMATION COME TO THE CHURCH?

Mal 4:5-6 /Mal 3:1-4 /TM 475 /3T. 62. Through God's messenger - antitypical Elijah:

Rev 18:1 / 6T. 60 / EW 277 /ISM 192 - The message of revival and reformation is the only one announcing what God is about to do to His church and the world (Judgment of the Living = The Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord). Those who get hold of it will sigh and cry and receive the seal among the 144 000 (Ezek. 9).

5. WILL REVIVAL AND REFORMATION BE FULFILLED ?

8T. 251 "The time has come for a thorough reformation to take place. When this reformation begins, the spirit of prayer will actuate every believer and will banish from the church the spirit of discord and strife….One member working in right lines will lead other members to unite with him….There will be no confusion because all will be in harmony with the mind of the spirit …All will pray, understanding the prayer……'Thy kingdom come'…"

6. THE RESULTS OF REVIVAL AND REFORMATION: EW 270-271

"I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans….Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God's people….This testimony must work deep repentance; all who truly receive it will obey it and be purified…said the angel, 'look ye!' my attention was then turned to the company I had seen, who were mightily shaken….They had, obtained the victory…The numbers of this company had lessened. Some had been shaken out and left by the way. The careless and indifferent…were left behind in darkness, and their places were immediately filled by others taking hold of the truth and coming into the ranks. Evil angels still pressed around them, but could have no power over them…I heard those clothed with the armor speak forth the truth with great power. It had effect…I asked what had made this great change. An angel answered, 'it is the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the Loud Cry of the third angel.”

9T 126 "In the visions of the night, representations passed before me of a great reformatory movement among God's people. Many were praising God. The sick were healed, and other miracles were wrought. A spirit of intercession was seen, even as was manifested before the great Day of Pentecost. Hundreds and thousands were seen visiting families and opening before them the word of God. Hearts were convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, and a Spirit of genuine conversion was manifest….I heard voices of thanks giving and praise, and there seemed to be a reformation such as we witnessed in 1844. Yet some refused to be converted. They were not willing to walk in God's way, and when, in order that the work of God might be advanced, calls were made for free will offerings, some clung selfishly to their earthly possessions. These covetous ones became separated from the company of believers."

SUMMARY

Revival and Reformation is the "first work" and "most urgent of all our needs" today. The results are: Purification of the church and the finishing of the work in the Loud Cry period, by the 144000 who survive the shaking and the slaughter of Ezekiel 9.

Note that all these topics point to one chart: That God is sealing those who sigh and cry in the SDA church now, and only the sealed survive the slaughter of Ezekiel 9. Only them finish the work in the world during the Loud Cry period. However, not all will revive and reform. The majority will not enter upon that work:

1SM 121-122 "Are we hoping to see the whole church revived? That time will never come. There are persons in the church who are not converted, and who will not unite in earnest, prevailing prayer. We must enter upon the work individually. We must pray more, and talk less…..We have far more to fear from within than from without. The hindrances to strength and success are far greater from the church itself than from the world. …But how often have the professed advocates of the truth proved the greatest obstacle to its advancement!”

END OF THE STUDY.