Will God Destroy All the Residue of His Remnant People
-Part 2 as Seen by John and Ezekiel?
When God Purifies
God’s Purification of the Church
Prayer Thought:
"The Church First in God's Judgment:
The Consequences of Spiritual Unfaithfulness"
Here we see that the church--the Lord's sanctuary--was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles and the marked manifestation of God's power as in former days. Times have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people in judgment. Thus "Peace and safety" is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all perish together. {5T 211.2}
PURPOSE - To reveal the just implementation of God’s judgment to the SDA Church {1Pet. 4:17).
INTRODUCTION:
Mal. 3:1-4 “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple…behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.”
Have you heard of the message about Ezekiel 9?
If not let’s look at it today because this message is very important for us to know!
1 Peter 4:17
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Lets read Ezekiel 9:1-11
Please turn your Bibles and we read it together.
1 He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
Ezekiel 9
2 And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;
4 And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
8 And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord God! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?
9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The Lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not.
10 And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their heads.
11 And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.
Summary of Ezekiel 9:
God’s Command to the Slaughtering Angels (Ezekiel 9:1-2)
The chapter opens with God commanding six angels to go throughout the city of Jerusalem (symbolizing God's people) and execute judgment. The angels are instructed to carry deadly weapons, with one additional angel, dressed in linen, having the task of marking the faithful.
The Marking of the Faithful (Ezekiel 9:3-4)
The angel in linen is told to mark the foreheads of the righteous, the people who "sigh and cry" because of the abominations being committed in the city. This mark symbolizes a seal of protection, signifying those who are faithful to God and distressed by the sins around them.
The Judgment of the Wicked (Ezekiel 9:5-7):
After the faithful are marked, the other angels are commanded to follow and kill those who are left unmarked. This includes all the wicked in the city, whether young or old, men or women. The judgment is portrayed as severe and complete, showing that those who do not mourn over sin will face destruction.
The Plea for Mercy (Ezekiel 9:8):
Ezekiel, witnessing the judgment, falls before God and pleads for mercy, asking how long the destruction will continue and if it will come upon the entire remnant of Israel. He expresses his concern for the survivors and the devastating consequences of God’s wrath.
God’s Response and Final Command (Ezekiel 9:9-11):
God responds by declaring that the iniquity of the people is exceedingly great, and the land is full of bloodshed and injustice. The wicked have filled the land with violence, and thus the judgment is inevitable. However, the righteous, those who have been sealed, are spared. The chapter ends with the angel in linen reporting back that the task has been completed, and those who remain faithful to God have been marked for salvation.
Key Themes in Ezekiel 9:
Judgment Begins at the House of God: The judgment starts in Jerusalem, symbolizing that the purification of God’s people begins within His church.
The Mark of the Righteous: The faithful are marked with a seal on their foreheads, a sign of protection and distinction from the wicked.
The Purification Process: The wicked are purged from among God’s people, leaving only those who have remained faithful and repented.
The Severity of God's Judgment: The judgment is portrayed as thorough and severe, emphasizing the importance of repentance and faithfulness.
God's Mercy and Justice: While God shows mercy to the righteous, He executes justice on those who persist in sin.
Ezekiel 9 is a powerful depiction of God’s judgment, where the righteous are protected and sealed, while the wicked face destruction. It underscores the seriousness of sin and the need for repentance, emphasizing that God’s judgment starts within His own house before extending to the rest of the world.
Ellen G. White's Writings:
Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5, p. 211-213
Ellen G. White makes several references to the purification of the church in relation to Ezekiel 9. In this passage, she speaks about how judgment begins at the house of God, the church, and how those who are unfaithful will face God's judgment first. She describes how "the ancient men" (spiritual leaders) had betrayed their trust and how they would be judged for their failure to warn the people of their sins.
Quote: "The church—the Lord's sanctuary—was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light, and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust."
Early Writings, p. 270-271
Ellen G. White emphasizes the purification of the church and the sealing of God's people in the last days. She explains that the church will undergo a cleansing process as God’s judgment begins with His own people. She compares the scene in Ezekiel 9 to the final sealing of the 144,000, those who are marked by God as faithful and pure.
Quote: "I saw that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesus’ work was done in the sanctuary, and then would come the seven last plagues. I saw that the church was to be purified before the close of probation."
Testimonies for the Church, Volume 3, p. 266
This passage talks about the separation between the righteous and the wicked, and how the church, symbolized by Jerusalem in Ezekiel’s vision, would experience the first stroke of God's judgment. Ellen G. White indicates that those who are unfaithful and refuse to repent will be cut off.
Quote: "The church is to be the light of the world, but the light is to shine through the members who are purged and refined, and the church will be purified before the close of probation."
REV. 7:1-4, 9
“And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads…..“...And I heard the number of them which were sealed: [and there were] sealed an hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel…. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands…”
SYMBOLS USED
1. THE 4 WINDS:
TM 444 – “Elements of Nature … Political strive”
5T. 152 – “ …The Mark of the Beast… time of trouble…”
2. THE EARTH:
G.C. 440 – 442 – “…It points unmistakably to the United States of America”
3. THE SEA :
Rev. 17:15/ G.C. 440 – “…the Old World…”(i.e. Asia, Europe, Africa).
4. TREES: Dan 4:20-22/ Isa 5:7/Isa 66:17 Leadership, the SDA Church leadership, at that time of Mark of the Beast, will be the 144000.
How Many angels and How many hurtings in Rev. 7?
Verse 1:
4 = four angels holding the 4 winds
1st Hurting - not blow to earth, sea, or any tree
Verse 2:
1 - an angel ascending from the east - having the seal of God - He cried with the LOUD VOICE to the
4 = four angels - to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea.
2nd Hurting - hurt the earth and the sea
MARK OF THE BEAST: Will start in USA (land), Then other countries made to copy and adopt the law (G.C.579/ EW 282).
* Then it will be enforced on the Church, i.e. after the sealing.
* The no. of Winds—being 4, mean that the crisis will be worldwide.
* 7BC977 – “Sunday-keeping is not yet the mark of the beast, and will not be until the decree goes forth…”
* 6T. 17 – “Not all in regard to this matter is yet understood nor will it be understood until the unrolling of the scroll…”
REV. 14:1-5 “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. 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. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, [being] the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
WHO ARE THE 144 000 ?
Rev 7:4 “…an hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.”
9T. 164
“In order to be purified and to remain pure, Seventh-day Adventists must have the Holy Spirit in their hearts and in their homes. The Lord has given me light that when the Israel of today humble themselves before Him, and cleanse the soul-temple from all defilement, He will hear their prayers in behalf of the sick and will bless in the use of His remedies for disease.”
PK 713-714
“That which God purposed to do for the world through Israel, the chosen nation, He will finally accomplish through His Church on earth today.”
GC 648 They sing a new song “of their experience”
COL 406
“They are called virgins because they profess a pure faith.” ( The Sabbath and Sanctuary Truth- Not defiled with women –the false doctrines of the world’s churches).
They Stand on Mt. Zion – Where? When?
7BC 978
“The Lord has a people on earth, who follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. He has His thousands who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Such will stand with Him on Mt. Zion. But they must stand on this earth, girded with the whole armor, ready to engage in the work of saving those who are ready to perish. We need not wait till we are translated to follow the Christ. God’s people may do this here below…”
144 000- DEAD OR LIVING SAINTS ?
EW 15
“Soon we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus’ coming. The living saints, 144000 in number, knew and understood the voice…”
G.C. 648-649
“These, having been translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as ‘the first fruits unto the God and to the Lamb”.
NOTE: The 144000 are that part of the SDA Church that will never taste death, to be translated at 2nd Coming.
HOW ARE THEY SEALED? Ezek. 9:1-4
“He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man [with] his destroying weapon in his hand. And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them [was] clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar. And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which [had] the writer's inkhorn by his side; And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof….
"The Judgment Begins: Purification of God's Church in Ezekiel 9"
The Shepherd's Rod, Volume 1, p. 167
In this passage, Victor Houteff, the founder of the Shepherd's Rod movement, discusses Ezekiel 9 as the purification of God's church. He elaborates on the vision of the slaughtering angels and how they are commissioned to execute judgment upon those in the church who have not received the seal of God.
Quote: "The purification of the church begins with the judgment upon the house of God, the sealing of the righteous and the destruction of the wicked. This is the message of Ezekiel 9, the slaughtering of the unfaithful ones who have defiled the sanctuary."
"Purification Before Proclamation: Judgment in Ezekiel 9"
The Shepherd's Rod, Volume 2, p. 117
This volume further expounds on Ezekiel 9 and the execution of judgment on those who have not repented. The purification process begins with the church, and those who have lived in sin and rebellion will be cut off during this time.
Quote: "In Ezekiel 9, the destruction of the wicked begins in the church. The purification of the church is necessary before the work of reaching the world can begin."
"The Sealed and the Sifted: Purification of the 144,000"
The Shepherd's Rod, Volume 1, p. 171-172
Houteff connects the purification of the church with the sealing of the 144,000. He suggests that Ezekiel 9 represents a final sifting, where only those who have been truly faithful to God will remain. The others, despite their outward professions, will face judgment.
Quote: "Those who are not sealed in their foreheads will be marked for destruction, and the purification of the church will be complete. Only the faithful, those who have been sealed by God's Spirit, will survive the cleansing."
To God Be the Glory!