A great crisis awaits the people of the world and the people of God. The final message of warning is to be given to the world. This message is embodied in the Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14. These messages are to do their work and are to be presented as a unit. However, in the final crisis, when the law of God is made void, the message is to swell to a loud cry. The crisis and the cry bring to a climax the great controversy which has been raging since the fall of Satan.

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb (Revelation 14:6-10, emphasis added).

This is the final message of warning, and the Third Angel’s Message embodies the distinguishing mark which God has set as a sign for all generations—a perpetual covenant—the seventh-day Sabbath. God called the Sabbath “a sign between me and you throughout your generations” (Exodus 31:13). This distinguishing characteristic of our faith must not disappear into obscurity but should become more and more prominent as we approach the crisis.

We are to give the world a manifestation of the pure, noble, holy principles that are to distinguish the people of God becoming less and less definitely distinguished from those who do not keep the seventh-day Sabbath, they are to make the observance of the Sabbath so prominent that the world cannot fail to recognize them as Seventh-day Adventist (Manuscript 162, 1903, Evangelism 233.1).

The Sabbath is more than just a day of rest. The Sabbath commandment empowers the entire law as it is embodied with the authority of the Lawgiver and His jurisdiction. The Sabbath, in a sense, is a symbol of the character of God as embodied in the law. And it is the character of God that attracts the believer. It acknowledges righteousness by faith if rightly entertained, which implies obedience in all things.

The Third Angel’s Message also warns against the acceptance of the spurious Sabbath as it implies a relationship with a power other than the Lawgiver—a separating relationship —a relationship of harlotry. Obedience in all things means the acceptance of an all-inclusive Gospel. Acceptance of righteousness by faith acknowledges the ownership of God and will also lead to a cleansing of the soul temple for Christ to dwell in. So in a sense, the Third Angel’s Message embraces lifestyle, worship, and acknowledgement of the supreme authority of God in our lives.

The Third Angel’s Message is also a grave warning to those who disregard God’s sign, because in so doing they willfully separate themselves from the Lifegiver. By following the man of sin, they acknowledge the authority of another lawgiver. The seriousness of the consequences embodies in Revelation 14:9 are not designed to force obedience in view of God’s wrath, but to highlight the immovable nature of God in the maintenance of right principles and uncompromising opposition to sin. It does not detract from God’s love, but shows that, in spite of His love, there will come a time when God’s justice will be manifested. More over, in the light of persecution of God’s faithful people, justice and love demand the intervention of God.

In the light of God’s love, how often are we told to soften the message of warning, to only live an example but not to expose the evils of the man of sin and those in confederacy with him?

In the very time in which we live the Lord has called His people and has given them a message to bear. He has called them to expose the wickedness of the man of sin who has made the Sunday law a distinctive power, who has thought to change times and laws, and to oppress the people of God who stand firmly to honor Him by keeping the only true Sabbath, the Sabbath of creation, as holy unto the Lord (Testimonies to Ministers 1903, 118 emphasis added).

We are to give to the people the warnings contained in Revelation. But many workers are engaged in a line of work that is disqualifying them to preach the word and do the very work God has appointed them to do. The truth in regard to the Sabbath of the Lord is to be proclaimed. The seventh-day is to be shown to be the seal of the living God. People are to be shown what they may expect from the papal power. The time has come when the Protestant churches are reaching out to grasp the hand of the power that has made void the law of God…This is the message Satan would have silenced…Shall this message be considered an inferior matter (4MR 426.1)?

The tools used by this power to gain control of the whole world also will need to be exposed in order for humanity to make intelligent decisions regarding the controversy between Christ and Satan. According to the Spirit of Prophecy, secret societies, trade unions, confederacies, and economic conglomerates are all methods to gain control over all the peoples of the earth. In order to warn people against the confederacy which is Babylon, these too will have to be exposed. Ephesians 5:11 says, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

Cast out of heaven, Satan set up his kingdom in this world and ever since he has been untiringly striving to seduce human beings from their allegiance to God. He uses the same power that he used in heaven – the influence of mind on mind. Men become tempters of their fellowmen. The strong, corrupting sentiments of Satan are cherished, and they exert a masterly, compelling power. Under the influence of these sentiments, men end up with one another in confederacies, in trade unions, and in secret societies. There are at work in the world agencies that God will not much longer tolerate (Lt 114, 1903, 1MCP 28.3).

It will be more difficult in the future than it is today. Satanic agencies are becoming more determined in their rebellion against God. The trade unions will be the cause of the most terrible violence that has ever been seen among human beings (Letter 99, 1904, 3, To J. E. White and wife, February 23, 1904).

The Three Angels’ Messages
The Three Angels’ Messages are powerful, cutting messages, yet in today’s world people are fearful, and attempts to present these messages to a dying world are often regarded as detracting from the meekness of Christ. We are admonished to preach Jesus in the context of the Gospels, and to avoid messages that could create division, lead to exposure of the man of sin and his confederacies, and cause people to take a stand in regards to the great controversy. But we are to be fearless messengers.

At the present time, when the end of all things earthly is rapidly approaching, Satan is putting forth desperate efforts to ensnare the world. He is devising many plans to occupy minds, and to divert attention from the truths essential to salvation…Wickedness is reaching a height never before attained, and yet many ministers of the gospel are crying, “Peace and safety.” But God’s faithful messengers are to go steadily forward with their work. Clothed with the panoply of heaven, they are to advance fearlessly and victoriously, never ceasing their warfare until every soul within their reach shall have received the message of truth for this time (Acts of the Apostles, 219, 220, Ev 705.4, emphasis added).

The third angel’s message is to be given with power. The power of the proclamation of the first and second messages is to be intensified in the third. In the Revelation John says of the heavenly messenger who unites with the third angel: “I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice.” Revelation 18:1,2. We are in danger of giving the third angel’s message in so indefinite a manner that it does not impress the people (PM 387.1).

Our warfare is aggressive. Tremendous issues are before us, yea, and right upon us. Let our prayers ascend to God that the four angels may still hold the four winds, that they may not blow to injure or destroy until the last warning has been given to the world. Then let us work in harmony with our prayers. Let nothing lessen the force of the truth for this time. The present truth is to be our burden. The third angel’s message must do its work of separating from the churches a people who will take their stand on the platform of eternal truth (PM 387.2).

Messages of warning can easily be misconstrued and pronounced Christless. Yet messages of warning are lifesavers. How do you warn to “come out of her My people” if you do not expose her iniquity? We need to be respectful and kind but direct and to the point. We are not to do the cutting, but the truth must be presented with such power that it will do the cutting.

Ministers of present truth, while they bear a pointed testimony, reproving individual wrongs and seeking to tear away the idols from the camp of Israel, should manifest forbearance. They should preach the truth in its solemnity and importance, and if this finds its way to the heart it will accomplish that for the receiver which nothing else can. But if the truth spoken in the demonstration of the Spirit does not cut away the idols, it will be of no avail to denounce and bear down upon the individual. It may appear that some are joined to their idols, yet I saw that we should be very reluctant to give up the poor, deceived ones. We should ever bear in mind that we are all erring mortals, and that Christ exercises much pity for our weakness, and loves us although we err. If God should deal with us as we often deal with one another, we should be consumed. While ministers preach the plain, cutting truth, they must let the truth do the cutting and the hewing, not do it themselves. They should lay the ax, the truths of God’s work, at the root of the tree, and something will be accomplished. Pour out the testimony just as straight as it is found in the word of God, with a heart full of the warming, quickening influence of His Spirit, all in tenderness, yearning for soul, and the work among God’s people will be effectual. The reason why there is so little of the spirit of God manifested is that ministers learn to do without it. They lack the grace of God, lack forbearance and patience, lack a spirit of consecration and sacrifice; and this is the only reason why some are doubting the evidences of God’s word. The trouble is not at all in the word of God, but in themselves. They lack the grace of God, lack devotion, personal piety, and holiness. This leads them to be unstable, and throws them often on Satan’s battlefield. I saw that however strongly men may have advocated the truth, however pious they may appear to be, when they begin to talk unbelief in regard to some scriptures, claiming that they cause them to doubt the inspiration of the Bible, we should be afraid of them, for God is at a great distance from them (IT, 383).

How Satan would exult to have a message go broadcast that the only people whom God has made the repositories of His law are the ones to whom this message applies. The wine of Babylon is the exalting of the false and spurious Sabbath above the Sabbath which the Lord Jehovah hath blessed and sanctified for the use of man, also [it is] the immortality of the soul. These kindred heresies, and the rejection of the truth, convert the church into Babylon. Kings, merchants, rulers, and religious teachers are all in corrupt harmony (2SM 68.2).

The list of those belonging to Babylon thus includes the church, kings, merchants, and rulers. May these not be included in our message?

The time in which we are living calls for constant vigilance, and God’s ministers are to present the light on the Sabbath question. They should warn the inhabitants of the world that Christ is soon to come with power and great glory. The last message of warning to the world is to lead men to see the importance that God attaches to his law. So plainly is the truth to be presented that no transgressor, hearing it, shall be excusable in failing to discern the importance of obedience to God’s commands (GW 148.3, emphasis added).

The burden of the warning now to come to the people of God, nigh and afar off, is the third angel’s message. And those who are seeking to understand this message will not be led by the Lord to make an application of the Word that will undermine the foundation and remove the pillars of the faith that has made Seventh-day Adventists what they are today. The truths that have been unfolding in their order, as we have advanced along the line of prophecy revealed in the Word of God, are truth, sacred, eternal truth today. Those who passed over the ground step by step in the past history of our experience, seeing the chain of truth in the prophecies, we prepared to accept and obey every ray of light. They were praying, fasting, searching, digging for the truth as for hidden treasures, and the Holy Spirit, we know, was teaching and guiding us, many theories were advanced, bearing a semblance of truth, but so mingled with misinterpreted and misapplied scriptures, that they led to dangerous errors. Very well do we know how every point of truth was established, and the seal set upon it by the Holy Spirit of God. And all the time voices were heard, “Here is the truth,” “I have the truth; follow me.” But the warnings came, “Go not ye after them. I have not sent them, but they ran” (2SM 103.1, emphasis added).

The Three Angels' Messages must be presented to the people together. In our efforts to reach the world, the everlasting Gospel must be presented, pointing a world towards the Creator God and the time of His Judgment. Also, the corruption that has entered the religious systems of the world is to be exposed, and humankind must be warned against the acceptance of the mark of the Beast.

As in the ministry of Christ, where there were two temple cleansings, this message will be repeated just before the close of probation with more power than it had in the beginning. The Third Angel’s Message will swell to a loud cry, and will be supported by the other angel who adds his voice and repeats the message of Babylon’s fall with the additional urging that the people of God should separate themselves from this fallen system.

And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication , and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed right through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities (Revelation 18:1-5, emphasis added).

When Jesus began His public ministry, He cleansed the Temple from its sacrilegious profanation. Among the last acts of His ministry was the second cleansing of the Temple. So in the last work for the warning of the world, two distinct calls are made to the churches. The second angel’s message is, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (Rev. 14:8). And in the loud cry of the third angel’s message a voice is heard from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities” (Rev. 18:4,4) (The Review and Herald, December 6, 1892).

The third angel’s message in its clear, definite terms is to be made the prominent warning. All that it comprehends is to be made intelligible to the reasoning minds of today. While we bind ourselves to the development of the truth in the past angels’ messages, we are announcing the message of the third angel and the other angel that follows the third, the second time proclaiming the fall of Babylon (10MR 315.1, emphasis added).

We are to give the message, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird… Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Revelation 18:1,4). This message is to come to the churches. We are to consider the best plans for accomplishing this. The message must be so presented as to command the attention of reasoning minds (10MR 315.2).

We are to throw aside our narrow, selfish plans, remembering that we have a work of the largest magnitude and highest importance. In doing this work we are sounding the first, second, and third angel’s messages, and are thus being prepared for the coming of that other angel from heaven who is to lighten the earth with his glory (6T 406.5, emphasis added).

As the Three Angel’s Messages are presented, we are to concentrate all our efforts to set right humanity’s understanding of God’s character.

The First Angel’s Message

In the first angel’s message men are called upon to worship God, our creator, who made the world and all things that are therein. They have paid homage to an institution of the Papacy, making no effect toe law of Jehovah, but there is to be an increase of knowledge on this subject (2SM 106.1, emphasis added).

The message proclaimed by the angel flying in the midst of heaven is the everlasting gospel, the same gospel that was declared in Eden when God said to the serpent, “I will put enmity between thee and thy woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Gen. 3:15). Here was the first promise of a Savior who would stand on the field of battle to contest the power of Satan and prevail against him. Christ came to our world to represent the character of God as it is represented in His holy law; for His law is a transcript of His character. Christ was both the law and the gospel. The angel that proclaims the everlasting gospel proclaims the law of God; for the gospel of salvation brings men to obedience of the law, whereby their characters are formed after the divine similitude (2SM 106.2).

The harmony between law and grace produced in the hearts of men through the working of the Holy Spirit is to transform a people for the latter rain and the loud cry. This loud cry is the Third Angel’s Message supported by the other angel.

The Second Angel’s Message

I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven, descending to the earth, and again ascending to heaven, preparing for the fulfillment of some important event. Then I saw another mighty angel commissioned to descend to the earth, to unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his message. Great power and glory were imparted to the angel, and as he descended, the earth was lightened with his glory. The light which attended this angel penetrated everywhere, as he cried mightily, with a strong voice, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” The message of the fall of Babylon, as given by the second angel, is repeated, with the additional mention of the corruptions which have been entering the churches since 1844. The work of this angel comes in at the right time to join in the last great work of the third angel’s message as it swells to a loud cry. And the people of God are thus prepared to stand in the hour of temptation, which they are soon to meet. I saw a great light resting upon them, and they united to fearlessly proclaim the third angel’s message (EW 277 emphasis added).
   
This scripture points forward to a time when the announcement of the fall of Babylon, as made by the second angel of Revelation 14 (verse 8), is to be repeated, with the additional mention of the corruptions which have been entering the various organizations that constitute Babylon, since that message was first given, in the summer of 1844. A terrible condition of the religious world is here described. With every rejection of truth the minds of the people will become darker, their hearts more stubborn, until they are entrenched in an infidel hardihood. In defiance of the warnings which God has given, they will continue to trample upon one of the precepts of the Decalogue, until they are led to persecute those who hold it sacred. Christ is set at nought in the contempt placed upon His word and His people. As the teachings of spiritualism are accepted by the churches, the restraint imposed will become a cloak to conceal the basest iniquity. A belief in spiritual manifestations opens the door to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and thus the influence of evil angels will be felt in the churches (GC 603.2, emphasis added).

The Third Angel’s Message

The prophecies in the eighteenth of Revelation will soon be fulfilled. During the proclamation of the third angel’s message, “another angel” is to “come down from heaven, having great power,” and the earth is to be “lighted with his glory.” The Spirit of the Lord will so graciously bless consecrated human instrumentalities that men, women, and children will open their lips in praise and thanksgiving, filling the earth with the knowledge of God, and with His unsurpassed glory, as the waters cover the sea (PM 388.2, emphasis added).

Thus the substance of the second angel’s message is again given to the world by that other angel who lightens the earth with his glory. These messages all blend in on, to come before the people in the closing days of this earth’s history. All the world will be tested, and all that have been in the darkness of error in regard to the Sabbath of the fourth commandment will understand the last message of mercy that is to be given to men (2SM 116.2, emphasis added).

God meant that the watchmen should arise and with united voices send forth a decided message, giving the trumpet a certain sound, that the people might all spring to their post of duty and act their part in the great work. Then the strong, clear light of that other angel who comes down from heaven having great power, would have filled the earth with his glory. We are years behind; and those who stood in blindness and hindered the advancement o the very message that God meant should go forth from the Minneapolis meeting as a lamp that burneth, have need to humble their hearts before God and see and understand how the work has been hindered by their blindness of mind and hardness of heart (14MR 111.1).

The Loud Cry
The loud cry is attended by the power of God in the outpouring of the latter rain.

At that time the “latter rain,” or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come, to give power to the loud voice of the Third Angel, and prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out (EW 86, 1854. LDE 186).

   
In order to qualify for the latter rain, the messengers of God must have a decided change of heart. In order to give a message of separation, the people of God will have had to separate themselves from all the corrupting influences in the world. They are to work in the world but not be of the world. It will be necessary to be clothed with the armor of God.

I heard those clothed with the armor speak fort the truth with great power. It had effect. Many had been bound; some wives by their husbands, and some children by their parents. The honest who had been prevented from hearing the truth now eagerly laid hold upon it. All fear of their relatives was gone, and the truth alone was exalted to them. They had been hungering and thirsting for truth; it was dearer and more precious than life. 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” (EW 271).

What is the armor of God?

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole amour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak…Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen (Ephesians 6:11-24, emphasis added).

I was shown that if God’s people make no efforts on their part, but wait for the refreshing to come upon them and remove their wrongs and correct their errors; if they depend upon that to cleanse them from filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and fit them to engage in the loud cry of the third angel, they will be found wanting (IT 619, 1867. LDE 195).

We are living in a time that calls for decided action. The world is more bitterly opposed than ever to Gospel reform. But notwithstanding this, God’s work is to go forward. The words of Christ come down to us who are living at the close of the earth’s history: “When these things shall begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for you redemption draweth nigh.” The nations are in unrest. Times of perplexity are upon us. Men’s hearts are failing them for fear of the things that are coming upon the earth. But those who believe in God will hear His voice amid the storm, saying, “It is I; be not afraid.” The world is lying in wickedness and apostasy. Rebellion to God’s law seems almost universal. But amid the tumult of excitement, with confusion in every place, there is a work to be done for God in the world (ST, October 9, 1901, par. 11).

In order to present the messages and to be filled as messengers, we must have a decided change of heart. It is no good proclaiming the character of God if the message is not applied to the own heart. We need to be converted. Instead of laying lengthy plans of how to make the Church grow, we should go into the soul temple and remove every obstacle standing in the way of God’s Spirit. We need to confess and lay aside our sins and God will have a people to give the loud cry and to receive the latter rain.

Our work is to proclaim the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. “Prepare to meet thy God” (Amos 4:12), is the warning to be given to the world. It is a warning to us individually. We are called upon to lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us. There is a work for you, my brother, to do, to yoke up with Christ. Make sure that your building is on the rock. Do not risk eternity on a probability. You may not live to participate in the perilous scenes on which we are now entering. The life of no one of us is assured for any given time...Should you not watch every moment? Should you not closely examine your own self, and inquire, What will eternity be to me (2SM 116.3, emphasis added).

And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering to the LORD your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of this chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, and the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God (Joel 2:11-17)?

As the members of the body of Christ approach the period of their last conflict, “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” they will grow up into Christ, and will partake largely of His Spirit. As the third message swells to a loud cry, and as great power and glory attend the closing work, the faithful people of God will partake of that glory. It is the latter rain which revives and strengthens them to pass through the time of trouble. Their faces will shine with the glory of that light which attends the third angel (RH May 27, 1862, 7BC 984.4).

Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it (Jeremiah 30:7).

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month (Joel 2:23).

Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field (Zechariah 10:1).

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ…But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ (Ephesians 4:13, 15).

We must not wait for the latter rain. It is coming upon all who will recognize and appropriate the dew and showers of grace that fall upon us. When we gather up the fragments of light, when we appreciate the sure mercies of God, who loves to have us trust Him, then every promise will be fulfilled. “For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth before all the nations.” Isa. 61:11 The whole earth is to be filled with the glory of God (Letter 151, 1897, 7BC 984.5).

The Spirit of the Lord leads people into all truth. It produces a longing for righteousness and does not manifest itself in a bedlam of noise. Our work is not to be performed in a frenzy of excitement. It has to represent the character of God, the force is to lie in the message and the Spirit must convict the heart. We are not to portray unsanctified means in reaching the people whom God would bring our of Babylon. We are warned that fanaticism would creep into our ranks at the close of time.

Fanaticism, in the time in which the Spirit of Prophecy was manifest, referred to the same spirit that manifests itself in noisy, boisterous, emotional assemblies, and not to what we would regard as narrow-minded, fixed-in-our-way fanaticism of our time.

We have found in our experience that if Satan cannot keep souls bound in the ice of indifference, he will try to push them into the fire of fanaticism. When the Spirit of the Lord comes among His people, the enemy seizes the opportunity to work also, seeking to mold the work of God through the peculiar, unsanctified traits of different ones who are connected with that work (5T 644.3).

As the end draws near, the enemy will work with all his power to bring in fanaticism among us. He would rejoice to see Seventh-day Adventists going to such extremes that they would be branded by the world as a body of fanatics. Against this danger I am bidden to warn ministers and lay members. Our work is to teach men and women to build on a true foundation, to plan their feet on a plain “Thus saith the Lord” (GW 316.1).

We must turn away from a thousand topics that invite attention. There are matters that consume time and arouse inquiry, but end in nothing. The highest interests demand the close attention and energy that are too often given to comparatively insignificant things (8T 316.4).

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar (Proverbs 30:5-6).

As the third angel’s message swells into a loud cry, great power and glory will attend its proclamation. The faces of God’s people will shine with the light of heaven (7T 17.1).

We must not forget that our message embodies righteousness by faith. We must not be harsh and judgmental, yet we must uphold the principles of the law.

In order to meet the requirements of the law, our faith must grasp the righteousness of Christ, accepting it as our righteousness. Through union with Christ, through acceptance of His righteousness by faith, we may be qualified to work the works of God, to be colaborers with Christ. If you are willing to drift along with the current of evil, and do not cooperate with the heavenly agencies in restraining transgression in your family, and in the church, in order that everlasting righteousness may be brought in, you do not have faith. Faith works by love and purifies the soul. Through faith the Holy Spirit works in the heart to create holiness therein; but this cannot be done unless the human agent will work with Christ. We can be fitted for heaven only though the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart; for we must have Christ’s righteousness as our credentials if we would find access to the Father. In order that we may have the righteousness of Christ, we need daily to be transformed by the influence of the Spirit, to be a partaker of the divine nature. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to elevate the taste, to sanctify the heart, to ennoble the whole man (1SM 374.1).
It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost (5T 214.2).

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:5-8).

Self-surrender is the substance of the teachings of Christ. Often it is presented and enjoined in language that seems authorative, because there is no other way to save man than to cut away those things which, if entertained, will demoralize the whole being (DA 523.3).

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went onto the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 22:9-13).

When the Spirit of God takes possession of the earth, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven. No one sees the hand that lifts the burden, or beholds the light descend form the courts above. The blessing comes when by faith the soul surrenders itself to God. Then that power which no human eye can see creates a new being in the image of God (DA 173.1).

Only when selfishness is dead, when strife for supremacy is banished, when gratitude fills the heart, and love makes fragrant the life—it is only then that Christ is abiding in the soul, and we are recognized as laborers together with God (COL 402.4).

“Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister.” Matt 20:26. “In My Kingdom the principle of preference and supremacy has no place. The only greatness is the greatness of humility. The only distinction is found in devotion to the service of others” (DA 650.1).

In order to receive the latter rain, we must be as incorruptible as John the Baptist. We must be temples for the indwelling Spirit of God. We must behold God, and in beholding Him, lose sight of self.
   

God will do the work if we furnish Him the instruments (9T 107).

All Christians must receive the early rain—the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in their beings—before they can receive the latter rain—the power for witnessing—and to proclaim the final message with a loud cry.
   

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19)

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen (Jude 24-25).

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, or angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35).

We are heading for perilous times, a time such as never was, but let us never forget the Friend that we have in Jesus.