THE SECOND ADVENT
THE COMING OF “ONE LIKE THE SON OF MAN”
Letter #78A In The Series
August 2003
The battle of Armageddon
...Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. Revelation 16:15, 16.
Armageddon is the battle between righteousness and unrighteousness. Righteousness is the opposite of sin. Sin is the breaking of the law; righteousness is the keeping of the law. Jesus said, If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. John 15:10. This is both laws.
To begin this study let’s read Revelation 16:15, Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
When Adam and Eve sinned they lost their light and were naked and made for themselves coverings of fig leaves. Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. Genesis 3:21. God clothed them with His righteousness; this covering is the beginning of the plan of salvation. Moses was given a compacted prophecy of the gospel, the gospel (good news) of how Christ’s righteousness covers us so we are not naked. From this we can see that John is telling us, the battle of Armageddon is over Christ’s righteousness.
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 1 John 3:11-12. This battle of Armageddon started with Cain and Able over worship, and has continued over worship, especially concerning the times and laws by which God is worshiped. Those that have the character of Cain will keep the laws of the man of sin and those that have the character of Able will keep God’s commandments, statutes, and laws.
In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; Zechariah 12:11-12.
I would like to quote from Adam Clarke’s Bible Commentary for two reasons. First to show that Mount Megiddo is Mount Carmel and second to show how we have misunderstood and misrepresented this battle to be fought with our implements of war in the great battle between Christ and Satan.
[Armageddon.] The original of this word has been variously formed, and variously translated. It is har mªgidown, “the mount of the assembly;” or chormaah gedªhown, “the destruction of their army;” or it is har Mªgidow, “Mount Megiddo,” the valley of which was remarkable for two great slaughters: one of the Israelites, 2 Kings 23:29, the other of the Canaanites, Judg 4:16; 5:19. But Mount Megiddo, that is Carmel, is the place, according to some, where these armies should be collected.
[But what is the battle of Armageddon?] How ridiculous have been the conjectures of men relative to this point! Within the last twenty years this battle has been fought at various places, according to our purblind seers and self-inspired prophets! At one time it was Austerlitz, at another Moscow, at another Leipsic, and now Waterloo! And thus they have gone on, and will go on, confounding and being confounded. (from Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
According to Adam Clarke’s Commentary Mount Megiddo is the same as Mount Carmel, the place where ...Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God , follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 1 Kings 18:21.
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: Isaiah 14:12-13.
Mount Megiddo or Mount Carmel is the place of the final conflict between Christ and Satan over whose laws the people will honor. The people that choose God’s laws will keep His Sabbaths (Leviticus 23). The people that choose the man of sin’s laws will go along with the rule of Lucifer who said, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit (rule) also upon the mount of the congregation.
This war is not fought with weapons, the Bible tells us, For we wrestle not against 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 armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:12-13.
This war is an individual war, not a support group. We may share our testimony but that only shows that we have had the same kind of fight.
Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins.
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Matthew 25:1-2.
Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins has many facets, one concerns the difference between the oil and the extra oil: God’s two laws, the Ten Commandments and the Book of the law or as it is called, The Law of Moses. At the appointed time we must put the Law of Moses into operation, because the battle of Armageddon is the change from the Kingdom of Grace to the Kingdom of Glory.
In the parable, when the bridegroom came, “they that were ready went in with him to the marriage.” “The coming of the bridegroom, here brought to view, takes place before the marriage. The marriage represents the reception by Christ of his kingdom. The holy city, the New Jerusalem, which is the capital and representative of the kingdom, is called “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” Said the angel to John, “Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” “He carried me away in the spirit,” says the prophet, “and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God.” [REV. 21:9, 10.] Clearly, then, the bride represents the holy city, and the virgins that go out to meet the bridegroom are a symbol of the church. In the Revelation the people of God are said to be the guests at the marriage supper. [REV. 19:9.] If guests, they cannot be represented also as the bride. Christ, as stated by the prophet Daniel, will receive from the Ancient of days in Heaven, “dominion, and glory, and a kingdom,” he will receive the New Jerusalem, the capital of his kingdom, “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” [DAN. 7:14; REV. 21:2.] Having received the kingdom, he will come in his glory, as King of kings, and Lord of lords, for the redemption of his people, who are to “sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob,” at his table in his kingdom, [MATT. 8:11; LUKE 22:30.] to partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb. GC88 426.
Turn the heart of the fathers to the children.
and
The heart of the children to their fathers.
...He shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. Malachi 4:6.
There are different applications of this, so let’s go to the Bible and get the one that fits. Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac , and Jacob , to give unto them and to their seed after them. Deuteronomy 1:8.
Here we see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as the fathers and the seed after them as the children.
Paul tells us, And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise Galatians 3:29.
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. Galatians 3:7.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God :And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Romans 8:16-17.
Jesus said ...If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. John 8:39.
...Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. Genesis 26:5.
During the time of the battle of Armageddon the fathers will turn their hearts to their children by setting an example, an example of keeping God’s commandments, statutes and laws. And the children will turn their hearts to their fathers by following this example.
In other words, the heirs of Abraham will keep God’s commandments, statutes and laws, while the children of the prince of this World keep the times and laws of the man of sin.
Ellen White speaking about some of the times and laws instituted by the man of sin says, ...From the light that the Lord has given me, these days have no more influence for good than would the worship of heathen deities; for this is really nothing less. These days are Satan’s special harvest seasons. The money drawn from men and women is expended for that which is not bread. The youth are educated to love those things which are demoralizing, things which the word of God condemns. The influence is evil and only evil continually. FE 320.
Jacob wrestled with the angel and not only got his name changed to Israel but became a prince who had power with God and men. Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. Genesis 32:28. Jacob’s children are also asked to go through the time of Jacob’s trouble. Those who do go through this time will also get their name changed to the children of Israel (144000) and they too will have power with God and with men. Revelation says these are the first fruits, the beginning of His kingdom.
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” This Christ is not Christ the Testator for if it were we would all die. This Christ is Christ the heir. Jesus said ...Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. Luke 9:48.
“Child in my name” Christ the heir. Here we see the plan of salvation. God so loved the World that He gave His only Son. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. John 5:19 Jesus is telling us that whatever His Father does, He will do.
He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Isaiah 53:8-10 Here Isaiah is prophesying that Christ would see His Child. This Child is the Christ that the living are joint-heirs with, this is the Son of the High Priest in Leviticus 16:32 that makes an Atonement.
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Luke 1:17.
Remember ye the law of Moses my servant,
which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel,
with the statutes and judgments. Malachi 4:4.
Like God says to remember the fourth commandment. What we need to remember is the Seventh Day Sabbath is a rest and a type of rest the people are promised to enter.
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Hebrews 4:9-11.
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. Leviticus 23:2-3.
This says that the Sabbath of rest, is an holy convocation and all of God’s feasts are times of rest. So to enter into His rest we must keep all of His convocations.
“As for me and my house,” said Joshua, “we will serve Jehovah.” The same holy zeal that inspired the leader’s heart was communicated to the people. His appeals called forth the unhesitating response, “God forbid that we should forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods.” ...Joshua endeavored to lead his hearers to weigh well their words, and refrain from vows which they would be unprepared to fulfill. With deep earnestness they repeated the declaration: “Nay; but we will serve the Lord.” Solemnly consenting to the witness against themselves that they had chosen Jehovah, they once more reiterated their pledge of loyalty: “The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey....” Having written an account of this solemn transaction, he placed it, with the book of the law, in the side of the ark. CC 125.
“Solemnly consenting to the witness against themselves that they had chosen Jehovah, they once more reiterated their pledge of loyalty.”
Jesus said ...in the mouth of two or three witnesses
every word may be established. Matthew 18:16.
Here we have three witnesses
(1) The war of Armageddon.
(2) Turning the heart of the fathers to the children.
(3) Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, with the statutes and judgments.
After the public rehearsal of the law, Moses completed the work of writing all the laws, the statutes, and the judgments which God had given him, and all the regulations concerning the sacrificial system. The book containing these was placed in charge of the proper officers, and was for safe keeping deposited in the side of the ark. Still the great leader was filled with fear that the people would depart from God. In a most sublime and thrilling address he set before them the blessings that would be theirs on condition of obedience, and the curses that would follow upon transgression: PP 466.
Your obeying “all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments” of the moral law of Moses, you see, is your evidence that you have been born again, that you have been endowed with power from above, that you are enabled to choose the good and to refuse the evil, that you are the children of God. Keeping the commandments and the statutes in the Lord, then is the light and shield of your life. It is the outward sign that by the life of Christ you have overcome the Enemy of your soul and body. This system of worship, therefore, is truly the Righteousness by faith that brings the righteousness of Christ in the people of God. 2 TG pg. 24.
“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works James 2:17-18.
.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. Isaiah 52:7-9.
One more thing. In teaching the first angel’s message it says, 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. Revelation 14:6-7.
“Having the everlasting gospel”.
Ellen White tells us, Christ was the foundation of the Jewish economy. The whole system of types and symbols was a compacted prophecy of the gospel, a presentation in which were bound up the promises of redemption. AA 14.
We cannot teach the gospel of salvation of Christ and leave out the types that point to His coming.
These types were fulfilled, not only as to the event, but as to the time. On the fourteenth day of the first Jewish month, the very day and month on which, for fifteen long centuries, the passover lamb had been slain, Christ, having eaten the passover with his disciples, instituted that feast which was to commemorate his own death as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” That same night he was taken by wicked hands, to be crucified and slain. And as the antitype of the wave-sheaf, our Lord was raised from the dead on the third day, “the first-fruits of them that slept,” [1 COR. 15:20.] a sample of all the resurrected just, whose “vile body” shall be changed, and “fashioned like unto his glorious body.” [PHIL. 3:21.] GC88 399.
In like manner, the types which relate to the second advent must be fulfilled at the time pointed out in the symbolic service. Under the Mosaic system, the cleansing of the sanctuary, or the great day of atonement, occurred on the tenth day of the seventh Jewish month, [LEV. 16:29-34. GC88 399.
The Feast of Tabernacles was not only commemorative but typical. It not only pointed back to the wilderness sojourn, but, as the feast of harvest, it celebrated the ingathering of the fruits of the earth, and pointed forward to the great day of final ingathering, when the Lord of the harvest shall send forth His reapers to gather the tares together in bundles for the fire, and to gather the wheat into His garner.... PP 541.
The Passover was to be both commemorative and typical, not only pointing back to the deliverance from Egypt, but forward to the greater deliverance which Christ was to accomplish in freeing His people from the bondage of sin. The sacrificial lamb represents “the Lamb of God,” in whom is our only hope of salvation. PP 277.
The Bible tells us, And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. Isaiah 66:23.
How can we teach the gospel of salvation of Christ and leave out the types that point to His harvest and His coming?
Athen Slawson
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