The Third Angel’s Message:

9 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,

10 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:

11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. – Revelation 14:9-12 KJV

The Third Angel’s Message Closed

SUMMARY

The Third Angel’s Message will close before The Time of Trouble.
The Third Angel’s Message prepares the inhabitants of the Earth for The Time of Trouble ahead.
The Third Angel’s Message is God’s last great warning about The Time of Trouble to come.
The Third Angel’s Message lasts while probation lasts.
Third Angel’s Message closes when probation closes.

During probation, The Third Angel’s Message warns God’s children to be prepared for the trying hour before them.
During probation, the power of God rests upon His people and helps them accomplish the gospel work and prepares them for The Time of Trouble ahead.

The Time of Trouble comes when probation time ends.

When probation ends, the last great warning of The Third Angel’s Message had already been sounded everywhere.
By the end of probation, The Third Angel’s Message will have prepared God’s people who received its warning message.
By the end of probation, the last great warning of The Third Angel’s Message will have stirred up and enraged the inhabitants of the earth who would not receive the message.

Today, while probation still lingers, angels are hurrying to and fro in heaven ministering in the work of man’s salvation.
During probation, the saints are being numbered and sealed.
When the work of numbering and sealing the saints are finished, an angel will report to Jesus that the work on earth is done.
When the work on earth is done, Jesus will stop ministering before the ark containing the ten commandments in the most holy place and He will throw down the censer and will cry with a loud voice, “It is done,” and probation ends. The plan of salvation has been accomplished.
At the close of probation, every case have been decided for life or for death.
When probation ends, there is no more change in character, the unjust will remain unjust, and those who are holy will remain holy.
At the end of probation, Christ work of atonement for man is finished, every case have been decided and Christ’s work of intercession for man closes.

When probation closes, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (the Investigative Judgment) is consummated.
At closing of probation and the closing His work of atonement, Jesus will receive the kingdom and the heirs of salvation (His people), and He will begin to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.

During probation, when Christ mediates and intercedes for guilty man, while He officiates in the sanctuary, no plagues are poured on earth, and evil people are under divine restraint.

When probation ends and Christ steps out from being mediator between man and His Father, when Christ’s intercession for men closes, there is nothing to stay the wrath of God on the guilty sinner who refused salvation, and the last plagues will begin to fall upon the inhabitants of the earth and a great Time of Trouble begins.

When Christ declares “It is done. It is finished,” and probation ends, the plan of salvation has been accomplished; the last warning has been given, the last tear for sinners had been shed, the last agonizing prayer has been offered; there is no further sweet voice of mercy to invite sinners.
At the close of probation, when mercy’s sweet voice has died away, it would be too late to repent, and horror will seize the wicked.
When probation ends, the restraint on evil people is removed and Satan will have entire control of the finally impeninent people, as The Time of Trouble commences.

At the end of probation, Jesus lays off His priestly robe and puts on His most kingly robes; and surrounded by the angelic host, He leaves heaven to return to earth.

The Time of Trouble would be a scene of fearful agony as the wicked are greatly enraged as they suffer the effects of the plagues. This was the reality warned by the Third Angel’s Message.

The Third Message Closed

I was pointed down to the time when the third angel’s message was closing. The power of God had rested upon His people; they had accomplished their work and were prepared for the trying hour before them. They had received the latter rain, or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and the living testimony had been revived. The last great warning had sounded everywhere, and it had stirred up and enraged the inhabitants of the earth who would not receive the message.

I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven. An angel with a writer’s inkhorn by his side returned from the earth and reported to Jesus that his work was done, and the saints were numbered and sealed. Then I saw Jesus, who had been ministering before the ark containing the ten commandments, throw down the censer. He raised His hands, and with a loud voice said, “It is done”. And all the angelic host laid off their crowns as Jesus made the solemn p 280 declaration, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”

Every case had been decided for life or death. While Jesus had been ministering in the sanctuary, the judgment had been going on for the righteous dead, and then for the righteous living. Christ had received His kingdom, having made the atonement for His people and blotted out their sins. The subjects of the kingdom were made up. The marriage of the Lamb was consummated. And the kingdom, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, was given to Jesus and the heirs of salvation, and Jesus was to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.

As Jesus moved out of the most holy place, I heard the tinkling of the bells upon His garment; and as He left, a cloud of darkness covered the inhabitants of the earth. There was then no mediator between guilty man and an offended God. While Jesus had been standing between God and guilty man, a restraint was upon the people; but when He stepped out from between man and the Father, the restraint was removed and Satan had entire control of the finally impenitent. It was impossible for the plagues to be poured out while Jesus officiated in the sanctuary; but as His work there is finished, and His intercession closes, there is nothing to stay the wrath of God, and it breaks with fury upon the shelterless head of the guilty sinner, who has slighted salvation and hated reproof. In that fearful time, after the close of Jesus’ mediation, the saints were living in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor. Every case was decided, every jewel numbered. Jesus tarried a moment in the outer apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, and the sins which had been confessed while He was in the p 281 most holy place were placed upon Satan, the originator of sin, who must suffer their punishment.

Then I saw Jesus lay off His priestly attire and clothe Himself with His most kingly robes. Upon His head were many crowns, a crown within a crown. Surrounded by the angelic host, He left heaven. The plagues were falling upon the inhabitants of the earth. Some were denouncing God and cursing Him. Others rushed to the people of God and begged to be taught how they might escape His judgments. But the saints had nothing for them. The last tear for sinners had been shed, the last agonizing prayer offered, the last burden borne, the last warning given. The sweet voice of mercy was no more to invite them. When the saints, and all heaven, were interested for their salvation, they had no interest for themselves. Life and death had been set before them. Many desired life, but made no effort to obtain it. They did not choose life, and now there was no atoning blood to cleanse the guilty, no compassionate Saviour to plead for them, and cry, “Spare, spare the sinner a little longer.” All heaven had united with Jesus, as they heard the fearful words, “It is done. It is finished.” The plan of salvation had been accomplished, but few had chosen to accept it. And as mercy’s sweet voice died away, fear and horror seized the wicked. With terrible distinctness they heard the words, “Too late! too late!”

Those who had not prized God’s Word were hurrying to and fro, wandering from sea to sea, and from the north to the east, to seek the Word of the Lord. Said the angel, “They shall not find it. There is a famine in the land; not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but for hearing the words of the Lord. What would they not give for one word of approval from God! but no, they must hunger and thirst on. Day after day have they slighted salvation, p 282 prizing earthly riches and earthly pleasure higher than any heavenly treasure or inducement. They have rejected Jesus and despised His saints. The filthy must remain filthy forever.”

Many of the wicked were greatly enraged as they suffered the effects of the plagues. It was a scene of fearful agony. Parents were bitterly reproaching their children, and children their parents, brothers their sisters, and sisters their brothers. Loud, wailing cries were heard in every direction, “It was you who kept me from receiving the truth which would have saved me from this awful hour.” The people turned upon their ministers with bitter hate and reproached them, saying, “You have not warned us. You told us that all the world was to be converted, and cried, Peace, peace, to quiet every fear that was aroused. You have not told us of this hour; and those who warned us of it you declared to be fanatics and evil men, who would ruin us.” But I saw that the ministers did not escape the wrath of God. Their suffering was tenfold greater than that of their people.^[1]

^[1] White, E. G. (1882). Early Writings of Ellen G. White (pp. 279–282). Review and Herald Publishing Association.

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