The First Angel's Message
The first angel's message of Revelation 14 was designed to separate those who claimed to be people of God from corrupting influences. In this message, God sent the church a warning which, if the people had accepted it, would have corrected the evils that were shutting them away from Him. If they had received the message, humbling their hearts and preparing to stand in His presence, the Spirit of God would have been poured out. The church would again have reached that unity, faith, and love that it had in the apostles’ days, when the believers “were of one heart and one soul,” and when “the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 4:32; 2:47).
LF 158.4
If God's people would receive the light from His Word, they would reach the unity that the apostle describes, “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is,” he says, “one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:3-5).
LF 158.5
Those who accepted the advent message came from different denominations, and their denominational barriers fell to the ground. Conflicting creeds shattered into atoms. The message corrected false views of the Second Advent. People made wrongs right, and hearts united in sweet fellowship. Love reigned supreme. This doctrine would have done the same for all, if all had accepted it.
LF 158.6
As watchmen, ministers should have been the first to recognize the indications of Jesus’ coming, but they had failed to learn the truth from the prophets or from the signs of the times. Love for God and faith in His Word had grown cold, and the advent doctrine only awakened their unbelief. As in Christ's time, people rejected the testimony of God's Word with the question, “Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed?” (John 7:48). Many discouraged the study of the prophecies, claiming that the prophetic books were sealed and could not be understood. Many put their trust in their pastors and refused to listen. Others were convinced of the truth, but they did not dare to announce it for fear that they would be “put out of the synagogue” (John 9:22). The message God sent to test the church revealed how many there were who had set their affections on this world rather than on Christ.
LF 159.1
Refusing the warning of the first angel was the cause of that terrible condition of worldliness, backsliding, and spiritual death that existed in the churches in 1844.
LF 159.2
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Love Under Fire
[{"para_id":"12269.2","title":"Foreword","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0003_eng_m_foreword_12269_9.mp3#duration=246&size=2097443"},{"para_id":"12269.20","title":"Lifting the Veil on the Future","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0004_eng_m_lifting_the_veil_on_the_future_12269_20.mp3#duration=1072&size=8709066"},{"para_id":"12269.56","title":"Chapter 1\u2014A Forecast of the World's Destiny","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0005_eng_m_chapter_1_a_forecast_of_the_world_s_destiny_12269_56.mp3#duration=1349&size=10918801"},{"para_id":"12269.111","title":"Chapter 2\u2014The First Christians Loyal and True","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0010_eng_m_chapter_2_the_first_christians_loyal_and_true_12269_111.mp3#duration=671&size=5495228"},{"para_id":"12269.137","title":"Chapter 3\u2014Spiritual Darkness in the Early Church","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0012_eng_m_chapter_3_spiritual_darkness_in_the_early_church_12269_137.mp3#duration=1092&size=8863143"},{"para_id":"12269.184","title":"Chapter 4\u2014The Waldenses Defend the Faith","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0016_eng_m_chapter_4_the_waldenses_defend_the_faith_12269_184.mp3#duration=1238&size=10033075"},{"para_id":"12269.244","title":"Chapter 5\u2014The Light Breaks in England","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0023_eng_m_chapter_5_the_light_breaks_in_england_12269_244.mp3#duration=1211&size=9822101"},{"para_id":"12269.305","title":"Chapter 6\u2014Two Heroes Face Death","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0028_eng_m_chapter_6_two_heroes_face_death_12269_305.mp3#duration=1900&size=15332711"},{"para_id":"12269.394","title":"Chapter 7\u2014Luther, a Man for His Time","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0038_eng_m_chapter_7_luther_a_man_for_his_time_12269_394.mp3#duration=1880&size=15170387"},{"para_id":"12269.485","title":"Chapter 8\u2014A Champion of Truth","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0046_eng_m_chapter_8_a_champion_of_truth_12269_485.mp3#duration=2067&size=16668321"},{"para_id":"12269.586","title":"Chapter 9\u2014Light Kindled in Switzerland","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0056_eng_m_chapter_9_light_kindled_in_switzerland_12269_586.mp3#duration=921&size=7498817"},{"para_id":"12269.630","title":"Chapter 10\u2014Progress in Germany","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0060_eng_m_chapter_10_progress_in_germany_12269_630.mp3#duration=881&size=7178382"},{"para_id":"12269.677","title":"Chapter 11\u2014The Protest of the Princes","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0065_eng_m_chapter_11_the_protest_of_the_princes_12269_677.mp3#duration=847&size=6908609"},{"para_id":"12269.720","title":"Chapter 12\u2014Daybreak in France","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0069_eng_m_chapter_12_daybreak_in_france_12269_720.mp3#duration=1963&size=15832207"},{"para_id":"12269.816","title":"Chapter 13\u2014The Netherlands and Scandinavia","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0080_eng_m_chapter_13_the_netherlands_and_scandinavia_12269_816.mp3#duration=579&size=4763526"},{"para_id":"12269.845","title":"Chapter 14\u2014Truth Advances in Britain","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0083_eng_m_chapter_14_truth_advances_in_britain_12269_845.mp3#duration=1413&size=11431057"},{"para_id":"12269.919","title":"Chapter 15\u2014France's Reign of Terror: Its True Cause","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0093_eng_m_chapter_15_france_s_reign_of_terror_its_true_cause_12269_919.mp3#duration=1761&size=14218526"},{"para_id":"12269.1006","title":"Chapter 16\u2014Seeking Freedom in a New World","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0102_eng_m_chapter_16_seeking_freedom_in_a_new_world_12269_1006.mp3#duration=688&size=5633418"},{"para_id":"12269.1045","title":"Chapter 17\u2014Promises of Christ's Return","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0107_eng_m_chapter_17_promises_of_christ_s_return_12269_1045.mp3#duration=1385&size=11207836"},{"para_id":"12269.1108","title":"Chapter 18\u2014New Light in the New World","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0113_eng_m_chapter_18_new_light_in_the_new_world_12269_1108.mp3#duration=1986&size=16023294"},{"para_id":"12269.1200","title":"Chapter 19\u2014Why the Great Disappointment?","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0126_eng_m_chapter_19_why_the_great_disappointment_12269_1200.mp3#duration=820&size=6688816"},{"para_id":"12269.1237","title":"Chapter 20\u2014Love for Christ's Coming","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0130_eng_m_chapter_20_love_for_christ_s_coming_12269_1237.mp3#duration=1449&size=11726780"},{"para_id":"12269.1310","title":"Chapter 21\u2014Reaping the Whirlwind","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0140_eng_m_chapter_21_reaping_the_whirlwind_12269_1310.mp3#duration=1120&size=9090450"},{"para_id":"12269.1366","title":"Chapter 22\u2014Prophecies Fulfilled","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0147_eng_m_chapter_22_prophecies_fulfilled_12269_1366.mp3#duration=1051&size=8537334"},{"para_id":"12269.1415","title":"Chapter 23\u2014The Open Mystery of the Sanctuary","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0154_eng_m_chapter_23_the_open_mystery_of_the_sanctuary_12269_1415.mp3#duration=1137&size=9229433"},{"para_id":"12269.1472","title":"Chapter 24\u2014What Is Christ Doing Now?","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0162_eng_m_chapter_24_what_is_christ_doing_now_12269_1472.mp3#duration=669&size=5482165"},{"para_id":"12269.1504","title":"Chapter 25\u2014God's Law Unchangeable","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0167_eng_m_chapter_25_god_s_law_unchangeable_12269_1504.mp3#duration=1398&size=11312581"},{"para_id":"12269.1573","title":"Chapter 26\u2014Champions for Truth","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0175_eng_m_chapter_26_champions_for_truth_12269_1573.mp3#duration=528&size=4352939"},{"para_id":"12269.1601","title":"Chapter 27\u2014How Successful Are Modern Revivals?","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0178_eng_m_chapter_27_how_successful_are_modern_revivals_12269_1601.mp3#duration=1336&size=10818515"},{"para_id":"12269.1663","title":"Chapter 28\u2014Facing Our Life Record","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0186_eng_m_chapter_28_facing_our_life_record_12269_1663.mp3#duration=1065&size=8653528"},{"para_id":"12269.1715","title":"Chapter 29\u2014Why Was Sin Permitted?","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0195_eng_m_chapter_29_why_was_sin_permitted_12269_1715.mp3#duration=925&size=7525929"},{"para_id":"12269.1756","title":"Chapter 30\u2014Satan and Humanity at War","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0200_eng_m_chapter_30_satan_and_humanity_at_war_12269_1756.mp3#duration=345&size=2890664"},{"para_id":"12269.1773","title":"Chapter 31\u2014Evil Spirits","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0203_eng_m_chapter_31_evil_spirits_12269_1773.mp3#duration=581&size=4777631"},{"para_id":"12269.1798","title":"Chapter 32\u2014How to Defeat Satan","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0208_eng_m_chapter_32_how_to_defeat_satan_12269_1798.mp3#duration=939&size=7645617"},{"para_id":"12269.1846","title":"Chapter 33\u2014What Happens After Death?","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0215_eng_m_chapter_33_what_happens_after_death_12269_1846.mp3#duration=1326&size=10739511"},{"para_id":"12269.1908","title":"Chapter 34\u2014Who Are the \u201cSpirits\u201d in Spiritualism?","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0225_eng_m_chapter_34_who_are_the_spirits_in_spiritualism_12269_1908.mp3#duration=778&size=6355822"},{"para_id":"12269.1948","title":"Chapter 35\u2014Liberty of Conscience Threatened","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0231_eng_m_chapter_35_liberty_of_conscience_threatened_12269_1948.mp3#duration=1220&size=9889702"},{"para_id":"12269.2011","title":"Chapter 36\u2014The Approaching Conflict","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0240_eng_m_chapter_36_the_approaching_conflict_12269_2011.mp3#duration=761&size=6213750"},{"para_id":"12269.2042","title":"Chapter 37\u2014Our Only Safeguard","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0243_eng_m_chapter_37_our_only_safeguard_12269_2042.mp3#duration=577&size=4743885"},{"para_id":"12269.2072","title":"Chapter 38\u2014God's Final Message","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0247_eng_m_chapter_38_god_s_final_message_12269_2072.mp3#duration=725&size=5931673"},{"para_id":"12269.2108","title":"Chapter 39\u2014The Time of Trouble","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0252_eng_m_chapter_39_the_time_of_trouble_12269_2108.mp3#duration=1468&size=11877764"},{"para_id":"12269.2174","title":"Chapter 40\u2014God's People Delivered","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0261_eng_m_chapter_40_god_s_people_delivered_12269_2174.mp3#duration=1351&size=10941854"},{"para_id":"12269.2230","title":"Chapter 41\u2014The Earth in Ruins","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0269_eng_m_chapter_41_the_earth_in_ruins_12269_2230.mp3#duration=730&size=5969865"},{"para_id":"12269.2260","title":"Chapter 42\u2014Eternal Peace: The Controversy Ended","mp3":"\/mp3\/12269\/0272_eng_m_chapter_42_eternal_peace_the_controversy_ended_12269_2260.mp3#duration=1471&size=11900978"}]