The Three Angels’ Messages

Dangers, opposition, and erroneous interpretations of the message

Some will abandon the message—Said the angel, “Rebellion will occur up to the time of the closing up of the work of the third angel’s message. Marvel not, neither be discouraged. He who conquered the leader in rebellion stands at the head of this great work. Although Satan may exult and seem for a time to triumph, the first great Conqueror has His eyes upon him, and he can go no farther than He permits. He is permitted to have power for a time to reveal the true-hearted, to prove the faithful, to develop the spurious and separate them from the pure in heart. Rebels will be purged out from among the loyal and true in due time, for the truth has gathered of every kind.”—Manuscript 1, 1865 (Christ Triumphant, 115) 3AM 120.1

As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbathkeepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them.—The Great Controversy, 608 (1888, 1911) 3AM 120.2

Truth given to God’s people, not solitary individuals—I saw that if God has important truth He will give it to His people, not to two or three solitary individuals and leave all the rest of His people in darkness. The third angel is leading out a people and fitting them for translation. They are to be purified through the truth.—Manuscript 2, 1858 (December 27) 3AM 121.1

Two extremes of fanaticism and formalism—He [Satan] is now working with all his insinuating, deceiving power to lead men away from the third angel’s message, which is to be proclaimed with mighty power. If Satan sees that the Lord is blessing His people and preparing them to discern his delusions, he will work with his master power to bring in fanaticism on one hand and cold formalism on the other, that he may gather in a harvest of souls. Now is our time to watch unceasingly. Watch, bar the way to the least step of advance that Satan may make among us.—Manuscript 16, 1890 (Selected Messages 2:19, 20) 3AM 121.2

Called a false light by some—The third angel’s message will not be comprehended, the light which will lighten the earth with its glory will be called a false light, by those who refuse to walk in its advancing glory. The work that might have been done, will be left undone by the rejecters of truth, because of their unbelief. We entreat of you who oppose the light of truth, to stand out of the way of God’s people. Let Heaven-sent light shine forth upon them in clear and steady rays. God holds you to whom this light has come, responsible for the use you make of it. Those who will not hear will be held responsible; for the truth has been brought within their reach, but they despised their opportunities and privileges. Messages bearing the divine credentials have been sent to God’s people; the glory, the majesty, the righteousness of Christ, full of goodness and truth, have been presented; the fullness of the Godhead in Jesus Christ has been set forth among us with beauty and loveliness, to charm all whose hearts were not closed with prejudice. We know that God has wrought among us. We have seen souls turn from sin to righteousness. We have seen faith revived in the hearts of the contrite ones. Shall we be like the lepers that were cleansed who went on their way, and only one returned to give glory to God? Let us rather tell of His goodness, and praise God with heart, with pen, and with voice.—The Review and Herald, May 27, 1890 3AM 121.3

Thought to be dangerous—There is to be in the churches a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but it will not move upon those who have not humbled themselves before the Lord, and opened the door of the heart by confession and repentance. In the manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which in their blindness they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. Because the Lord does not work according to their ideas and expectations, they will oppose the work. “Why,” they say, “should not we know the Spirit of God, when we have been in the work so many years?”—Because they did not respond to the warnings, the entreaties of the messages of God, but persistently said, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.”—The Review and Herald, December 23, 1890 3AM 122.1

Erroneous experiences will color thoughts, decisions, and counsels—At the time of the loud cry of the third angel those who have been in any measure blinded by the enemy, who have not fully recovered themselves from the snare of Satan, will be in peril, because it will be difficult for them to discern the light from heaven, and they will be inclined to accept falsehood. Their erroneous experience will color their thoughts, their decisions, their propositions, their counsels. The evidences that God has given will be no evidence to those who have blinded their eyes by choosing darkness rather than light. After rejecting light, they will originate theories which they will call “light,” but which the Lord calls, “Sparks of their own kindling,” by which they will direct their steps. The Lord declares, “Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.” Jesus said: “For judgment I am come into the world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.” “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” 3AM 122.2

By many the words which the Lord sent will be rejected, and the words that man may speak will be received as light and truth. Jesus says, “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” Human wisdom will lead away from self-denial, from consecration, and will devise many things that tend to make of no effect God’s messages. We cannot with any safety rely upon men who are not in close connection with God. They will accept the opinions of men, but cannot discern the voice of the True Shepherd, and their influence will lead many astray, though evidence is piled upon evidence testifying to the verity of truth for these days. The truth is powerful to turn men to Christ, to quicken their energies, to subdue and soften their hearts, and inspire them with zeal, devotion, and love to God. The Sabbath truth must in no case be covered up. We must let it appear in strong contrast with error. 3AM 123.1

As the end approaches, the testimonies of God’s servants will become more decided and more powerful, flashing the light of truth upon the systems of error and oppression that have so long held the supremacy. The Lord has sent us messages for this time, that will establish Christianity upon an eternal basis; and all who believe the present truth, must stand, not in their own wisdom, but in God’s wisdom, and raise up the foundations of many generations; and they will be registered in the books of heaven as “repairers of the breach,” the “restorer of paths to dwell in.” In face of the bitterest opposition, we are to maintain the truth because it is truth. God is at work upon human minds; it is not man alone that is working. The great illuminating power is from Christ; the brightness of His example is to be kept before the people in every discourse. His love is the glory of the rainbow encircling the throne on high.—The Review and Herald, December 13, 1892 3AM 124.1

New light does not disregard past light—It is true that there are prophecies yet to be fulfilled. But very erroneous work has been done again and again, and will continue to be done by those who seek to find new light in the prophecies, and who begin by turning away from the light that God has already given. The messages of Revelation 14 are those by which the world is to be tested; they are the everlasting gospel, and are to be sounded everywhere. But the Lord does not lay upon those who have not had an experience in His work the burden of making a new exposition of these prophecies, which He has, by His Holy Spirit, moved upon His chosen servants to explain.—Manuscript 32, 1896 (December 6) (Selected Messages 2:111, 112) 3AM 124.2

Danger of moving the messages into the future—There are those who are searching the Scriptures for proof that these messages are still in the future. They gather together the truthfulness of the messages, but they fail to give them their proper place in prophetic history. Therefore such are in danger of misleading the people in regard to locating the messages. They do not see and understand the time of the end, or when to locate the messages. The day of God is coming with stealthy tread, but the supposed wise and great men are prating about “higher education,” which they suppose originates with finite men. They know not the signs of Christ’s coming, or of the end of the world.—Manuscript 41a, 1896 (December 20) (Evangelism, 613) 3AM 125.1

Silence on questions unrelated to the third angel’s message is true eloquence—Whatever the opinions you may entertain in regard to casting your vote in political questions, you are not to proclaim it by pen or voice. Our people need to be silent upon questions which have no relation to the third angel’s message. If ever a people needed to draw nigh to God, it is Seventh-day Adventists. There have been wonderful devices and plans made. A burning desire has taken hold of men or women to proclaim something, or bind up with something; they do not know what. But the silence of Christ upon many subjects was true eloquence.—Letter 4, 1898 (February 20) (Selected Messages 2:336) 3AM 125.2

Satan works to create schemes and absorb funds—The third angel’s message is based on the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Satan will set every possible device in operation to seek to get up some scheme whereby he can divert minds from this important, testing message to an inferior work, which in its operations will be carried on extravagantly. [This work will] absorb money which God designs should be used to advance His work in no uncertain, haphazard manner, to establish church interests which shall consolidate in unity and gain in strength to carry the last great work of the gospel message to all parts of the world.—Letter 20, 1900 (January 31) 3AM 125.3

Side issues will be created—Satan will so mingle his deceptions with truth that side issues will be created to turn the attention of the people from the great issue, the test to be brought upon the people of God in these last days. From the light that God has given me, I know that the gospel message for this time is being turned aside for work among the lowest class of people. This work is being made the all-absorbing work for this time, but this is not in God’s order. But it is a never-ending work, and if it is carried on as it has been in the past, all the powers of God’s people will be required to counter-balance it, and the work of preparing a people to stand amid the perils of the last days will never be done.—Letter 28, 1900 (February 17) 3AM 126.1

Some dangers introduced by long-time members—Temptations are being brought in by men who have been long in the truth. The truths that we received in 1841, ’42, ’43, and ’44 are now to be studied and proclaimed. The messages of the first, second, and third angels will in the future be proclaimed with a loud voice. They will be given with earnest determination and in the power of the Spirit.—Letter 75, 1905 (February 20) 3AM 126.2

Misapplications of Scripture will be brought forward—God would have the truths of the third angel’s message firmly established in the hearts of His people. Not one pin or pillar of the faith He has so graciously given is to be moved. The wily foe will bring in specious arguments to substantiate the theories he desires to have take the place of truth in the minds of the people. Assertions will be made that have no foundation in truth. The words of Scripture interwoven with a mass of error will be brought forward to confuse the mind. But we might be held in controversy as long as time should last if we were to listen to all the applications of Scripture that might be made to substantiate erroneous theories.—Manuscript 27, 1908 (May 5) 3AM 126.3

Confidence in our past sacred history uprooted—The enemy will set everything in operation to uproot the confidence of the believers in the pillars of our faith in the messages of the past, which have placed us upon the elevated platform of eternal truth, and which have established and given character to the work. The Lord God of Israel has led out His people, unfolding to them truth of heavenly origin. His voice has been heard, and is still heard, saying, Go forward from strength to strength, from grace to grace, from glory to glory. The work is strengthening and broadening, for the Lord God of Israel is the defense of His people. 3AM 127.1

Those who have a hold of the truth theoretically, with their fingertips as it were, who have not brought its principles into the inner sanctuary of the soul, but have kept the vital truth in the outer court, will see nothing sacred in the past history of this people which has made them what they are, and has established them as earnest, determined missionary workers in the world. The truth for this time is precious, but those whose hearts have not been broken by falling on the Rock, Christ Jesus, will not see and understand what is truth. They will accept that which pleases their ideas and will begin to manufacture another foundation than that which is laid. They will flatter their own vanity and esteem, thinking that they are capable of removing the pillars of our faith and replacing them with pillars they have devised. 3AM 127.2

This will continue to be as long as time shall last.—Manuscript 28, 1890 (December 4) (Selected Messages 2:388, 389) 3AM 128.1

Unity of spirit and action will be our strength—Those who have accepted the truth of the third angel’s message are to hold it fast by faith; and it will hold them from drifting into superstitions and theories that would separate them from one another and from God. Our reception of the truth we hold as Seventh-day Adventists was not a chance experience. It was reached by earnest prayer and careful research of the Inspired Word. The Lord would have us walk and work in perfect unity. His name, Christ Jesus, is to be our watchword, His example our badge of distinction, the principles of His Word the foundation of our piety. In unity of spirit and action will be our strength. Satan is at work to create differences of opinion among us, and to shake our faith in one another. Thus he seeks to lead us to yield our minds to be worked by a spirit that is not of God, and that will bring in alienation and disaffection. But Christ’s prayer that we all might be one as He is one with the Father, is to be fulfilled in His church in these last days. Our unity one with another is to be our credentials to the world that we have accepted Him whom the Father sent to the world to represent the principles of heaven.—The Review and Herald, August 19, 1909 3AM 128.2

Majority of the world will reject the message—Many who hear the message—by far the greatest number—will not credit the solemn warning. Many will be found disloyal to the commandments of God, which are a test of character. The Lord’s servants will be called enthusiasts. Ministers will warn the people not to listen to them. Noah received the same treatment while the Spirit of God was urging him to give the message, whether men would hear, or whether they would forbear.—Letter 64a, 1895 (September 1) (Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 233) 3AM 128.3

Opposition restrained for the message to do its work—So long as Jesus remains man’s intercessor in the sanctuary above, the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit is felt by rulers and people. It still controls to some extent the laws of the land. Were it not for these laws, the condition of the world would be much worse than it now is. While many of our rulers are active agents of Satan, God also has His agents among the leading men of the nation. The enemy moves upon his servants to propose measures that would greatly impede the work of God; but statesmen who fear the Lord are influenced by holy angels to oppose such propositions with unanswerable arguments. Thus a few men will hold in check a powerful current of evil. The opposition of the enemies of truth will be restrained that the third angel’s message may do its work. When the final warning shall be given, it will arrest the attention of these leading men through whom the Lord is now working, and some of them will accept it, and will stand with the people of God through the time of trouble.—The Great Controversy, 610, 611 (1888, 1911) 3AM 129.1