Chapter 20

The Rise of the Advent Movement

Introduction

The Advent Movement first appears under the sixth church [the Philadelphia Church] – it reappears again under the sixth seal [the 144,000] – and it appears yet again, under the sixth trumpet, where its origins and early experience are described.

In the seven seals, the Advent Movement is presented, using a long parenthetical picture, dividing the sixth and seventh seals. The same device is used again, between the sixth and seventh trumpets, to describe the origins and early experience, of the Advent Movement.  However, in the trumpets this parenthetical picture also includes the origin and early experience of the communist movement. The Advent Movement and the communist movement, are included together in this manner, because they arise at the same time, and they are meant to be compared and contrasted. As God introduces a new movement to represent Him and promote His cause – Satan introduces a new movement to represent him and oppose God’s cause. Speaking of the French Revolution [which was the forerunner of communism] Ellen White said, “here is brought to view a new manifestation of satanic power” (GC 269).

 

Historical Incubation of the Advent Movement

However, it was not only communism that was organizing to oppose God’s Advent movement at this time. Because all of heaven is actively working to give birth to the Advent Movement, so too, is hell actively working to set up opposing and counterfeiting agencies to the Advent Movement. Not only was Karl Marx writing the foundation works of the communist movement at this time, Das Kapital and The Communist Manifesto, other movements were being created, that would directly oppose, all the major teachings of the Advent Movement. Such as, evolution being birthed by the publication of Charles Darwin’s, ‘Origins of the Species’ at this time.

There are five pillars of the faith within the Advent Movement. These are distinctive principles and doctrines, when taken collectively, set the Advent Movement apart from all other Christian churches and organizations. The Protestant reformers discovered three pillars that set their religion apart from the Roman Catholics, these three pillars are: grace alone, faith alone, and the Bible alone. The Baptists discovered one more that set them apart – believer’s baptism by immersion. And the Methodists rediscovered the importance of sanctification [or holy living] to set them apart. All of these churches pushed the reform ‘envelop’ forward. It is now up to the Advent Movement, to push it even further and finish the ‘work.’

To finish the ‘work’ of reform, that will usher in the Second Advent, there were five more pillars to be rediscovered and restored to their proper place in God’s universe. These five pillars are:

1. The sanctuary service and its prophetic content – the investigative judgment.
2. The law of God, especially the seventh-day Sabbath.
3. The non-immortality of the soul.
4. The gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially prophecy.
5. The second coming of Christ.

All five pillars were incorporated, into the identity of the Advent Movement, that emerged from the great disappointment in 1844. All of these pillars were challenged by counterfeits that Satan set up at the same time.

If the Advent Movement would have the gift of prophecy, in the ministry of Ellen White, then Satan would duplicate this in the form of the Mormon Church, as founded by its first prophet, Joseph Smith.

The law, the Sabbath and creation suffered a two-pronged attack, from this time onwards. If the Advent Movement would uphold the claims of the law, especially the Sabbath, which is the memorial of creation, then Satan would undermine this through the theory of evolution, which does away with the need for a Creator. Charles Darwin was doing his research at this time and he was soon to publish his book The Origin of the Species. In addition, the Jehovah’s Witnesses [and others] were founded at this time, to directly oppose the Advent Movement, with their claims that the Ten Commandments were abolished.

The Advent Message, that emphasizes the second coming and the resurrection of the dead, when Christ returns, has been severely challenged by the foundation of the modern form of spiritualism (precursor of the New Age Movement), at this time. The doctrine of the immortality of the soul, made popular by spiritualism and still promoted by confused Christianity, continues to deceive millions, and will prevent them from recognizing the truths, of the Advent Movement, and exposes them to bewitching errors. The New Age Movement with its emphasis on the god within each individual, which removes the necessity for any form of judgment, was also re-activated at this time through the efforts of the Theosophical Society and its adherents. It is this society, that has been most responsible for bringing the errors of eastern religions into the Christian west.

Perhaps the most ingenious counterfeit of all was the creation of the Bahai’ faith. The Bahai’s also look to the Advent Movement as the foundation of their faith. But their understanding of what happened, in 1844, is totally different from those who went on to found the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Adventist Church teaches that Jesus moved from the holy place to the most holy place, in 1844, to begin the investigative judgment. The Bahai’s teach that Jesus did in fact return to the earth. But he returned in the form of the ‘Christ consciousness.’ In other words, Jesus did not return literally, but spiritually. Therefore, the seconding coming has already occurred. Therefore, the Adventist Message must be wrong.

God raised up the Advent Movement to prepare his people for the Second Coming of Christ. Essential to this is the proclamation and teaching of “present truth” (see 2 Pet. 1:12), for this time. This includes the truth about the law and the Sabbath, the non-immortality of the soul, the judgment message, the sanctuary, and the Second Coming of Christ. All of these essential doctrines, are actively opposed by movements, that were raised up at the same time, that God was establishing His chosen instrument on earth. This is not accidental.  Satan has always worked in this manner. God creates a thesis – Satan an antithesis. The resultant clash, will precipitate the events that will lead to the end of the world. The synthesis will produce a new world order – a New Jerusalem – and a New Earth.

 

The Little Book Open

Chapter ten, is part of the parenthetical portion of the sixth trumpet – and chapter ten contains the prophetic picture, of the beginning of the Advent Movement. The beginning of the chapter, commences with a symbolic representation of Christ as “a mighty angel come down from heaven” (Rev. 10:1). We know this is Christ, because this description of Him, is very similar to the description of Christ in Rev. 1:14-16. In chapter 10, Jesus is “clothed with cloud” and “a rainbow was upon his head.” This reminds us of the “rainbow round about the throne” (Rev. 4:3; see also Eze. 1:26-28). And Jesus is often associated with clouds (see Dan. 7:13; Acts 1:9; Rev. 1:7; 14:14 etc.). “And he had in his hand a little book open” (Rev. 10:2). The key to understanding, the contents of chapter ten, is to identify the “little book open” in Christ’s hand.

What Jesus says and does, needs to be compared, with similar events in the book of Daniel, because John was seeing the anti-typical event and Daniel saw the type:

Daniel	Revelation
Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:  His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. Dan. 10:5, 6.	And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. Rev. 1:12-15. And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. Rev. 10:1.
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end… Dan. 12:4.   …many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Dan. 12:4.	And he had in his hand a little book open… Rev. 10:2. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues and kings.  Rev. 10:11.
Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. Dan. 12:5-7.	And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. Rev. 10:5-7.

 

By comparing the above verses from Daniel and Revelation we can determine the following:

1. It was Jesus, sometimes assisted by angels, such as Gabriel, who appeared to both Daniel and John.
2. Daniel was told that the prophecies, contained in his book, would be sealed (not understood), until the time of the end.
3. At the time of the end “many would run to and fro” in the Book of Daniel – which means ‘many would run to and fro’ in the Book of Daniel (extensive study of Daniel’s Book).
4. Because of the intensive/extensive study, Daniel’s Book would ‘open’ (be understood) – “knowledge shall be increased” – this refers to new knowledge gained from the study of Daniel’s Book.
5. The new understanding gained, needed to be broadcast to the world – “you must prophecy again.”
6. The study of Daniel and the prophecy again command, created the Advent Movement
7. The study of Daniel and the broadcasting of its contents, would take place under the seventh trumpet, it continue until the end of the seventh trumpet and it would ‘finish the work’ – “the mystery of God should be finished.”

Thus, we learn that, the “little book open” in the hand of Christ, is the Book of Daniel. We know that when the Book is ‘opened’ the understanding gained sparks the Advent Movement. The Advent Movement is going to complete the ‘work’ during the time of the seventh trumpet. This is why this prophetic portrayal, of the rise of the Advent Movement, is presented as a parenthesis between the sixth and seventh trumpets. Because it is the Advent Movement, that is the people of God, that is the focus of all the events, that appear under/in the seventh trumpet.

It is not just (some) Adventists who recognize the high claims and high calling of the Advent Movement. In 1977, Geoffrey Paxton (an Australian Anglican Minister), published a book entitled ‘The Shaking of Adventism.’ After studying Adventism, Paxton wrote in his book, that he was astounded to learn, that Adventism claimed, that it was its God given mission to finish and complete the Protestant Reformation. If Paxton was also a student of the Book of Revelation, he need not have been surprised, because the message of the seventh trumpet says the same thing. The seventh trumpet is about the triumph of the woman in the wilderness, the Philadelphia Church, the Remnant, the 144,000, and the Advent Movement.

 

The Seven Thunders and the Great Disappointment

When Jesus “cried with a loud voice” – “seven thunders uttered their voices” (Rev. 10:3). But John was instructed not to write down what was said:

And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.  Rev. 10:4.

The reason, that John was instructed not to write, what he heard, was because this was a testing time for God’s people, just as the crucifixion was a testing time for Christ’s disciples.  The message of the seven thunders falls into the category of, “it is not for you to know” (Acts 1:7; cf. Jn. 16:12). God, is about to initiate and inaugurate, the movement that will ‘finish the work.’ It is only fitting that those who ‘apply’ for the work, be tested. Just as the disciples needed to be tested, before the original movement was begun, so too, must the applicants for the Advent Movement be tested. Just as the original test, resulted in the loss of one of the twelve (Judas), so too, will this test result in the loss of many, who are “weighed in the balances and art found wanting” (Dan. 5:27).  In fact, the experience of the original disciples is a type and the antitype finds its fulfillment, in the experience of the Adventists prior to and immediately after Oct. 22, 1844.

Just as Peter’s faith and the faith of the other disciples, was severely tested, so too, was the faith of the Advent people. They were instructed to “take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel” (Rev 10:8), and further instructed to, “Take it, and eat it up” (Rev. 10:9).  These commands are symbolic, of taking the book and studying it. When God’s people, all over the world, studied the book of Daniel and when they understood, that at the end of the 2300-year prophecy (Dan. 8:14) Christ would return, this discovery was “sweet as honey” (Rev. 10:10), in the mouth.

The “sweet as honey” message, that they understood, was that, the King was coming. This is the same message, that was understood, when Jesus was riding into Jerusalem. The disciples and the people who were heralding His approach, all thought, that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem to ascend His throne and reign in glory. This is essentially the same, as what the Adventists believed. Both the Adventists and the original disciples, were proclaiming the same message.  It was a “sweet as honey” message. There was much joyful proclamation and happy expectation in both messages. However, it was not the time for Christ to be the King in 31AD (it was the time for Him to be the Lamb). The same mistake was made by the Adventists.  Again, it was not the time for Christ to be King in 1844, it was the time for Him to take up His role as Judge – “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son” (Jn. 5:22). When the judgment process is completed, Jesus will make a somber proclamation:

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. Rev. 22:11.

After Jesus makes this proclamation (indicating that probation for the world has ended), He takes off His high priestly robes, puts on his kingly robes, and returns to the earth. This is when His role finally changes to being the King (see chapter 19).

Thus, because both the disciples and the Adventists, were expecting to see Jesus in His kingly role, they were both bitterly disappointed. This is why the prophecy continues by iterating, that the eating of the book, would “make thy belly bitter” (Rev. 10:9). When Christ did not return it was hard to stomach – it was “bitter” to the stomach.

The events of the 1830’s and 1840’s, leading up to the predicted day of Christ’s return, on October 22 1844, have passed into the history books as ‘the great disappointment.’ However, the promise to the disciples was that, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” (Acts 1:8).  And this promise is given to all faithful believers. Thus, the Advent Movement, also went through, the “upper room” experience, that the disciples shared together. Disappointed Advent believers, gathered together and studied and prayed in ‘upper rooms’ in different locations. It was not long, before a consensus of opinion began to appear.  The mistake was discovered, and as each new truth began to emerge, the Holy Spirit confirmed these Truths by giving visions to a young woman, by the name of Ellen Harmon, later to be known as Ellen White.

The gift was given for the same reason, that the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples. Listen to it again, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit came upon the Advent believers for the same reason:  “And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues and kings” (Rev. 10:11). The outpouring of the Holy Spirit only came after the disciples had come to “one accord” (Acts 1:14). The same applied to the early Adventists. It was only after, they too, came to ‘one accord’ that the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them.

Just as the coming of the Holy Spirit, dispersed ignorance and confirmed truth to the disciples after their great disappointment, so too, did the Holy Spirit enlighten the Adventists, after their great disappointment. Just as the gift of prophecy, was poured out at the time of the establishing of the early Church, so too, was it poured out at the establishing of the Advent Church. This gift is one of the most precious, that heaven can bestow upon earth (see 1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1,5,39). It is fitting therefore that comments on chapter ten are included from this ‘spirit of prophecy:’

The mighty angel who instructed John was no less a personage than Jesus Christ. Setting His right foot on the sea, and His left foot upon the dry land, shows the part which He is acting in the closing scenes of the great controversy with Satan. This position denotes His supreme power and authority over the whole earth. The controversy has waxed stronger and more determined from age to age, and will continue to do so, to the concluding scenes when masterly working of the powers of darkness shall reach their height. Satan, united with evil men, will deceive the whole world and the churches who receive not the love of the truth. But the mighty angel demands attention. He cries with a loud voice. He is to show the power and authority of His voice to those who have united with Satan to oppose the truth.

 

After these seven thunders uttered their voices, the injunction comes to John as to Daniel in regard to the little book: “Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered.” These relate to future events which will be disclosed in their order. Daniel shall stand in his lot at the end of the days. John sees the little book unsealed. Then Daniel’s prophecies have their proper place in the first, second and third angel’s messages to be given to the world. The unsealing of the little book was the message in relation to time.

 

The books of Daniel and the Revelation are one. One is a prophecy, the other a revelation; one a book sealed, the other a book opened. John heard the mysteries which the thunders uttered, but he was commanded not to write them.

 

The special light given to John that was expressed in the seven thunders was a delineation of events which would transpire under the first and second angel’s messages. It was not best for the people to know these things, for their faith must necessarily be tested.  In the order of God most wonderful and advanced truths would be proclaimed. The first and second angel’s messages were to be proclaimed, but no further light was to be revealed before these messages had done their specific work. This is represented by the angel standing with one foot on the sea, proclaiming with a most solemn oath that time should be no longer.

 

This time, which the angel declares with a solemn oath, is not the end of this world’s history, neither of probationary time, but of prophetic time, which should precede the advent of our Lord. That is, the people will not have another message upon definite time. After this period of time, reaching from 1842 to 1844, there can be no definite tracing of the prophetic time. The longest reckoning reaches to the autumn of 1844.

 

The angel’s position, with one foot on the sea, the other on the land, signifies the wide extent of the proclamation of the message. It will cross the broad waters and be proclaimed in other countries, even to all the world. The comprehension of truth, the glad reception of the message, is represented in the eating of the little book.  The truth in regard to the time of the advent of our Lord was a precious message to our souls.  SDABC Vol. 7, p. 971.

Thus, this experience of the Advent movement, was the fulfillment of the promise that the angel gave to Daniel: “What is written will be sealed and will not be fully understood until the time of the end.  Then many will open the scroll, and the importance of the prophecies will increase” (Dan. 12:4).  The Clear Word, paraphrase. The sealed book was now an open book – opened exactly when prophecy said it would be opened – by the Advent Movement.

 

The Investigative Judgment

The explanation, for the great disappointment, is in the first verses of the next chapter.  [There were no chapter or verse divisions in the original Greek, these were put in later, by scholars using their best judgment. However, sometimes the divisions chosen, hinder the understanding by making an artificial division, where there should be no division].

And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the alter, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not.   Rev. 11:1, 2.

The instruction to measure the temple, is reminiscent of the measuring of Jerusalem, presented in vision to Zechariah (see Zech. 2:1-13, cf. Eze. 40:3; Rev. 21:15). The purpose of the measuring in Zechariah, is the rebuilding and restoration of Jerusalem. The reason for the measuring by John, is the same as in Zechariah. This is the time, that the sanctuary was to be ‘cleansed’ – which also means, vindicated or restored. It is restored by “prophesying again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” It is cleansed, vindicated and restored, by removing the ignorance, corruption and lies, about Christ’s heavenly ministry and by presenting the Truth to the world. When the ignorance and lies are removed and the Truth properly presented, what is revealed is – the ‘Investigative Judgment.’

It is evident, that judgment is being carried out, because John is given a measuring instrument, and instructed to measure the people, the temple of God, and the altar, and the people around the altar. The altar is where the sinner obtains forgiveness for his sins. It represents the cross where the antitypical Lamb was sacrificed. Therefore, the people in the temple around the altar, are those that are trusting in Christ for their salvation. The command to “measure” them must refer to finding out whether their faith, in Christ, has been genuine or not. Jesus said:

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  Matt. 7:16-23.

At some point in the history of the world, it must be determined, who are the genuine believers in Christ [those who do the will of the Father, as Christ Himself did]. It is not enough that we claim to know Jesus. The more crucial question is: “Does Jesus know me?” And the only way, that Jesus is going to acknowledge us, is if we have kept His commandments.  Therefore, it has to be determined, whether we have done the Father’s will and kept his commandments. James agreed with Jesus, “faith if it hath not works is dead” (James 2:17). There has to be an investigation, to see if faith produced the right works (the right ‘fruit’) – because the works, are the evidence of a genuine faith in Christ.

Some might consider ‘works’ impossible or the task is too difficult. But Jesus said, “If you love me keep my commandments” (Jn. 14:15). And John assured us that “His commandments are not burdensome” (1 Jn. 5:3). In other words, they are not difficult to keep. The problem is, that human beings simply do not want to keep them – and the reason is because they do not love God. Jesus said, “He that hath my commandments, and keepth them, he it is that loveth me” (Jn. 14:21). Love for God, is what enables us to keep His commandments.  If we genuinely love God – all we will ever want to do, is to please Him – we please Him by keeping His commandments – “if you love me keep my commandments.” But if further assurance is necessary, Jesus has told us, that what we consider impossible, is God’s opportunity.  Jesus said to his disciples, “The way of salvation always looks more difficult to humans than to God.  With God, anything is possible” (Matt. 19:26).  The Clear Word, paraphrase.

The Advent believers calculated, the 2300-year prophecy in Daniel 8:14, to end on October 22, 1844. The mistake they made was not the time period.  It was the event to take place in 1844, that they got wrong – they got the time right, but the event wrong. They understood the phrase “then shall the sanctuary be cleansed” (Dan. 8:14), to refer to the earth – they mistakenly believed, that the sanctuary was the earth. And the only reference to the earth being cleansed, that they could find in Scripture was by fire – which they equated to the second coming of Christ.  Therefore, they reasoned, that the cleansing of the sanctuary, must refer to the second coming of Christ.

God held His hand over this mistake, to test the people’s faith. John was not allowed, to write down what the seven thunders said.  Nevertheless, diligent Bible study, enabled the Advent believers to reconsider their position and enabled them to understand the mistake they had made. Subsequently, they understood, that Jesus had indeed moved His location – not to earth – but from the holy place to the most holy place in heaven. They discovered further, that the reason Jesus entered into the most holy place, was to begin the final phase of His ministry in heaven – the investigative judgment.

They made these discoveries, by realizing the key phrase “then shall the sanctuary be cleansed” referred to the sanctuary in heaven. And they made this discovery by studying the earthly sanctuary service. They then realized, that they were fulfilling the prophecies in Revelation such as those concerning the Philadelphia Church. These discoveries were confirmed, by the newly given gift of prophecy to Ellen Harmon (White):

The application of Revelation 3:7, 8, (the Philadelphia Church) to the heavenly sanctuary and Christ’s ministry was entirely new to me. I had never heard the idea advanced by anyone.  Now as the subject of the sanctuary is being clearly understood, the application is seen in its force and beauty.  EW 86.

They also understood, that they were fulfilling the prophecy of Revelation chapter ten and the first verses of chapter eleven. John was told to, “Rise and measure the temple of God.”  This was a command to put the ‘great disappointment’ behind them and to study and understand the sanctuary service, and when the Advent believers did this, they also understood that the reference to: “and the altar and them that worship there” is referring to the beginning of the investigative judgment. Ellen White’s comments on “measuring the temple” include:

The grand judgment is taking place, and has been going on for some time. Now the Lord says, Measure the temple and the worshippers thereof. Remember when you are walking the streets about your business, God is measuring you; when you are attending your household duties, when you engage in conversation, God is measuring you… Here is the work going on, measuring the temple and its worshippers to see who will stand in the last day. Those who stand fast shall have an abundant entrance into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  SDABC Vol. 7, p. 972.

Only those who have professed a faith in Christ, appear in the investigative judgment. This fact is acknowledged in the words: “But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles” (Rev. 11:2). The sanctuary represents heaven – the courtyard outside the sanctuary, represents the place where the world and heaven intersect. When Jesus died on the cross the focus was on the courtyard, and the ministry of Christ as the Lamb. When Jesus ascended to heaven, the focus was on the holy place and the ministry of Jesus as our High Priest. In 1844, the focus moved again, this time to the most holy place and the ministry of Christ as the Judge. Therefore, at this time, the believers had to follow (by faith) Jesus as He moved from the holy place to the most holy place.

Unbelievers reside outside the sanctuary, in the world. Believers are spiritual Jews or Israelites (see James 1:1; Rev. 2:9; 3:9; 7:1-8). A Gentile is anyone who is not a Jew. Therefore, spiritually, a Gentile is an unbeliever. Thus, the instruction not to “measure” the Gentiles in the courtyard is acknowledging the fact that unbelievers are not judged at this time. [The literal Jews acknowledged this fact, by allowing the Gentiles into the literal earthly courtyard of the temple, but they were not allowed to proceed any further].

 

Conclusion

Just as God’s last church, is depicted as the sixth, in the series of seven churches, and just as the same church is depicted as the sixth, in the seven seals, so too, is the same church depicted as the sixth in the time periods of the seven trumpets. The Bible is telling the same story in different ways. In the seals, God’s people, are presented in a parenthesis, between the sixth and seventh seals, in the same manner, God’s people are presented in a parenthesis, between the sixth and seventh trumpets. The purpose is to inform us, that when the seventh trumpet begins to ‘sound’ the work depicted as, “you must prophecy again” would begin. This ‘work’ conducted by the Advent people would result in the ‘mystery of God’ being finished. Followed by Jesus changing roles, form Judge to King, and coming back to take the Philadelphia Church, the 144,000, the Advent people and all the resurrected saints home.