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"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.' "And there followed another angel, saying, 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.' "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, 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: 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.' "Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." "I was shown three steps - the first, second, and third angels' messages. Said my accompanying angel, 'Woe to him who shall move a block or stir a pin of these messages. The true understanding of these messages is of vital importance. The destiny of souls hangs upon the manner in which they are received.'" "Those who have had no experience in the first and second angels' messages must receive them from others who had an experience and followed down through the messages. As Jesus was rejected, so I saw that these messages have been rejected. As the disciples declared that there is salvation in no other name under heaven, given among men, so also should the servants of God faithfully and fearlessly warn those who embrace but a part of the truths connected with the third message, that they must gladly receive all the messages as God has given them, or have no part in the matter." What are the truths in the third message which we are most likely to embrace? That we will receive the mark of the beast if we do not keep the commandments of God, especially the Sabbath. Having the faith of Jesus is often overlooked, and yet without that faith we have not experienced even the first angel's message, which is the everlasting gospel, making it possible for us to obey God's law in the heart. "Many who embraced the third message had not had an experience in the two former messages. Satan understood this, and his evil eye was upon them to overthrow them; but the third angel was pointing them to the most holy place, and those who had had an experience in the past messages were pointing them the way to the heavenly sanctuary. Many saw the perfect chain of truth in the angels' messages, and gladly received them in their order, and followed Jesus by faith into the heavenly sanctuary. These messages were represented to me as an anchor to the people of God. Those who understand and receive them will be kept from being swept away by the many delusions of Satan." 
The third angel was pointing them to the most holy place where the law is under the mercy seat. Those who had experienced the gospel could show them how to enter the sanctuary through repentance, surrender, cleansing by the blood and regeneration by water and the Spirit. Then through the ministry of Christ in the holy place they would receive the Holy Spirit in the life, they would be fed with the spiritual bread, and through Christ working in them His righteousness they could live His character, thus fulfilling the just requirements of the law which is in the most holy place, by which they will be judged. "All should understand the truths contained in these messages and demonstrate them in daily life, for this is essential to salvation." Now we will examine the messages in the order and manner in which they are given. |