In Matt 17:10-13, the disciples asked Jesus why did the scribes say that Elijah must come first, and Jesus replied that, yes, Elijah must first come to restore all things, but Elijah had already come and the scribes didn't know him. The disciples knew that Jesus was talking about John the Baptist.

What was John the Baptist to restore? In Luke 3, we find that John preached repentance (a turning away from sin which is law breaking) and a reformation in the life.

In Luke 3:19, he rebuked Herod for his adulterous relationship with Herodias, his brother's wife. John restored the moral law of God to its rightful place. Yet, many preachers and people in Christendom today believe and teach that you don't have to do anything. All you have to do is believe. Not true. The Devil believes and trembles. To heed what John the Baptist admonished him for, King Herod needed to confess his sin of adultery and get rid of Herodias.

In Mal 4:4-6, the Elijah message is directly connected to obedience to the law of God which mandates proper worship of God. In the time of the end, just before the return of Jesus Christ, the Elijah message, once again, will be heard from one end of the earth to the other in the proclamation of the three angels' messages of Revelation 14 restoring the law of God to its rightful place and proclaiming with a loud voice to 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.

The Bible is saturated from beginning to end with God's attitude toward worship not directed to Him. With scathing rebukes and pronouncement of death and destruction for disobedience, there were tears in His voice--How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee, Israel? Why would you die in your sins? Return to me and be ye saved. While Satan forces worship through legislative enactments, God woos and gently entreats in a still, small voice: Come unto Me and I will give you rest.

Most people today do not have an understanding of the significance of the 2300-day prophecy of Daniel 8:14. They do not have the dates of the prophetic events, i.e. anointing of Jesus, a.d. 27, His death, a.d. 31, the Gospel going to the Gentiles, a.d. 34, and the judgment hour of 1844. These dates, derived and calculated from the start date of the 2300-day prophecy which was 457 b.c., are like anchors in our prophetic understanding that keep us from floundering about and being blown by every wind of doctrine. They are historical landmarks that tell us we are heading in the right direction in God's prophetic time.

People without this knowledge come up with all kinds of startling interpretations. The majority of Christians today look at what's happening in the Middle East and think that's a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. They expect Armageddon to happen with the Euphrates River drying up, and the kings of the east--the Arabs, Chinese, Russians and maybe other nations of the world marching in and congregating in that little segment of real estate in the Middle East in a physical confrontation to fight it out to the death (Rev 16:12).

Think about this for a moment. In this nuclear age where a single warhead can annihilate the entire world, do we even need the Euphrates river to dry up to prepare the way for the kings of the east to capture Babylon? It even sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?

In a spiritual application, this simply means that the support system of modern, spiritual Babylon (which is very powerful, influential, and materially rich), would be cut off just as the support system of ancient Babylon was "dried up" when Cyrus, king from the east, diverted the waters of the Euphrates River which ran underneath the city, and his armies entered Babylon from underneath its thick, massive walls on a dry riverbed. Belshazzar was killed and Babylon was captured in a single night fulfilling the prophecy in Daniel 2.

King Cyrus was a type of Christ. He was called the Anointed. He was the Deliverer of God's people who were captives in literal Babylon, and he came from the east (Isa 44:28; 45:1-3). Christ is the Anointed. He is the Deliverer of His people who are captives in spiritual Babylon, and He will come from the east, from heaven, with all the angelic armies not only to take over but completely destroy spiritual Babylon and take His children home! Praise God!

Did you see the parallels? I tell you, the Bible is full of parallels and dual applications and fulfillments. Why do you suppose that this is so? Simple - to help us understand the Bible, heed the admonitions, and be preserved. Isn't God wonderful and wise? God wants to save us! Not destroy us! He has mansions prepared for us! If we are lost, it would not be God's fault. It would be because we have chosen our own perverse will over God's perfect will. God's will has always been to save us!

It's amazing how countless preachers preach a physical confrontation as the final battle of Armageddon when the Bible is plain that it is a spiritual warfare. The sad part is that countless people believe it. That's exactly where Satan wants them to be--in ignorance.

You think Satan is not capable of causing such havoc over there in the Middle East just to make it appear that Bible prophecies concerning Israel are being fulfilled there? He is more than capable. He is a master deceiver. He has power to send down fire from heaven and do many wonderful miracles even appearing as an angel of light to deceive the whole world even to the point that if it were possible, he will deceive the very elect. This is not saying that it is not possible that the Middle East situation could trigger other events that would culminate in the time of trouble such as never before experienced in the history of mankind (Dan 12:1).

Overlooking the beautiful temple in Jerusalem, Jesus wept as he uttered his prophetic judgment to a nation who rejected His gift of salvation. "Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate..."

Yes, Satan wants people diverted from the real issue. He wants them looking at the wrong place. He wants them looking for a temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem (a city that God rejected eons ago) instead of looking by faith to the temple in heaven that's not made by human hands to see the mediatorial and cleansing work that is going on NOW and search deep into their hearts and with prayer and fasting confess their sins.

Before a Jewish temple could be rebuilt in Jerusalem, the Muslim's Dome of the Rock would have to be destroyed for that's where Solomon's temple was. Try tearing down the Dome of the Rock and see what happens. There would be more bloodshed for nothing. The real Armageddon is a spiritual battle with the forces of good and evil, and every inhabitant of this planet in rebellion is a participant. The preparation needed for victory is a heart preparation. Why not choose Christ and be on His side in this great and final conflict between good and evil?

Well, Tom, this concludes the first angel's message of Revelation 14. This is the angel having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth 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 water. WOW! I didn't realize it would take these many pages to write about the first angel's message alone!

The second angel's message is not as involved. It is a warning that Babylon is fallen. Babylon denotes confusion. It constitutes just about all the churches in Christendom because they teach heresies, proclaiming that the eternal moral law is done away with, and they practice what the Babylonians did back then. Please note that this is not a criticism of the churches on my part, but a warning from a loving God to His people to come out of these churches for they have fallen and will receive the seven last plagues.

Here are some popular "Christian" beliefs and practices today that came from ancient Babylon: The belief in the immortality of the soul despite what the Bible teaches that the soul that sinneth it shall die (Eze 18:4) constitutes Babylon. Only God has immortality (1 Tim 6:16). The belief in eternal torment, not taught in Scripture, also constitutes Babylon. The wages of sin is eternal death, not eternal life in hell. Many believe in astrology (horoscopes) and similar occultic practices that are condemned in the Bible. Many observe pagan practices, rituals and holidays, Sunday sacredness is based on sun worship. Many partake of Babylonish diet of unclean foods and intoxicating beverages (Dan 1:8; Isa 66:15-17).

These beliefs and practices most assuredly would bring the judgment of God upon a nation who claims to know Him. Find out the truth about what Paul meant in 2 Cor 5:8 where he wrote that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord by clicking here. Other similar truths are contained in that document.

I like to mention that the teaching of the immortality of the soul was not original with the pagans. It came from the Garden of Eden when the old serpent told the woman you shall not surely die even after God had told her she would die if she ate of the fruit of the forbidden tree. Satan's lie is the root of modern spiritualism and spiritism--communicating with the dead or the spirit world when the Bible is full of texts that the dead know not anything (Eccl 9:5, Ps 146:4, Acts 2:34, Ps 115:17, Ps 6:5).

The third angel's message is a warning not to receive the mark of the Beast. This is the sealing angel who wants you to receive the Seal of God instead. The fourth angel joins with the third angel and the whole earth was lightened with his glory. Earth's inhabitants are given the opportunity to know the facts, to know what's at stake, and to make intelligent decisions whom they would serve. This letter may be your only opportunity to consider seriously what's being presented and make a decision that would affect your eternal destiny.

Many Christians have their own interpretation of Revelation 14. Whatever it is, I know for a certainty that many will be overwhelmingly surprised because end-time events would happen differently than they had expected. Why am I so confident that what I've outlined in this letter is what's going to happen and not what others have speculated would happen? Simple. Because everything in Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Dan 2 is fulfilled historically except the second coming of Christ. We are living in the toe nails of this prophecy where church and state will be combined and persecution follows (Dan 12:1). Already the stage is set, and the players are coming together. Prophecy says that the movements in these last days will be rapid ones.

The 2300-day (year) prophecy of Dan 8:14 specified the dates of the anointing of the Messiah in a.d.27, His death and resurrection in a.d. 31, the close of probation for the Jews in a.d. 34. From a.d.34, 1810 years remained of the 2300 years, and that extended to 1844. The cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary started in 1844. The fulfilled events and dates in the 2300-day prophecy are convincing proofs that we have interpreted God's timetable/calendar correctly. Everything happened on time. The judgment began and will end on time. Then Jesus will return to this earth on time.

Since 1844 God's people were/are living in the time of the end, a time of judgment--the antitypical Day of Atonement just before the return of Jesus Christ. The parallel between the typical sanctuary services and the antitypical heavenly sanctuary services, the cleansing of both sanctuaries--all confirmed in the book of Hebrews, is convincing proof of the veracity of the judgment message we teach, and it's part of the everlasting Gospel of the first angel of Revelation 14.

Understanding the 2300-day (year) prophecy means we understand that end-time prophecies concerning Israel will be fulfilled, not through literal Israel because of their disobedience and rejection of the Messiah, but through spiritual Israel--the Christian Church whose members love God, keep all His commandments, have the faith of Jesus, and receive the Seal of the living God. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Pet 2:9-10; Rev 1:6, 5:10).

A hundred years ago, many denominations in Christendom believed the same way as I've outlined in this letter. Martin Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Knox, and other reformers all understood and taught that the antichrist is the Papacy. Today, the followers of these great men of God have changed. They no longer believe or teach this. God's truths are truths whether they be unpopular and/or religiously and politically incorrect.

The warning of the three angels' messages of Revelation is a life-and-death warning from a loving God to call His people out of Babylon and not receive the mark of the Beast and receive of her plagues. In this letter I am proclaiming as loudly as I possible could this warning message because I do not want your blood upon my garment. I also know that I would have to give an account to God for what I have done with the talent He has given me. To emulate the example of the priests back then in the time of Josiah who faithfully read the book of the law to the people, I am lifting up God's downtrodden law and pleading with you to restore it to its rightful place--in your heart and mind.

Civil laws, sanitation laws, dietary laws, statutes and ordinances pertaining to equity and justice extended to widows, orphans, strangers, just weights and measures, usury, inheritance, vows and pledges, righteous judgments by judges, etc., remain for these statutes are in reality principles derived from the eternal moral law of ten commandments--love to God and love to our fellowmen. Some of these statutes were adapted to take into consideration the period of time that people live in.

The majority of Christians are trampling on God's law (knowingly or unknowinly) and are on the side of Satan in this great conflict of the ages. It is tragic that many people will be lost because they chose to be on the wrong side of the tracks in the great controversy between Christ and Satan over the law of God.

How right the Bible is when it says: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matt 7:13,14)." The Bible also says that many are called but few are chosen (Matt 20:16; 22:14). This simply means that many would choose not to receive the gift of salvation. Many enjoy their lifestyle here and now and wouldn't want to change. These people would be terribly unhappy in heaven; in fact, they would be miserable there. There would be nothing there for them to do. God will certainly honor their choice. In His love and mercy He would put them out of existence rather than force them against their will to be in heaven.

If you desire eternal life and want to be with Jesus throughout eternity, you simply need to switch sides in the great controversy between good and evil. I consider you my friend, Tom, and I'm giving you the information you need to make your decision to come out of Babylon that you not partake of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. Here's your opportunity to switch sides.

Here's more taken from the book The Great Controversy: "Only by changing God's law could the papacy exalt itself above God; whoever should understandingly keep the law as thus changed would be giving supreme honor to that power by which the change was made. Such an act of obedience to the papal laws would be a mark of allegiance to the pope in the place of God.

"The enforcement of Sunday-keeping on the part of the Protestant churches is an enforcement of the worship of the papacy--of the beast. Those who, understanding the claims of the fourth commandment, choose to observe the false instead of the true Sabbath, are thereby paying homage to that power by which alone it is commanded. But in the very act of enforcing a religious duty by secular power, the churches would themselves form an image to the beast; hence the enforcement of Sunday-keeping in the United States would be an enforcement of the worship of the beast and his image.  

"The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of Spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.

"When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result. The 'image to the beast' represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas.

"Christians of past generations observed the Sunday, supposing that in so doing they were keeping the Bible Sabbath; and there are now true Christians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholic communion, who honestly believe that Sunday is the Sabbath of divine appointment. God accepts their sincerity of purpose and their integrity before Him. But when Sunday observance shall be enforced by law, and the world shall be enlightened concerning the obligation of the true Sabbath, then whosoever shall transgress the command of God, to obey a precept which has no higher authority than that of Rome, will thereby honor popery above God. He is paying homage to Rome, and to the power which enforces the institution ordained by Rome. He is worshipping the beast and his image.

"As men then reject the institution which God has declared to be the sign of His authority, and honor in its stead that which Rome has chosen as the token of her supremacy, they will thereby accept the sign of allegiance to Rome--'the mark of the beast.' And it is not until the issue is thus plainly set before the people, and they are brought to choose between the commandments of God and the commandments of men, that those who continue in transgression will receive 'the mark of the beast'.

"The dignitaries of church and state will be united to bribe, persuade, or compel all classes to honor the Sunday. The lack of divine authority will be supplied by oppressive enactments. Political corruption is destroying love of justice and regard for truth; and even in free America, rulers and legislators, in order to secure public favor, will yield to the popular demand for a law enforcing Sunday observance. Liberty of conscience, which has cost so great a sacrifice, will no longer be respected. In the soon-coming conflict we shall see exemplified the prophet's words, 'The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.' (Rev 12:17).

"Terrible as these inflictions are, God's justice stands fully vindicated. The angel of God declares: 'Thou art righteous, O Lord,...because Thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and Thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy' (Rev 16:2-6).  CLICK on the NEXT Button to continue.

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