Closing Scenes of This Earth's History (1a) - with added comments and extended material
THE CLOSING SCENES OF EARTH'S HISTORY
Elder William Barr
(Sermon 1 of 12)
A series of 12 stirring studies by the late Elder W.Barr of California. Transcribed from audio tapes. The original studies given around 1950.
[
BRIEF OUTLINE:
Early Time of Trouble - - The Shaking - The Latter Rain (Loud Cry of the 3rd
Angel) - The Sealing (Mark of the Beast vs. the Seal of God) - A WORLD UNION OF
CHURCH AND STATE and the Sunday Law - Close of Probation;
The Great Time of Trouble - - the Death Decree - Sunday Law enforced worldwide
- Jacob's Trouble - Final Deliverance, Christ's Second Advent, Armageddon, the
Millennium and wicked judged, Resurrection of damnation and the War of Gog and
Magog, Restoration. ]
INTRODUCTION
As we start these studies a solemnity rests upon my heart when I know that I am
going to deal with the instruction God has given us for the very last days of
earth's history.
I shall begin with a passage found in
GC page 594:
"The events connected with the close of probation, and the work of
preparing for the Time of Trouble are clearly presented, but multitudes have no
more understanding of these important truths than if they had never been
revealed. Satan watches to catch away every impression that will make them wise
unto salvation that the Time of Trouble will find them unready. " (GC 594)
Then let us study these closing events of probation as God has outlined them in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, and God help us to be prepared for that hour.
I shall not go back in the review of the signs of the second coming of Christ any farther than the book of Revelation takes us in its wonderful list of sevens.
Firstly, there were Seven Churches given, giving the prophetic history of religious movements to take place before the second coming of our Saviour. Where are we living in this great list of churches? In the last one, the Laodicean Church of judgement-bound people, earth's last hour.
Secondly, there is brought to view
Seven Seals. Where are we living in the history of these seven seals? Shall we
read Rev. 6: 12-14:
"And when he had opened the sixth seal, l0, there was a great earthquake,
the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood, and
the stars of heaven fell unto the earth even as a fig tree casteth her untimely
figs when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heavens departed as a scroll,
and every island and every mountain were moved out of their places. "
The events of verse 14 take place at the beginning of the seventh plague, nearly one year beyond the close of probation. We stand then between verses 13 and 14. Today, the last event of the sixth seal has taken place that will take place before the close of probation's hour.
Between the sixth seal of Rev.6 and the seventh seal as recorded in chapter 8 the sealing message is introduced. Seemingly this is a mix-up, but not so. These chapters follow the logical order of events happening under these seals. The 13th verse of Rev.6 ends with the falling of the stars. Between 1833 when the stars fell and the coming of Jesus, John saw the rise and development of that great Advent Message. He saw people 144,000 strong eternally saved, sealed with the seal of the living God. That seal as you all know, is the sign of God's creative power, His holy Sabbath day.
The Sabbath then according to prophecy was to be revived and brought prominently before the world again as the final test of loyalty after 1833.
The third message of sevens is the seven trumpets -- those seven great wars between the first and second advents of Jesus. And again here there seems to be an interruption by placing chapter 10 between the close of the 6th trumpet in Rev.9, and the sounding of the 7th trumpet in Rev.11.
In this chapter (10) we have again the Advent message brought prominently to view. Here we have a mighty angel coming down from heaven having a little book open. What is the significance of that little book -- open? It suggests that some book had been closed, but now the time had come for it to be opened and understood.
The only book that was closed from a Bible standpoint and to be opened again was the book of Daniel. Note chap.12: 4-9. What do you find in the book of Daniel of special interest to you as a Seventh-day Adventist? It is the 8th and 9th chapters containing the 2300 day period which ended in 1844, ushering in the movement that will close earth's history, God's great judgement day.
Now the latter part of Rev. 10 brings us to the bitter disappointment that was found in the little closed book that was opened—the bitter disappointment of 1844 when it was predicted that Christ would come in that year and He didn't. But notice particularly verse 11:
"And he said unto me, thou ... " John was the individual who ate the book and had the bitter experience. He represents God's movement and God's people on earth that would pass through that experience .... "thou "-the very ones who go through this bitter disappointment have a work to do after 1844 .... "thou must prophesy again ". After your disappointment you must prophesy to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. All the events, my friends, which we shall study in this series, take place during the time of God's judgement hour, from 1844 to the close of time.
Now let us come to chap. 11 for the seventh trumpet. It is called the 'woe trumpet'. It is to be a thing of sorrow. A thing to be dreaded to pass through. A thing that is going to be an awful
experience for the people of earth. Verse 18 (Rev. 11) brings us to the events of that seventh trumpet.
The first expression: "The nations were angry." Brethren, all the former trumpets are given in the singular, that is, one nation rising against another single nation; one power against another single power. But when it comes to the seventh trumpet it is an uprising of the world: "The nations were angry. "
May I ask you? 'When did this uprising take place for the first time in history?' You say, 'in World War One, 1914-1918.' That's right! That's coming very close to the day that you and I are living in now isn't it.
I want to go back to chapter 10 for one text. Thrown right into the midst of the message that is going to sweep the world following the bitter disappointment God introduces verse 7 thus: "And in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished." Not when he has half-way finished his sounding, nor when he has ended it, but when he begins to sound. Now you know what the 'mystery of God' is. It is the Gospel by which men are saved. Note what Matt.24: 14 says:
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." And in the days of the seventh angel, when he begins to sound the gospel shall be proclaimed in all the earth, and the end shall come.
Look now at this second event in Rev.11: 18. What do we have?
First: The nations were angry.
Then: Thy wrath is come. What is the wrath of God? It is the seven last plagues
isn't it? What comes then between these two statements? — The Close of
Probation.
And there is where we stand today brethren. God focuses down to 1914 my friends and says, 'shortly thereafter the gospel is going to be finished'.
Let us note the third, fourth, and
fifth events of this seal.
The third: "And the time of the dead, that they should be judged."
The fourth: “That thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.”
Mark those events one at a time for we have been informed by the messenger of God on page 36 of Early Writings that these events follow one another in their logical order. Only the first of these, beloved, take place before the close of probation. Four of them take place afterwards.
Let me read the statement as it occurs on page 36 of Early Writings:
"I saw that the anger of the
nations, the wrath of God, and the time to judge the dead were separate and
distinct, one following the other. "
Now shall we look back at that passage just a moment once again?
First; the nations were angry. Second; the seven last plagues come. [ Note:
Second: “Thy wrath is come” ] Third; the judging of the dead.
This judging of the dead is not the Investigative Judgement now going on in
heaven, for in that judgement those judged are not all dead. It is a judgement
of both dead and living. The judgement of the dead here spoken of can be
nothing else than the judgement of the wicked during the thousand years of the
Millennium. They are all dead when judged in that judgement.
Then what is the fourth event? "That thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets and to the saints." When does the reward of the saints come? When the New Earth is created, after the thousand years are over.
Now after the thousand years the
fifth event comes; "and shouldest destroy them which destroy the
earth." This is the destruction of the wicked in the second death.
So the seventh trumpet covers the period of time from the nations being angry
before the close of probation to the time that God creates a new heaven and a
new earth one thousand years later. And in the beginning of the sounding of the
seventh angel, the message to all the earth is going to be finished, and Jesus
is going to close the records of heaven.
Brethren, may it never be said, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved ... (Jer. 8: 20) I hope to stir your hearts during this series of studies to let you realise that what you do you must do quickly to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
But God even goes beyond 1914, and tells us things that are to take place, and ARE taking place this very moment before our eyes.
Do you suppose that with such a tense movement that is in the world today between the greatest nations of the earth, that God would not say something about it? I'm talking about the situation with regard to the USA and Russia [Roy: now Nth. Korea too..... ] as it affects the rest of the world.
In the 38th chapter of Ezekiel we have the history of tomorrow given to us. I shall read from the American Standard Revised version in this whole chapter, as I read it.
“Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him.”
Now, who are these tribes of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal; Gog and Magog?
…..................................................
[ For an explanation, see..... http://www.tedmontgomery.com/bblovrvw/GogAntichrist/moredetails.html ]
…...................................................
All Bible commentators and men who deal with sacred geography, places all of them north of the Caucasus Mountains and north of the Black Sea. They say this..... “They are the peoples covering the extreme North, and the extreme East. Let me read what Dean Stanley has to say.....
“Some ancient historians say that the Russians were called by the Greeks, 'Rosh', and that they derived their name from Ross, a brilliant man who delivered them from their yoke. From 'Rosh' we get 'Russia'; from 'Meshech',--'Moscow'; from 'Tubal', Tobolsk.”
Now let's follow down through the 38th chapter rapidly. Verses 6 and 7, “Gomer, and all his bands. The house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands, and many people with thee. Be thou prepared, and prepare thyself also, and all thy company that are assembled with thee, and be thou a commander unto them.” verse 8 “after many days thou shalt be visited, in the latter days.”
That's an SDA expression isn't it, “the latter days”--meaning the closing scenes of earth's history. Thus Russia is going to be a commander of many peoples in the latter days,--is she?
Let's go on, “Thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many peoples, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste, but is brought forth out of the nations, and they dwell safely. Thou shalt ascend, and come like a storm, and thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land. Thou and all thy bands, and many people with thee.”
Brethren, notice the last expression in verse 10, “and thou shalt think an evil thought. Thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of un-walled villages.” In other words, Russia, in the last days, is going to go to go to people who can't help themselves against her might,--people that have lost their protection, and that cannot withstand her; and the verse continues, “I will go to them that rest and dwell safely, all of them, to take a spoil and to take a prey.”
What has Russia been doing since World War 2 to all the nations that she has brought under her control?--exactly what God has said; robbing the resources of her satellite countries, and also their manpower.
I'm going to pass on now to verse 15. It reads thus, “Thou shalt come from thy place, out of the north parts, thou and many people with thee, all of them riding on horses, a great company and mighty army. They shall come up against the people of Israel, like a cloud to cover the land. It shall be in the latter days. And I will bring thee against my land.”
Verse 18,-- “And it shall come to pass at the same time that Gog shall come against Israel saith The Lord, that My fury shall come up before my face.” What is the Fury, or the Wrath of God, brethren?--but the Seven Last Plagues! Then according to this text, when Russia does strike, probation's hour has already closed.
May I ask, Is Russia getting under her control, many peoples today? Is she poised with a mighty army where she can strike through the Middle East to the land of Israel? What holds her back? Only God knows, but I do know, according to this prophecy, time is growing short.
Again, please note verses 21 and 22. (Ezek. 38) “And I will call for a sword against him, throughout all my mountains, saith The Lord. Every man's sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence, with blood, and I will rain upon him, and his bands, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire and brimstone.”
We know that on all of her border, and all of her satellite borders, her armies stand poised for any eventuality...
(Note by Roy. Some of us can remember the Hungarian Uprising of 1956. Russia quickly sent in tanks and troops by railway and crushed the uprising.)
… It is so also on the borders of Iran. She can strike down through that territory with little hindrance at any time. Some day, according to this chapter, she will do it, and when she does, remember, every name is settled in the Judgment of God. When she does strike, this text says, “I will plead (judge,- -punish: see Strong's concordance 8199) against him with pestilence and blood, and rain upon him..... an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire and brimstone.” This can be nothing else than the 2nd, 3rd, and 7th plagues of what The Bible speaks of as the Seven Last Plagues.
Let us go right on into chapter 39. “Therefore thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, thus saith The Lord God; behold I am against thee, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech, and Tubal, I'll turn thee back...” Please notice your margin now on the next statement in your King James version. I will “strike thee with six plagues.” When is God going to turn him back?--at the end of the sixth plague; at the beginning of the seventh!
The stage IS being set, and the armies ARE being formed in this day of yours and mine for the closing of earth's history.
But God has brought us down to our time in another way. I suppose you have the little book called, "Country Living." I will read from page 8: (also Evangelism p.29)
"Last Friday morning, just before I awoke, a very impressive scene was
presented before me. I seemed to awake from sleep, but not in my own home. From
the windows I could behold a terrible conflagration. Great balls of fire were
falling upon houses, and from these balls fiery arrows were flying in every
direction. It was impossible to stop the fires that were kindled, and many
places were being destroyed. The terror of the people was indescribable. "
Let me ask you, what was Sister White looking at;—the nuclear bomb? Eyewitnesses have described this explosion in similar terms. Can you see that the God of heaven has brought us down to our very hour, warning us of what is about to take place?
Now in closing this study I want to introduce the subject of the next one. In so doing I want to call your attention to page 33 of Early Writings. Sister White says this:
“At the commencement of the time of trouble, we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully."
When do we proclaim the Sabbath more fully? In the Time of Trouble!! That statement caused some confusion when she first wrote it. The brethren said; 'Well Sister White, the Time of Trouble is after the Close of Probation.' So she made an explanation of what she meant, and it is found on page 85 of the same book (Early Writings).
Put those two statements together and
study them. Quote:
"The commencement of that time of trouble here mentioned does not refer to
the time when the plagues shall begin to be poured out, but to a short period
just before they are poured out, while Christ is still in the sanctuary. At
that time, while the work of salvation is closing, trouble will be coming on
the earth, and the nations will be angry .... At that time the 'Latter Rain' or
refreshing from the presence of the Lord will come. "
Do you get the import of this? Just a short period before the plagues are poured out the nations will be angry. And at that time while the nations are angry, while trouble is coming on the earth, but before the close of probation the Latter Rain or refreshing from the Lord must come. I ask you my brethren, just where do we stand?
The nations are angry. The whole world is in trouble. The time has come when God desires to pour out the Latter Rain. But sad to say we are not ready.
Now Sister White definitely pointed
out two world wars in this connection. We find in Testimonies, vol.1, p 259,
this statement:
"England is studying whether it is best to take advantage of the present
weak condition of our nation (USA) and venture to make war upon her."
This message was written on Jan.2nd, 1863. The USA was in the midst of a Civil War, and up to that time the Northern armies had lost most of the battles. America was weak. England was studying whether she should go to the help of the South, and split the USA in two. It would be to her advantage to do so but: "she fears, if she should commence war abroad, that she would be weak at home, and that other nations would take advantage of her weakness .... But if England thinks it will pay, she will not hesitate a moment to improve her opportunities to exercise her power, and humble our nation. "
But she didn't. Note carefully the next statement: "When England does declare war .... there will be general war, general confusion." After 1863, when England declares war you will have general war is the statement. Look up your history brethren, and you will see that it was in 1914 that England declared war on another nation.
Still writing on the same thought, and at the same time, Sister White continued on page 268: "I was shown the inhabitants of the earth in the utmost confusion. War, bloodshed, want, privation, famine, pestilence were abroad in the land.”
Please note that it is the inhabitants of the earth that are at war—World War. Going to the next paragraph we read: "My attention was then called from the scene. There seemed to be a little time of peace.
“Once more the inhabitants of the earth were presented before me; and again everything was in the utmost confusion. Strife, war and bloodshed, with famine and pestilence, raged everywhere. Other nations were engaged in this war and confusion. War caused famine. Want and bloodshed caused pestilence. And then men's hearts failed them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.”
Brethren, this scene can fit nothing but World Wars 1 and 2. Between them was a false peace when some nations frantically armed for a greater struggle. The servant of the Lord said: "There seemed to be a little time of peace, and then...... the hearts of men “failed them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.”
May I ask you; when did the nations begin to be struck stark stiff with fear? In 1945 when the Atomic bombs were exploded over Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Sister White saw two World Wars, and then the Latter Rain. This, my friends, is the event standing between us [ in the present time ] and the Close of Probation.
[ Note: REV. 13:13 'And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.' We are now in REV. 13:14, but have not yet reached the time of REV. 13:15 which involves the coming Death Decree. ]
Oh, how good God has been to this people to reveal to us so accurately where we stand in relationship to His Second Coming. Thank God for the wonderful gift of the Spirit of Prophecy.
May this study not frighten us, but inspire us to quickly conform our lives to
His will, and study to make first things first; "For in such an hour as ye
think not the Son of man cometh." (Matt.24:44)
AMEN!
[ Elder William Barr Sermon Series - Introduction 1a with added material and comments
]