Habakkuk's Two Tables #38

Part Five: 1863

Presented by Jeff Pippenger

Invocation by Brother Jeff Pippenger: Heavenly Father, we thank you for giving us a good night's rest, and now we ask that you would grant us the presence of your Holy Spirit as we consider these truths that you have for us this morning. We ask that you forgive our sins that we might be fit vessels to receive the light that you have for us. We want the Latter Rain poured out upon us, and we ask that you would accomplish this. We ask that you would take control of this presentation and overrule the human element that the message might be from the Throne from on high. Please bless the work that we are doing here beyond the simple worship. We thank you for these things in Jesus's name. Amen.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: We are still dealing with Isaiah 7; 1863, the beginning of James White setting aside the foundational truths, with the beginning of William Miller's dream.

Proof-Texting (Line upon Line)

The Fourth Generation

But, before we get back into Isaiah 7, we are going to add a line of truth to it about the fourth generation.

You see in your notes Exodus 34:7, saying,

"Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation." Exodus 34:7 (KJV).

And then you have listed in your notes also Exodus 20:5-6; Numbers 14:17-18; and Deuteronomy 5:9-10, which emphasize this same truth, that the Lord deals with men in probationary terms under four generations.

When you get to the time period when the Lord is accomplishing the Everlasting Gospel in the generation that He is addressing, it is prophetically the fourth generation.

Probationary Time

Genesis 15:12-16

If you go to Genesis 15, beginning at verse 12, it says,

"¹²And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. ¹³And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not their's , and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; ¹⁴And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

"¹⁵And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. ¹⁶But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full." Genesis 15:12-16 (KJV).

So, if you look closely, Egypt is getting judged there; therefore, prophetically it would be the fourth generation of Egypt.

Israel is going to come out of Egypt in their fourth generation, and when they come out the Amorites are going to be judged in their fourth generation. So, you have three illustrations there, simultaneously. So, we want to understand that when we get down to The Sunday Law time period, we are in the fourth generation of Adventism, and we want to understand that in the Millerite History, prophetically it was the fourth generation of the Protestant churches. They were the ones that were under the gun there. William Miller was presenting the First Angel's Message to the Protestants of that generation.

In speaking of the iniquity of the Amorites, in Testimonies, volume 5, page 207, Sister White places it in the context of Ezekiel 8. She quotes from Ezekiel 8 and then she comments. She says,

"'And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side; and the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.'

"Jesus is about to leave the mercy seat of the heavenly sanctuary to put on garments of vengeance and pour out His wrath in judgments upon those who have not responded to the light God has given them. 'Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.' Instead of being softened by the patience and long forbearance that the Lord has exercised toward them, those who fear not God and love not the truth strengthen their hearts in their evil course. But there are limits even to the forbearance of God, and many are exceeding these boundaries. They have overrun the limits of grace, and therefore God must interfere and vindicate His own honor.

"Of the Amorites the Lord said: 'In the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.' Although this nation was conspicuous because of its idolatry and corruption, it had not yet filled up the cup of its iniquity, and God would not give command for its utter destruction. The people were to see the divine power manifested in a marked manner, that they might be left without excuse. The compassionate Creator was willing to bear with their iniquity until the fourth generation. Then, if no change was seen for the better, His judgments were to fall upon them.

"With unerring accuracy the Infinite One still keeps an account with all nations. While His mercy is tendered with calls to repentance, this account will remain open; but when the figures reach a certain amount which God has fixed, the ministry of His wrath commences. The account is closed. Divine patience ceases. There is no more pleading of mercy in their behalf.

"The prophet, looking down the ages, had this time presented before his vision. The nations of this age have been the recipients of unprecedented mercies. The choicest of heaven's blessings have been given them, but increased pride, covetousness, idolatry, contempt of God, and base ingratitude are written against them. They are fast closing up their account with God.

"But that which causes me to tremble is the fact that those who have had the greatest light and privileges have become contaminated by the prevailing iniquity. Influenced by the unrighteous around them, many, even of those who profess the truth, have grown cold and are borne down by the strong current of evil. The universal scorn thrown upon true piety and holiness leads those who do not connect closely with God to lose their reverence for His law. If they were following the light and obeying the truth from the heart, this holy law would seem even more precious to them when thus despised and set aside. As the disrespect for God's law becomes more manifest, the line of demarcation between its observers and the world becomes more distinct. Love for the divine precepts increases with one class according as contempt for them increases with another class.

"The crisis is fast approaching. The rapidly swelling figures show that the time for God's visitation has about come. Although loath to punish, nevertheless He will punish, and that speedily. Those who walk in the light will see signs of the approaching peril; but they are not to sit in quiet, unconcerned expectancy of the ruin, comforting themselves with the belief that God will shelter His people in the day of visitation. Far from it. They should realize that it is their duty to labor diligently to save others, looking with strong faith to God for help. 'The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.'

"The leaven of godliness has not entirely lost its power. At the time when the danger and depression of the church are greatest, the little company who are standing in the light will be sighing and crying for the abominations that are done in the land. But more especially will their prayers arise in behalf of the church because its members are doing after the manner of the world.

"The earnest prayers of this faithful few will not be in vain. When the Lord comes forth as an avenger, He will also come as a protector of all those who have preserved the faith in its purity and kept themselves unspotted from the world. It is at this time that God has promised to avenge His own elect which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them.

"The command is: 'Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.' These sighing, crying ones had been holding forth the words of life; they had reproved, counseled, and entreated. Some who had been dishonoring God repented and humbled their hearts before Him. But the glory of the Lord had departed from Israel; although many still continued the forms of religion, His power and presence were lacking." Testimonies, volume 5, 207–210.

1863

AD27 508 538

533

Mystery of

Iniquity

1798 1840 1844 1901 1919

1908

Crossier's

Daily

ALPHA APOSTASY

1863

Figure No. 62.

Ezekiel Eight

The Image of Jealousy—Ezekiel 8:1, 3-4

Now, earlier in this worship series we pointed out that in these reform lines it is when the Divine Symbol descends that the time of visitation begins. The time of visitation for Ancient Israel began at Christ's baptism. So, 1840, this was the time of visitation for the Protestants in that generation. This is the fourth generation. This is where the Lord was going to separate the wise and the foolish, those who are sighing and crying, and those that are careless.

And, God's dealings with men are ever the same. He never changes.

So, when we get to the end of the world where the Mighty Angel of Revelation 18 descends, it will be the time of God's visitation for Adventism.

And, of course, all of the prophets are speaking about the end of the world; so, when Sister White deals with the fourth generation of the Amorites and she references Ezekiel 8 to explain it, then we know that Ezekiel 8 is present truth at the end of the world.

Let us go to Ezekiel 8 and look at a couple of things.

In Ezekiel 8, there are four escalating abominations. In Ezekiel 8, verse 1 says,

"¹And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month,"—

And the fifth day of the month comes just before the sixth day of the month; so, here in verse 1 you are in the sixth year, in the sixth month just before the sixth day, just on the verge of 666.

—"¹And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell there upon me." Ezekiel 8:1 (KJV).

Verse 3:

"³And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate, that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy. ⁴And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain." Ezekiel 8:3-4 (KJV).

The first abomination that Ezekiel is shone—and at one level I am suggesting that these four abominations represent the four generations of Adventism—the first one he is shone is the image of jealousy. In your notes, from Pamphlets 150, page 21, speaking about the jealousy between two publishing institutions in Adventism, Sister White says,

"Warnings have been given me that the publishing house upon the Pacific coast should not, in thought, word, or deed, depreciate the office at Battle Creek, neither should the publishing house at Battle Creek look with envy and jealousy upon the instrumentalities the Lord has established upon the Pacific Coast. Plans should be carefully considered in Battle Creek, that they may in no case militate against the work in Oakland. But the image of jealousy was long ago set up, and has provoked to jealousy, which has grieved the Spirit of God." Pamphlets 150, 21.

The image of jealousy is self-exaltation. When you are jealous over what someone else is doing, you lift yourself above them in any way that you can.

This is where Lucifer began. Story of Redemption, page 14:

"Lucifer was envious and jealous of Jesus Christ. Yet when all the angels bowed to Jesus to acknowledge His supremacy and high authority and rightful rule, he bowed with them; but his heart was filled with envy and hatred." Story of Redemption, 14.

Of course, what I am suggesting here, what I am going to suggest here very briefly as we move through this passage, is that the Daily in the Book of Daniel is the symbol of at least at one level of self-exaltation. Daniel 8 is about gâdal. You see gâdal mentioned throughout Daniel 8. Each power that is represented in Daniel 8 waxes greater than the previous power, and that word great in Daniel 8 is gâdal.

And the height of gâdal in Daniel 8, gâdal being self-exaltation, is the Daily; because, the Daily is the Hebrew word continual, and it is identifying the continual battle, the continual war of self-exaltation that began right back here in Heaven with Lucifer and it only escalates as history goes through. So, the Daily at one level is the symbol of self-exaltation, and it is therefore also a symbol of the image of jealousy in Ezekiel 8.

The Secret Chamber—Ezekiel 8:10-12

The next place that Ezekiel is taken in chapter 8, verses 10 through 12, says,

"¹⁰So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about. ¹¹And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. ¹²Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? For they say, The Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth." Ezekiel 8:10-12 (KJV).

So, when they are using their censers, what does that represent? Worship; they are worshipping idols. It is idol worship.

In The Desire of Ages, page 631, it says,

"As one of the signs of Jerusalem's destruction, Christ had said, 'Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.' False prophets did rise, deceiving the people, and leading great numbers into the desert. Magicians and sorcerers, claiming miraculous power, drew the people after them into the mountain solitudes. But this prophecy was spoken also for the last days. This sign is given as a sign of the Second Advent. Even now false christs and false prophets are showing signs and wonders to seduce His disciples. Do we not hear the cry, 'Behold, He is in the desert'? Have not thousands gone forth into the desert, hoping to find Christ? And from thousands of gatherings where men profess to hold communion with departed spirits is not the call now heard, 'Behold, He is in the secret chambers'?"

The warning about the secret chambers that Christ gives is spiritualism.

—"And from thousands of gatherings where men profess to hold communion with departed spirits is not the call now heard, 'Behold, He is in the secret chambers'? This is the very claim that spiritism puts forth. But what says Christ? 'Believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.'" The Desire of Ages, 631.

So, when they are going into their secret chambers to worship their images on the wall, the second point that they are doing is they are entering into spiritualism: First step – self-exaltation; second step – the worship of spiritualism.

Weeping for Tammuz—Ezekiel 8:14

Sunday Worship—Ezekiel 8:16

Self-Exaltation, Spiritualism, a False Christ and Sunday Worship

The Daily; Pantheism; The Doctrine of Christ and the Sunday Law

Verse 14, the third abomination, says,

"¹⁴Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord's house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz." Ezekiel 8:14 (KJV).

Now, who is Tammuz? Tammuz is a false christ. The sequence is self-exaltation, the religion of spiritualism and the placing of a false christ.

And after those three steps, it leads to verse 16, the fourth abomination.

"¹⁶And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord's house and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east." Ezekiel 8:16 (KJV).

So, these four abominations at one level represent the four generations of Adventism; but, where Sister White is applying them is here at the end of the world during the time of God's visitation; and, they are describing an increasing apostasy that goes on in Adventism.

But, they are also describing the step-by-step process that leads to Sunday worship. The first, the image of jealousy is self-exaltation; then follows spiritualism; then a false christ; and, then Sunday worship.

What I am showing up here [see Figure No. 62, first reform line], this is the line of Christ, a very brief line of Christ.

And in this history, right after the cross, Paul informed us that "the Mystery of Iniquity doth already work," and the Mystery of Iniquity that Paul was identifying in this history was the Mystery of Iniquity that was going to impact this generation [AD508, 533, and 538]; because, there was going to have to be a falling away before the man of sin would be revealed in AD538.

So, when you take the prophetic record, if you uphold the Pioneer view of the prophetic record where you have historical points of reference that can teach you some prophetic lessons; when you look at Paul's Mystery of Iniquity and you get down to here where in 538 the man of sin is going to be revealed after there is a falling away first, then you have waymarks that will describe this process of exposing who the man of sin is. And we have dealt with this process in earlier studies in this worship.

But, in AD508, the Daily (Paganism) is taken away.

Was it taken away? Not really, its political resistance to the rise of the Papacy was removed, but actually all it was doing was taking off its pagan garments and putting on Christian garments. It was still there.

Then, to mark the full manifestation, the climax of this work of the Mystery of Iniquity in AD533, you have Justinian making his decree, identifying the Pope of Rome as the Corrector of Heretics and the head of the church, at which point in 533 the emperor of the Roman Empire has surrendered his civil authority to the Pope of Rome. Church and state are fully in place here, legally, in 533. Now, the third horn still had to be removed in order for the Papacy to exercise that civil authority, but in 533 the prophetic record marks the climax, the conclusion of the Mystery of Iniquity.

And one of the most often used symbols of the Mystery of Iniquity is this joining of church and state, the mixing of the unholy with the holy, the unlawful relationship, which leads to the manifestation of the false christ, the man of sin; and, thereafter, follows Sunday worship.

So, we are saying here in Millerite History that repeats this [Figure No. 62, second reform line], immediately after 1844 you have the false view of the Daily introduced with Crossier. And in this time period, I am not denying that immediately thereafter in this time period Sister White begins to be confronted with the very teachings that are later on in our history labeled as Pantheism. She marks it right from the beginning. She is dealing with the Pantheistic views that John Harvey Kellogg is going to become the symbol of promoting.

But the Mystery of Iniquity, immediately after 1844, the Daily is introduced; and, this work begins.

I would not argue if someone would put better dates on this, but what I am saying here is that in AD1901 is a classic point in our history where the false view of the Daily is introduced—it is not fully received at that point, but that is the turning point.

1901 parallels 508 because in 508 the Daily was taken away, and in 1901 the true view of the Daily was taken away.

But, the Daily, that represents the image of jealousy. That is self-exaltation.

Now, certainly John Harvey Kellogg is already promotion Pantheism in the 1880s. You can look at Testimonies volume 5, and Ellen White is already dealing with Kellogg for Pantheism in the 1880s. But, it is in this history, the Alpha Apostasy history, where it becomes a crisis issue.

And what is Pantheism? We can define it in a lot of ways, but it is the idea that God is in everything; and, that is amalgamation. That is mixing the holy with the unholy; and, it is spiritualism. It is the secret chambers. All right? And it leads to 1919 with the publishing of the book by W. W. Prescott, and then his promotion of it all around the world of The Doctrine of Christ, which is a false christ.

And I have worked with men that are the modern counterpart of W. W. Prescott's false christ. They can tell lots of wonderful stories from the Bible about who Jesus is and what He is, and those stories, they are all correct as they may be but they cut the prophetic words out of that christ where he is powerless. He is a false christ.

And this [Figure No. 62, third reform line] leads to false worship.

But this Alpha Apostasy, the reason that it is important to note this in relation to this [AD508 through 538], and what we are saying is: the Daily is taken away in 508, the Daily is taken away in 1901; Justinian's decree, the amalgamation [in 533] and Kellogg's Pantheism, amalgamation [in 1908]; the false christ revealed here [538], the man of sin; the false christ revealed in the book The Doctrine of Christ [1919]. And we are saying that the Alpha Apostasy is going to be repeated down here at the end of the world in the Omega Apostasy.

So, he who is unwilling to be benefitted by history is destined to repeat it.

Joel

Joel 1:1-4; 2:25

So, we are dealing with the fourth generation. We are dealing with why it is important to understand what the fourth generation represents in prophetic terms.

Go to Joel, chapter 1. Joel is a present truth prophecy, because Joel was fulfilled in the time of Christ. In the Book of Acts Peter plainly says that Pentecost is a fulfillment of Joel. If you do not understand that, read Acts, chapters 2 and 3. But, Joel, the signs that are set forth in Joel, in the falling of the stars and the other signs that precede and introduce the Millerite History, that is based upon the Book of Joel. But, Joel's primary application is at the end of the world. So, Joel is present truth. Joel is the prophecy that is the point of reference for the three histories that Sister White repeatedly refers to: the history of Christ, the history of the Millerites, and our history.

And in Joel, chapter 1, you will see the four generations identified, if you are willing to see.

Beginning at verse 1:

"¹The word of the Lord that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. ²Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? ³Tell ye your children of it,"—

Who is to tell their children of it? The old men.

—"³Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children,"—

That is your grandchildren.

—"and their children another generation."—

That is your great grandchildren. There are four generations marked there.

Joel is going to give us a second witness to that. In the next verse he says,

—"⁴That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten." Joel 1:1-4 (KJV).

And I am saying those four insects are those four generations. If you are wondering why someone would say that, go to chapter 2 of Joel. In verse 25 it says,

"⁵And I will restore to you the years"—

". . . the years," the years are certainly something that can represent generations.

"⁵And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you." Joel 2:25 (KJV).

These four insects represent the four generations that lead to our history here at the end of the world; and, there is a promise that the Lord is going to restore the beginnings of Adventism at the end, in the story of Joel.

Job

JOB: H347—From H340; hated (that is, persecuted); Job, the patriarch famous for his patience. H340—to hate (as one of an opposite tribe or party); hence to be hostile:—be an enemy.

The Upright Man

Job 1:1-2; Job 42:10-17

Job, if you go to Job, is an illustration of how the righteous fare in this story of the four generations in God's Word. And you will notice in Job, chapter 1, verses 1 and 2, it says,

"¹There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. ²And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters." Job 1:1-2 (KJV).

Now, he is a perfect man—right?—s that not what it says?

What does his name mean?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Hated.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Hated; that is, persecuted; to hate; to be hostile; an enemy.

So, this perfect man, he is a perfect man in God's eyes; but, he is going to be a hated man.

And how many sons does he have?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Seven.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Seven.

How many daughters?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Three.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Three.

And what is going to happen to them? He is going to go through the experience of the 144,000 when every earthly support is cut off. Is that not what the story of Job is all about?

Now, go to Job, chapter 42. At the end of his story, in verse 10, it says this:

"¹⁰And the Lord turned"—that is, reversed—"the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. ¹¹Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold. ¹²So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning:"—

Okay. The beginning of Adventism is what the Book of Joel promises to restore; but, here, taking this line of the four generations—and we will show you why it is four generations in a moment—on top of Joel, you will see that the end of Adventism is going to be more blessed than the beginning.

—"¹²So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. ¹³He had also seven sons and three daughters."—

The seven sons representing the 144,000, and the three daughters representing the eleventh-hour workers, but that is another story.

—"¹⁴And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. ¹⁵And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. ¹⁶After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. ¹So Job died, being old and full of days." Job 42:10-17 (KJV).

Job represents four generations, and Job's latter end is better than his beginning end and he is a hated man, though he is perfect in the eyes of the Lord. Job is a representation of the four generations of Adventism and the testing process that they go through.

Jehu

Not So Upright

2 Kings 10:28-30

And we also have in the Scriptures—and if you check four generations, we are about covering all the places in the Scriptures where the four generations are mentioned. I called the subtitle for Job, "The Upright Man." But, this next person I am going to call "Not So Upright." His name is Jehu.

2 Kings 10:28-30: Jehu, he does the Lord's will, sure enough; but, he was more than zealous. Verse 28 of chapter 10 of 2 Kings, verse 28:

"²⁸Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel."—

And Jehu becomes the king of what?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Israel.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Israel.

So, once again, Jehu is going to do the will of the Lord here, but there were not any kings from Israel from the Northern Tribes that were not wicked and they all perpetuated the sins of Jeroboam; and, the sins of Jeroboam is what brought about the scattering.

—"²⁸Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. ²⁹Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan. ³⁰And the Lord said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel." 2 Kings 10:28-30 (KJV).

Right there, that tells you if you want to go look at the four generations that followed Jehu, and the Bible marks when the fourth generation fulfilled that prophecy, what will you see? You can see an illustration of the four generations of Adventism.

But, I just want you to see that Jehu, in contrast with Job, is also an illustration of the four generations; and, Jehu accomplished the Lord's will, but he followed after Jeroboam, the son of Nebat.

Notice what Sister White says Jehu represents, The 1888 Materials, page 1630.

"There are men at the heart of the work who do not realize their responsibilities. They do not realize how many there are who are in positions of trust who have not a correct knowledge of God, whom to know aright is life eternal. They know not what it means to sanctify the Lord God in their hearts. They do not know what it means to make God their fear and their dread. Had they known this, they would now be humble men, fearing God, the living God. But like Jehu, they have been driving furiously forward, to assume burdens which they cannot carry. It is because men know so little of true godliness, because they have so little genuine experience in the building up, little by little, of the work and cause of God, that they make long strides without God to lead the way." The 1888 Materials, 1630.

Manuscript Releases, volume 17, page 209:

"Morning after morning I awake at 2 a.m., and often at 12 p.m. [midnight]. During the night season has been presented before me the unfaithfulness of men who have occupied positions of responsibility at the great heart of the work. The councils at this great center, if kept pure and uncorrupted, would have been as the voice of God; but men have worked upon principles that are condemned by the word of God, and they have not heard nor obeyed the voice of God. Like Jehu, they have driven furiously in a course to uproot the confidence of God's people in men who are true to the Master's cause. They have sought to establish their own authority, while betraying the cause of God. While making decisions, and devising and planning, they have tried to make their oppressive human orders as the voice of God to His people." Manuscript Releases, volume 17, 209.

Signs of the Times, November 20, 1884:

"There are many whose religion consists in activities. They want to be engaged in, and have the credit of doing, some great work while the little graces that go to make up a lovely Christian character are entirely overlooked. The busy, bustling service, which gives the impression that one is doing some wonderful work, is not acceptable to God. It is a Jehu spirit, which says, 'Come, see my zeal for the Lord.' It is gratifying to self; it feeds a self-complacent feeling; but all the while the soul may be defiled with the plague-spot of unsubdued, uncontrolled selfishness." Signs of the Times, November 20, 1884.

So, what I am saying is, when you look at the fourth generations in Bible prophecy, it is in this history when the Lord is raising up the 144,000 that you are in the fourth generation. And, the Bible gives us two classes: one is represented by Job, and one is represented by Jehu.

2 Kings 15:11-12

2 Kings 15:11-12, it says,

"¹¹And the rest of the acts of Zachariah,"—

This is the fourth generation of Jehu.

—"behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. ¹²This was the word of the Lord which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass." 2 Kings 15:11-12 (KJV).

So, whenever we are looking at applying Bible prophecy at the end of the world, one of the themes or one of the principles that needs to be factored into it is that we are in the fourth generation, and in the fourth generation we have two classes of worshippers. They are represented in a variety of ways in the Scriptures. But, in terms of looking at it from the fourth generation, the two classes are either Job or Jehu.

And, Jehu, I did not pull all the passages out where Sister White speaks of Jehu; but, primarily it is representing the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in her terminology.

It is worth noting that when Jehu was anointed, Elijah was commanded to go and anoint three persons: Elisha, Jehu, and one other person that is skipping my mind. In any case—and we have dealt with this already in this worship service. This is what happens when I get out of the notes.

But, when you look at the three people that were anointed, Elisha represents those people that receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and Jehu represents the Pharisees in Adventism—oh, man, this is a bad mental block!—and the third person represents the liberals in Adventism, the Sadducees in Christ's time period.

I want to go back now to Ahaz and Isaiah 7.

We will dig out that third person here for us tomorrow; but, it is going to bug me all the rest—

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Hazael?

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Hazael! There you go: Hazael. All right. There is the Sadducees, the liberals in Adventism. Those are the disciples of Desmond Ford. Okay? Because, the Sadducees, they did not believe in angels; they did not believe in miracles; they did not believe in the resurrection from the dead. And those Desmond Fordites that are almost the majority of Adventism anymore, they do not believe you can be resurrected from your sinful experience and be prepared to meet Jesus Christ without sin in your life. That is Hazael.

Those are the influences in God's church at the end. Those people that are receiving the outpouring of the Holy Spirit: Elisha, a leadership that is attempting to defend what they believe to be the foundations by the policies that they are applying; there is Jehu and, Hazael, leading people in Adventism to believe, "Hey, you do not have any participation in overcoming sin. It is impossible for you to do. Just trust that the Lord is going to magically change you when He gets here."

The Days of Uzziah, Jotham and Ahaz

Three Angels

Isaiah 7:1

So, when we go back to Isaiah 7 and we are looking at Ahaz, I want to put another line of thought; but, I want you to understand that in the context of Ahaz representing the fourth generation. And perhaps you will be able to do that right now.

Isaiah 7, verse 1:

"¹And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it." Isaiah 7:1 (KJV).

And what I am wanting you to see there is that there are three kings' name: Uzziah, Jotham, and Ahaz. They are mentioned in reverse order because he was dealing with the time period when Ahaz was king; but, he references that Jotham was his father, and Uzziah was the father of Jotham. And what I am wanting you to see, and two presentations ago, I believe, we pointed out that Uzziah and Jotham represent the end of the United States, just as David and Solomon represent the beginning; and that in Isaiah 6:1, where it says, "In the days that Uzziah died," that that was marking the end of the prosperity of the United States, and it is understood in connection with Isaiah 6:3, which is marked as when the Angel of Revelation 18 descends; and, the Angel of Revelation 18 descends when Islam is restrained, just as the Angel of Revelation 10 descended when Islam was restrained in 1840.

And Islam was restrained by the United States and the world immediately after September 11, 2001; and, immediately after September 11, 2001, Uzziah had died and the economic prosperity of the United States and the world began to take a nosedive. And anyone who wants to argue with that, just go ahead and look at your stock market over the past couple of weeks. Look at what Spain is doing. Look at what Italy is doing. There is city after city in Italy this week that is going bankrupt, not going to be able to run its schools. Look at what Portugal is doing and look at what Greece is doing in the news this week and see how it is impacting the economy of the United States, represented by Uzziah who died on September 11, 2001.

So, what I am saying is, is these three kings, Uzziah, Jotham, and Ahaz, represent the Three Angels' Messages at the end of the world.

(Uzziah) The First Angel Arrives

2 Chronicles 26:3

In 2 Chronicles 26:3—and you may not remember it now, even if you have been in every worship service, but long, long ago in this series we made a point of identifying that all the Angels arrive at a point in time and they are thereafter empowered. The First Angel's Message arrived in 1798, but it was empowered in 1840. The Second Angel's Message arrived in 1842, but it was empowered at the Midnight Cry in 1844. The Third Angel's Message arrived in 1844, and it is empowered when the Mighty Angel of Revelation 18 joins with it later. So, each of the Angels arrive and then they are thereafter empowered.

And what I am saying to you is that Uzziah represents the First Angel's Message. In 2 Chronicles 26, verse 3, it says,

"³Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem." 2 Chronicles 26:3 (KJV).

So, he arrives, he is going to reign for 52 years. That is his arrival time, at the Time of the End [1798], the First Angel arrives. But when he dies, when he dies, in the same passage in Isaiah 6:1, in the year that Uzziah died, verse 1 of Isaiah 6,

(Uzziah) The First Angel is Empowered

Then in verse 3 of Isaiah 6 we know that it is the empowerment of the First Angel's Message because it is when the Mighty Angel comes down.

Remember this, from Review and Herald, December 22, 1896. We have read this previously.

"As they [the angels] see the future, when the whole earth shall be filled with His glory, the triumphant song of praise is echoed from one to another in melodious chant, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts.'"—

That is Isaiah 6, verse 3.

—"They are fully satisfied to glorify God; and in His presence, beneath His smile of approbation, they wish for nothing more. In bearing His image, in doing His service and worshiping Him, their highest ambition is fully reached." Review and Herald, December 22, 1896.

So, what I am saying is, Uzziah arrives at the beginning in 2 Chronicles 25, and his message is empowered on 9/11,

(Jotham) the Second Angel

2 Chronicles 27:1

Jotham and the Image of the Beast Test

And he [Uzziah] is followed by whom?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: Jotham.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Jotham. Jotham, the king that follows him [Uzziah], his son, is the Second Angel's Message.

And one of the primary characteristics of the Second Angel's Message when you are studying the characteristics of the Angels in these three waymarks is there is a test in the Second Angel's Message. It is called the image of the beast test. It is a test illustrated in a variety of ways.

And Jotham, he arrives in 2 Chronicles 27, verse 1. It says,

"¹Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok." 2 Chronicles 27:1 (KJV).

But if you go to chapter 15 of 2 Kings, 2 Kings, chapter 15, it says something about the time of Jotham's reign, the second king, the Second Angel's Message. In 2 Kings 15, in verses 36 and 37, it says,

³⁶Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? ³⁷In those days the Lord began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah." 2 Kings 15:36-37 (KJV).³

Who is Pekah? He is the king of Israel. Right? The son of Remaliah.

And who is Israel? He is the ten Northern Tribes.

How many remember long ago when we illustrated the history of Elijah?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: (Show of hands.)

HISTORY OF ELIJAH

1 2 (M/C) 3

$C:\Users\Bert\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\IE\O6C9J196\fire-ball[1].png$

1260 7 times

Figure No. 63A.

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Okay. Elijah was preceded by 1260 days of drought. Right?

And then Elijah comes into the history and there is going to be a testing process that goes on here. The Lord goes down on the way to Carmel and meets with Elijah. Then the prophets of Baal do their dance of deception. Then fire comes down out of Heaven, paralleling the Midnight Cry. Then the prophets of Baal are judged. Does everyone remember this?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: (Inaudible responses.)

BROTHER PIPPENGER: Then Elijah prays seven times, marking the scattering, marking the disappointment.

HISTORY OF ELIJAH (Paralleling Millerite History)

1 2 (M/C) 3

$C:\Users\Bert\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\IE\O6C9J196\fire-ball[1].png$

1260 7 times

MILLERITE HISTORY

1798 1840 1842 M/C 1844

1260

Figure No. 63B.

And we lined this [the History of Elijah] up with Millerite History—1844, the Midnight Cry, 1842, 1840, 1798, 1260.

And one of the things that we taught about here is that in this history, one of the things that took place in the Millerite History is the True Prophet was demonstrated, in contrast with the false prophet. It is here where the Protestant churches began to fulfill their role as the False Prophet of Bible Prophecy.

ISRAEL, 10 Northern Tribes

KING SAUL KING DAVID KING SOLOMON

JUDAH, 2 Southern Tribes

Figure No. 63C.

Well, these three Messages here [Figure No. 63A contrasting Figure No. 63C], this is king Saul, king David, and king Solomon. And when you get to king Solomon, then you see the two classes demonstrated. You see the ten Northern Tribes contrasted with Judah, the two Southern Tribes. The Lord has chosen Judah. Judah is the True Prophet. You are to worship in Jerusalem at the sanctuary.

But, Jeroboam, what does he do? He goes up and sets up two golden calves in Bethel and Dan (church and state).

So, Israel, the ten Northern Tribes, is apostate Protestantism. Israel, the ten tribes, Jeroboam, that is apostate Protestantism.

Judah is Adventism.

Okay. Now, that was a real quick overview to give us a point of reference.

When Jotham is king, in his days the alliance between Syria and Israel took place. Syria is a king, a kingdom. It is a state. Pekah, Israel, it is a church. In the days of Jotham, the second king, you have the threat of the image of the beast. You have church/state represented by the confederacy of Syria and Israel.

Jotham is the Second Angel's Message, and in the Second Angel's Message you will see the image of the beast test.

(Ahaz) The Third Angel—Door Closes; Worship the King of the North

Ahaz—and this is where we are heading to, Ahaz in 742 and 1863—Ahaz is the Third Angel's Message. So, one of the characteristics of the Third Angel's Message is that there is a door that closes.

Are you with me? Are you following the logic?

FROM THE AUDIENCE: (Affirmations.)

BROTHER PIPPENGER: What I am saying is that Ahaz is representing the end of the world and he is representing the Millerite History; and, his history is taking place in the fourth generation, in the time period when the Everlasting Gospel is reaching its climax, and two classes of worshippers are going to be demonstrated. And in the story of Ahaz, the two classes of worshippers are Ahaz the Rebel and Isaiah the True Prophet. Okay? There are the two classes.

But, in that history of the fourth generation, you have the Three Angels' Messages marked by Uzziah. He came into history. At 9/11 he is empowered. The First Angel's Message is empowered. But, he Uzziah is followed by Jotham, and Jotham is threatened by the combination of church and state, the alliance between Syria and Israel. But, Ahaz, Ahaz, he is going to start a new church.

Notice what Sister White says in Prophets and Kings, page 330.

"'The Lord brought Judah low' because of continued transgression. In this time of chastisement Ahaz,"—the third king, the Third Angel's Message—"instead of repenting, trespassed 'yet more against the Lord: . . . for he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus.' 'Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them,' he said, 'therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me.' 2 Chronicles 28:19, 22, 23."—

Instead of turning to God, he turns to Syria.

—"As the apostate king neared the end of his reign, he caused the doors of the temple to be closed."—

Why did he close the sanctuary doors? Because he had seen the temple of the Syrians in Damascus, and he brought a priest up and says, "Make a blueprint for this, because you are going to go back to Jerusalem and you are going to build this altar in the courtyard of the sanctuary." And he did that. He stopped worship and he built a new church right there in the courtyard.

—"As the apostate king neared the end of his reign, he caused the doors of the temple to be closed. The sacred services were interrupted. No longer were the candlesticks kept burning before the altar. No longer were offerings made for the sins of the people. No longer did sweet incense ascend on high at the time of the morning and the evening sacrifice. Deserting the courts of the house of God and locking fast its doors, the inhabitants of the godless city boldly set up altars for the worship of heathen deities on the street corners throughout Jerusalem. Heathenism had seemingly triumphed; the powers of darkness had well-nigh prevailed.

"But in Judah there dwelt some who maintained their allegiance to Jehovah, steadfastly refusing to be led into idolatry. It was to these that Isaiah and Micah and their associates looked in hope as they surveyed the ruin wrought during the last years of Ahaz. Their sanctuary was closed, but the faithful ones were assured: 'God is with us.' 'Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. And He shall be for a sanctuary.' Isaiah 8:10, 13, 14." Prophets and Kings, 330.

And if you go to Isaiah 8 and take note of the passage that she is referring to when Ahaz closed the doors of the sanctuary and started a new church, she is referencing Isaiah 8:10, 13, and 14. Beginning at verse 10, it says,

"¹⁰Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us." Isaiah 8:10 (KJV).

And at verse 13, it says,

"¹³Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. ¹⁴And he shall be for a sanctuary;"—

And the sanctuary is closed. Now you are going to have a personal experience with Jesus Christ all on your own.

—"but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ¹⁵And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken." Isaiah 8:13-15 (KJV).

One class is going to fall; but, what does the next verse say?

"¹⁶Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples." Isaiah 8:16 (KJV).

This history is demonstrating the sealing process at The Sunday Law. It is illustrating the two classes, those that stumble and those that receive the Seal of God.

And when does it take place? When Ahaz closes the sanctuary and sets up a new church, sets up a new church.

So, what I am saying is,—

AHAZ

742BC AD1863

723BC AD1798

(2520

677 1844 Scattering

19 46 (2520) 46 19 Prophecy Sealed Up

Figure No. 64.

—in 742BC Ahaz, he starts a new church; but, Ahaz, he is prefiguring among other things James White and the Adventist Church. And in 1863 the Adventist Church starts.

Okay. You may have not realized it that we are still tying this in with yesterday's presentation; but, we are. One of the points in the story of Ahaz in 742BC, 19 years after this the first 2520 begins against the Northern Kingdom and it ends in AD1798. Forty-six years after that in 677BC the second 2520 starts and ends here in AD1844. Nineteen years later brings us to 1863. 1863 has been prefigured by 742BC, and in 742BC Ahaz closed the doors. He started a new church, and in 1863 the Seventh-day Adventist Church began.

A New Church (AD34)

A Prophecy Sealed Up—Daniel 9:24

SEAL: H2856—A primitive root; to close up; especially to seal. Same as Daniel 12:4.

A Scattering Begins

Now, if you go to Daniel 9:24, we want a second witness for this. A second witness for what? For what happens when a new church starts.

Daniel 9:24:

"²⁴Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy." Daniel 9:24 (KJV).

Birth AD27 508 538

34 533

Mystery of SCATTERING

Iniquity Prophecy Sealed Up

End of

70 weeks

Figure No. 65.

In the time period of Christ, the 70 weeks ends down here at the stoning of Stephen (AD34). Right? So, this Daniel 9:24 is identifying the end of the 70 weeks right here, and here is where the Gospel goes full speed ahead to the Gentiles. This is where the Protestant Church begins, is right here in AD34. This is the beginning of a church.

But what happened, according to Daniel 9:24? At the beginning of this church, the prophecy is sealed up. Maybe you did not see it. Let us read it one more time.

Daniel 9:24:

"²⁴Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy." Daniel 9:24 (KJV).

Back here at the birth of Christ—and I do not have a date for it; I am just going to put His birth [as "Birth"], the Time of the End for this generation—the prophecy was unsealed.

What prophecy? That Christ, the Messiah, was here [His birth]. It was unsealed. And it was sealed back up here [AD34] at the stoning of Stephen when a new church starts.

So, when a new church starts, one of the characteristics is that the prophecy is sealed up.

Another characteristic, from The Desire of Ages, page 233—and you will see in your notes that this word SEAL in Daniel 9:24 is the same word that He used in Daniel 12 when Daniel was told to seal up His visions and prophecies.

In The Desire of Ages, page 233, it says,

"The one week—seven years—ended in A. D. 34. Then by the stoning of Stephen the Jews finally sealed their rejection of the gospel; the disciples who were scattered"—

The disciples were what?

—"scattered abroad"—

So, a scattering begins here [AD34], too.

—"the disciples who were scattered by persecution 'went everywhere preaching the word' (Acts 8:4); and shortly after, Saul the persecutor was converted, and became Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles." The Desire of Ages, 233.

Spirit of Prophecy, volume 3, page 301:

"Closely following the death of Stephen, and the consequent scattering of the believers throughout Palestine, Samaria was greatly stirred." Spirit of Prophecy, volume 3, 301.

May 1863, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church was Legally Organized

Ancient Israel Begins The Scattering Of Leviticus 26 & Modern Israel Begins The Scattering Of Miller's Dream

So, what we are saying here, that in 742BC Ahaz, fulfilling the characteristics of the third of Three Angels, he closes the door because at the third waymark the door closes; and, he closes the door on the sanctuary and he sets up a new sanctuary right in the courtyard of God's sanctuary. He starts a new church.

So, in 742BC Ahaz is putting in the record that when this chiastic structure comes to end, you should see a new church started; and, in 1863 you see a new church started.

But, you have this secondary witness that when a new church starts [1863 (See Figure No. 64)] that the prophecy is sealed up. This is William Miller's dream being sealed up. This is when it starts: when a new church comes in, the prophecy gets sealed up. And this prophecy is William Miller's seven times what? Scattering.

And sure enough, at the stoning of Stephen, we see a scattering marked.

So, we took a long time to get to those two points; but, that is part of the story of Isaiah 7.

We will take up some more tomorrow.

Shall we pray?

Benediction: Heavenly Father, we thank you that you are demonstrating this truth line upon line and upon the testimony of two or more that we can have confidence that what you are showing us is being established in your Word, not by human beings. And from this confidence we can understand that your dealing with human beings is always the same and that if we are willing to approach you, to approach you in the Most Holy Place that you are willing to finish the work which you have begun in us. We ask that you would give us that motivation, that mindset that we are willing to set aside whatever is holding us back and enter into that experience at this time; because, it is obvious that you are closing up shop on Planet Earth. The two classes are being developed and you are about to come and take your people home. We want to be among that people. We ask that you would accomplish that for us. In Jesus's name, amen.