Article

# Elijah - Number One

Eliyaas – Tokkoffaa Lakkoofsa Tokko

The First and Last

Isa Duraa fi Xumuraa

Author

Jeff Pippenger

Published

July 31, 2023

Formats

PDF
Word
Song MP3

The closing statement of the Old Testament sets forth a promise of the prophet Elijah appearing with a message before the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

Yaadni dhumaa Kakuu Moofaa guyyaa guddaa fi sodaachisaa Gooftaa sana dura raajiin Eliyaas ergaa tokkoon mul’achuuf akka jiru abdii tokko ni dhiheessa.

> Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. Malachi 4:5, 6.

> Kunoo, ani guyyaa guddicha fi sodaachisaa kan Gooftaa dhufu sana dura Eeliyaas raajicha isiniif nan erga; innis garaa abbootii gara ijoolleetti, garaa ijoollees gara abbootii isaaniitti ni deebisa; yoo akkas taʼuu baate anis dhufee lafa abaarsaadhaan nan rukuta. Milkiyaas 4:5, 6.

The Bible is clear that “the great and dreadful day of the Lord” or the “curse” that God smites “the earth with” is also symbolically portrayed as “the seven last plagues” or “the wrath of God” in the book of Revelation. Chapter fifteen of Revelation introduces the prophetic setting that leads to the pouring out of the great and dreadful seven last plagues of chapter sixteen.

Kitaabni Qulqulluun akka “guyyaa guddichi fi sodaachisaan Gooftaa” yookaan “abaarsaa” Waaqayyo “lafa itti rukutu” sunis macaafa Mul’ataa keessatti fakkeenyaan akka “dha’icha torban isa dhumaa” yookaan akka “dheekkamsa Waaqayyoo”tti ibsame ifatti ni agarsiisa. Boqonnaan kudha shanffaan Mul’ataa haala raajii isa dha’icha torban guddaa fi sodaachisaa, isa dhumaa, boqonnaa kudha jaha keessatti dhangalaafamu sanaatti geessu ni beeksisa.

> And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

> Anis mallattoo biraa guddaa fi dinqisiisaa samii keessatti arge; ergamoonni torba dhaʼicha torban isa dhumaa qabatanii turan; sababiin isaa immoo dheekkamsi Waaqayyoo isaan keessatti guutamee ture.

> And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

> Anis akka galaana geejjibaa ibiddaan makame fakkaatu nan arge; warri bineensicha irrattis, fakkii isaa irrattis, mallattoo isaa irrattis, lakkoobsa maqaa isaa irrattis moʼicha argatan galaana geejjibaa sana irra dhaabatanii, kiraarota Waaqayyoo qabatanii turan. Isaanis faarfannaa Musee garbicha Waaqayyoo fi faarfannaa Hoolichaa jechuun, “Yaa Gooftaa Waaqayyo Hundumaa Dandaʼu, hojii kee guddaa fi dinqisiisaa dha; yaa Mootii qulqullootaa, karaan kee qajeelaa fi dhugaa dha. Yaa Gooftaa, eenyutu si hin sodaatu? Eenyutu maqaa kee hin ulfeessu? Ati qofti qulqulluu dhaatii; saboonni hundinuu si duratti dhufanii sagadu; murtiin kee ifatti mulʼifameeraatii” jedhu.

> And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. Revelation 15:1–8.

> Kana booddee ani ilaale, kunoo, mana qulqullummaa dunkaana dhugaa ba’umsa samii keessa jiru baname; ergamoonni torbanis mana qulqullummaa keessaa ba’an, dha’ichoota torban qabatanii, uffata quncee talbaa qulqulluu fi adii uffatanii, harma isaanii mudhii warqee tiin hidhatanii. Uumamawwan afur keessaa tokko ergamoota torban sanaaf xoofoo warqee torban dheekkamsa Waaqayyoo, isa baraa hamma bara baraatti jiraatu, guutame kenne. Mana qulqullummaas ulfina Waaqayyoo irraa fi humna isaa irraa aaraan guutame; hanga dha’ichi torban ergamoota torbanii raawwatamutti namni tokko illee mana qulqullummaa keessa seenuu hin dandeenye. Mul’ata Yohaannis 15:1–8.

The reason “no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled” is that the opportunity to secure salvation closes when the temple is filled with smoke in chapter fifteen. The probationary time that mankind was given to repent and find salvation is then over. When that point in time is reached “the great and dreadful day of the Lord” that John calls “the seven last plagues” are poured out in advance of Christ’s Second Coming. Malachi called that day “dreadful,” and Isaiah identifies it as God’s “strange act.”

Sababiin isaa “namni tokko iyyuu hamma dhaʼichi torban ergamoota torbanii raawwatamutti mana qulqullummaa sana keessa seenuu hin dandeenye” jedhu, carraan fayyina argachuuf kennamu yeroo boqonnaa kudha shana keessatti manni qulqullummaa aaraan guutamutti cufamuu isaati. Yeroon qorumsaa ilmaan namootaaf akka qalbii jijjiirratanitii fi fayyina argatan kenname yeroo sanatti dhuma. Yommuu yeroo sana gaʼu, “guyyaan guddaan fi sodaachisaan Gooftaa” inni Yohaannis “dhaʼicha torban isa dhumaa” jedhee waamu, Dhufaatii Lammaffaa Kiristoos dura dursee dhangalaafama. Milkiyaas guyyaa sana “sodaachisaa” jedhee waameera; Isaayaasis gocha isaa “kan nama ajaaʼibu” jechuun isa adda baaseera.

> For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act. Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth. Isaiah 28:21, 22.

> Waaqayyo akka gaara Pheraaziimitti ni ka’a; akka sulula Gibʼoonitti ni aara; hojii isaa raawwachuuf, hojii isaa kan dinqisiisaa taʼe sana, fi hojii isaa sana, hojii isaa kan ajaaʼibsiisaa taʼe sana guutuuf. Kanaafis amma qoostota hin taʼinaa, akka hidhamni keessan jabaatuuf; ani Gooftaa Waaqayyo gooftaa maccaa biraa irraa badii guutuu, isa murteeffame, lafa guutuu irratti akka dhufu dhagaʼeera. Isaayaas 28:21, 22.

Although God’s “strange act” encompasses “the whole earth,” Inspiration is clear that the outpouring of the plagues is associated with the rebellion of one nation.

Yoo gochi “hojii ajaa’iba” Waaqayyoo “laftii guutuu” hammatus, Mul’anni hafuuraa akka ifatti agarsiisutti, dhangala’uun dha’ichoota sana fincila saba tokkoo wajjin walqabata.

> “Foreign nations will follow the example of the United States. Though she leads out, yet the same crisis will come upon our people in all parts of the world.” Testimonies, volume 6, 395.

> “Biyyoonni alaa fakkeenya Ameerikaa ni hordofu. Isheen utuu dursa fudhattee geggeessittee jirtuu illee, rakkoon wal fakkaatu kun saba keenya irratti iddoo hunduma addunyaa keessatti ni dhufa.” Testimonies, volume 6, 395.

> “As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the Papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honor the false sabbath, the people of every country on the globe will be led to follow her example.” Testimonies, volume 6, 18.

> “Amerikaan, biyya bilisummaa amantii, qalbii namaa dirqisiisuu fi namoota Sanbata sobaa kabajsiisuudhaan Phaaphaasii wajjin yeroo tokkoomtu, uummanni biyya hundumaa addunyaa kana irra jiruu fakkeenya ishee hordofuuf geggeeffama.” Testimonies, volume 6, 18.

Every nation will fill their cup of their probationary time, but the “judgments of God” that Sister White identifies as “national ruin”, “the time of God’s destructive judgments” as she also calls the history that begins at the Sunday law in the United States, are not the seven last plagues.

Sabni tokkoon tokkoon isaanii xoofoo yeroo qormaata isaanii guutuu jiru; garuu “murtiiwwan Waaqayyoo” jechuun obboleettii White kan “badiisa sabaalessaa” jedhee adda baastu, akkasumas seenaa seera Dilbataa Ameerikaa keessatti jalqabu kan isheen “yeroo murtiiwwan balleessitootaa Waaqayyoo” jettee waamtu, dha’icha torban isa dhumaa miti.

> “A time is coming when the law of God is, in a special sense, to be made void in our land. The rulers of our nation will, by legislative enactments, enforce the Sunday law, and thus God’s people be brought into great peril. When our nation, in its legislative councils, shall enact laws to bind the consciences of men in regard to their religious privileges, enforcing Sunday observance, and bringing oppressive power to bear against those who keep the seventh-day Sabbath, the law of God will, to all intents and purposes, be made void in our land; and national apostasy will be followed by national ruin.” Review and Herald, December 18, 1888.

> “Yeroon Waaqayyoo, hiika addaa tokkoon, biyya keenya keessatti akka diigamu yeroo tokko ni dhufa. Bulchitoonni biyya keenya seera baasan irratti hundaa’uun seera Dilbataa ni dirqisiisu; akkasumas sabni Waaqayyoo balaa guddaatti ni galfama. Yeroo sabni keenya mana marii seera baastuu isaa keessatti, mirga amantii isaanii irratti yaada keessaa namootaa hidhachuuf seera baasu, eegumsa Dilbataa dirqisiisuu fi warra Sanbata guyyaa torbaffaa eegan irratti humna cunqursaa hojiirra oolchu, yeroo sana seerri Waaqayyoo, kaayyoo fi bu’aa isaatiin guutummaatti, biyya keenya keessatti akka diigame ta’a; gantummaan biyyaalessaa immoo badiisa biyyaalessaatiin ni hordofama.” Review and Herald, December 18, 1888.

The judgments of God, which Sister White identifies as “national ruin” begin at the national Sunday law and mark the beginning of God’s “strange act,” though God’s strange act is more specifically the seven last plagues. A more complete picture of the strange act of God appears when the deliverance from Egypt is added to the line of God’s executive judgments. The Egyptian plagues, though ten in number, were divided. The first three were distinguished from the last seven. Thus, the deliverance from Egypt identifies a period of time represented by the first three plagues that begins with the national ruin of the United States, and continues until Michael stands up and human probation closes.

Firdii Waaqayyoo, kan Obboleettii White “badiisa biyyaalessaa” jedhee adda baaftu, seera Dilbata biyyaalessaa irraa jalqabee, jalqaba “hojii isaa isa dinqisiisaa” Waaqayyoo agarsiisa; ta’us, hojii dinqisiisaan Waaqayyoo caalaatti addatti dha’ichoota torba isa dhumaa dha. Fakkeenyi guutuun hojii dinqisiisaa Waaqayyoo yeroo baafamuu Gibxii sarara firdiiwwan raawwachiisoo Waaqayyoo irratti dabalametti mul’ata. Dha’ichoonni Gibxii, lakkoofsaan kudhan ta’an iyyuu, qoodamanii turan. Sadan jalqabaa torba dhumaa irraa addaan baafamanii turan. Kanaafuu, baafamuun Gibxii yeroo dha’ichoota sadan jalqabaatiin bakka buufame tokko adda baasa; yeroo kunis badiisa biyyaalessaa Ameerikaa irraa jalqabee hamma Mikaa’el ka’utti fi carraan qorumsaa namaa cufamutti itti fufa.

> “God’s judgments will be visited upon those who are seeking to oppress and destroy His people. His long forbearance with the wicked emboldens men in transgression, but their punishment is nonetheless certain and terrible because it is long delayed. ‘The Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim, He shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that He may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act.’ Isaiah 28:21. To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act. ‘As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.’ Ezekiel 33:11. The Lord is ‘merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, … forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.’ Yet He will ‘by no means clear the guilty.’ ‘The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.’ Exodus 34:6, 7; Nahum 1:3. By terrible things in righteousness He will vindicate the authority of His downtrodden law. The severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor may be judged by the Lord’s reluctance to execute justice. The nation with which He bears long, and which He will not smite until it has filled up the measure of its iniquity in God’s account, will finally drink the cup of wrath unmixed with mercy.

> “Warri isaan saba Isaa cunqursuu fi balleessuuf carraaqan irratti ni bu’u. Obsaan dheeraan inni jal’ootaaf qabu namoota yakka keessatti jabeessa; ta’us adabbiin isaanii dheeraa tursiifameef iyyuu dhugumaan mirkanaa’aa fi sodaachisaa dha. ‘Waaqayyo akkuma Tulluu Pheraaziimitti ni ka’a, akkuma Sulula Gib’oonitti ni dheekkama; hojii Isaa, hojii Isaa alagaa sana akka raawwatuuf, gocha Isaa, gocha Isaa ajaa’ibaa sana akka guutuuf.’ Isaayaas 28:21. Waaqayyo keenya araara qabeessa ta’eef, hojii adabbiin hojii alagaa dha. ‘Ani jiraadha, jedha Waaqayyo Gooftaan, du’a jal’aa keessatti gammachuu hin qabu.’ Hisqi’eel 33:11. Waaqayyo ‘araara qabeessa, ayyaana qabeessa, dheekkamsaaf suuta jedhu, gaarummaa fi dhugaa keessatti baay’ee kan badhaadhe, … yakka, irra-daddarbaa fi cubbuu kan dhiisu’ dha. Garuu inni ‘nama yakka qabeessa ta’e matumaa qulqulleessee bilisa hin godhu.’ ‘Waaqayyo dheekkamsaaf suuta jedhu, humnaanis guddaa dha; jal’oota immoo matumaa bilisa hin baasu.’ Ba’uu 34:6, 7; Naahoom 1:3. Inni wantoota sodaachisoo ta’aniin qajeelummaa keessatti aangoo seera Isaa miidhamee gadi dhidhiitame ni mirkaneessa. Hammeenyi adabbii irra-deebiin nama seera cabsuu eeggatu ulfaatina isaa irraa, jechuunis Waaqayyo murtii raawwachuuf fedhii dhabuu isaa irraa, tilmaamamuu danda’a. Sabi inni yeroo dheeraa obsaan baatuu, hamma inni galmee Waaqayyoo keessatti safara yakka isaa guututti hin rukunne sun, dhuma irratti xoofoo dheekkamsaa isa araaraan wal hin makamin ni dhuga.”

> “When Christ ceases His intercession in the sanctuary, the unmingled wrath threatened against those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark (Revelation 14:9, 10), will be poured out. The plagues upon Egypt when God was about to deliver Israel were similar in character to those more terrible and extensive judgments which are to fall upon the world just before the final deliverance of God’s people. Says the revelator, in describing those terrific scourges: ‘There fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshiped his image.’ The sea ‘became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.’ And ‘the rivers and fountains of waters … became blood.’ 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.’ Revelation 16:2–6. By condemning the people of God to death, they have as truly incurred the guilt of their blood as if it had been shed by their hands. In like manner Christ declared the Jews of His time guilty of all the blood of holy men which had been shed since the days of Abel; for they possessed the same spirit and were seeking to do the same work with these murderers of the prophets.

> “Yommuu Kiristoos iddoo qulqulluu keessatti araarsuu Isaa dhaabu, dheekkamsi hin makamin kan warra bineensicha fi fakkeenya isaa waaqeffatan, mallattoo isaas fudhatan irratti akeekkachiifame (Mul’ata 14:9, 10), ni dhangala’a. Dha’ichoonni Waaqni yeroo Israa’el oolchuuf jedhu irratti Gibxiin rukutamte, murtiiwwan caalaa sodaachisoo fi bal’oo kan yeroo oolchi mootummaa Waaqayyoo isa dhumaa dura addunyaa irratti bu’an wajjin amala isaanii keessatti wal fakkaatu turan. Mul’ataan, yeroo dha’ichaawwan sodaachisoo sana ibsu, akkana jedha: ‘Madaa hamaa fi dhiphisaa ta’e tokko namoota mallattoo bineensichaa qaban irratti, warra fakkeenya isaa waaqeffatan irrattis ni bu’e.’ Galaanni immoo ‘akka dhiiga nama du’ee ta’e; lubbuun jiraataa hundinuu galaana keessa ni du’e.’ Akkasumas ‘laggeenii fi burqaawwan bishaanii … dhiiga ta’an.’ Rakkinoonni kun hamma itti sodaachisan iyyuu, qajeelummaan Waaqayyoo guutummaatti ni mirkanaa’a. Ergamaan Waaqayyoo akkana jedha: ‘Yaa Gooftaa, Ati qajeelaa dha, … ati akkasitti waan murteessiteef. Isaan dhiiga qulqullootaa fi raajotaa dhangalaasaniiru; atis isaan akka dhugan dhiiga isaaniif kenniteerta; isaan kanaaf malu.’ Mul’ata 16:2–6. Isaan uummata Waaqayyoo du’aaf murteessuudhaan, akkuma harka isaanii irratti dhiigni isaanii dhangala’eetti, yakka dhiiga isaanii dhugumaan of irratti fudhataniiru. Haaluma wal fakkaatuun Kiristoos Yihuudota bara Isaa keessa jiran dhiiga namoota qulqulloota ta’an hundumaa kan bara Abeel irraa jalqabee dhangala’e irratti yakka akka qaban dubbate; sababni isaas, hafuuruma sana waan qabaniif, ajjeechitoota raajotaa sana wajjin hojii isuma sana hojjechuuf waan barbaadaniif.”

> “In the plague that follows, power is given to the sun ‘to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat.’ Verses 8, 9. The prophets thus describe the condition of the earth at this fearful time: ‘The land mourneth; … because the harvest of the field is perished…. All the trees of the field are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.’ ‘The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate…. How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture…. The rivers of water are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.’ ‘The songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord God: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence.’ Joel 1:10–12, 17–20; Amos 8:3.

> “Dhaʼicha itti aanu keessatti aduun ‘namoota ibiddaan akka gubdu’ aangoon isheef kenname. ‘Namoonnis hooʼa guddaadhaan gubaman.’ Lakkoobsa 8, 9. Raajonni yeroo sodaachisaa kana keessa haala lafaa akkana jechuun ibsu: ‘Biyyi ni booʼa; … sababni isaas midhaan dirree badeera…. Mukeen dirree hundinuu goggoganiiru; sababni isaas gammachuun ilmaan namootaa keessaa gogee badeera.’ ‘Sanyiin tuullaa isaanii jala mancaʼeera, kuusaan midhaaniis ni onte…. Horii akkamitti aadu! Tuutni loonii ni dhiphatu, sababni isaas margi isaanii hin jiru…. Laggeen bishaaniis ni gogu, ibiddis margaa lafa onaa ni fixa.’ ‘Guyyaa sana keessatti faarfannaan mana qulqullummaa booʼicha taʼa, jedha Gooftaan Waaqayyo; bakka hundumaatti reeffi baayʼeen ni jira; callisanii isaan alatti ni gat u.’ Yoʼeel 1:10–12, 17–20; Amoos 8:3.

> “These plagues are not universal, or the inhabitants of the earth would be wholly cut off. Yet they will be the most awful scourges that have ever been known to mortals. All the judgments upon men, prior to the close of probation, have been mingled with mercy. The pleading blood of Christ has shielded the sinner from receiving the full measure of his guilt; but in the final judgment, wrath is poured out unmixed with mercy.

> “Dhaʼichoonni kun addunyaa guutuu irratti kan buʼan miti; yoo akkas taʼe jiraattonni lafaa guutummaatti ni barbadaaʼu turan. Taʼus, isaan adabbiiwwan hamaa keessaa namoonni duʼamtoonni yeroo kam iyyuu beekan caalaa sodaachisoo taʼan ni taʼu. Murtiileen hundinuu namoota irratti, yeroo carraan qoramuu cufamu dura, araaraan wal makanii turan. Dhiigni Kiristoos isa kadhatu cubbamaan safartuu guutuu yakka isaa akka hin fudhanne isa eegaa ture; garuu murtii dhumaa keessatti dheekkamsi araara irraa wal hin makamin ni dhangalaʼa.”

> “In that day, multitudes will desire the shelter of God’s mercy which they have so long despised. ‘Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.’ Amos 8:11, 12.” The Great Controversy, 627–629.

> “Bara sana keessa, namoonni baayʼeen gaaddisa araara Waaqayyoo, isa yeroo dheeraaf tuffatanii turan, ni hawwu. ‘Kunoo, barri ni dhufa, jedha Gooftaan Waaqayyo, ani biyya keessa beela nan erga; beela nyaataa miti, dheebuu bishaanii miti, garuu dubbii Waaqayyoo dhagaʼuu ti: isaan galaanaa hamma galaanaatti ni jooraʼu, kaabaa hamma bahaa illee ni adeemu; dubbii Waaqayyoo barbaaduuf asii fi achi ni fiigu, garuu hin argatan.’ Amos 8:11, 12.” The Great Controversy, 627–629.

In the previous passage it stated, “The nation with which He bears long, and which He will not smite until it has filled up the measure of its iniquity in God’s account, will finally drink the cup of wrath unmixed with mercy.” She also penned in the same paragraph, “The plagues upon Egypt when God was about to deliver Israel were similar in character to those more terrible and extensive judgments which are to fall upon the world just before the final deliverance of God’s people.” The nation (the United States) that fills up “the measure of iniquity” will suffer plagues similar to the ten plagues in Egypt.

Dubbii darbe darbe darbe, “Sabni Inni obsa dheeraa itti godhuu fi hamma inni herrega Waaqayyoo keessatti safartuu yakka isaa guututti rukutuu hin barbaadne, dhuma irratti xoofoo dheekkamsa gara-laafina malee walitti hin makamin ni dhuga” jechuun ibsameera. Isheen akkuma keewwata sana keessatti, “Yeroo Waaqayyo Israa’el bilisa baasuuf jedhu irratti dha’ichoonni Gibxi irra ga’an, murtiiwwan caalaatti hamaanii fi bal’inaan babal’atan kan yeroo bilisummaan mootummaa Waaqayyoo isa dhumaa dura addunyaa irra bu’an wajjin amala isaanii keessatti wal fakkaatu turan” jettee barreessite. Sabni (“United States”) “safartuu yakkaa” guutu, dha’ichoota dha’ichoota kudhan Gibxi irra ga’an wajjin wal fakkaatan ni dhiphata.

The plagues of Egypt were divided into two periods. The first three plagues fell on everyone, but the seven last plagues only fell upon the Egyptians.

Dhaʼichiwwan Gibxii yeroo lama keessatti qoodamanii turan. Dhaʼichiwwan jalqabaa sadan nama hundumaa irratti buʼan; dhaʼichiwwan torban dhumaa garuu warra Gibxii qofa irratti buʼan.

> And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. Exodus 8:22.

> Ani gaaf sanatti biyya Gooshen, lafa uummanni koo keessa jiraatu, addaan nan baasa; akka tuunni gaangee achi keessa hin jirretti; kanaanis ani Waaqayyo lafa gidduutti akka taʼe ati akka beektuuf. Ba’uu 8:22.

The first three plagues in Egypt fell everywhere, but Goshen, where the Hebrews lived did not receive Egypt’s seven last plagues. The United States is the nation that fills up its cup of iniquity at the Sunday law. At that point national apostasy is followed by national ruin, but the judgments which produce national ruin are mixed with mercy until Michael stands up and probation closes for all mankind. At the Sunday law in the United States the majority of those who now profess to be Sabbath-keepers will bow to the powers that be and accept the mark of the beast. At that time the Sunday law issue becomes a spiritual test for those who have been outside of Adventism. From the Sunday law in the United States until Michael stands up is the great ingathering of eleventh-hour workers, but the door has already been closed upon those who are held accountable for the light of the seventh-day Sabbath before the Sunday law.

Dhaʼichi dhiphinaawwan sadii jalqabaa Gibxii keessa bakka hundatti buʼan; garuu Goshen, iddoo Ibrootni keessa jiraatan, dhiphinaawwan Gibxii torban isa dhumaa hin fudhanne. Ameerikaan biyya yeroo seera Dilbataa irratti xoofoo hamminaa ishee guutattu dha. Yeroo sana gantummaan biyyaalessaa badiisa biyyaalessaan ni hordofama; garuu murtiin badiisa biyyaalessaa fidu araaraan walmakamee ni turu hamma Mikaaʼel kaʼuttii fi yeroo qorannoon namoota hundumaa irratti cufamutti. Yeroo seerri Dilbataa Ameerikaa keessatti labsamu, baayʼinni isaanii warra amma Sanbata eegduu jechuun of waaman aangoota jiranitti ni jilbeenfatu; mallattoo bineensichaas ni fudhatu. Yeroo sana dhimmin seera Dilbataa warra hanga yeroo sanaa Adveentizimii alatti turaniif qormaata hafuuraa taʼa. Yeroo seera Dilbataa Ameerikaa irraa jalqabee hamma Mikaaʼel kaʼuttii walitti qabamuun guddaan hojjettoota saʼaatii kudha tokkooffaati; garuu balballi sun duraanuma warra ifa Sanbata guyyaa torbaffaatiin dura seera Dilbataatti gaafatamummaa qaban irratti cufamee jira.

> “More and more, as the days go by, it is becoming apparent that God’s judgments are in the world. In fire and flood and earthquake He is warning the inhabitants of this earth of His near approach. The time is nearing when the great crisis in the history of the world will have come, when every movement in the government of God will be watched with intense interest and inexpressible apprehension. In quick succession the judgments of God will follow one another—fire and flood and earthquake, with war and bloodshed.

> “Akkuma guyyoonni darbanii darbanii deemanitti, murtoon Waaqayyoo biyya lafaa keessa akka jiru caalaatti ifa ta’aa jira. Inni ibiddaa fi lolaa fi sochii lafaa keessatti jiraattota lafaa kanaa dhufaatii Isaa dhihoo taʼe irraa akeekkachiisaa jira. Yeroon sun dhihaachaa jira; yeroo keessatti qormaanni guddaan seenaa addunyaa keessatti dhufu sun gaʼa, yeroo keessatti sochiin mootummaa Waaqayyoo keessa jiru hundi fedhii cimaa fi soda ibsamuu hin dandeenyeen ilaalamu. Murtoowwan Waaqayyoo walitti aansuudhaan saffisaan wal hordofu—ibiddaa fi lolaa fi sochii lafaa, waraanaa fi dhiiga dhangalaʼuu wajjin.”

> “Oh, that the people might know the time of their visitation! There are many who have not yet heard the testing truth for this time. There are many with whom the Spirit of God is striving. The time of God’s destructive judgments is the time of mercy for those who have had no opportunity to learn what is truth. Tenderly will the Lord look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched; His hand is still stretched out to save, while the door is closed to those who would not enter.

> “Yaa ummatni yeroo daawwannaa isaanii beekuu danda’anii! Namoonni baay’een ammas dhugaa qorumsaa yeroo kanaaf ta’e hin dhageenye. Namoonni baay’eenis jiru kanneen keessaa Hafuuri Waaqayyoo hojjechaa jiru. Yeroon murtiilee balleessitootaa Waaqayyoo yeroo araaraa warra dhugaan maal akka ta’e barachuuf carraa hin arganneeti. Gooftaan gara isaanii laafinaan ni ilaala. Garaan araaraa Isaa ni tuqama; harki Isaas fayyisuuf ammallee diriirfamee jira, utuu balballi warra seenuu hin barbaanneef cufameera.”

> “The mercy of God is shown in His long forbearance. He is holding back His judgments, waiting for the message of warning to be sounded to all. Oh, if our people would feel as they should the responsibility resting upon them to give the last message of mercy to the world, what a wonderful work would be done!” Testimonies, volume 9, 97.

> “Araarri Waaqayyoo obsa dheeraa Isaa keessatti mul’ata. Inni murtiiwwan Isaa duubatti qabee jira; ergaan akeekkachiisaa hundumaatti akka labsamu eeggachaa jira. Yaa, uummanni keenya itti gaafatamummaa isaan irratti boqotte—ergaa araaraa isa dhumaa biyya lafaatiif kennuu—akkuma isaanitti dhaga’amuu qabutti utuu dhaga’anii ta’ee, hojii akkam dinqisiisaan hojjetama ture!” Testimonies, volume 9, 97.

In the previous passage she identified that “the time of God’s destructive judgments is the time of mercy for those who have had no opportunity to learn what is truth.” In the next passage she refers to that period of time as “the time of trouble.”

Keewwata darbe keessatti isheen, “Yeroon murtiiwwan badiisaan guutaman kan Waaqayyoo yeroo araaraa warra dhugaan maal akka ta’e barachuuf carraa hin arganneeti” jettee ibsite. Keewwata itti aanu keessatti immoo yeroo sana “yeroo dhiphinaa” jechuun ishee waamti.

> “I saw that the holy Sabbath is, and will be, the separating wall between the true Israel of God and unbelievers; and that the Sabbath is the great question, to unite the hearts of God’s dear waiting saints. And if one believed, and kept the Sabbath, and received the blessing attending it, and then gave it up, and broke the holy commandment, they would shut the gates of the Holy City against themselves, as sure as there was a God that rules in heaven above. I saw that God had children, who do not see and keep the Sabbath. They had not rejected the light on it. And 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. This enraged the church, and nominal Adventists, as they could not refute the Sabbath truth. And at this time, God’s chosen, all saw clearly that we had the truth, and they came out and endured the persecution with us.” A Word to the Little Flock, 18, 19.

> “Ani Sababni qulqulluun Israa’el dhugaa kan Waaqayyoo fi warra hin amanne gidduutti dallaa addaan baasu akka ta’e, akkasumas akka ta’u nan arge; Sababnis gaaffii guddaa, garaa qulqulloota jaallatamoo Waaqayyoo warra eegan tokkoomsu ta’e. Yoo namni tokko amanee, Sababa eeggatee, eebba isa wajjin walqabate fudhatee, booddee immoo isa dhiisee, abboommii qulqulluu sana cabses, akkuma Waaqayyo samiirra olitti mootummaa qabu jiru dhugaa ta’etti, karra Magaalaa Qulqulluu of irratti cufu ture. Ani Waaqayyo ijoollee qabaachuu isaa nan arge; isaan Sababa hin arginee fi hin eegne turan. Isaan ifa waa’ee isaa jiru hin didne turan. Jalqaba yeroo rakkinichaa keessatti, yeroo nu baanee Sababa caalaatti guutummaatti labsinutti, Hafuura Qulqulluudhaan guutamne. Kunis waldaa fi Adveentistoota maqaa qofaaf jiran aarse, sababni isaas isaan dhugaa Sababaa mormanii kufsiisuu hin dandeenye. Yeroo kana keessatti immoo, warri filatamoon Waaqayyoo hundinuu akka nu dhugaa qabnu ifatti argan; isaanis ba’anii ari’atama nu wajjin obsan.” A Word to the Little Flock, 18, 19.

Though modified a little, the same passage just cited is found in the book Early Writings. In that book she includes commentary on her statement about “the time of trouble.” A Word to the Little Flock was the first publication of the disappointed faithful Millerites after the Great Disappointment of October 22, 1844, and decades later, when editors used portions of that pamphlet to include in the book Early Writings, they clarified that “the time of trouble” that was referred to was not the seven last plagues, for when the seven last plagues are poured out there is no mercy mixed with the judgments.

XIqqoo xiqqoo jijjiiramee xiqqoo jijjiiramee taʼus, kutaan sun kan amma caqasame san kitaaba *Early Writings* keessatti argama. Kitaaba sana keessatti isheen ibsa dubbii ishee waaʼee “yeroo rakkinaa” jedhu irratti kennite ni dabalti. *A Word to the Little Flock* maxxansa jalqabaa Milleroota amanamoo abdii kutatan, kanneen erga Guyyaa Abdii Guddaan Onkoloolessa 22, 1844tti taʼe booda ture; waggoota kudhanii hedduu booddee immoo, yeroo gulaaltoonni kutaa xalayaa xixiqqaa sanaa keessaa fudhatanii kitaaba *Early Writings* keessatti dabalaniitti, “yeroon rakkinaa” jedhu kan ibsame sun dhaʼicha torban isa dhumaa akka hin taane ibsan; yeroo dhaʼichi torban inni dhumaa buufamu keessaatti, murtiilee sana keessatti araarri walitti makamee hin jiru.

> “1. On page 33 is given the following: ‘I saw that the holy Sabbath is, and will be, the separating wall between the true Israel of God and unbelievers; and that the Sabbath is the great question to unite the hearts of God’s dear, waiting saints. I saw that God had children who do not see and keep the Sabbath. They have not rejected the light upon it. And 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.’

> “1. Fuula 33 irratti kan armaan gadiiti kennameera: ‘Ani Sabatni qulqulluun Israa’el dhugaa Waaqa keessaa fi warra hin amanne gidduutti dallaa adda baasuu taʼee akka jiru, fi akka taʼus nan arge; akkasumas Sabatni gaaffii guddaa garaa qulqulloota Waaqa jaallatamoo, eeggachaa jiran tokkoomsu taʼuu isaa nan arge. Ani Waaqni ijoollee Sabata hin arginee fi hin eegganne qabu nan arge. Isaan ifa isa irratti ibsame hin didne. Yommuu jalqaba yeroo dhiphinaatti geenyu immoo, yeroo baanee Sabata guutummaatti caalaatti labsinu Hafuura Qulqulluudhaan guutamne turre.’”

> “This view was given in 1847 when there were but very few of the Advent brethren observing the Sabbath, and of these but few supposed that its observance was of sufficient importance to draw a line between the people of God and unbelievers. Now the fulfillment of that view is beginning to be seen. ‘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 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, yet held in check so as not to prevent the work of the third angel. At that time the ‘latter rain,’ or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come, to give power to the loud voice of the third angel, and prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out.” Early Writings, 85.

> “Ilaalchi kun bara 1847 keessatti kenname, yeroo sanitti obboloonni Adventistii Sanbata eegaa turan muraasa qofa turan; isaan keessaa illee muraasonni qofti eeguun isaa ummata Waaqayyoo fi warra hin amanne gidduutti sarara adda baasuu danda’u jechuun barbaachisummaa gahaa qaba jedhaniiru. Amma raawwatamuun ilaalcha sanaa mul’achuu jalqabee jira. ‘Jalqabni yeroo rakkinaa sanaa,’ as keessatti eerame, yeroo dha’ichoonni sun dhangalaafamuu jalqaban kan agarsiisu miti; garuu yeroo gabaabaa tokko, isaan dhangalaafamuun isaanii dura, yeroo Kiristoos iddoo qulqulluu keessatti jiru agarsiisa. Yeroo sana, hojii fayyinaa xumuramuu irratti utuu jiruu, rakkinni lafa irratti dhufaa jiraata; saboonni ni aaruu, ta’us hojii ergamaa sadaffaa akka hin ittisneef ni to’atamu. Yeroo sana roobni boodaa, yookaan haaromsi fuula Gooftaa biraa dhufu, sagalee guddaa ergamaa sadaffaatiif humna kennuuf, akkasumas qulqulloota yeroo dha’ichoonni torban dhumaa dhangalaafaman keessatti dhaabbachuu danda’aniif qopheessuuf ni dhufa.” Early Writings, 85.

At the Sunday law in the United States national apostasy will be followed by national ruin. At that Sunday law Adventism in the United States will be divided into two classes, one will receive the mark of the beast the other the seal of God. The national ruin of the United States is represented by the first three plagues of Egypt. Those judgments continue until the close of human probation, then the seven last plagues that are unmixed with mercy are poured out.

Yeroo seerri Dilbataa Ameerikaa keessatti baafamu, gantummaan biyyaalessaa badiisa biyyaalessaatiin hordofama. Yeroo seera Dilbataa sanaatti Adveentizimni Ameerikaa keessatti garee lamaatti qoodama; inni tokko mallattoo bineensichaa ni fudhata, inni kaan immoo chaappaa Waaqayyoo ni argata. Badiisni biyyaalessaa Ameerikaa dha’ichawwan jalqabaa sadii Gibxii tiin bakka bu’amee mul’ata. Murtoon sun hanga yeroo carraan qorannoo namaa cufamutti itti fufa; sana booddee dha’ichawwan dhumaa torban kan araaraan hin makamin ni dhangalaafamu.

My point is less about the prophetic history of Egypt and more about the fact that Ellen White identifies Egypt as the symbol of the nation that forces the entire world to receive the mark of the beast, for in doing so she is using the beginning to illustrate the end, which is the prophetic signature of Jesus as the Alpha and Omega. In the Exodus story when the Lord is entering into covenant with ancient Israel, He introduces Himself with a new name.

Kaayyoon koo seenaa raajii Gibxii irratti caalaa, Ellen White Gibxiin mallattoo sabicha addunyaa guutuu mallattoo bineensaa akka fudhatu dirqisiisu agarsiifti jechuunidha; sababni isaas, akkas gochuudhaan jalqabaatiin dhuma ibsiti, kunis mallattoo raajii Yesus kan Alfaa fi Omeegaa taʼeeti. Seenaa Ba’uu keessatti yeroo Gooftaan Israa’el durii wajjin kakuu seenuutti jiru, maqaa haaraa tokkoon of beeksisa.

> Then the Lord said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.

> Achi Waaqayyo Museedhaan akkana jedhe; “Amma waan ani Fara’oon irratti godhu ni argita; harka cimaadhaan inni isaan gad dhiisa; harka cimaadhaanis biyya isaa keessaa isaan in ari’a.”

> And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

> Waaqayyos Museedhaan dubbate; akkanas isaan jedhe; Ani Waaqayyo dha. Maqaa Waaqa Hundumaa Danda’uun Abrahaamitti, Yisihaaqitti, Yaaqoobittis mul’adheera; garuu maqaa koo YIHOWAA jedhuun isaanii biratti hin beekamne ture.

> And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the Lord.

> Ani immoo isaanii wajjin kakuu koo dhaabeera; akka ani biyya Kana’aan, biyya isaan keessatti alagoota ta’anii keessa jiraatan, isaaniif kennuuf. Ani immoo aaduu ilmaan Israa’el, warri Gibxiin garbummaa jala qabaman, dhaga’eera; kakuu koos yaadadheera. Kanaafuu ilmaan Israa’eliin akkana jedhi: Ani Waaqayyo dha; ani ba’aa warra Gibxii jalaa isin nan baasa, garbummaa isaanii keessaa isin nan oolcha, irree diriirfameenii fi murtiiwwan guguddaadhaan isin nan fura. Ani ummata taatanii gara kootti isin nan fudhadha, anis Waaqa isiniif nan ta’a; anis Waaqayyo Waaqa keessan, kan ba’aa warra Gibxii jalaa isin baasu, ta’uu koo ni beektu. Ani biyya ani Abrahaam, Yiisaaq, fi Yaaqoobiif kennuuf kakadhe sanatti isin nan galcha; ani dhaala isinii nan kenna; Ani Waaqayyo dha.

> And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. Exodus 6:1–9.

> Museen akkuma kanatti ilmaan Israa’elitti dubbate; isaan garuu yaada isaanii dhiphachuu irraa fi garbummaa hamaa irraa kan ka’e Musee hin dhaggeeffanne. Ba’uu 6:1–9.

The Lord here is identifying Moses as the representative of His covenant as were Jacob, Isaac and Abraham. Until the history of Moses the name JEHOVAH was unknown to Abraham and his descendants, and in the history of the renewing of Abraham’s covenant when the Hebrews were to be delivered from Egyptian bondage the Lord introduces a new revelation of His character, for a name represents character prophetically. When Abram entered into covenant with the Lord, the Lord changed his name to Abraham. At the beginning of the prophecy of Egyptian bondage the human representative of the covenant had his name changed and at the end of that prophecy God introduced a new name for Himself.

Asitti Gooftaan asitti Museen akka bakka-buutuu kakuu Isaa taʼe ni beeksisa; akkuma Yaaqoob, Yisihaaqii fi Abrahaam taʼanitti. Seenaa Musee dura maqaan YIHOWAA Abrahaamii fi sanyii isaa biratti hin beekamne ture; seenaa haaromsa kakuu Abrahaam keessatti, yeroo Ibrootni garbummaa Gibxii keessaa baafamanitti, Gooftaan mulʼata haaraa amala Isaa ibsa; sababiin isaas maqaan karaa raajii amalaa bakka buʼa. Yeroo Abraam Gooftaa wajjin kakuu seene, Gooftaan maqaa isaa gara Abrahaamitti jijjiire. Jalqaba raajii garbummaa Gibxii irratti bakka-buutuun namaa kakuu maqaan isaa jijjiirame; xumura raajii sanaattis Waaqni ofii Isaatiif maqaa haaraa tokko beeksise.

Abram entered into covenant in chapter fifteen and there set forth the prophecy of Egyptian bondage for four hundred years. In chapter seventeen Abram was given the rite of circumcision and his and Sarah’s names were changed.

Boqonna kudhan galuu Abraam boqonnaa kudha shanaffaa keessatti seene; achittis raajiin garbummaa Gibxii waggaa dhibba afuriif turu ibsame. Boqonnaa kudha torbaffaa keessatti immoo Abraamiif sirni dhagna qabuu kenname; maqaan isaas kan Saaraas ni geeddarame.

Four hundred years later Moses was raised up to fulfill Abraham’s four-hundred-year prophecy. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses all represent the one hundred and forty-four thousand who enter into covenant with the Lord in the last days.

Booddee dhibba afurii booddee, Museen raajii Abrahaam kan waggoota dhibba afurii sana raawwachuuf kaafame. Abrahaam, Yisihaaq, Yaaqoobii fi Museen hundinuu warra kuma dhibba afurtamii afur taʼan, warra guyyoota dhumaa keessatti Gooftaa wajjin kakuu seenan sana bakka buʼu.

> “In the last days of this earth’s history, God’s covenant with his commandment-keeping people is to be renewed.” Review and Herald, February 26, 1914.

> “Guyyoota taarii lafaa kanaa keessa, kakuu Waaqayyoo saba isaa ajajawwan isaa eegu wajjin qabu haaromfamuu qaba.” Review and Herald, February 26, 1914.

The separation of the Sabbath-keepers who accept the mark of the beast from the Sabbath-keepers who receive the seal of God is accomplished at the Sunday law. The separation is represented in the parable of the ten virgins.

Warri sabbataa eeggatoota mallattoo bineensaa fudhatan keessaa warra sabbataa eeggatoota chaappaa Waaqayyoo fudhatan irraa adda baasuun seera Dilbataatiin raawwatama. Addaan ba’uun kun fakkeenya durboota kudhaniin bakka buufameera.

> “The parable of the ten virgins of Matthew 25 also illustrates the experience of the Adventist people.” The Great Controversy, 393.

> “Fakkeenya dubarran kudhanii Mattaayos 25 keessatti argamu, muuxannoo saba Adveentistootaas ni ibsa.” The Great Controversy, 393.

> “I am often referred to the parable of the ten virgins, five of whom were wise, and five foolish. This parable has been and will be fulfilled to the very letter, for it has a special application to this time, and, like the third angel’s message, has been fulfilled and will continue to be present truth till the close of time.” Review and Herald, August 19, 1890.

> “Ammas yeroo baay’ee fakkeenya durba kudhanii, isaan keessaa shan ogeeyyii fi shan immoo gowwoota taʼaniitti nan akeekkachiifama. Fakkeenyi kun qubee isaatiin guutummaatti raawwatameera, akkasumas ni raawwatama; sababiin isaas yeroo kanaaf hojii addaa qaba, ergaa ergamaa sadaffaatii wajjin wal fakkaatuudhaan, raawwatameera, akkasumas hamma yeroo xumuraatti dhugaa yeroo ammaa taʼee itti fufa.” Review and Herald, August 19, 1890.

The parable was fulfilled on October 22, 1844 when the wise and foolish virgins of Millerite history were separated. The beginning of Adventism represents the end of Adventism, and the separation at the end is a fulfillment of the parable of the ten virgins and the separation at the end is produced by the Sunday law.

Fakkeenyi sun raawwatamte Onkoloolessa 22, 1844tti yeroo seenaa Milleraayit keessatti durboonni ogeeyyii fi gowwoonni adda baafamanitti. Jalqabni Adveentiizimii dhuma Adveentiizimii ni bakka buʼa; jechuunis, addaan baafamuun yeroo dhumaatti taʼu fakkeenya durboota kudhanii raawwachuu isaa ti, addaan baafamuun yeroo dhumaatti taʼus seera Dilbataatiin ni fida.

> “Again, these parables teach that there is to be no probation after the judgment. When the work of the gospel is completed, there immediately follows the separation between the good and the evil, and the destiny of each class is forever fixed.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 123.

> “Ammas, fakkeenyonni kun yeroo murtiin booddee yeroo ayyaanaa akka hin jirre barsiisu. Yeroo hojii wangeelaa xumuramu, achumaan giddugalli gaarii fi hamoota gidduutti addaan ba’iinsi ni dhufa; mootummaa garee tokkoon tokkoon isaanii immoo bara baraan ni murteeffama.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 123.

The parable of the ten virgins identifies that it is the wise virgins of Adventism that receive the seal of God and the foolish virgins of Adventism that receive the mark of the beast at the Sunday law in the United States. The foolish virgins are also represented as Laodiceans.

Fakkeenyi dubartoota kudhanii akka agarsiisutti, dubartoonni ogeyyii Adveentizimii warri ta’an seera Dilbataa Ameerikaa keessatti ba’u irratti chaappaa Waaqayyoo ni fudhatu; dubartoonni gowwoonni Adveentizimii warri ta’an immoo mallattoo bineensichaa ni fudhatu. Dubartoonni gowwoonni kun akkasumas akka Laa’odiiqewwaniiitti bakka bu’aniiru.

> “The state of the Church represented by the foolish virgins, is also spoken of as the Laodicean state.” Review and Herald, August 19, 1890.

> “Haalli Waldaa durboota gowwootaatiin bakka buufame, akkasumas akka haala Laa’odiiqeyaa jedhamee ni dubbatama.” Review and Herald, August 19, 1890.

In the last days, when God renews His covenant with His commandment-keeping people, God will reveal a new name of Himself as He did when He renewed the covenant in the time of Moses. The condition of the foolish virgins is that they have no oil, and the condition of the Laodiceans is that they are too blind to see they have no oil. It is obvious that if the foolish virgins are Laodiceans, then the wise virgins are Philadelphians.

Bara dhumaatti, yeroo Waaqayyo saba isaa abboommii isaa eeganii wajjin kakuu isaa haaromsu, akkuma yeroo Muusee keessatti kakuu sana haaromsetti, Waaqayyo maqaa isaa haaraa tokko ni mul’isa. Haalli durboota wallaalotaa isaanii zayitii hin qabne ta’uu isaanii dha; haalli immoo Laa’odiiqeyotaa isaanii zayitii akka hin qabne arguu dadhabanii baay’ee jaamoo ta’uu isaanii dha. Yoo durbootni wallaaloon Laa’odiiqeyota ta’an, durbootni ogeeyyiin immoo Filadelfiyaa ta’uun isaanii ifaadha.

> And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

> Gara ergamaa waldaa Filadelfiyaa keessa jiruutti akkana jechuun barreessi; Wantoonni kun isa qulqulluu, isa dhugaa, isa furtuu Daawit qabu, isa banu, namni tokko illee cufuu hin dandeenye; isa cufu, namni tokko illee banuu hin dandeenye irraa jedhu; Ani hojii kee beeka: kunoo, ani balbala banamaa si dura kaa’eera, namni tokko illee isa cufuu hin danda’u; ati humna xinnoo qabdaatii, dubbii koo eeggatteerta, maqaa koos hin ganne.

> Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

> Kunoo, ani warra mana sagadaa Seexanaa keessaa, warra ofiin “Yihudoota” jedhan garuu kan taʼan miti, soba dubbatan sana siif nan taasisa; kunoo, akka isaan dhufanii fuula miilla keetii duratti sagadan, akkasumas akka ani si jaalladhe beekan nan taasisa. Ati dubbii obsa koo waan eegdeef, anis yeroo qorumsa, isa guutummaa addunyaa irratti dhufu, warra lafa irra jiraatan qoruuf dhufu sana irraa si nan eega.

> Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Revelation 3:7–13.

> Kunoo, ani dafee nan dhufa; akka namni tokko illee gonfoo kee si irraa hin fudhanneef, waan qabdu jabeessii qabi. Isa moʼatu utubaa mana qulqullummaa Waaqa koo keessatti nan godha; inni achii alatti deebiʼee hin baʼu; maqaa Waaqa koo, maqaa magaalaa Waaqa koo, jechuunis Yerusaalem haaraa isa Waaqa koo biraa samii irraa buʼu, isa irratti nan barreessa; maqaa koo haaraa illee isa irratti nan barreessa. Namni gurra qabu, Wanti Hafuurri waldoota kiristaanaatiin jedhu haa dhagaʼu. Mulʼata Yohaannis 3:7–13.

The Philadelphians represent the one hundred and forty-four thousand and they are promised that God would write His new name upon them. When the Lord enters into covenant with the one hundred and forty-four thousand, He will introduce a new name of Himself. Abraham was told by the Lord that He was God Almighty.

Warri Filadelfiyaa namoota dhibba keessaa afurtamii afur kuma bakka bu’u; isaan irrattis Waaqayyo maqaa Isaa haaraa akka barreessu abdachiifamanii jiru. Yommuu Gooftaan namoota dhibba keessaa afurtamii afurtamii afur kuma wajjin kakuu seenu, Inni maqaa ofii Isaa keessaa haaraa ni beeksisa. Abrahaamis Gooftaadhaan Inni Waaqa Hundumaa Danda’u ta’uu isaa itti himame.

> And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. Genesis 17:1–5.

> Yommuu Abraam waggaa sagaltamii sagal taʼeetti, Waaqayyo Abraamitti mulʼate; akkanas isaaniin jedhe; Ani Waaqa Hundumaa Dandaʼu dha; fuula koo duratti deddeebi, mudaa kan hin qabne taʼi. Ani immoo kakuu koo anaaf si gidduutti nan dhaaba; baayʼinaanis si nan baayʼisa. Abraamis irratti kufee fuula isaatiin lafatti gombifame; Waaqnis isatti dubbachaa akkana jedhe; Anaaf garuu, kunoo, kakuun koo si wajjin jira; atis abbaa saboota hedduu ni taata. Maqaan kee deebiʼee Abraam hin jedhamu; maqaan kee garuu Abrahaam ni jedhama; ani saboota hedduuf abbaa si godheera. Uumama 17:1–5.

When the Lord first entered into covenant with a chosen people in the time of Abraham, He identified Himself as the Almighty God. When He furthered His covenant relationship in the time of Moses, for the first time he identified Himself as JEHOVAH. When Jesus came to confirm the covenant with many for one week, He introduced a new name of God that had only been expressed one time in the Old Testament and that was by a Babylonian.

Yeroo Gooftaan jalqaba bara Abrahaamitti saba filatamaa wajjin kakuu seenetti, ofii Isaa akka Waaqa Hundumaa Danda’uutti beeksise. Yeroo bara Museetti hariiroo kakuu Isaa caalaatti babal’isettis, yeroo jalqabaatiif ofii Isaa akka YEHOVAA ta’e beeksise. Yeroo Yesuus torban tokkoof namoota baay’ee wajjin kakuu sana mirkaneessuuf dhufettis, maqaa Waaqaatiif haaraa ta’e tokko beeksise; maqaan sun Kakuu Moofaa keessatti yeroo tokko qofa ibsamee ture, innis nama Baabilon tokkoon ture.

> Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Daniel 3:24, 25.

> Achii sanaa Nabuukadnezaar baayʼee rifatee dafalee kaʼee, dubbatee gorsitoota isaatiin, “Namoota sadii hidhanii gara gidduu ibiddaatti hin darbanneree?” jedhe. Isaanis deebisanii mootichaan, “Dhuguma, yaa mootii,” jedhan. Innis deebisee akkana jedhe; “Kunoo, ani namoota afur hiikamanii gidduu ibiddaa keessa deddeebiʼan nan arga; miidhaan tokko illee isaan irra hin geenye; fakkeenyi isa afraffaasaas ilma Waaqaa fakkaata.” Daani’el 3:24, 25.

It is very easy to establish that chapter three of Daniel is identifying the Sunday law in the United States. In Daniel three Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego represent the one-hundred and forty-four thousand. The one hundred and forty-four thousand are those that renew the covenant for the final time. In Daniel three we see a prophetic illustration of the Sunday law and latter rain history. Christ was and will be in the fires of persecution with his three worthies, representing not only the one hundred and forty-four thousand, but also the three angels messages. In the fire, which is typifying the Sunday law crisis, He is identified with one of His names, and it’s a name that would not be introduced into history until Christ arrived as the Son of God. In the illustration of chapter three we see those that renew the covenant at the end of the world interacting with Christ during the final crisis, and He has a name that no man knew.

Mirkaneessu boqonnaan sadaffaan Daaniʼel seera Dilbataa Ameerikaa keessatti argamu akka agarsiisu hundeessuun baayʼee salphaadha. Daaniʼel boqonnaa sadii keessatti Shaadaraak, Meeshaakii fi Abedneegoon kuma dhibba afurtamii afurii bakka buʼu. Kuma dhibba afurtamii afuriin warra yeroo dhumaatiif kakuu haaromsanidha. Daaniʼel boqonnaa sadii keessatti fakkeenya raajii seera Dilbataatii fi seenaa rooba boodaa ni argina. Kiristoos ariidha ariʼatamaa keessatti namoota isaa gatii guddaa qaban sadeen wajjin ture, akkasumas ni taʼa; isaan kun kuma dhibba afurtamii afur qofa utuu hin taʼin, ergaa ergamoota sadii illee bakka buʼu. Ibidda keessatti, isa inqilaaba seera Dilbataa fakkeessu sana keessatti, Inni maqaa Isaa keessaa tokkoon beekame; maqaan sunis hamma Kiristoos Ilma Waaqayyoo taʼee dhufutti seenaatti kan hin beeksifamne ture. Fakkeenya boqonnaa sadii keessatti warra dhuma addunyaa irratti kakuu haaromsan yeroo inqilaaba dhumaa keessatti Kiristoos wajjin wal qunnaman ni argina; Innis maqaa namni tokko illee hin beekne qaba ture.

Before I stray too far away from our consideration of the Egyptian deliverance representing the Sunday law in the United States, we should remind ourselves that before the first of the ten plagues began in Egypt there was genuine Sabbath agitation.

Osoo utuu waaʼee oolmaa Gibxii isa seera Dilbataa Ameerikaa keessatti argamu bakka buʼu kana yaada keenya irraa baayʼee fagaachuuf hin jalqabin, balaan kudhan keessaa inni jalqabaa Gibxii keessatti jalqabuu isaa dura jeequmsi Sabataa dhugaan akka ture of yaadachiisuu qabna.

> And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens. And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves. And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God. Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words. And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw. Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished. So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw. And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw. And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as heretofore? Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants? There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people. But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord. Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks. And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task. Exodus 5:5–19.

> Pharaohnis, Kunoo, namoonni biyya kanaa amma baayʼee taʼaniiru; isin immoo baʼaa isaanii irraa akka boqotan gootu, jedhe. Pharaohnis gaafuma sana irratti hojii-feetota uummataa fi qondaaltota isaanii ajaje; akkas jedhe: Isin kana booda akka duraanitti uummataaf xuubii suphee tolchuuf cilee hin kenninaa; isaan ofii isaaniitiif dhaqanii cilee haa funaanan. Baayʼina xuubii suphee isaan duraan tolchaa turan immoo isaan irratti kaaʼaa; waa irraa hin hirʼisinaa; isaan hojii-dhabdoota waan taʼaniif, kanaaf, “Nu dhaqnee Waaqa keenyaaf aarsaa haa dhiheessinu” jechuun iyyu. Namoota irratti hojii caalaatu haa feʼamu, akka isaan isa keessa hojii hojjetan; dubbii faayidaa hin qabneefis gurra hin kennin. Hojii-feetonni uummataa fi qondaaltotni isaaniiis baʼanii uummata dubbatan; akkas jedhan: Pharaoh akkana jedha; Ani cilee isiniif hin kennu. Isin dhaqaa, iddoo argattan hundatti cilee ofii keessaniitiif funaanadhaa; taʼus hojii keessan irraa wanti tokko illee hin hirʼifamu. Kanaafuu uummanni cilee iddoo isaa buusuuf guca guuruuf biyya Gibxii guutuu keessatti bittinnaaʼan. Hojii-feetonni immoo ariitiin isaan dirqisiisaa turan; akkas jechuun, Hojii keessan, gaafa gaafaatti hojii isin irraa eegamu, akkuma yeroo cileen jiru sana guutaa. Qondaaltotni ilmaan Israaʼel, warri hojii-feetonni Pharaoh isaan irratti muudan, reebaman; akkanas jedhamee isaan irraa gaafatame; Maaliif akka duraanitti kaleessaa fi harʼa illee hojii xuubii suphee tolchuu keessanii hin guunne? Ergasii qondaaltotni ilmaan Israaʼel dhufanii Pharaohitti iyyatan; akkas jedhan: Maaliif tajaajiltoota kee irratti akkana goota? Tajaajiltoota keetiif cileen hin kennamu; isaan immoo nuun, “Xuubii suphee tolchaa” jedhu; kunoo, tajaajiltootni kee reebamu; garuu dogoggorri sun saba kee bira jira. Inni garuu akkana jedhe; Isin hojii-dhabdoota, hojii-dhabdoota; kanaafuu, “Nu dhaqnee Waaqayyoof aarsaa haa dhiheessinu” jettu. Kanaaf amma dhaqaa, hojii hojjedhaa; cileen isinitti hin kennamu; taʼus baayʼina xuubii suphee guutuu kennuu qabdu. Qondaaltotni ilmaan Israaʼel, “Isin hojii guyyaa guyyaatti xuubii suphee keessan irraa wanti tokko illee hin hirʼifamu” jedhamee erga dubbatamee booddee, haala hamaa keessa akka jiran ni hubatan. Baʼuu 5:5–19.

Before the Sunday law there will be escalating agitation against those who keep the seventh-day Sabbath, just as there was leading up to the Egyptian plagues. Moses was the one that was identified by both the Egyptians and the Hebrews as the one who was causing all the trouble, just as Ahab accused Elijah of.

Seerri Dilbata dura utuu hin baafamin, akkuma yeroo dhaʼicha Gibxii dura turetti, warra Sanbata guyyaa torbaffaa eegu irratti jeequmsi dabalaa fi cimataa taʼe ni kaʼa. Akkuma Ahaab Eliyaasin himate sana, Museenis nama rakkina sana hunda fide jedhamuun warra Gibxii fi Ibroota lamaan birattis ni beekame.

> And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim. 1 Kings 18:17, 18.

> Yommuu Ahaab Eliyaasin argetti, Ahaab akkana isaan jedhe, “Ati isa Israa’el dhiphisu sanaa?” Innis deebisee akkana jedhe, “Ani Israa’el hin dhiphisne; garuu ati fi mana abbaa keetii, sababiin isaas isin abboommiiwwan Waaqayyoo dhiiftanii, ati immoo Ba’aalim duukaa buuteerta.” 1 Mootota 18:17, 18.

The story of Moses illustrates the Sunday law history and the story of Elijah illustrates the Sunday law history. Together, or apart Moses and Elijah are symbols. At the Transfiguration of Christ, they together represented the one hundred and forty-four thousand who do not die and those who die in the Lord. Moses was resurrected, Elijah never died. They are also the two prophets who are the tormentors of the people in Revelation eleven. Much truth is represented by Moses and Elijah as symbols, and we hope to address that later.

Seenaa Museen seenaa seera Dilbataa ni agarsiisti; seenaa Eliyaasis seenaa seera Dilbataa ni agarsiisti. Walitti yookaan addaan, Musee fi Eliyaas mallattoodha. Yeroo Jijjiirama Ulfina Kiristoositti, isaan walitti taʼanii warra kuma dhibba afurtamii fi afur kan hin duunee fi warra Gooftaa keessatti duʼan bakka buʼan. Museen duʼaa kaafame; Eliyaas immoo gonkumaa hin duune. Isaan akkasumas raajota lamaan warra Mulʼata boqonnaa kudha tokko keessatti ummata dhiphisan sana dha. Dhugaan baayʼeen akka mallattootti Musee fi Eliyaasiin bakka buufama; kanais boodarra ilaaluuf abdanna.

> Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. Malachi 4:5, 6.

> Kunoo, ani guyyaa guddaa fi sodaachisaa kan Gooftaa dhufu dura Eeliyaas raajicha isinitti nan erga; inni garaa abbootii gara ijoolleetti, garaa ijoollees gara abbootii isaaniitti ni deebisa; akkas taʼuu baannaan ani dhufee lafa abaaruudhaan nan rukuta. Miilkiyaas 4:5, 6.

Just before human probation closes “Elijah the prophet” is to appear with a special message that turns “the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.” The prophets all testify of the end of the world, and they all agree with each other.

قبل أن ينتهي زمانُ امتحانِ البشر مباشرةً، لا بدّ أن يظهر «إيليّا النبيّ» برسالةٍ خاصّةٍ تردّ «قلبَ الآباء إلى الأبناء، وقلبَ الأبناء إلى آبائهم». وجميعُ الأنبياء يشهدون عن نهاية العالم، وهم جميعًا متّفقون بعضُهم مع بعض.

> And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:32, 33.

> Afuura raajotaa raajotaaf ni mootummaa. Waaqayyo wal-jeequmsaa utuu hin taʼin, nagaa keessaa dha; akkuma waldoota qulqulloota hundumaa keessatti taʼetti. 1 Qorontos 14:32, 33.

Elijah’s message arrives just before the great and dreadful day of the Lord; therefore, it is the very same special message in the book of Revelation which is represented as “the Revelation of Jesus Christ.” When “the time is at hand” Elijah’s special message shows God’s “servants things which must shortly come to pass.”

Ergaan Eliyaas guutuu fi sodaachisaa Guyyaa Gooftaa sanaa dura ni dhufa; kanaafis, inni ergaa addaa isauma keessa Macaafa Mul’ataa keessatti “Mul’ata Yesuus Kiristoos” jedhamuun bakka bu’e sana dha. Yommuu “yeroon dhihaate” ta’u, ergaan addaa Eliyaas “tajaajiltoota” Waaqayyoo “waan yeroo gabaabaa keessatti ta’uu qabu” ni argisiisa.

> The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Revelation 1:1–3.

> Mul’anni Yesuus Kiristoos, isa Waaqayyo waan yeroo gabaabaa keessatti ta’uu qabu garboota isaatti argisiisuuf isaaf kenne; innis ergamaa isaa ergee tajaajilaa isaa Yohannisiif mallattoo taasisuudhaan beeksise; innis dubbii Waaqayyoo, dhugaa ba’umsa Yesuus Kiristoos, fi waan inni arge hundumaa irratti dhugaa ba’e. Namni dubbii raajii kanaa dubbisu eebbifamaa dha; warri dubbii isaa dhaga’anii, waan isa keessatti barreeffame eeganis eebbifamoo dha; yeroo sun dhihoo dhaatii. Mul’ata 1:1–3.

Notice that when Malachi employs Elijah as a symbol, he includes a direct reference to commandment keeping.

Hubadhaa yeroo Milkiyaas Eeliyaasin akka mallattoo tokkootti fayyadamu, ajaja eeguu irratti wabii kallattii ta’e ni dabalata.

> Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. Malachi 4:4–6.

> Seera Musee, garbicha koo, isa ani Horeebitti Israa’el hundumaaf qayyabannaa fi seera murtiiwanii wajjin itti kenne yaadadhaa. Kunoo, guyyaan Waaqayyoo guddaan fi sodaachisaan sun utuu hin dhufin dura, ani Eeliyaas raajicha isinitti nan erga; innis akka ani dhufee lafa abaarsaadhaan hin rukunneef, garaa abbootii gara ijoolleetti, garaa ijoollees gara abbootii isaaniitti ni deebisa. Miilkiyaas 4:4–6.

These three verses are the last of the Old Testament, and contain the final promise of the Old Testament as well as an emphasis on keeping the ten commandments. There are seven “blessings” in the book of Revelation and the final one is a blessing upon those who keep the ten commandments.

Lakkoobsi kun sadan kun Kakuu Moofaa kan dhumaa taʼanii, abdii dhumaa Kakuu Moofaa of keessaa qabu; akkasumas Ajajawwan Kurnan eeguu irratti cimsanii dubbatu. Macaafa Mulʼataa keessatti “eebboowwan” torba jiru; inni dhumaa immoo warra Ajajawwan Kurnan eeganiif eebba dha.

> I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:13, 14.

> Ani Alfaa fi Oomeegaa dha, jalqabaa fi dhumaa, isa jalqabaa fi isa dhumaa. Warri ajajawwan isaa raawwatan eebbifamoo dha; isaan muka jireenyaa irratti mirga akka qabaataniif, karrawwan irraa gara magaalattiitti akka seenanis. Mul’ata Yohaannis 22:13, 14.

The last promise in the Old Testament informs us to “Remember” the ten commandments, but in so doing it emphasizes the one commandment that includes the command to “remember.”

Waadaan inni dhumaa Kakuu Moofaa keessatti argamu “Yaadadhaa” jechuun nu gorsa; garuu akkas gochuun ajaja tokko kan keessaa ajajni “yaadadhu” jedhu of keessatti hammate addatti cimsee addeessa.

> Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exodus 20:8–11.

> Guyyaa sanbataa yaadadhu, akka isa qulqulleessituuf. Guyyoota ja’a hojjedhu, hojii kee hundumaas hojjedhu; guyyaan torbaffaan garuu sanbata Waaqayyo Gooftaa kee ti; isa keessa hojii tokko illee hin hojjetin; ati, yookiin ilmi kee, yookiin intalli kee, garbichi kee, yookiin xomboreen kee, horiin kee, yookiin alagaan karra kee keessa jiru. Sababni isaas, Waaqayyo guyyoota ja’an keessatti samii fi lafa, galaana, wantoota isaan keessa jiran hundumaas uume; guyyaa torbaffaattis boqote; kanaafuu Waaqayyo guyyaa sanbataa eebbise, isa qulqulleesses. Ba’uu 20:8–11.

The last promise in both the Old and New Testaments emphasizes the commandments of God with a special emphasis on the seventh-day Sabbath. Malachi says to “remember” and John informs us you are blessed for doing so. The seventh-day Sabbath commemorates God’s creation and his creative power. The Sabbath also becomes the point of controversy in the last days of earth’s history. When John records the “blessing” upon those who do his commandments, he is simply recording what Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and ending, the first and the last proclaimed. Therefore, the last promise of the New Testament has to do with the Seventh-day Sabbath and also the attribute of divinity that identifies the end by the beginning.

ପୁରାତନ ଓ ନୂତନ ଉଭୟ ନିୟମର ଶେଷ ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞା ଦେବଙ୍କ ଆଜ୍ଞାମାନଙ୍କୁ ବିଶେଷ ଭାବେ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱ ଦେଇଥାଏ, ଯାହାରେ ସପ୍ତମ-ଦିନ ସବାଥ୍‌ ପ୍ରତି ବିଶେଷ ଜୋର ରହିଛି। ମଲାଖି “ସ୍ମରଣ କର” ବୋଲି କହନ୍ତି, ଏବଂ ଯୋହନ ଆମକୁ ଜଣାଇଥାନ୍ତି ଯେ ଏହା କରିବାରେ ତୁମେ ଧନ୍ୟ। ସପ୍ତମ-ଦିନ ସବାଥ୍‌ ଦେବଙ୍କ ସୃଷ୍ଟିକାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଓ ତାଙ୍କ ସୃଜନଶୀଳ ଶକ୍ତିର ସ୍ମାରକ ଅଟେ। ପୃଥିବୀର ଇତିହାସର ଶେଷ ଦିନଗୁଡ଼ିକରେ ସବାଥ୍‌ ମଧ୍ୟ ବିବାଦର କେନ୍ଦ୍ରବିନ୍ଦୁ ହୋଇଉଠେ। ଯେତେବେଳେ ଯୋହନ ତାଙ୍କ ଆଜ୍ଞାମାନଙ୍କୁ ପାଳନ କରୁଥିବାମାନଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ଥିବା “ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦ”ର ଉଲ୍ଲେଖ କରନ୍ତି, ସେ ସରଳଭାବେ ସେହି କଥାକୁ ଲିପିବଦ୍ଧ କରୁଛନ୍ତି, ଯାହା ଯୀଶୁ—ଆଲ୍ଫା ଓ ଓମେଗା, ଆରମ୍ଭ ଓ ଶେଷ, ପ୍ରଥମ ଓ ଶେଷ—ଘୋଷଣା କରିଥିଲେ। ଏହିପରି, ନୂତନ ନିୟମର ଶେଷ ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞା ସପ୍ତମ-ଦିନ ସବାଥ୍‌ ସହିତ ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧିତ, ଏବଂ ଏହା ସେହି ଦୈବତ୍ୱର ଗୁଣ ସହିତ ମଧ୍ୟ ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧିତ, ଯାହା ଆରମ୍ଭ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଶେଷକୁ ପରିଚିତ କରାଏ।

The first truth mentioned in Genesis, which means beginnings identifies the Creator, the creation and a special emphasis on the Sabbath. Taken together, line upon line the beginning of the Old Testament and the end of the both the Old and New Testaments emphasize God as the Creator, the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath commandment and that Jesus is the beginning and end.

Dhugaan jalqabaa keessatti Uumama, kan hiikni isaa jalqaba jedhu, ibsame Uumaa, uumamaa fi xiyyeeffannaa addaa irratti Sanbata adda baasa. Waliin yoo ilaalamu, sarara irratti sarara, jalqaba Kakuu Moofaa fi xumura Kakuu Moofaa fi Kakuu Haaraa lamaan isaanii keessatti Waaqayyo akka Uumaa, Abboommii Kurnan, abboommii Sanbataa, fi Yesus akka jalqabaa fi dhumaa ta’e cimsanii ibsu.

Elijah the prophet is employed by Malachi as a symbol in the last promise of the Old Testament and he was the prophet who confronted Jezebel and Ahab. The book of Revelation employs Jezebel as a symbol of the papacy and ten kings as a symbol of the United Nations. Elijah’s confrontation with Ahab and Jezebel represents the one hundred and forty-four thousand’s confrontation with the United Nations, empowered by the United States and directed by the papacy. As king of the ten northern tribes of Israel Ahab represented the ruling power over ten tribes, thus typifying the United States (Ahab) empowering the United Nations (ten tribes or ten kings in Revelation seventeen) to do the persecution of Sabbath-keepers for the Papacy (Jezebel). When Malachi uses Elijah to represent a message that comes before the great and dreadful day of the Lord, Elijah represents those who are persecuted by modern Rome (the dragon, the beast and the false prophet) as he was persecuted by Jezebel for three and a half years. Emphasizing the Sabbath by employing the word “remember” in Malachi 4:4 adds the Sunday law crisis to the prophetic scenario illustrated by Malachi.

Raajichi Maalaakiin kakuu Moofaa keessatti abdii dhumaa keessatti akka mallattoo tokkootti fayyadame, innis raajicha Iizaabelii fi Ahaab dura dhaabate ture. Kitaabni Mul’ataa Iizaabeliin akka mallattoo paaphaasummaatti, mootota kudhan immoo akka mallattoo Tokkummaa Mootummootaatti fayyadama. Ahaabii fi Iizaabel wajjin wal-dhabdeen Eliyaas, wal-dhabdee dhibba afurtamii afur kuma keessaa warri dhibba afurtamii afur kuma Tokkummaa Mootummootaa wajjin qaban agarsiisa; isheenis Ameerikaa Yunaayitid Isteetis jabeessitee, paaphaasummaan qajeelfamte. Ahaab akka mootii gosoota kudhan kaabaa Israa’elitti aangoo mootummaa gosoota kudhan irratti qabu bakka bu’a ture; kanaafis Ameerikaan Yunaayitid Isteetis (Ahaab) Tokkummaa Mootummootaa (gosoota kudhan yookaan mootota kudhan Mul’ata boqonnaa kudha torba keessatti) paaphaasummaaf (Iizaabel) warra Sanbata eegan ari’achuuf akka humneessu fakkeessa. Yommuu Maalaakiin Eliyaasiin ergaa guyyaa guddaa fi sodaachisaa Gooftaa dura dhufu tokko bakka buusuuf fayyadamu, Eliyaas akkuma inni waggaa sadii fi walakkaaf Iizaabeliin ari’atame, warra Roomii ammayyaa (bineensicha guddaa, bineensicha, fi raajicha sobaa) irraa ari’ataman bakka bu’a. Maalaakii 4:4 keessatti jecha “yaadadhu” jedhu fayyadamuudhaan Sanbata irratti xiyyeeffannoon kennamu, jeequmsa seera Dilbataa haala raajii Maalaakiin fakkeesse sanatti dabala.

Much more needs to be added to the consideration of the truths that are conveyed by comparing the beginning of the Old Testament with the end of the Old Testament, and then comparing the beginning of the Bible with the end of the Bible. In Genesis we have the Creator, creation and the Sabbath that commemorates the creation. In Malachi we have the Sabbath commandment identified as the crisis issue that leads to the close of human probation and the seven last plagues, or as Malachi calls it, “the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” Elijah represents God’s people who present the third angel’s message to a dying world.

Dhugumatti dhugaawwan jalqaba Kakuu Moofaa fi xumura Kakuu Moofaa wal bira qabanii ilaaluu irraa, achiis jalqaba Macaafa Qulqulluu fi xumura Macaafa Qulqulluu wal bira qabanii ilaaluu irraa dabran irratti waan dabalamu baayʼeetu jira. Seera Uumamaa keessatti Uumaa, uumama, fi Sanbata uumama yaadachiisu qabna. Milkiyaas keessatti immoo ajajni Sanbataa akka dhimma inqiroo isa xumura yeroo qorannaa namummaa fi dhaʼichoota torban isa dhumaa geessutti beekamti; yookaan akkuma Milkiyaas itti waamu, “guyyaa guddaa fi sodaachisaa Gooftaa.” Eliyaas saba Waaqayyoo isa ergaa ergamaa sadaffaa biyya addunyaa baduutti jirtuuf dhiheessu bakka buʼa.

> “Today, in the spirit and power of Elias and of John the Baptist, messengers of God’s appointment are calling the attention of a judgment-bound world to the solemn events soon to take place in connection with the closing hours of probation and the appearance of Christ Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords.” Prophets and Kings, 715, 716.

> “Harʼa, hafuuraa fi humna Eliyaasii fi Yohaannis Cuuphaa fakkaatuun, ergamoonni waamicha Waaqayyoo qaban xiyyeeffannaa addunyaa murtiidhaaf qophaaʼe sanaa gara taateewwan ulfaatoo yeroo dhiʼoo keessatti saʼaatiiwwan carraa araaraa cufamuu fi mulʼachuu Kiristoos Yesuus akka Mootii moototaa fi Gooftaa gooftolii wajjin walqabatanitti waamu jiru.” Prophets and Kings, 715, 716.

The beginning of the Bible which is also the beginning of the Old Testament identifies the same story as the end of both Testaments, but each beginning and ending has its own truth to emphasize and contribute to the message. In Genesis the focus is on the activities of God, in Malachi the focus is on the message that warns of the coming crisis. The end of Revelation identifies the Alpha and Omega. In the first book of the New Testament, we read the following.

Jalqabni Macaafa Qulqulluu, kan akkasumas jalqaba Kakuu Moofaa taʼe, seenaa wal fakkaataa sana akka dhuma kakuu lamaanitti ni ibsa; garuu jalqabni fi dhumni tokkoon tokkoon isaanii dhugaa mataa isaanii kan jabeessanii fi ergaa sanaaf kan gumaachan qabu. Uumama keessatti xiyyeeffannaan hojiiwwan Waaqayyoo irratti taʼa; Miilkiyaas keessatti immoo xiyyeeffannaan ergaa rakkoo dhufu akeekkachiisu irratti taʼa. Dhumni Mulʼataa Alfaa fi Oomeegaa ni ibsa. Macaafa jalqabaa Kakuu Haaraa keessatti, wanta armaan gadii ni dubbifna.

> The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

> Kitaabni dhaloota Yesuus Kiristoos, ilma Daawit, ilma Abrahaam.

> Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

> Abrahaam Yisihaaqin dhalche; Yisihaaqis Yaaqoobin dhalche; Yaaqoobis Yihudaa fi obboloota isaa dhalche; Yihudaas Taamaar irraa Faaresii fi Zaaraa dhalche; Faaresis Esroomin dhalche; Esroomis Araamin dhalche; Araamis Amiinaadaabin dhalche; Amiinaadaabis Naʼasoonin dhalche; Naʼasoonis Salmoonin dhalche; Salmoonis Raahaab irraa Booʼazin dhalche; Booʼazis Ruut irraa Obeedin dhalche; Obeedis Isseeyin dhalche; Isseeyis Daawit mooticha dhalche; Daawit mootiichis ishii duraan niitii Uuriyaa turte irraa Solomoonin dhalche; Solomoonis Rooboʼaamin dhalche; Rooboʼaamis Abiyaa dhalche; Abiyaanis Asaan dhalche; Asaas Yoosaafaaxin dhalche; Yoosaafaaxis Yooraamin dhalche; Yooraamis Oziyaasin dhalche; Oziyaasis Yoʼaataamin dhalche; Yoʼaataamis Akaazin dhalche; Akaazis Hisiqiyaasin dhalche; Hisiqiyaasis Minaaseen dhalche; Minaasees Amoonin dhalche; Amoonis Yoosiyaasin dhalche; Yoosiyaasis yeroo isaan Baabilonitti boojiʼamanii geeffamanitti Yekooniyaasii fi obboloota isaa dhalche. Erga isaan Baabilonitti geeffamanii booddee, Yekooniyaasis Salaatiʼelin dhalche; Salaatiʼelis Zoroobaabelin dhalche; Zoroobaabelis Abiyuudin dhalche; Abiyuudis Eliyaaqiimin dhalche; Eliyaaqiimis Azoorin dhalche; Azooris Saadoqin dhalche; Saadoqis Akiimin dhalche; Akiimis Eliyuudin dhalche; Eliyuudis Eleʼaazarin dhalche; Eleʼaazaris Mattaanin dhalche; Mattaanis Yaaqoobin dhalche; Yaaqoobis Yoseef, dhirsa Maariyaam, isa irraa Yesuus inni Kiristoos jedhamu dhalate sana, dhalche.

> So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

> အာဗြဟံမှ ဒါဝိဒ်တိုင်အောင် မျိုးဆက်ပေါင်း တစ်ဆယ့်လေးဆက်ရှိ၏။ ဒါဝိဒ်မှ ဗာဗုလုန်သို့ ဖမ်းဆီးခေါ်ဆောင်ခြင်းခံရသည့်အချိန်တိုင်အောင် မျိုးဆက်ပေါင်း တစ်ဆယ့်လေးဆက်ရှိ၏။ ဗာဗုလုန်သို့ ဖမ်းဆီးခေါ်ဆောင်ခြင်းခံရသည့်အချိန်မှ ခရစ်တော်တိုင်အောင်လည်း မျိုးဆက်ပေါင်း တစ်ဆယ့်လေးဆက်ရှိ၏။

> Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

> Ammas dhalachuu Yesuus Kiristoos akkana ture: yeroo haati isaa Maariyaam Yoseefitti heerumsiifamtee turte, isaan walitti utuu hin dhufin dura, isheen Hafuura Qulqulluudhaan ulfooftee argamte. Yoseefis abbaan manaa ishee, nama qajeelaa waan taʼeef, ishee ifatti salphisuu hin jaallanne; kanaaf dhoksaadhaan ishee hiikuuf yaade. Inni garuu waan kana yaadaa jiruu, kunoo, ergamaan Gooftaa abjuudhaan isatti mulʼatee, akkana jedhe: “Yoseef, ilma Daawit, Maariyaam niitii kee gara keetti fudhachuuf hin sodaatin; waan ishee keessatti ulfaaʼe keessaa Hafuura Qulqulluudhaa ti.”

> And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. Matthew 1:1–25.

> Isheen ilma ni deessi; maqaa isaas IYYESUUS jettee ni moggaasta; inni cubbuu isaanii irraa saba isaa ni fayyisaatii. Kun hundinuu akka wanti Gooftaan karaa raajichaatiin dubbate raawwatamuuf taʼe; akkas jedhee, “Kunoo, durbi ni ulfoofti, ilma ni deessis; maqaa isaas Imaanu’el jedhu,” jechuun; hiikni isaas, “Waaqayyo nu wajjin” jechuudha. Yoosef immoo hirriba isaa irraa dammaqee akkuma ergamaan Gooftaa isa ajaje godhee, niitii isaa gara isaatti fudhate; hanga isheen ilma ishee angafa deessutti ishee hin beekne; maqaa isaas IYYESUUS jedhee moggaase. Maatewos 1:1–25.

The beginning of the New Testament agrees with the beginning and ending of the Old Testament and the ending of the New Testament for it emphasizes God’s creative power, for the power Christ employed to create all things in six days is the identical power He uses to “save his people from their sins.” The word Emmanuel, as the passage cites from the writings of Isaiah means “God with us.” He dwells within His people by combining His divinity with our humanity, and this was the very combination He accomplished when He was incarnated in Mary.

Jalqabni Kakuu Haaraa jalqabaa fi xumura Kakuu Moofaa akkasumas xumura Kakuu Haaraa wajjin walii gala; sababni isaas inni humna uumamaa Waaqayyoo irratti cimsee addeessa; humni Kiristoos wantoota hundumaa guyyaa jaʼattiin itti uume sunuma humna tokkicha inni “saba isaa cubbuu isaanii irraa fayyisuuf” itti fayyadudha. Jechi Imaanu’el, akkuma kutaan kun barreessota Isaayyaas keessaa caqasu, hiikni isaa “Waaqayyo nu wajjin” jechuu dha. Inni Waaqummaa ofii keenyaa fi namummaa keenya walitti makuudhaan saba isaa keessa jiraata; walitti makamuun kunis isuma inni yeroo Maariyaam keessatti foon uffate raawgate sana ture.

> “Nothing less than perfect obedience can meet the standard of God’s requirement. He has not left His requirements indefinite. He has enjoined nothing that is not necessary in order to bring man into harmony with Him. We are to point sinners to His ideal of character and to lead them to Christ, by whose grace only can this ideal be reached.

> “Wanta isa guutuu ta’e gadiitti ta’e tokko illee ulaagaalee Waaqayyoo guutuu hin danda’u. Inni ulaagaalee Isaa ifa hin taane dhiisee hin jiru. Nama ofii Isaa wajjin wal-simsiisuuf waan barbaachisaa hin taane tokko illee hin ajajne. Nuti cubbamtoota gara fakkeenya amala Isaa agarsiisuu qabna; ayyaana Kiristoosiin qofa, isa kanaan fakkeenyi kun ga’amuu danda’u, gara Kiristoositti isaan geessuu qabna.”

> “The Savior took upon Himself the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life, that men might have no fear that because of the weakness of human nature they could not overcome. Christ came to make us ‘partakers of the divine nature,’ and His life declares that humanity, combined with divinity, does not commit sin.” Ministry of Healing, 180.

> “Fayyisaa namummaa keessaa dadhabbiiwwan of irratti fudhatee, jireenya cubbuu hin qabne jiraate; kunis namoonni, sababii dadhabina uumama namummaatiin moʼachuu hin dandaʼan jedhanii akka hin sodaanneef. Kiristoos nu ‘hirmaattota uumama waaqayyoo’ akka taanuuf dhufe; jireenyi Isaas namummaan, waaqayyummaan waliin walitti makamee, cubbuu akka hin hojjenne labsa.” Ministry of Healing, 180.

The beginning of the New Testament identifies where, when and why Jesus took upon himself our human nature. He did so to demonstrate that human power combined with divine power does not sin. Sin is the transgression of the law, which Malachi says we are to “remember.” John informs us that those who keep the law, and therefore those who are not sinning, can enter through heavenly gates. Matthew identifies that a sinner can overcome sin, just as Christ overcame. When we have Christ within us, (the hope of glory) we have the creative power that made the universe within us. This possibility was provided by Christ choosing to enter into the human family, and for the rest of eternity becoming not only the son of God but also the son of man.

Jalqabni Kakuu Haaraa keessatti Yesus eessatti, yoomii fi maaliif uumama keenya namaa of irratti fudhate akka taʼe ni ibsama. Inni kana godhe humni namaa humna Waaqummaa wajjin walitti makamee cubbuu akka hin hojjenne agarsiisuuf. Cubbuu jechuun seera cabsuudha; seera kana immoo Milkiyaas “akka yaadannu” nuuf dubbata. Yohaannis warri seera eegan, kanaafis warri cubbuu hin hojjenne, karrawwan samii keessaa akka seenan nu beeksisa. Maatewos cubbamtuun akkuma Kiristoos moʼe cubbuu moʼuu akka dandaʼu ni mulʼisa. Yommuu Kiristoos nu keessa jiraatu, (abdiin ulfinaa) humna uumamaa kan yunivarsiitii uume nu keessa qabna. Carraan kun Kiristoos maatii namaa keessatti seenuu filachuu isaatiin kenname; akkasumas bara baraan mootummaa keessaa Ilma Waaqayyoo qofa utuu hin taʼin, Ilma Namaas taʼee jiraachuudhaan.

There is a special message of truth opened up to God’s people from the book of Revelation just before the close of human probation. That special message is also Malachi’s “Elijah message” that is proclaimed just before the “dreadful day of the Lord”.

Ergaan nama Waa'ee Mul’ataa keessaa ergaa addaa dhugaa taʼe tokko saba Waaqayyootiif yeroo muraasa qormaanni namaa cufamuu isaa dura ifatti banama. Ergaan addaa kunis “ergaa Eliyaas” kan Milkiyaas jedhamu sana dha; innis “guyyaa Gooftaa isa sodaachisaa” sana dura lallabama.

At the beginning of both Testaments and the end of the New Testament we have specific attributes of God identified. In Genesis He is the Creator, and at the end of Revelation He is Alpha and Omega. At the beginning of the New Testament, He becomes the son of man. And with the end of the Old Testament, we find the principle which the messenger Elijah uses to accomplish the message he would proclaim as turning the hearts of the fathers unto the children and vice-versa.

Jalqabaa Kakuu Lamaanii lamaanitti fi dhuma Kakuu Haaraattis, amaloonni addaa Waaqayyoo ifatti ibsaman ni argamu. Kitaaba Uumamaa keessatti Inni Uumaa dha; dhuma Mul’ataattis Inni Alfaa fi Oomeegaa dha. Jalqaba Kakuu Haaraa keessatti immoo Inni Ilma namaa ta’a. Akkasumas, dhuma Kakuu Moofaa wajjin, qajeelfama ergamaan Eliyaas ergaa inni lallabu raawwachuuf itti fayyadamu—garaa abbootii gara ijoolleetti, akkasumas kan ijoollee gara abbootiitti deebisuu—ni arganna.

The prophetic principle which Elijah applies to present his warning message is just what John was commanded to do in the Revelation. Elijah “shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers,” and John was told to write the things that then were and in so doing he would simultaneously be writing the things that would come. John was used to illustrate how the principle of alpha and omega operates in the prophetic Word, and Elijah will base his message upon the same principle. When we compare the beginning of the Bible with the end of the Bible, we are comparing Old with the New. A father is the beginning of his child and the child is the ending of the father. The one hundred and forty-four thousand are the final generation of Abraham’s children, and the history where God entered into covenant with Abraham typifies the history when God renews that covenant with the one hundred and forty-four thousand.

Seerri raajii Elijaan ergaa akeekkachiisaa isaa dhiheessuuf itti fayyadamu, isa Yohaannis Mul’ata keessatti akka godhuuf ajajame sana qofa dha. Elijaan “garaa abbootii gara ijoolleetti, garaa ijoollees gara abbootii isaaniitti ni deebisa,” jedhamera; Yohaannis immoo wantoota yeroo sana turan barreessuu akka qabu itti himame, kana gochuudhaanis yeroo wal fakkaatu keessatti wantoota dhufuuf jiranis barreessaa ture. Yohaannis akka seerri alfaa fi omeegaa Dubbiin raajii keessatti akkamitti hojjetu ibsuuf tajaajile; Elijaanis ergaa isaa seera isuma kana irratti hundeessa. Yommuu jalqaba Macaafa Qulqulluu dhuma Macaafa Qulqulluu wajjin wal bira qabnee ilaallu, Kakuu Moofaa Kakuu Haaraa wajjin wal bira qabaa jirra. Abbaan jalqaba ilma isaa ti; ilmis immoo dhuma abbaa isaati. Kuma dhibba afurtamii afur ta’an dhaloota xumuraa ijoollee Abrahaam ti; seenaan keessatti Waaqayyo Abrahaam wajjin kakuu seene, seenaa yeroo Waaqayyo kakuu sana kuma dhibba afurtamii afur wajjin haaromsu fakkeenya ta’a.

> Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all. Romans 4:16.

> Kanaaf, abdii sun ayyaanaan akka ta’uuf, waadaan sanyii hundumaaf jabaatee akka dhaabatuuf dha; warra seera keessaa qofaaf utuu hin ta’in, warra amantii Abrahaam keessaa ta’anis, isa abbaa keenya hundumaa ta’e sanaafis dha. Roomaa 4:16.

The message of Elijah is representing the principle of alpha and omega, for the fathers are alpha and the children are omega. Elijah’s message would turn the hearts of the fathers to the children. Christ identified John the Baptist as Elijah and Ellen White identified William Miller as both Elijah and John the Baptist. The message of all of these representative men was represented as turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and vice-versa. That work represents the effect of the message in turning men’s hearts to their heavenly Father, but it means more, for it is a symbol of the work. In Bible prophecy symbols have more than one meaning and must be identified by context.

Ergaan Eliyaas dhimmicha alfaa fi omeegaa bakka bu’a; abbootiin alfaadha, ijoolleen immoo omeegaadha. Ergaan Eliyaas garaa abbootii gara ijoolleetti deebisa ture. Kiristoos Yohaannis Cuuphaa Eliyaas ta’uu isaa ibse; Ellen White immoo William Miller Eliyaasii fi Yohaannis Cuuphaa lamaan isaanii iyyuu ta’uu isaa adda baafte. Ergaan namoota bakka bu’oota kana hundumaa garaa abbootii gara ijoolleetti, akkasumas garaa ijoollee gara abbootiitti deebisuu akka ta’etti bakka buufame. Hojii sun bu’aa ergaan garaa namootaa gara Abbaa isaanii isa samiiitti deebisuu keessatti qabu bakka bu’a; garuu hiikni isaa kana caalaa ni jira, hojii sanaafis mallattoo dha. Raajii Macaafa Qulqulluu keessatti mallattooleen hiika tokkoo ol qabu; haala dubbichaa irraa adda baafamuu qabu.

> “What was it that made John the Baptist great? He closed his mind to the mass of tradition presented by the teachers of the Jewish nation, and opened it to the wisdom which comes from above. Before his birth the Holy Spirit testified of John: ‘He shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost…. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’ Luke 1:15–17.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students, 445.

> “Maalinni Yohaannis Cuuphaan guddaa isa taasise maal ture? Inni baay’ina aadaa barsiistota saba Yihudootiin dhihaateef sammuu isaa cufe; ogummaa gararraa dhufuttis bane. Uumamuu isaa dura Hafuuri Qulqulluun waa’ee Yohaannis akkana jechuun dhugaa ba’e: ‘Inni fuula Gooftaa duratti guddaa ta’a; daadhii wayinii yookiin dhugaatii cimaa tokko illee hin dhugu; Hafuura Qulqulluudhaanis ni guutama…. Inni ilmaan Israa’el keessaa baay’ee gara Gooftaa Waaqa isaanii ni deebisa. Innis garaa abbootii gara ijoolleetti, warra hin ajajamnes gara ogummaa qajeelotaa deebisuuf, saba Gooftaadhaaf qophaa’e qopheessuuf, hafuuraa fi humna Eliyaasiitiin Isaa dura ni adeema.’ Luqaas 1:15–17.” Gorsawwan Maatiiwwaniif, Barsiistotaa fi Barattootaaf, 445.

The message is designed that those who choose to hear will turn their hearts unto the Heavenly Father, yet the primary prophetic principle that will be used to convey the warning message will be that Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and ending. The Elijah message is based upon the presentation of God’s prophetic Word from the perspective that Jesus Christ is the Word of God, and the rules that govern the Bible are also attributes of His character.

Ergaan kun warri dhagaʼuu filatan garaa isaanii gara Abbaa Samiiitti deebisaniif qophaaʼeera; taʼus, qajeelfamni raajii inni ijoo ergaa akeekkachiisaa kana dabarsuuf itti fayyadamu, Kiristoos Alfaa fi Oomeegaa, isa jalqabaa fi isa dhumaa, jalqabaa fi xumura taʼuu isaa taʼa. Ergaan Eliyaas dhiheessa Dubbii raajii Waaqayyoo irratti hundaaʼa; ilaalchi dhiheessi sunis Yesus Kiristoos Dubbii Waaqayyoo taʼuu isaa irraa kan kaʼe dha, seerotni Macaafa Qulqulluu bulchan immoo amaloota eenyummaa Isaa taʼu.

> “The law of God is as sacred as God Himself. It is a revelation of His will, a transcript of His character, the expression of divine love and wisdom. The harmony of creation depends upon the perfect conformity of all beings, of everything, animate and inanimate, to the law of the Creator. God has ordained laws for the government, not only of living beings, but of all the operations of nature. Everything is under fixed laws, which cannot be disregarded. But while everything in nature is governed by natural laws, man alone, of all that inhabits the earth, is amenable to moral law. To man, the crowning work of creation, God has given power to understand His requirements, to comprehend the justice and beneficence of His law, and its sacred claims upon him; and of man unswerving obedience is required.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 53.

> “Seerri Waaqayyoo akkuma Waaqayyo ofii isaa qulqulluudha. Inni mul’ata fedha Isaa, galmee amala Isaa, ibsa jaalalaa fi ogummaa waaqayyoo ti. Walsimannaan uumamaa hundi, uumamtoonni hundi, wantoonni hundi, lubbuu qabanis kan hin qabnes, seera Uumaa wajjin guutummaatti walsimu isaanii irratti hundaa’a. Waaqayyo bulchiinsaaf seerota murteesseera; kunis uumamtoota jiraatan qofaaf utuu hin ta’in, hojiiwwan uumamaa hundumaatiifis ta’a. Wanti hundi seerota dhaabbataa jala jira; isaanis tuffatamuu hin danda’an. Garuu wanti uumamaa hundi seerota uumamaatiin yeroo bulu, nama qofti, warra lafa irra jiraatan hundumaa keessaa, seera naamusaaf itti gaafatamaa dha. Namaaf, hojii uumamaa isa gonfoo ta’eef, Waaqayyo humna fedha Isaa hubachuuf, qajeelummaa fi toltummaa seera Isaa beekuu fi gaaffiiwwan isaa qulqulluu isa irratti qaban hubachuuf kenneera; namarraas ajajamuun hin jilbeenfanne barbaadama.” Abbootii Amantii fi Raajota, 53.

Everything (and this would include the Bible, for the Bible is something and if it is something, then it is part of everything) is under fixed laws. The Bible has fixed laws or rules that govern its correct interpretation. One of those rules is that the Bible identifies the end of a thing with the beginning of a thing. Jesus is the Word of God, and He is the first and the last, and it’s a “fixed law” and an attribute of His character.

Wanti hunda (kunis kun kitaaba qulqulluu illee ni dabalata; kitaabni qulqulluun waan tokko dha; yoo waan tokko ta’es, inni keessaa wanti hundaati) seerota murtaa’oo jalatti argama. Kitaabni Qulqulluun hiika isaa sirrii ta’e kan to’atan seerota yookaan qajeelfamoota murtaa’oo qaba. Seerota sana keessaa tokko, Kitaabni Qulqulluun dhuma waan tokkoo jalqaba waan tokkootiin akka walqabsiisu ni ibsa. Yesus Dubbiin Waaqayyoo dha; inni jalqabaa fi isa dhumaa dha; kunis “seera murtaa’aa” fi amala Isaa keessaa tokko dha.

We used this introduction of Elijah to show that the beginning and ending of both the Old and New Testaments agree. The ending of the Bible, which is also the end of the book of Revelation also agrees with the beginning of Revelation. Five witnesses to the same truths based upon the principle which is an attribute of God’s character that God’s Word always illustrates the end of a thing with the beginning of that thing. This reality is part of what it means that Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega.

Nuti seensa Eliyaas kana fayyadamuun jalqabni fi dhumni Kakuu Moofaa fi Kakuu Haaraa lamaan isaanii walii akka galan agarsiifne. Dhumni Macaafa Qulqulluu, inniis akkasuma dhuma kitaaba Mul’ataa ta’e, jalqaba Mul’ataas ni walii gala. Dhugaa wal fakkaataa kanaaf dhugaa-baatota shanan ni jiru; isaanis qajeelfama amala Waaqayyoo keessaa tokko irratti hundaa’u, jechuunis Dubbiin Waaqayyoo yeroo hundumaa dhuma wanta tokkoo jalqaba wanta sanaatiin akka ibsu. Dhugaan kunis hiika keessaa tokko kan qabu, jechuunis Yesuus Kiristoos Alfaa fi Oomeegaa ta’uu isaati.

> “To the apostle John on the isle of Patmos were opened scenes of deep and thrilling interest in the experience of the church. Subjects of intense interest and vast importance were presented to him in figures and symbols, that the people of God might become intelligent concerning the perils and conflicts before them. The history of the Christian world to the very close of time was revealed to John. With great clearness he saw the position, dangers, conflicts, and final deliverance of the people of God. He records the closing message which is to ripen the harvest of earth, either as sheaves for the heavenly garner, or as fagots for the fires of the last day.

> “Patmos jedhetti ergamaa Yohaannisitti muuxannoowwan gadi fageenyaa fi nama kakaasan kanneen muuxannoo waldaa keessatti mul’atan isaaf banaman. Mata dureewwan fedhii cimaa fi barbaachisummaa guddaa qaban, akka saba Waaqayyoo balaa fi wal’aansoo isaanii dura jiran hubannoo guutuu qabaataniif, fakkeenyaa fi mallattoodhaan isaaf dhihaatan. Seenaan addunyaa Kiristaanaa hanga xumura yerooatti Yohaannisitti mul’ifame. Ifa guddaadhaan inni iddoo, balaa, wal’aansoo, fi bilisa bahuu isaanii isa dhumaa kan saba Waaqayyoo arge. Inni ergaa xumuraa kan midhaan lafaa ga’eessa godhu galmeessa; yookaan akka hidda midhaanii mana kuusaa samii keessatti walitti qabamaniitti, yookaan akka baala ibiddaa guyyaa dhumaa sanaatti.”

> “In vision John beheld the trials which God’s people would endure for the truth’s sake. He saw their unyielding firmness in obeying the commandments of God, in the face of the oppressive powers that sought to force them into disobedience, and he saw their final triumph over the beast and his image.

> “Mul’ataan keessatti Yohaannis qorumsawwan sabni Waaqayyoo dhugaaaf jedhee obsuu qabu arge. Inni humna cunqursitoota isaan ajajawwan Waaqayyoo irraa gara ajajamuu diduutti isaan dirqisiisuu barbaadan fuulduratti, ajajawwan Waaqayyooaf abboomamuu keessatti jabaatanii dhaabachuu isaanii isa hin jilbeenfanne arge; akkasumas mo’icha isaanii isa dhumaa bineensaa fi fakkeenya isaa irratti argan arge.

> “Under the symbols of a great red dragon, a leopard-like beast, and a beast with lamblike horns, the earthly governments which would especially engage in trampling upon God’s law and persecuting His people, were presented to John. The war is carried on till the close of time. The people of God, symbolized by a holy woman and her children, were represented as greatly in the minority. In the last days only a remnant still existed. Of these John speaks as they ‘which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.’

> “ଛବିଳା ଲାଲ ଅଜଗର, ଚିତାବାଘସଦୃଶ ଏକ ପଶୁ, ଏବଂ ମେଷଶାବକସଦୃଶ ଶୃଙ୍ଗଧାରୀ ଏକ ପଶୁର ପ୍ରତୀକମାନଙ୍କ ଅଧୀନରେ, ସେହି ପୃଥିବୀସ୍ଥ ସରକାରମାନଙ୍କୁ ଯୋହନଙ୍କ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ କରାଯାଇଥିଲା, ଯେମାନେ ବିଶେଷକରି ଈଶ୍ୱରଙ୍କ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାକୁ ଦଳନ କରିବାରେ ଏବଂ ତାଙ୍କର ଜନମାନଙ୍କୁ ନିର୍ଯାତନା ଦେବାରେ ଲିପ୍ତ ହେବେ। ଏହି ଯୁଦ୍ଧ କାଳର ଶେଷ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଚାଲିଥାଏ। ଈଶ୍ୱରଙ୍କ ଜନମାନେ, ଯେମାନେ ଏକ ପବିତ୍ର ନାରୀ ଏବଂ ତାହାର ସନ୍ତାନମାନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ପ୍ରତୀକୀକୃତ ହୋଇଥିଲେ, ସଂଖ୍ୟାରେ ବହୁତ ଅଲ୍ପ ବୋଲି ଦର୍ଶାଯାଇଥିଲେ। ଶେଷ ଦିନମାନରେ କେବଳ ଏକ ଅବଶିଷ୍ଟ ଦଳ ଅବସ୍ଥିତ ଥିଲା। ଏହାମାନଙ୍କ ବିଷୟରେ ଯୋହନ କହିଛନ୍ତି ଯେ ସେମାନେ ‘ଯେମାନେ ଈଶ୍ୱରଙ୍କ ଆଜ୍ଞାମାନଙ୍କୁ ପାଳନ କରନ୍ତି, ଏବଂ ଯୀଶୁ ଖ୍ରୀଷ୍ଟଙ୍କ ସାକ୍ଷ୍ୟକୁ ଧାରଣ କରନ୍ତି।’”

> “Through paganism, and then through the Papacy, Satan exerted his power for many centuries in an effort to blot from the earth God’s faithful witnesses. Pagans and papists were actuated by the same dragon spirit. They differed only in that the Papacy, making a pretense of serving God, was the more dangerous and cruel foe. Through the agency of Romanism, Satan took the world captive. The professed church of God was swept into the ranks of this delusion, and for more than a thousand years the people of God suffered under the dragon’s ire. And when the Papacy, robbed of its strength, was forced to desist from persecution, John beheld a new power coming up to echo the dragon’s voice, and carry forward the same cruel and blasphemous work. This power, the last that is to wage war against the church and the law of God, was symbolized by a beast with lamblike horns. The beasts preceding it had risen from the sea, but this came up out of the earth, representing the peaceful rise of the nation which is symbolized. The ‘two horns like a lamb’ well represent the character of the United States Government, as expressed in its two fundamental principles, Republicanism and Protestantism. These principles are the secret of our power and prosperity as a nation. Those who first found an asylum on the shores of America rejoiced that they had reached a country free from the arrogant claims of popery and the tyranny of kingly rule. They determined to establish a government upon the broad foundation of civil and religious liberty.

> “Gantummaan Waaqeffannaa sobaa jalatti, achiis Phaaphaasummaa jalattis, mootummaa Seexanni jaarraawwan hedduudhaaf humna isaa hojii irra oolchee, dhugaa baatota amanamoo Waaqayyoo lafa irraa balleessuuf yaale. Waaqeffattoonni sobaa fi paaphasoonni hafuuruma qocaa isa tokkoon sochoofamu turan. Garaagarummaan isaanii tokko qofa ture; Phaaphaasummaan, Waaqayyoon tajaajilaa akka jirutti of fakkeessee, diina caalaatti balaa qabeessaa fi gara jabaa taʼe. Karaa Roomanizimii fayyadamuudhaan Seexanni addunyaa boojiʼame. Waldoonni Waaqayyoo jedhamuun waamamanis gowwoomsaa kana keessatti hiriira isaa keessa haxaaʼamanii galan; sabni Waaqayyaas waggoota kuma tokkoo ol qocaa sanaa dheekkamsa jala rakkate. Yeroo Phaaphaasummaan humna isaa irraa saamamee ariʼannaa dhaabuu dirqame immoo, Yohaannis humna haaraa tokko ol kaʼee sagalee qocaa sanaa irra deebiʼuu fi hojii gara jabinaa fi arrabsoo Waaqayyoorratti qajeelfame sanauma itti fufuu arge. Humni kun, isa dhumaa waldaa fi seera Waaqayyoo irratti waraana banuuf jiru, bineensa gaanfa hoolaa fakkaatan qabuun fakkeeffame. Bineensonni isa dura turan galaana keessaa kaʼan; inni garuu lafa keessaa ol baʼe; kunis sabicha isa ittiin fakkeeffame haala nagaan guddachaa dhufe agarsiisa. “Gaanfonni lama hoolaa fakkaatan” sirriitti amala Mootummaa Ameerikaa, akkuma qajeelfamoota isaa buʼuuraa lama keessatti ibsameetti, jechuunis Ripabiliikanizimii fi Pirootestaantizimii, bakka buʼu. Qajeelfamoonni kun iccitii humnaa fi badhaadhina keenya akka sabaatti ti. Warri jalqaba qarqara Ameerikaa irratti iddoo magan keessaa argatan, gaaffii of tuulummaa paaphasummaa irraa bilisa taʼeefi cunqursa mootummaa moototaa irraa bilisa taʼe biyya bira gaʼuu isaaniitti gammadan. Isaanis mootummaa buʼuura balʼaa bilisummaa mootummaa fi amantii irratti hundaaʼe hundeessuuf murteessan.”

> “But the stern tracing of the prophetic pencil reveals a change in this peaceful scene. The beast with lamblike horns speaks with the voice of a dragon, and ‘exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him.’ Prophecy declares that he will say to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast, and that ‘he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads; and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.’ Thus Protestantism follows in the steps of the Papacy.

> “Garuu sararri cimaa kan qalama raajii mul’isu jijjiirama mul’ata nagaa kana keessatti ifa baasa. Bineensi gaanfa hoolaa fakkaatan qabu sagalee ajajaa dubbata; innis ‘humna bineensa isa jalqabaa isa dura ture hundumaa hojiirra oolcha.’ Raajiin akka inni warra lafa irra jiraatanitti fakkii bineensichaatiif akka tolchan jedhu ni beeksisa; akkasumas ‘inni xinnaa fi guddaa, sooressa fi hiyyeessa, bilisaas ta’e garba, hunduma isaanii harka isaanii mirgaa irratti yookaan adda isaanii irratti mallattoo akka fudhatan godha; nama mallattoo sana, yookaan maqaa bineensichaa, yookaan lakkoofsa maqaa isaa qabu malee, akka namni tokko illee bituu yookaan gurguruu hin dandeenyees ni godha.’ Kanaafuu Pirootestaantizmi tarkaanfii Paaphaasummaa duukaa bu’a.

> “It is at this time that the third angel is seen flying in the midst of heaven, proclaiming: ‘If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation.’ ‘Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ In marked contrast to the world stands the little company who will not swerve from their allegiance to God. These are they of whom Isaiah speaks as repairing the breach which had been made in the law of God, they who are building the old waste places, raising up the foundation of many generations.

> Yeroo kanatti ergamaan sadaffaan gidduu samii keessa balali'aa akkana jechuun lallabaa akka mul'atu: ‘Namni kam iyyuu bineensichaafi fakkeenya isaa yoo waaqeffate, mallattoo isaas adda isaatti yookiin harka isaatti yoo fudhate, inni sun daadhii dheekkamsa Waaqayyoo, isa xoofoo dheekkamsa Isaa keessatti utuu homaan illee hin makamin dhangalaafame keessaa ni dhuga.’ ‘Isaan ajaja Waaqayyoo eeganii, amantii Yesus qabatanii jiraatan kunoo warra san dha.’ Addunyaa wajjin wal bira qabamee yeroo ilaalamu, gareen xinnoon inni Waaqayyoof amanamummaa isaanii irraa hin gorre ifatti adda ba'a. Kunoo isaan jechuun Isaayyaas dubbata, seera Waaqayyoo keessatti cabbiin uumame suphanii deebisan, iddoowwan bara dheeraa diigamanii hafan ijaaran, hundee dhaloota hedduus ol kaasan warra sana dha.

> “The most solemn warning and the most awful threatening ever addressed to mortals is that contained in the third angel’s message. The sin that calls down the wrath of God unmixed with mercy must be of the most heinous character. Is the world to be left in darkness as to the nature of this sin?—Most assuredly not. God does not deal thus with His creatures. His wrath is never visited upon sins of ignorance. Before His judgments are brought upon the earth, the light in regard to this sin must be presented to the world, that man may know why these judgments are to be inflicted, and may have opportunity to escape them.

> “Akeekkachi baay’ee ulfaataa fi sodaachisaa ta’e kan namoota du’a qabeeyyii irratti yeroo kamiiyyuu himame, ergaa ergamaa sadaffa keessatti argamudha. Cubbuun dheekkamsa Waaqayyoo araara wajjin hin makamiin gad buusu sun, amala hamaa irraa hundumaa caalaa cimaa qabaachuu qaba. Addunyaan waa’ee amala cubbuu kanaa dukkana keessa akka hafte ni taasifamaa?—Dhuguma irraa fagoo miti. Waaqayyo uumamawwan Isaa akkasitti hin ilaalu. Dheekkamsi Isaa cubbuu wallaalummaa irratti gonkumaa hin buufamu. Utuu murtiin Isaa lafarratti hin fidamin dura, ifni waa’ee cubbuu kanaa addunyaatti dhiyaachuu qaba; kunis namni maaliif murtiin kun akka buufamu beekuu akka danda’uuf, akkasumas isaan jalaa miliquuf carraa akka qabaatuuf.”

> “The message containing this warning is the last to be proclaimed before the revelation of the Son of man. The signs which He Himself has given declare His coming to be near at hand. For well-nigh forty years has the message of the third angel been sounding. In the issue of the great contest two parties are developed, those who ‘worship the beast and his image,’ and receive his mark, and those who receive ‘the seal of the living God,’ who have the Father’s name written in their foreheads. This is not a visible mark. The time has come when all who have an interest in their soul’s salvation should earnestly and solemnly inquire, What is the seal of God? and what is the mark of the beast? How can we avoid receiving it?

> “Ergaan kun akeekkachiisa kana of keessaa qabu Ilma namaa mul’achuun isaa dura labsamuun isa dhumaa dha. Mallattooleen Inni ofii Isaatii kenne dhufuun Isaa akka dhiʼoo taʼe ni ibsu. Ergaan ergamaa sadaffaa waggoota afurtama jechuun ni dandaʼama jechuun guutuu keessatti dhagaʼamaa tureera. Dhimma walʼaansoo guddaa kana keessatti gareewwan lama ni mulʼatu: warri ‘bineensicha fi fakkeenya isaa waaqeffatan,’ mallattoo isaas fudhatan, fi warri ‘chaappaa Waaqa jiraataa’ fudhatan, kanneen maqaan Abbaa isaanii adda isaanii irratti barreeffame. Kun mallattoo ijaan mulʼatu miti. Yeroon amma gaʼeera; warri fayyina lubbuu isaanii irratti dhimma qaban hundinuu ciminaan fi ulfinaan, Chaappaan Waaqaa maal dha? Mallattoon bineensichaa maal dha? Akkamitti isa fudhachuu irraa of qusanna? jechuun qorachuu qabu.”

> “The seal of God, the token or sign of His authority, is found in the fourth commandment. This is the only precept of the Decalogue that points to God as the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and clearly distinguishes the true God from all false gods. Throughout the Scriptures the fact of God’s creative power is cited as proof that He is above all heathen deities.

> “Mallattoon Waaqayyoo, mallattoo yookaan mallattoo aangoo Isaa, ajaja afraffaa keessatti argama. Kun qajeelfama Kurnan Seeraa keessaa isa tokkicha Waaqayyoon akka Uumaa samii fi lafaa agarsiisuudha; akkasumas Waaqayyo dhugaa waaqolii sobaa hundumaa irraa ifatti adda baasa. Guutummaa Caaffata Qulqullaa’oo keessatti, dhugaan humna uumaa Waaqayyoo akka Inni waaqolii ormootaa hundumaa ol ta’eetti ragaa ta’uuf eerama.”

> “The Sabbath enjoined by the fourth commandment was instituted to commemorate the work of creation, thus to keep the minds of men ever directed to the true and living God. Had the Sabbath always been kept, there would never have been an idolater, an atheist, or an infidel. The sacred observance of God”s holy day would have led the minds of men to their Creator. The things of nature would have brought Him to their remembrance, and they would have borne witness to His power and His love. The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the seal of the living God. It points to God as the Creator, and is the sign of His rightful authority over the beings He has made.

> “Sanaanni afraffaan abboomamuudhaan labsame hojii uumamaa yaadachiisuuf dhaabbate; akkasumas sammuu namaa yeroo hundumaa gara Waaqa dhugaa fi jiraataa ta’etti akka qajeeluuf. Sanaanni yeroo hundumaa utuu eegamee jiraatee, namni waaqeffataa waaqa tolfamaa, waaqa mormituu, yookaan amantii hin qabne tokko illee hin jiraatu ture. Guyyaan qulqulluun Waaqayyoo akka qulqullummaadhaan eegamu ta’uun sammuu namaa gara Uumaa isaanii geesseera ture. Wantoonni uumamaa isa yaadachiisuu turan, isaanis humna isaa fi jaalala isaa irratti dhugaa ba’anii turan. Sanaanni ajaja afraffaa chaappaa Waaqa jiraataa ti. Inni akka Uumaa ta’e Waaqatti akeeka; uumamtoota inni uume irratti aboo seera qabeessa isaa mallattoo dha.”

> “What, then, is the mark of the beast, if it is not the spurious sabbath which the world has accepted in the place of the true?

> “Yoona sanaa bineensaa maal ree, yoo inni Sanbata sobaa addunyaan Sanbata dhugaa bakka buusuudhaan fudhatte sana ta’uu baate?”

> “The prophetic declaration that the Papacy was to exalt itself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, has been strikingly fulfilled in the changing of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week. Wherever the papal Sabbath is honored in preference to the Sabbath of God, there the man of sin is exalted above the Creator of heaven and earth.

> Ibsi raajii raajii waaqeffannaa (Papacy) waaqa jedhamee waamamu hundumaa yookaan waaqeffatamu hundumaa olitti of ol qabuuf jedhu, Sanbata guyyaa torbaffaa irraa gara guyyaa jalqaba torbaniitti geeddaruu keessatti haala ifaadhaan raawwatameera. Bakka Sanbanni papalotaa Sanbata Waaqayyoo caalaa kabajamutti hundatti, namichi cubbuu Samii fi lafaa Uumaa olitti ol qabameera.

> “Those who assert that Christ changed the Sabbath are directly contradicting His own words. In His Sermon on the Mount He declared: ‘Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever, therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’

> “Warri Kiristoos Sanbata akka jijjiire jedhu, dubbii Inni ofii Isaa dubbate kallattiidhaan mormu. Inni Lallaba Isaa Gaara irratti akkana jedhee labsate: ‘Ani seera yookaan raajota diiguuf dhufe jedhaatii hin yaadinaa; ani diiguuf utuu hin taʼin, raawwachuuf dhufeera. Dhuguman isinitti nan jedhu, hamma samii fi lafti darbuutti, wanti hundinuu hamma raawwatamutti, qubeen tokko iyyuu yookaan mallattoon xinnaan tokko iyyuu seericha keessaa gonkumaa hin darbu. Kanaafuu namni ajajawwan kanneen keessaa isa irra xinnaa taʼe tokko illee diigee, namootas akkas gochuu barsiisu, mootummaa samii keessatti isa irra xinnaa jedhamee ni waamama; namni garuu isaan raawwatee barsiisu, inni mootummaa samii keessatti guddaa jedhamee ni waamama.’

> “Roman Catholics acknowledge that the change in the Sabbath was made by their church, and they cite this very change as evidence of the supreme authority of this church. They declare that by observing the first day of the week as the Sabbath, Protestants are recognizing her power to legislate in divine things. The Roman Church has not relinquished her claim to infallibility, and when the world and the Protestant churches accept the spurious sabbath of her creating, they virtually acknowledge her claim. They may cite the authority of the apostles and fathers in defense of this change, but the fallacy of their reasoning is easily discerned. The papist is sharp enough to see that Protestants are deceiving themselves, willingly closing their eyes to the facts in the case. As the Sunday institution gains favor, he rejoices, feeling assured that it will eventually bring the whole Protestant world under the banner of Rome.” Signs of the Times, November 1, 1899.

> “ରୋମାନ କାଥଲିକମାନେ ସ୍ୱୀକାର କରନ୍ତି ଯେ ସବ୍ବାଥର ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ ତାଙ୍କ ଚର୍ଚ୍ଚ ଦ୍ୱାରା କରାଯାଇଥିଲା, ଏବଂ ସେମାନେ ଏହି ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନକୁ ନିଜ ଚର୍ଚ୍ଚର ସର୍ବୋଚ୍ଚ ଅଧିକାରର ପ୍ରମାଣ ବୋଲି ଉଦ୍ଧୃତ କରନ୍ତି। ସେମାନେ ଘୋଷଣା କରନ୍ତି ଯେ ସପ୍ତାହର ପ୍ରଥମ ଦିନକୁ ସବ୍ବାଥ ଭାବେ ପାଳନ କରି ପ୍ରୋଟେଷ୍ଟାଣ୍ଟମାନେ ଦୈବୀୟ ବିଷୟଗୁଡ଼ିକରେ ବିଧାନ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ତାହାର ଶକ୍ତିକୁ ସ୍ୱୀକାର କରୁଛନ୍ତି। ରୋମୀୟ ଚର୍ଚ୍ଚ ତାହାର ନିର୍ଭ୍ରାନ୍ତତାର ଦାବିକୁ ପରିତ୍ୟାଗ କରିନାହିଁ, ଏବଂ ଯେତେବେଳେ ଜଗତ ଓ ପ୍ରୋଟେଷ୍ଟାଣ୍ଟ ଚର୍ଚ୍ଚଗୁଡ଼ିକ ତାହାର ସୃଷ୍ଟିକୃତ କପଟ ସବ୍ବାଥକୁ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରନ୍ତି, ସେମାନେ ବାସ୍ତବରେ ତାହାର ଏହି ଦାବିକୁ ସ୍ୱୀକାର କରନ୍ତି। ସେମାନେ ଏହି ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନର ପକ୍ଷସ୍ଥାନରେ ପ୍ରେରିତମାନଙ୍କ ଓ ପିତୃପୁରୁଷମାନଙ୍କର ଅଧିକାରକୁ ଉଦ୍ଧୃତ କରିପାରନ୍ତି, କିନ୍ତୁ ସେମାନଙ୍କର ଯୁକ୍ତିର ଭ୍ରାନ୍ତି ସହଜରେ ବୁଝିହେବ। ପାପପନ୍ଥୀ ଏତେ ଚତୁର ଯେ ସେ ଦେଖିପାରେ ପ୍ରୋଟେଷ୍ଟାଣ୍ଟମାନେ ନିଜମାନଙ୍କୁ ନିଜେ ଠକାଉଛନ୍ତି, ଏବଂ ଏହି ବିଷୟର ସତ୍ୟତା ପ୍ରତି ସଚେତନ ଭାବରେ ନିଜ ଆଖି ମୁଦି ଦେଉଛନ୍ତି। ଯେପରିକି ରବିବାର ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠାନ ଅଧିକ ପ୍ରସନ୍ନତା ଲାଭ କରୁଛି, ସେ ସେଥିପାଇଁ ଆନନ୍ଦ କରେ, କାରଣ ସେ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ ଅନୁଭବ କରୁଛି ଯେ ଶେଷରେ ଏହା ସମଗ୍ର ପ୍ରୋଟେଷ୍ଟାଣ୍ଟ ଜଗତକୁ ରୋମର ପତାକା ତଳେ ଆଣିଦେବ।” Signs of the Times, November 1, 1899.

Back to Articles