Who Shall be Able to Stand? The 144,000.

Who Shall be Able to Stand?

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:12-17, King James Version.)

Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. (Revelation 7:3-4.)

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. (Revelation 15:2-4.)

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. (Revelation 14:1-4.)

1. The servants of God, the 144,000. (Revelation 7:3-4.)

2. Them that had gotten the victory over the beast, over his image, over his mark, and over the number of his name. (Revelation 15:2-4.)

3. Those who sing the song of Moses, and of the Lamb. (Revelation 15:2-4.)

4. Those who fear God, and glorify Him. (Revelation 15:2-4.)

5. Them that have the Father’s name written in their foreheads. (Revelation 14:1-4.)

6. Them that are not defiled with women; they are virgins. (Revelation 14:1-4.)

7. Those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes; sanctuary reference. (Revelation 14:1-4.)

In Revelation 6, in describing the Sixth Seal, John is also describing the Second Coming of Jesus. More specifically, the prophet is describing what the wicked will see when Jesus splits open the sky and appears to all humanity in all His glory, and the Father’s glory. The wicked will be so abjectly terrified, they will be clamoring and crying for the rocks and mountains to fall on them; anything to be hidden from such magnificent purity and holiness. As the wicked realize what is happening, they cry out, to the mountains, and in general,

"Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”(Revelation 6:12-17.)

Throughout the book of Revelation, John the apostle and prophet tells us the answer to this question. This study will endeavor to explain seven characteristics of those who shall be able to stand in the day of God’s wrath. The fact is this: that while Jesus returning in power and great glory is to the wicked, death and terror, it is, at the same time, to the righteous, life and peace and unutterable joy.

THE SERVANTS OF GOD, THE 144,000

In the fairly immediate context of Revelation 6:12-17, we find our first answer in Revelation 7:3-4. Those who will be able to stand will be those who are the servants of God, specifically the 144,000. It is very interesting to note, that the word for servant in this passage literally means slave, either voluntary or involuntary. Of course, God accepts no forced service, so these would be willing slaves of God, much like we find in Exodus 21 with the indentured servant laws.

But what does it take to be a servant of God? What are they like? Well, to find this answer, we must continue the study of the rest of the characteristics. But in addition to this, the Bible gives us more clues as to what the servants of God are like. These clues are all over the Bible, both in the New Testament, as well as the Old Testament. The prophet Ezekiel gives us one such clue:

“And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.” (Ezekiel 9:4.)

The context of this passage is very similar to Revelation 7:3-4. We see a picture of God telling His Servant to go through and place a seal on those who are still faithful to Him. The rest will be destroyed. Specifically, God says to place a seal on those who “sigh and that cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.”

These are not abominations that are done in the world by worldlings. We expect the world to be full of all kinds of sin, both subtle and more blatant sins. No; it is the sins committed within the church, and especially by the leaders. It is the sins committed by those who ought to know better, who have no excuse to be doing such things. In fact, if we read the previous chapter, Ezekiel 8, we see God giving His prophet a vision of the sins that Israel’s leaders were committing.

These were not the pagan political or religious leaders committing the various sins listed in that chapter. These were Israelites, including their religious leaders. It was those who were sighing and crying for these abominations that had the seal of God placed on them. It was those who were not fearful to call out these sins and who called for repentance that were sealed.

Those who are truly servants of God will not be afraid to call sin by its right name. They will not be afraid to call for repentance and for God’s people to return to Him. They will lift up the Lamb of God, higher and still higher, until He is all that is seen. They will point to Him as the only Way of Salvation. They will point to His blood as the only way to be cleansed from sin. They will call upon all around them to “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29.)

Only those who serve God with an undivided heart will make it through the time of trouble that is coming. Are we sold out to God to the point that we will do anything, as an indentured slave would have done?

In ancient Israel, if someone bought a Hebrew slave, they were, after six years, at liberty to go free the seventh year. However, the Hebrew slave was at liberty to remain his master’s servant, if he so desired. If the servant loved his master, and did not desire leaving him, they would go to the judges to formally finalize his lifetime servitude.

When they came to the judges, the master would “bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.” (Exodus 21:6.) This was the mark on the servant that declared his love and willing (for ever) servitude to his master.

As in the natural world, so in the spiritual world. When God commands, an angel will go forth to put His mark on His servants, who will then be forever sealed as His eternal children and servants. We are standing at the proverbial door, as it were. Probation represents this. However, when the door of probation closes, those who have not the mark, or seal, of God will be forever lost. Will we accept the seal of God? Or, will we accept the mark of the beast? Everyone will have one or the other.

THE 144,000

In connection with the sealed servants of Revelation 7:3, is the 144,000 in the very next verse. There is debate over whether this number is literal or symbolic. The Bible only mentions the actual number twice. Their character is also described with the same characteristics of Jesus.

Ellen G. White, in writing the Great Controversy, p. 648, described them as: those that were redeemed from among men; the song of Moses is their experience; those which follow the Lamb wherever He goes; They have been translated from the earth from among the living, as the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb; they have passed through the time of trouble, endured the anguish of the time of Jacob’s trouble, and have stood without an intercessor. In her book, Last Day Events, p. 272, she describes the living saints at the time of Jesus’ second coming as 144,000 in number.

Characteristically, the 144,000 are described in Revelation 14:1-5 as: having the Father’s name written in their foreheads, not defiled with women (symbolic), they follow the Lamb (Jesus) wherever He goes, they are redeemed from the earth and the first fruits unto God and the Lamb, there is no guile (deceit or subtlety) in their mouth, and they are without fault before God.

This is the character of Jesus. He had the character of the Father, He was not defiled with false religion (symbolic women), He followed God’s will in everything, He was the first fruit of guaranteed resurrections, He is not deceitful, and He is without sin before God. This is the character that all must have who wish to survive the time of trouble and go to Heaven.

Victory in Jesus

Revelation 15:2 describes the host of the redeemed in Heaven, standing on the sea of glass. These are they, as this verse says, “that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name…” There are four characteristics listed here of those who obtain the victory over sin.

It is also quite interesting to note, that the word for “gotten the victory” in the Greek is parsed as Present Active Participle. It could be more accurately translated as, “Those who are getting the victory over these four things…” Perhaps what John was thinking was that since all redeemed sinners in heaven is not a reality yet, that these are they who are currently obtaining the victory over the evils he listed.

This word in the Greek also means, “to conquer, to subdue, overcome, prevail, get the victory, to carry off the victory, come off victorious (of Christians, that hold fast their faith even unto death against the power of their foes, and temptations and persecutions; when one is arraigned or goes to law, to win the case, maintain one’s cause).” Those who win the victory over evil will do so completely, in the power of God.

These are they who get the victory over the beast. Now we know from other studies that the beast is the Roman Catholic Papacy. They will be the ones to rule the world for a short time in the time of trouble. They will be calling all the shots. Everyone will be looking to them for guidance, except those who remain faithful to God. This will be a great victory indeed, since the papacy will be the controlling power of the world during this time.

God’s people will also have the victory over the image of the beast. Again, from other studies, we know this to be apostate American Protestantism. This group of wayward evangelicals has been apostate since 1844, when, as a whole, they rejected the Three Angel’s Messages. Ever since then, there has been a growing ecumenical movement that seeks unity with the Catholic Church. Even now, in 2018, there are leaders across the world calling for a new world order. Indeed, even many religious, so called protestant, leaders are calling for the separation between church and state to be completely done away with.

The Bible gives us the picture of the various apostate protestant denominations being the daughters of the Roman Catholic Church. In fact, the Bible goes so far as to call them harlots. Revelation 17 in no uncertain terms calls the Papacy and Roman Catholicism the “great whore that sitteth on many waters,” and “ the mother of harlots…” By extension, this means that the apostate protestant denominations are harlots.

And indeed, we are seeing this played out before our very eyes, especially in the United States. As we already stated, protestant leaders, such as Robert Jeffress, are calling for church and state to unite, perhaps not realizing that this is spiritual fornication, and the result being oppression and persecution of those who rightfully disagree with this union. Indeed, the victory over this image of the beast will be most glorious.

Thirdly, Revelation 15:2 tells us that the redeemed will also have the victory over the mark of the beast. The mark of the beast is not currently in existence, but when it is, it will be when Sunday sacredness is enforced by law. This law begins in the USA, and like the black plague, will infect the rest of the world. It starts by economic sanctions, according to Revelation 13. When that doesn’t work to get 100% obedience, it will become lawful to kill all those who remain faithful to God.

Lastly, this same Scripture tells us that the redeemed host will also have victory “over the number of his name…” When looking up the Greek meaning of the word for number, one might not expect to find anything interesting. After all, a number is just a number, isn’t it? However, Strong’s Concordance defines this word as, “a number (as reckoned up.)” Reckoned, of course, means added up, as in math.

When we take the title of the pope, we find that each letter that has Roman Numeral value adds up together as 666. This title is “Vicarius Filii Dei.” God has shown us even in the tiniest details what His truth is. He leaves no one with insufficient evidence to determine who the antichrist is, because He wants everyone to have the opportunity to be saved.

In addition, it was the number of the antichrist’s name that the redeemed have victory over. Names in the Bible are descriptive of character. Those who stand on the sea of glass in Heaven must now obtain victory over the character of the beast. What is the beast’s character? It is the exact opposite of God’s character. The beast is exacting, oppressive, selfish, murderous, etc.. God is love. He forces no one to choose Him. He gives us everything we need to make a decision. It is up to us who we choose to serve.

“The Lord says to the people of the earth, ‘Choose you this day whom ye will serve.’ All are now decided their eternal destiny. Men need to be aroused to realize the solemnity of the time, the nearness of the day when human probation shall be ended.” (Maranatha, p. 108.)

THE SONG OF MOSES AND THE LAMB

“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.” (Revelation 15:3-4.)

The next characteristic of those who will be able to stand is those who sing the song of Moses. I was debating on including this as a characteristic since we do not find it before the Second Coming of Jesus, but after. However, consider this quote from the Pen of Inspiration:

“Happiness is the result of holiness and conformity to the will of God. Those who would be saints in heaven must first be saints upon the earth; for when we leave this earth, we shall take our character with us, and this will be simply taking with us some of the elements of heaven imparted to us through the righteousness of Christ.” — (The Review and Herald, August 19, 1890; emphasis added.)

With the Lamb upon Mount Zion, “having the harps of God,” they stand, the hundred and forty and four thousand that were redeemed from among men; and there is heard, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of a great thunder, “the voice of harpers harping with their harps.” And they sing “a new song” before the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb—a song of deliverance. None but the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience—an experience such as no other company have ever had. “These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.” These, having been translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as “the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.” Revelation 15:2, 3; 14:1-5. “These are they which came out of great tribulation;” they have passed through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the time of Jacob’s trouble; they have stood without an intercessor through the final outpouring of God’s judgments. But they have been delivered, for they have “washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” “In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault” before God. “Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.” They have seen the earth wasted with famine and pestilence, the sun having power to scorch men with great heat, and they themselves have endured suffering, hunger, and thirst. But “they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Revelation 7:14-17. – {GC 648.3}

Now the prophet here says that the songs mentioned in Revelation 14:2-3 and Revelation 15:3-4 are one and the same song. It is the song that no-one except the 144,000 thousand can learn. And who are the 144,000? They are those who shall be able to stand in the day of God’s wrath, when Jesus appears in the sky with power and great glory, because it is not terror to them, but the greatest joy.

This group will have been through the worst that the world has ever been able to throw at the people of God. They will be tempted to despair and give up. They will be persecuted to the extreme. Daniel 12 tells us that it is a time of trouble worse than any other the world has ever experienced. And to top it off, God’s people will have to live without an intercessor in the Most Holy Place, because Jesus’ ministry as our High Priest will be over.

They may not understand why they have to go through such a trying ordeal, but they will trust God through it all. And when it comes to the end, what a most glorious deliverance it will be. When they review the record books in Heaven, they will sing, “Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.” (Revelation 15:3.)

They realize, as the next verse says, that because God is completely vindicated, that all the saved will come and worship before Him. In fact, God is so completely vindicated, and satan will have revealed his own evil character so thoroughly, that Nahum 1:9 tells us sin will never again find a place in God’s universe. And because of what the 144,000 will have been through, this will make their song that much sweeter, both to them, and to the God who loves them.

THOSE WHO FEAR AND GLORIFY GOD

Another characteristic of those who will be able to stand is found in the song of Moses and the Lamb. It is those who fear God and glorify Him. Why do they fear Him? They have seen the surpassing loveliness of His character. They have acknowledged Him as their Creator and the Godhead as responsible for the plan of redemption.

This harkens us back one chapter to the Three Angel’s Messages of Revelation 14:6-12. The first angel’s message begins with the command to fear God and to glorify Him. How do we glorify God? There are so many ways. We start by acknowledging our need for Jesus. Ellen G. White said it this way:

“The greatest work that can be done in our world is to glorify God by living the character of Christ.” — (Maranatha, p. 109.)

Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of the Saviour shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim His own. It is the privilege of every Christian, not only to look for, but to hasten, the coming of our Lord. Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel! Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come. – {Mar 112.6} – Mar 112.6

How else do we fear God and glorify Him? Paul tells us,

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31.)

It seems many Adventists these days do not want to follow the health message, for one reason or another. But the Bible is clear, God wants us to be healthy, and this is one way in which we glorify Him. We cannot glorify God when we are living unhealthy. We cannot glorify God when we refuse to give up anything that He has declared is sin. Consider what Inspiration says:

“The relation that exists between mind and body is very intimate: when one is affected, the other is always more or less in sympathy. It is impossible for men, while under the power of sinful, health-destroying habits, to appreciate sacred truths. When the intellect is clouded, the moral powers are enfeebled, and sin does not look sinful. The most ennobling, grand, and glorious themes of God’s Word seem but idle tales. Satan can then easily snatch away the good seed that has been sown in the heart; for the soul is in no condition to comprehend or understand its true value. It is thus that selfish, health-destroying indulgences are counteracting the influence of the message which is to prepare a people for the great day of God.” – (Our High Calling, 266.)

The Bible tells us that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit could not be found in the ancient temples where things like religious prostitution occurred, or where unclean animals or improperly prepared animals were eaten, what makes us think today that we can subject Him to the same things?

Truthfully, we cannot subject the Holy Spirit to these things. As God, and part of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit will not be roommates with sin. If we cherish sin in our hearts, then we cannot cherish the Holy Spirit in our hearts. He will not share the space with sin. We must choose one or the other.

Now of course, when we are working to overcome sin, the Holy Spirit must be in our hearts or we will fail every time. The difference comes in this: are we cherishing sin, or are we hating our sin, praying and working to overcome it? The Holy Spirit is given to those, who, in faith, ask God for victory over sin. The Holy Spirit cannot and will never sanctify the one who persists in sin, with no real desire for victory.

The Bible also says in the same verse quoted above, to glorify God in everything we do, not just eating and drinking. Are we glorifying God in our daily jobs? Are we glorifying God in the little things of house cleaning? As always, these things can never be done in a Godly way until God sits enthroned in the heart. Then, and only then, we will be able to render obedience to Jesus out of love for Him.

THE FATHER’S NAME

“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. (Revelation 14:1.)

The next characteristic of those who shall be able to stand is that they have the Father’s name written in their foreheads. But what does this mean? Scientifically, it refers to the frontal love of the brain, which sits right behind the forehead. The frontal lobe is where we make our decisions, it is our seat of morality, it is what separates us from the animal creation, it is our character housing.

The word in the Greek for written, literally means, “to grave,” or, “to engrave.” As a verb, to grave in the English means, “fix (something) indelibly in the mind…” Indelibly means, “in a way that cannot be forgotten.” When we couple this with Revelation 7:4, it makes perfect sense.

Those who have the Father’s name written in their foreheads are those who have been sealed permanently with His character. In order to stand with the Lamb, Jesus, on Mount Sion, we must have the Father’s character. How do we obtain such character?

The character is revealed, not by occasional good deeds and occasional misdeeds, but by the tendency of the habitual words and acts. – (Steps to Christ, p. 57.)

“The greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.

"But such a character is not the result of accident; it is not due to special favors or endowments of Providence. A noble character is the result of self-discipline, of the subjection of the lower to the higher nature—the surrender of self for the service of love to God and man.” – (Education, p. 57, emphasis added.)

This also hearkens back to Revelation 3:12, the letter written to the both the literal church of and the time period represented by Philadelphia. Here Jesus promises to write upon the overcomers the name of the Father, the name of the Father’s city, the New Jerusalem, His own new name. It is also the same word for written as it is in Revelation 14:1.

Observe the text:

“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.” (Revelation 3:12.)

Once again, name means character. Only those who have the character of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit perfectly formed in their hearts will have access to the City of God, and to the Tree of Life. This character is not formed by accident, or by passively accepting Christ. Indeed, there is no such thing as passively accepting Jesus. It is an active, intelligent decision.

Why does the Bible specify the name of the New Jerusalem being written in the foreheads of the redeemed? Revelation 21:27 tells us that nothing that defiles or works abominations will enter the New Jerusalem, which includes fallen humanity. To have the name and character of the City of God, means to have His name and character engraved in us as our own.

But to be even more specific, we find throughout the Bible that every word and concept that describes God, also describes His Ten Commandment Law, without exception. To have God’s character engraved in us means commandment keeping. God, through His prophet Ezekiel, said it this way:

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. [27] And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27.)

God, through His modern prophet, Ellen G. White, said it this way:

“The only hope of any man lies through Jesus Christ.... The pure and holy garments are not prepared to be put on by any one after he has entered the gate of the city. All who enter will have on the robe of Christ’s righteousness, and the name of God will be seen in their foreheads. This name is the symbol which the apostle saw in vision, and signifies the yielding of the mind to intelligent and loyal obedience to all of God’s commandments.” – (Sons and Daughters of God, p. 370.)

THEY ARE VIRGINS

Revelation 14:4 tells us that the redeemed are virgins; they are not defiled with women. Now, of course, most people in Heaven are not going to be physical virgins. But as we know, Revelation is a highly symbolic book of prophecy. This characteristic of being virgins symbolizes something. But what?

“These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins.” (Revelation 14:4.)

This word here for defile literally means to soil, to pollute, stain, contaminate, or defile. Thayers Greek Lexicon goes so far as to say that it is “used in NT of those who have not kept themselves pure from the defilements of sin, who have soiled themselves by fornication and adultery.” What is also interesting to note is that, according to Strong’s Concordance, this word probably comes from the word that means black, or black ink.

It is used three times in the entire New Testament. Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians 8:7, referring to the consciences of some being defiled. Revelation uses it twice; once in Revelation 14:4, which we are studying, and also, in Revelation 3:4. In the latter Scripture, it is used to refer to those who have not defiled their garments. In Bible prophecy, garments symbolize righteousness and character. (Isaiah 64:6, Isaiah 59:6.)

The word for virgin here refers to a marriageable maiden. It is also interesting to note that in this word referring to men, it means, “a man who has abstained from all uncleanness and whoredom attendant on idolatry, and so has kept his chastity.”

Now, if this verse is not referring to literal virgins, what is it referring to? God, specifically Jesus, compares His relationship to the Church to a marriage. A woman in Bible prophecy represents a church. (Jeremiah 6:2; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-27; Ezekiel. 16:15-58; 23:2-21; Hosea. 2:5; 3:1; Revelation 14:4.)

Therefore, a breaking of any of the Ten Commandments is spiritual adultery. Now, given that all have sinned, as the Bible says, how are these spiritual virgins, for they were all once sinners. It boils down to righteousness by faith. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ the Righteous. They have been justified, sanctified, and glorified. They are looked upon as having never sinned.

They obtained, through the merits of the crucified and risen Savior, complete victory over sin in this life. Most Christians are deceived on this point, including most Seventh-day Adventists. But the Bible teaches that justification is followed by sanctification, and these result in eventual salvation. No man can enter Heaven who is still a sinner. As we already learned, nothing that defiles will enter Heaven. Therefore, sin must be completely overcome in this life, before probation closes. Anyone who is still sinning after probation closes is lost forever.

Consider what the modern prophet of God says. She quotes Revelation 14:1-4, and then says the following:

This scripture represents the character of the people of God for these last days (Manuscript 139, p. 1903.8).

FOLLOW THE LAMB

Now then, is the last days referring to the end time of earth’s history, or when we are in Heaven? When we are in Heaven, it is no longer the last days. Therefore, the idea that we will continue to sin until Jesus returns is a patently false doctrine from the pits of hell. Consider this as well:

“The Lord has a people on the earth, who follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. He has His thousands who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Such will stand with Him on Mount Zion. But they must stand on this earth, girded with the whole armor, ready to engage in the work of saving those who are ready to perish.

“What we are in the heavenly home, when saved, eternally saved, will be the reflection of what we now are in character and holy service. Shall we not show our loyalty by keeping God's commandments here, in this our place of probation?” — (In Heavenly Places, p. 298.)

Notice how she says the Lord’s people follow the Lamb now. Those who follow Jesus wherever He goes in Heave, will first have to do so here in this life. Those who are sinless in Heaven will first have to become sinless on earth, before probation closes. There is no such thing as the redeemed sinning until Jesus returns. Only the lost sin up until the Second Coming.

And again,

“From the first to the last of the Christian life, not one successful step can be taken without Christ. He has sent His Spirit to be with us constantly, and by confiding in Christ to the uttermost, surrendering our will to Him, we may follow Him whithersoever He goeth.” — The Review and Herald, June 26, 1894.

The word for follow in Revelation 14:4, is parsed as a Present Active Participle. This means that it is a constantly occurring action. There is no break in this activity. It is always happening, with no off switch. Those who follow Jesus do not do so as is convenient for them. They are willing to endure any consequence, however good or unpleasant in order to follow Him who gave His Life for them.

The actual verb itself, the word for follow, in the Greek means, “to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him, to join as a disciple, become or be his disciple, side with his party, properly, to be in the same way with,” or simply, “to follow.”

It is quite interesting to notice that this word in the Greek comes from two words: the word for road, and the Greek letter alpha. Literally translated, this could mean, “at the beginning of the road.” In certain instances, it seems to have a meaning related to the sense of union.

“What Christ was in His life on this earth, that every Christian is to be. He is our example, not only in His spotless purity, but in His patience, gentleness, and winsomeness of disposition. He was firm as a rock where truth and duty were concerned, but He was invariably kind and courteous. His life was a perfect illustration of true courtesy.... His presence brought a purer atmosphere into the home, and His life was as leaven working amid the elements of society. Harmless and undefiled, He walked among the thoughtless, the rude, the uncourteous; amid the unjust publicans, the unrighteous Samaritans, the heathen soldiers, the rough peasants, and the mixed multitude.” – (Our Father Cares, p. 156.)

There is the possibility that this phrase in Revelation 14:4 is also a Sanctuary reference. When Jesus ascended to Heaven approximately a month and a half after His resurrection, He went directly to the Holy Place of the Heavenly temple. There He ministered for the next 1800 years.

But there was a prophecy that had to be fulfilled. Daniel 8:14 tells us that after 2,300 days, literally years, the Heavenly Sanctuary must be cleansed. This time period ended on October 22, 1844. Then, Jesus left the Holy Place and entered the Most Holy Place to begin the work of the Investigative Judgment.

For a period of time leading up to this date, the Millerite movement was preaching the soon coming of Jesus. The first angel’s message of Revelation 14:6-7 was being loudly proclaimed all across the world. This, of course, caused much agitation across the Christin world, especially in the USA. But alas, Protestantism across the world rejected this angel’s message, and as a result, became a part of fallen Babylon, as declared by the second angel’s message of Revelation 14:8.

When Jesus left the Holy Place, the vast majority of Christianity failed to follow Him by faith. As a result, 21st century Christianity sees this as a false doctrine. They do not believe in the Heavenly Sanctuary, and therefore they have a severely skewed belief on Righteousness by Faith. As a whole, they no longer have Jesus as their leader, but because their forefathers rejected the First Angel’s message, they have Satan as their leader, although they believe they still follow Jesus.

Consider what the prophet has to say on this:

“I saw the Father rise from the throne, [see page 92.] and in a flaming chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and sit down. Then Jesus rose up from the throne, and the most of those who were bowed down arose with Him. I did not see one ray of light pass from Jesus to the careless multitude after He arose, and they were left in perfect darkness. Those who arose when Jesus did, kept their eyes fixed on Him as He left the throne and led them out a little way. Then He raised His right arm, and we heard His lovely voice saying, “Wait here; I am going to My Father to receive the kingdom; keep your garments spotless, and in a little while I will return from the wedding and receive you to Myself.” Then a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire, surrounded by angels, came to where Jesus was. He stepped into the chariot and was borne to the holiest, where the Father sat. There I beheld Jesus, a great High Priest, standing before the Father. On the hem of His garment was a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate. Those who rose up with Jesus would send up their faith to Him in the holiest, and pray, “My Father, give us Thy Spirit.” Then Jesus would breathe upon them the Holy Ghost. In that breath was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace.

“I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they did not know that Jesus had left it. Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the throne, and pray, “Father, give us Thy Spirit.” Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and peace. Satan's object was to keep them deceived and to draw back and deceive God's children.” — (Early Writings, p. 56.)

Following the Lamb now not only means moving with Him by faith into the Most Holy Place, but also living His character. Many think it would be a great privilege to walk where Jesus lived and walked. They want to go to Israel and see where He was, and where He performed His miracles.

However, this is not necessary. While it could be a blessing, to walk where Christ walked means to do what He did, wherever He has planted us. Are we ministering locally to those in need? Are we feeding the hungry? Clothing the naked? Visiting those in prison? Are we taking the Gospel to those who need it most? This is how Christ walked, and this is how we are to follow Him.

Those who will be able to stand in the time of trouble will have the character of Christ perfectly reproduced in themselves, by faith in His blood and righteousness, and by obedience to the Truth. As always, this is not legalism; it is simply the power of the Gospel in action.