THE FOURTH ANGEL’S MESSAGE

The Three Advent Movements becomes the Latter rain Movement

The three angels were the three successions of the events Advent movement in modern

Christian history. The first angel message was proclaimed in 1843 AD by the Millerites

movement or the advent movement in the history of North America when the judgment was

announced as the second coming of Christ and it “was given in Portland and in the city of

Boston.”1 Though the movement had experienced disappointment and persecution but in no less

sense it was God’s message and it had tested the faith of the believers: The messenger said, “I

saw that God was in the proclamation of the time in 1843. It was His design to arouse the people

and bring them to a testing point, where they should decide for or against the truth…” 2 These

disappointments along with the Advent movement are God’s way of His people for the final

events, for the final works they have to do in warning the whole earth. The disappointment in

1843 was about reckoning of prophetic dates. The SOP explained:

God tested and proved His people by the passing of the time in 1843. The mistake made

in reckoning the prophetic periods was not at once discovered, even by learned men who

opposed the views of those who were looking for Christ's coming. Scholars declared that

Mr. Miller was right in his calculation of the time, though they disputed him in regard to

the event that would crown that period. But they, and the waiting people of God, were in

a common error on the question of time. 3

The second angel’s message came after the trying hour and after the mistake in reckoning of the

time prophecy in Daniel 8:14 was corrected through prayer and study and their hopes focused in

the second coming of the Lord at the fall of 1844 and it transformed into the second movement to

bear testimony against the fallen churches. The SOP explained their experience:

Our hopes now centered on the coming of the Lord in 1844. This was also the time for

the message of the second angel, who, flying through the midst of heaven, cried,

"Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city." Revelation 14:8. That message was first

proclaimed by the servants of God in the summer of 1844. As a result, many left the

fallen churches…4

The churches generally rejected the second angel’s message that cause the continual moral fall.5

The midnight cry, the proclamation that Christ is coming was rejected by the fallen churches in

1 {Ev 84.1}

2 {EW 232.2}

3 {CET 50.2}

4 {CET 50.4}

5 {GC88 389.2}

North America in spite of the warning of the second angel’s message though there were many

companies of people accepted the message and bear testimony to them.6

The preaching of the third angel’s message joined with the two angels’ messages

The expected time of the second coming of Christ did not happen as expected and created the

great disappointment in the Advent movement. The people scattered and splintered into different

groups and many went back to the old same life again but the faithful few found grace in God’s

sight as they studied and prayed together to find out the reason of the great disappointment. The

Lord opened to them that Jesus went to the most Holy place in the heavenly sanctuary to do the

work of investigative judgment.7 In relation to this work, the third angel’s message began

through the work of this small group that transformed into the Seventh day Adventist movement

with a clearer message of the three angels “by which the world is to be tested; they (Revelation

14 messages) are the everlasting gospel and are to be sounded everywhere.8 The message of the

first and the second has to be enjoined together with the third angel’s message. The SOP

explains:

The first and second messages [Revelation 14:6-8] were given in 1843 and 1844, and we

are now under the proclamation of the third; but all three of the messages are still to be

proclaimed. It is just as essential now as ever before that they shall be repeated to those

who are seeking for the truth. By pen and voice we are to sound the proclamation,

showing their order and the application of the prophecies that bring us to the third angel’s

message. There cannot be a third without the first and second. . . . 9

The three angels' messages are to be combined, giving their threefold light to the world.

In the Revelation, John says, "I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great

power; and the earth was lightened with his glory."... This represents the giving of the last

and threefold message of warning to the world. 10

"The Lord has a special message for us to bear to the world, even the third angel's

message. The first and second angel's messages are bound up with the third. The power

of the proclamation of the first and second messages is to be concentrated in the third.” 11

The threefold message will be reinforced by the fourth angel:

The fourth angel will give the final enlightenment and warning to the world. John the

Revelator said, “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having

great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong

voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and

6 {EW 238.3} to {EW 238.4}

7 {1SM 125.1}

8 {CTr 342.5}( Manuscript 32, 1896 (Manuscript Releases, vol. 17, pp. 12-15)).

9 {CTr 338.3}

10 {Mar 173.4}

11 {GCB, January 1, 1900 par. 2}

the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have

drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed

fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her

delicacies.” Revelation 18:-1-4. Since the three angels’ messages are coming to a close, it will

not be finished until it is joined by this fourth angel. The SOP explained:

The fourth angel is the coming end-time Pentecostal experience that will change the dynamics

of Christian experience and works. As the SOP said, “Thousands of voices will be imbued with

the power to speak forth the wonderful truths of God's word. The stammering tongue will be

loosed, and the timid will be made strong to bear courageous testimony to the truth.” 12

The

power that of “1844 movement will again be revealed. The third angel's message will go forth,

not in whispered tones, but with a loud voice. 13

This is the “loud cry” that will fill the whole

earth “with the knowledge of salvation... that the light of present truth will be seen flashing

everywhere.”14

The love of Christ and of the brethren will be manifested and this “will testify to

the world that we have been with Jesus and learned of Him.”15

And this manifestation will lighten

the whole world and the proclamation by the Advent movement (1840-44) “are to be exceeded

by the mighty movement under the last warning of the third angel.”16

This is the “latter rain” 17

for the closing work of the gospel as fulfillment of the prophecy.

The world is being led to take stand

The work of the three angels’ messages is “to warn the inhabitants of the world that Christ is

coming again with power and great glory.”18

These angels will be joined by the fourth one to

warn the world against the false doctrines that Babylon spreads and accepted all over the world.

The SOP says:

The prophet says, "I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power: and

the earth was lightened with glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying,

Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils." This is the

same messages that was given by the second angel. Babylon is fallen, "because she made

all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." What is that wine? --Her

false doctrines. She has given to the world a false Sabbath instead of the Sabbath of the

fourth commandment, and has repeated the falsehood that Satan first told to Eve in

12

{GW92 383.3} 13

{Ev 693.4} Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 252. (1885) 14

{Ev 694.1} Review and Herald, Oct. 13, 1904. 15

{LHU 211.6}Testimonies, vol. 6, pp. 400, 401. 16

{Mar 20.1} 17

{Mar 20.2} 18

{RH, December 6, 1892 par. 15}

Eden,--the natural immortality of the soul. Many kindred errors she has spread far and

wide, "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."19

When the fourth angel comes Satan will counteract its work but this will lead to the final

events before Jesus comes, by this reason “the inhabitants of the earth will be brought to take

their stand.” 20

The disappointment due to rejection of the righteousness by faith message

Tree angels’ messages are the three series of warnings, the successions of movements among

of the people of God in the time of the end, and the series of successes and disappointments in

their hopes and works. The disappointment in the third angels was and is due to the rejection of

the Holy Spirit’s work and not with the prophetic interpretation of when is the second coming of

the Lord but of the coming of the latter rain to refresh the church. The rejection of the

righteousness by faith given in 1888 to the church at general conference in Minneapolis21

was

the sin that hindered the church to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to finish the work because

they disappointed the Lord. Many are hoping to be filled with the Holy Spirit to become efficient

in God’s work but will be disappointed due to indifference and laziness. As the SOP said, “But

the latter rain will never refresh and invigorate indolent souls, that are not using the power God

has already given them. Spiritual laziness will not bring us nearer to God. There must be energy

and zeal as well as devotion and personal piety, woven into all our works.” 22

The work is given

to be done today in order to receive the third angel’s blessings which is the coming of the Holy

Spirit as latter rain and that is to do our part which is the purification of our soul from every

defilement. 23

The SOP said,

I was shown that if God's people make no efforts on their part, but wait for the refreshing

to come upon them and remove their wrongs and correct their errors; if they depend upon

that to cleanse them from filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and fit them to engage in the

loud cry of the third angel, they will be found wanting.--24

Those who make no decided effort, but simply wait for the Holy Spirit to compel them

to action, will perish in darkness. You are not to sit still and do nothing in the work of

God.25

The disappointment to have a revival is due to the unconverted state of the people in the

church for they have not fully surrendered their hearts to God. The SOP explained, “That time

19

Ibid…(continuation) 20

{Mar 20.3} 21

{1888 913.2} 22

{ST, December 9, 1886 par. 10} 23

{Ev 701.4} 24

1T 619 (1867). {LDE 195.1} 25

ChS 228 (1903). {LDE 196.1}

will never come. There are persons in the church who are not converted, and who will not unite

in earnest, prevailing prayer. We must enter upon the work individually. We must pray more,

and talk less.”26

The problem of stagnant spiritually will cause to miss the latter rain:

Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we

are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not

recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on

hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it.27

It is by making use of the early rain, by allowing and cooperating with the Holy Spirit to

sanctify the soul will receive the latter. Those who neglect this will be disappointed. “We may be

sure that when the Holy Spirit is poured out, those who did not receive and appreciate the early

rain will not see or understand the value of the latter rain.”28

The counsel is:

If so, let us cleanse the soul temple, and prepare for the showers of the latter rain. The

refreshing from the presence of the Lord will never come to hearts filled with impurity.

May God help us to die to self, that Christ, the hope of glory, may be formed within! I

must have the Spirit of God in my heart. I can never go forward to do the great work of

God, unless the Holy Spirit rests upon my soul. "As the hart panteth after the water

brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." The day of judgment is upon us. O that we

may wash our robes of character, and make them white in the blood of the Lamb! 29

The consummation of the three angels’ messages

The fourth angel’s message repeated the second angel’s message and expanded it giving the

final warning to Babylon for they reject the three angels’ messages. This message will be given

with the voice of Christ for the final call to His people who are still with Babylon and a final

warning to the world:

Revelation 18 points to the time when, as the result of rejecting the threefold warning of

Revelation 14:6-12, the church will have fully reached the condition foretold by the

second angel, and the people of God, still in Babylon, will be called upon to separate

from her communion. This message is the last that will ever be given to the world; and it

will accomplish its work. When those that “believed not the truth, but had pleasure in

unrighteousness,” [2 Thessalonians 2:12.] shall be left to receive strong delusion, and to

believe a lie, then the light of truth will shine upon all whose hearts are open to receive it,

and all the children of the Lord, that remain in Babylon, will heed the call, “Come out of

her, my people.” [Revelation 18:4.] 30

26

1SM 122 (1887). {LDE 195.2} 27

TM 507 (1897). {LDE 195.4} 28

TM 399 (1896). {LDE 195.3} 29

{RH, April 21, 1891 par. 11} 30

{GC88 390.2}

The final message is to warn the world in accepting the errors in which Babylon led them to

drink and commit fornication or spiritual adultery with her:

The prophet says, "I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and

the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying,

Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils" (Revelation

18:1, 2). This is the same message that was given by the second angel. Babylon is fallen,

"because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication"

(Revelation 14:8). What is that wine?--Her false doctrines. She has given to the world a

false sabbath instead of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and has repeated the

falsehood that Satan first told Eve in Eden--the natural immortality of the soul. Many

kindred errors she has spread far and wide, "teaching for doctrines the commandments of

men" (Matthew 15:9). 31

The Success to be brought by the Fourth Angel

Success in proclaiming the gospel depends on submission and obedience to the power and

guidance of the Holy Spirit. The SOP said:

Those who have held the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end will be wide-

awake during the time that the third angel's message is proclaimed with great power.

During the loud cry, the church, aided by the providential interpositions of her exalted

Lord, will diffuse the knowledge of salvation so abundantly that light will be

communicated to every city and town. The earth will be filled with the knowledge of

salvation. So abundantly will the renewing Spirit of God have crowned with success the

intensely active agencies, that the light of present truth will be seen flashing

everywhere.32

When publications of the gospel materials being faithfully done and scattered around the

world by the humble servants of the Lord, they will see conversions in many places takes place:

God will soon do great things for us, if we lie humble and believing at His feet. . . .More

than one thousand will soon be converted in one day, most of whom will trace their first

convictions to the reading of our publications.33

The publications distributed by missionary workers have exerted their influence, yet

many whose minds were impressed have been prevented from fully comprehending the

truth or from yielding obedience. Now the rays of light penetrate everywhere, the truth is

seen in its clearness, and the honest children of God sever the bands which have held

them. Family connections, church relations, are powerless to stay them now. Truth is

31

{2SM 118.1} 32

RH, Oct. 13, 1904. (See Ev 694.) 33

Review and Herald, Nov. 10, 1885. {Ev 693.3}

more precious than all besides. Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth,

a large number take their stand upon the Lord's side. 34

Christ’s final call the world will be with the fourth angel’s message:

The end-time call of Christ will then be heard throughout the world as final call to His people

come out of Babylon. The record says, “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come

out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” Revelation

18:4, 5. This call leads to the close of probation. The Close of probation will come after the

latter rain’s effect, the glory of the Lord which will surround the world in comparison with the

darkness of Babylon in this will lead everyone to choose their loyalty. It is God’s leading in His

program on how to accomplish finishing this work of judgment. (See Revelation 18:1-24). There

is no excuse in spurning the message in which God will not be blamed why people will not be

saved. Their choices is their judgment toward God and their judgment toward God will be their

reward—their judgment to themselves that God will pronounce to them as the final verdict

(Matthew 7:1, 2). Revelation 18 points to the time when the initial judgment will be given as the

result of rejecting the threefold warning and in Revelation 19:2 declares the righteous judgment

that will fall on Babylon. It says, “For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged

the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of

his servants at her hand.” Babylon influences the world to war against God as in Jeremiah 51:7-9

says, “Babylon [hath been] a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken:

the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. Babylon is suddenly fallen

and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. We would have

healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country:

for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up [even] to the skies”

The SOP explains the conditions that will take place in the fallen church when they will

reject the final warning message.

Revelation 18 points to the time when, as the result of rejecting the threefold warning of

Revelation 14:6-12, the church will have fully reached the condition foretold by the

second angel, and the people of God still in Babylon will be called upon to separate from

her communion. This message is the last that will ever be given to the world; and it will

accomplish its work. When those that "believed not the truth, but had pleasure in

unrighteousness" (2 Thessalonians 2:12), shall be left to receive strong delusion and to

believe a lie, then the light of truth will shine upon all whose hearts are open to receive it,

and all the children of the Lord that remain in Babylon will heed the call: "Come out of

her, My people" (Revelation 18:4).35

The second angel’s message will be repeated for the final warning and the final call of God’s

people to come out from the fallen church, from Babylon:

34

{Mar 20.4} 35

{GC 390.2}

When Jesus began his public ministry, he cleansed the temple from its sacrilegious

profanation. Among the last acts of his ministry was the second cleansing of the temple.

So in the last work for the warning of the world, two distinct calls are made to the

churches. The second angel's message is, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city,

because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." And in

the loud cry of the third angel's message a voice is heard from heaven saying, "Come out

of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her

plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her

iniquities."36

The Fourth Angel: Final Call for Righteousness

The righteousness of God will be demonstrated fully by words and action through the fourth

angel and will lay bare, showing forth the contrast with the hypocrisy, with the wickedness of the

world and their sins. His righteousness will be fully declared and those who accept and surrender

to the message will acquit God from their accusations and blame and will confess that they are

the ones who are the sinners and is worthy to be condemned but by God’s mercy they will be

forgiven and be converted and will bear the glory of heaven. In these events God’s law, His

character will be magnified in the lives of His people and it will lighten the earth:

The whole earth is to be lightened with the glory of God's truth. The Lord will not close

up the period of probation until the warning message shall be more distinctly proclaimed.

The trumpet must give a certain sound. The law of God is to be magnified, its claims

must be presented in their true, sacred character; that the people may be brought to decide

for or against the truth. Yet the work will be cut short in righteousness. The message of

Christ's righteousness is to sound from one end of the world to the other. This is the glory

of God which closes the work of the third angel.37

The revelation of the Righteousness of Christ will be the time of testing

The test of loyalty of the whole earth is coming. The world has to make decision for eternity.

The church of God has to be tested; everyone will be tested by the revelation of God’s

righteousness. In fact the revelation of Christ’s righteousness is here already:

The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in

the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the

beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth.38

36

{RH, December 6, 1892 par. 16} 37

{GCDB, January 28, 1893 par. 27} 38

{7BC 984.6} (RH Nov. 22, 1892)

The test message be proclaimed—the Sabbath

In the revelation of Christ’s righteousness, the symbol, the sign of His righteousness which is

the Sabbath must be proclaimed. That by the work of creation and redemption through Christ

God reveals His righteousness in Christ. This is the message that we have to give with definite

voice. The SOP says: "We are in danger of giving this message in so indefinite a manner that it

does not impress the people."39

The message should be sharpened and focused to prepare God’s

people for the test of faith:

"So many other interests are brought in that the very message which should be

proclaimed with power becomes tame and voiceless. At our camp-meetings a mistake has

been made. The Sabbath question has been touched upon, but has not been presented as

the great question, the test for this time. 40

The enemies of God will give their definite aim in enforcing their false Sabbath to get rid of

God’s people. In this situation God’s people should face the giant as David did. Lies will not

stand against the truth. The enemies of God works based on deceptions but the fourth angel’s

message will reveal their works:

While Satan Works the Angel of Revelation 18 Proclaims His Message.--This false

sabbath is to be enforced by an oppressive law. Satan and his angels are wide awake and

intensely active, working with energy and perseverance through human instrumentalities

to bring about his purpose of obliterating the knowledge of God. While Satan is working

with his lying wonders, the time has come [that was] foretold in the Revelation, when the

mighty angel that shall lighten the earth with his glory will proclaim the fall of Babylon

and call upon God's people to forsake her… 41

The Final Reaping After the Three Angels’ Messages Proclaimed

In Revelation 14:13-20, the reaping comes after the three angels’ messages. An angel with a loud

voice commanded the one that sits on the cloud, “Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is

come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in

his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.” This is the reaping of the good ones and

another angel that has the sickle was commanded to harvest the vines of the earth. The gathering

of those who are strayed will be brought back to the church by God’s people will do a saving

effort to save the lost:

Many Backsliders Will Return.--When the storm of persecution really breaks upon us, the

true sheep will hear the true Shepherd's voice. Self-denying efforts will be put forth to

save the lost, and many who have strayed from the fold will come back to follow the

great Shepherd. The people of God will draw together, and present to the enemy a united

front. . . . The love of Christ, the love of our brethren, will testify to the world that we

39

{GCB, January 1, 1900 par. 3} 40

{GCB, January 1, 1900 par. 4} 41

{3SM 406.3}

have been with Jesus and learned of Him. Then will the message of the third angel swell

to a loud cry, and the whole earth will be lightened with the glory of the Lord.42

It is by the daily consecration to the Lord that leads the soul to ripening in perfection of

righteousness:

Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work... Each

morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender all your plans to Him, to be

carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be

giving your life into the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more

after the life of Christ.43

The only way we can be ready for the ripening of the Christian character is our daily

consecration to God:

Day by day the sanctifying influence of the Spirit of God almost imperceptibly leads

those who love the ways of truth toward the perfection of righteousness, till finally the

soul is ripe for the harvest, the life-work is ended, God gathers in his grain. There is no

period in the Christian life when there is no more to learn, no higher attainments to reach.

Sanctification is the work of a life-time. First the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in

the ear, then the ripening and the harvest; for when the fruit is perfect, it is ready for the

sickle.44

REFLECTION-APPLICATION

Let the SOP sum up on how we will participate with these great prophetic movements that

will finish the mystery of God:

Let every one who claims to believe that the Lord is soon coming, search the Scriptures

as never before; for Satan is determined to try every device possible to keep souls in

darkness, and blind the mind to the perils of the times in which we are living. Let every

believer take up his Bible with earnest prayer, that he may be enlightened by the Holy

Spirit as to what is truth, that he may know more of God and of Jesus Christ whom He

has sent. Search for the truth as for hidden treasures, and disappoint the enemy. The time

of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the

revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the

beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth. For it is the

work of every one to whom the message of warning has come, to lift up Jesus, to present

Him to the world as revealed in types, as shadowed in symbols, as manifested in the

revelations of the prophets, as unveiled in the lessons given to His disciples and in the

42

{Ev 693.2} Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 401. (1900) 43

{SC 70.1} 44

{2SP 244.1}

wonderful miracles wrought for the sons of men. Search the Scriptures; for they are they

that testify of Him.45

45

{1SM 362.4}