The Seven Angels

347 Pages·2008·8.23 MB·English

The
Seven Angels
F.T. WRIGHT
Seven
The Study of Harvests and First-fruits
by
F. T. WRIGHT
Printed by
309 Chevallum Road
MSI 2071
Palmwoods,
Queensland, 4555
Australia
December, 1985
10,000 copies.
COVER PICTURE:
The cover picture is of grain ready for the reaper on a farm midway
between Toowoomba and Warwick on the Darling Downs in south-east
Queensland, Australia. The crop was gathered very soon after the picture
was taken, and symbolically represents the great harvest to be gathered at
Christ's second coming after all seven angels' movements have com-
pleted their work.
The study of the seven angels is essentially the study of first-fruits and
harvests. The 144,000 are the former and the righteous dead of all ages
are the latter. That which makes the relationship between these two quite
critical is the strict and inviolable law that there can be no gathering of the
harvest until the first-fruits have fulfilled their appointed role. Therefore,
Jesus cannot return in the clouds of heaven until the 144,000, during the
ministry of the fifth, sixth, and seventh angels' movements, have faithfully
and completely carried out their commissions.
Therefore, those among today's living who would successfully occupy
a place among the 144,000 during the final conflict, must be thoroughly
conversant with the subject of first-fruits and harvests, and the relation-
ship each bears to the other.
Contents
Introduction 1
1. A New & Distinct Utterance 3
2. A Tragic Mistake Repeated 12
3. Seven Angels—Seven Movements 21
4. The First Angel 33
5. The Gospel, Genesis, and the First Angel 49
6. The Second Angel 66
7. The Second Angel Follows the First 84
8. The Third Angel 93
9. A Great & Thorough Work 105
10. An Unnecessary Crisis 117
11. The Fourth Angel 139
12. Rejected, But Why? 152
13. The Fourth Angel Returns 167
14. Harvests and First-fruits 182
15. The Role of the First-fruits 192
16. Satan Unmasked 203
17. The Eyes of Man Opened 214
18. The Great River Euphrates 226
19. The Light Shines Through 239
20. Their Plea 252
21. Christ Demonstrates the Way 265
22. The Sixth Angel 277
23. The Wine of Divine Wrath 286
24. The Vine of the Earth 296
25. The Seventh Angel 307
Appendix 325
Scripture Index 337
Spirit of Prophecy Index 339
Bibliography 341
Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture references in this book
are taken from the New King James Version, which is also known as the
Revised Authorised Version.
Introduction
So great has been the ignorance obscuring the glorious truths
revealed in the ministry of the last three angels of Revelation 14, and so
thrilling the discovery of those truths that there was a tendency to write
only of them.
This would have produced an imbalanced presentation of the subject,
an unfortunate outcome to be avoided at any cost. Revelation 14 is a
chapter that is to be understood in all its bearings. No section can be
ignored without limiting the understanding of all the rest. Therefore,
consideration had to be given to the character and work of the 144,000,
and to each of the seven angels in turn. The work had to begin with the
ministry of the first angel who commenced his labors in 1831, and end
with the seventh angel who will serve at the very end of Jacob's trouble.
At the same time, it was realized that a great deal has already been
presented on the first three angels in particular. These heavenly
messengers, the truths they were sent to reveal, and the movements they
represent, received close and searching attention in the formative years of
the great Second Advent Movement. Adventists felt that they were well
informed on this subject, although they had a great deal more to learn.
It would be pointless to detail all over again the light already revealed
regarding the first three angels. Instead, the effort has been devoted to
presenting spiritual aspects of their ministry which have not been seen as
they should have been. To make an exhaustive study of the seven angels
would require the assignment of a large volume to each one of them,
whereas we desire to touch the main points in this single volume.
Therefore, this book is not to be regarded as the final word on this
theme, but rather the doorway to a fruitful field of further investigation
into the truth.
2 THE SEVEN ANGELS
It was at Minneapolis in 1888 that the fourth angel appeared for the
first time. The human instruments were Elders Waggoner and Jones.
Again, any attempt to exhaustively cover the history of the mighty
struggle that took place at Minneapolis and afterwards, and of the
glorious truths this angel came to reveal, would require space that is not
available in this book and would but repeat information that is already
available from other writers.
Needless to say, the ministry of this angel brought the work of the
first three into sharp focus and powerful effectiveness, and it is most
unfortunate that he was not heartily received by the Advent people of the
time. Tragically, he was rejected and forced to return to his place to await
the happier day when he would be made welcome, an event which took
place in the 1950's.
But, while this mighty angel does achieve the completion of world
evangelism, his ministry does not bring God's work to its final conclusion.
This must wait till the fifth, sixth, and seventh angels have come in their
turn and have each fulfilled their divinely appointed commissions. Then
and not before, the end will come and the Saviour will appear in the
clouds of heaven to take the faithful home.
Those who are not aware of the ministry of all seven angels, will
make a wrong preparation for the final work and will consequently be
unable to participate in that work. This is tragic enough, but is made
more so when it is realized that this also means the loss of eternal life. We
therefore recommend a thorough study of the ministry of all seven
angels.
Chapter 1
A New and
Distinct Utterance
On October 13, 1904, a paragraph appeared in The Review and
Herald, the startling significance of which seems to have been entirely
missed by the readers of the time. The statement reads:
"The fourteenth chapter of Revelation is a chapter of the deepest
interest. This scripture will soon be understood in all its bearings, and the
messages given to John the revelator will be repeated with distinct
utterance." The SDA Bible Commentary 7:978.
The inescapable inference contained in these words is that the
messages of Revelation 14 were not truly understood in 1904, and that
the understanding of them in all their bearings was still future.
What makes this statement still more significant is that it was written
to a people who had been preaching the three angels' messages for the
previous sixty years. In fact, it was only nine days short of exactly sixty
years from the great disappointment of October 22, 1844, that these
words appeared in print. During that time, the Adventists had rehearsed
their knowledge of these vital truths in the ears of uncounted thousands,
and had successfully defended their position against the onslaughts of
their many critics and enemies. After all that, they were very confident
that they knew all there was to know about this scripture. It seems they
were so sure of themselves that they did not even notice the statement in
The Review and Herald. It was too contrary to their convictions to be
believable.
The promise made by God through His messenger in 1904, was that
the understanding would come "soon", but this was, as ever, dependent
on the Advent believers' fulfilling the conditions by which alone light
could come to them. The depths of understanding which were to have
come soon, have been delayed by the church's continued unbelief. Any
examination of Adventist presentations on Revelation 14 since 1904, will
4 THE SEVEN ANGELS
show that no insights of any greater depth, breadth, and height appeared
in advance of what was preached prior to that time.
The reason for this is that the Lord cannot give additional light until
that which has already been sent is accepted and translated into personal
experience. The light which has for so long been awaiting acceptance by
the Advent people is the message which the Lord sent through His
personally-appointed messengers between 1888 and 1893. It was then
that "the Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His
people through Elders Waggoner and Jones". Testimonies to Ministers,
91.
This message was described as being "the third angel's message,
which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the
outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure", ibid., 92.
In even stronger terms, it was called "the third angel's message in
verity". The Review and Herald, April 1, 1890.
Any additional light on the third angel's message is an extended
understanding of Revelation 14, the chapter in which these messages are
presented. Therefore, those not prepared to accept the light sent through
Waggoner and Jones cannot possibly experience the promise made in
the 1904 statement. On the other hand, it must be confidently expected
that those who have received the truths already given will come to
understand Revelation 14 in all its bearings.
The time has now come for this promise to be fulfilled, for there is an
increasing number of believers around the world who have, in fact,
accepted the teachings communicated by God in the third message in
verity through His servants. These, having fulfilled the conditions, are
assured of the divine blessings. When those in this class of dedicated
receivers have read this book through, they will be convinced that the
promise has in fact begun to be fulfilled.
In studying the promise contained in the 1904 statement, care must
be exercised to ensure that one does not misread it. In response to the
question: "According to this statement, what Scripture—quoting chapter
and verses—is soon to be understood in all its bearings?" almost
invariably the answer will be given: "Revelation 14:6-12."
But this is not what the statement says. It stipulated that "the
fourteenth chapter of Revelation is a chapter of the deepest interest. This
scripture will soon be understood in all its bearings. ..."
The field of study indicated here must not be limited to seven verses.
It must encompass the entire chapter. A careful reading of the extract
admits no other conclusion. Yet, when the compilers of the SDA Bible
Commentary assembled the Spirit of Prophecy quotes against the
relevant verses, they located this reference against verses 6-12, instead of
putting it where it belonged as a comment on the entire chapter.
Why is this?
A NEW & DISTINCT UTTERANCE 5
It is because previous understandings of Revelation 14 have been so
limited that the full relationship among all the parts has not been
discerned. The attention has been so focused on those seven verses that
all else has been regarded as being extraneous and unimportant. To the
Adventist mind, Revelation 14:6-12 has been Revelation 14. Admittedly,
some attention has been paid to the first five verses which deal with the
144,000, but the last section, verses 13-20, has been so totally ignored
that I have been unable to find a single Adventist who remembers ever
hearing a study on this portion of the chapter.
The facts are that there is a very intimate relationship between all
parts of this chapter; so much so that one cannot understand the
messages of Revelation 14 unless it is seen "in all its bearings". Only as
each section sheds its light on every other part does the full glory of truth
begin to shine through. The dedicated Bible student who comes to this
study after having accepted and experienced the light already given on
the third angel's message, will be inspired with large understandings of
heaven-sent light.
In this publication no attempt will be made to exhaust the light
contained in Revelation 14, for that would require many volumes. Our
purpose is to explore one particular line of thought—the fact that not
three but seven angels and the movements they represent, are required
to finish the work and prepare the way for the Lord's second coming.
This constitutes a truly thrilling, inspiring, solemnizing, and very clear
exposition of what God's people must become and do before Satan and
his followers can be brought to their knees, and the way be prepared for
the Lord's glorious return. It will also correct some dangerous errors. It is
right to say that this light must be understood and accepted before the
work can be finished.
The information the Lord has provided in Revelation 14, is essential
for all those who will successfully play their divinely-designated part in the
last great battle. Without this knowledge, they will be moving in wrong
directions, making inadequate and incorrect preparations, and will be
found in the wrong position when it is too late to correct their errors. One
cannot overemphasize the need to properly understand the seven angels'
messages and movements.
This vital chapter, Revelation 14, has three natural divisions. The first
five verses deal with the character and work of the 144,000. The next
seven verses, the chapter's most familiar part, introduce the first three
angels, while the last eight verses reveal the work of the final three of the
seven, the fourth one being found in Revelation 18:1-4.
Let the study then begin by certifying that there are in fact seven
angels involved. This should be expected, for Revelation is a book of
sevens, there being seven churches, seals, trumpets, and plagues.
The first angel is referred to in Revelation 14:6, 7.