God is making us crisis-proof for the apocalypse. By Basil Pedrin

Reading time: 20 minutes

The prime seal of heart transformation

1. "In him are you also, after hearing the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation— in him you also, when you believed, were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of our possessions, to the praise of his glory.« (Ephesians 1,13:14-XNUMX)
2. »For as many promises of God as there are, in him is the yes, and in him also the amen, praise God through us! But God, who established us with you in Christ and anointed us, he also sealed us and put the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts." (1 Corinthians 1,20:22-XNUMX)
3. »But the firm foundation of God remains and bears this seal: The LORD knows his own! and: Everyone who names the name of Christ, turn away from iniquity!« (2 Timothy 2,19:XNUMX)

More knowledge - sealed in the growing light

1. »And I pray that your love will abound more and more in knowledge and all discernmentso that you may examine what matters, so that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are wrought through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1,9:11- XNUMX)
2. “Who also told us about your love in spirit. Therefore, from the day we heard it, we continue to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the LORD and be pleasing to him in everything, fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of Godstrengthened with all power, according to the power of his glory, in all patience and long-suffering, with joy.” (Colossians 1,8:11-XNUMX)

More light in the last few days - strengthened for the last crisis

1. “But you, Daniel, close these words and seal the book until the time of the end! Many will study it, and knowledge will increase." (Daniel 12,4:XNUMX)
2. "When the book was opened, the cry went out, 'There will be no more time' (Revelation 10,6:XNUMX). The book of Daniel is now unsealed, and the revelation of Jesus to John should now reach all the inhabitants of the earth. This increase in knowledge prepares a people to endure in the last days.” (Selected messages 2, 105; see. Written for the community 2, 104)
3. »The end of all things is near. God is working on every heart to open it to receive the work of His Holy Spirit. He sends our messengers to warn every place. God tests the devotion of his churches. Are you willing to follow the Spirit's lead? Knowledge will increase. The messengers of heaven will be seen rushing about trying to do everything possible to warn the people of the coming judgments and to bring the good news of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is important to raise the standard of justice.« (My LifeToday, 63)
4. »Whoever is called by God to work in word and teaching should always be a learner. He is always looking to improve. In this way he can be an example to God's flock and do good to all with whom he comes in contact. Those who think that progress and formation are unimportant will not grow in grace or in the knowledge of Jesus."(Testimonials 5, 573; see. testimonials 5, 602)
5. "He spoke: Go Daniel! For these words are to remain closed and sealed until the time of the end. Many are to be sifted, cleansed, and refined; and the ungodly will remain ungodly, and no ungodly will understand; but the wise will understand." (Daniel 12,9:10-XNUMX)

God gathers his remnant in the last days

1. »And it will come to pass on that day that the LORD will stretch out his hand a second time to the remnant of his peoplewho is left to redeem from Assyria and from Egypt, from Patros and Cush and Elam and Shinar, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. And he will set up a banner for the Gentiles, and gather together the exiles of Israel, and gather together the scattered Judah from the four corners of the earth.« (Isaiah 11,11:12-XNUMX)
2. And the jealousy of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim will envy Judah no more, and Judah will oppress Ephraim no more; but they will fly on the shoulders of the Philistines west and together plunder the sons of the east. Their hand reaches out to Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites obey them. The LORD will also part the Egyptian sea, and with the fierceness of his breath he will wave his hand over the river and smash it into seven streams, so that people can walk through with shoes. And there will be a road for the remnant of his peoplewho is left from Assyria, as there was for Israel on the day they came up out of the land of Egypt." (Isaiah 11,13:16-XNUMX)
3. »On September 23 (1850) The LORD showed me that he stretched out his hand the second time to ransom the remnant of his people and that efforts must be redoubled in this collection period. In the dispersion [diaspora; after the great disappointment of October 22, 1844] Israel was torn and smitten, but now in the gathering time [after the foundation of the 3rd angel's message was firmly established in late 1848] God will heal and bind up his people (Hosea 6,1:XNUMX). In the dispersion, efforts to spread the truth met with little or no success; but in the gathering, when God has stretched out his hand to gather his people, the effort to spread the truth will have the desired effect. Everyone should go to work together and full of zeal. I saw that it was wrong to use dispersion as a model for us in the gathering, for unless God does more for us today than he did then, Israel will never be gathered." (Early Writings, 74)

The message for these last days

1. The three angels' messages. (Revelation 14,6:12-18,1; 4:XNUMX-XNUMX)
2. »For the grace of God has appeared, which brings salvation for all people; she disciplines us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly and righteously and godly in this age, looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for their own possession, zealous to do good works. You are to teach this and admonish and correct with all emphasis. Let no one despise you.« (Titus 2,11:15-XNUMX)
3. »God's work on this earth is very important to him. Jesus and the heavenly angels watch every movement. As we draw closer to Jesus' return, we will become more committed to missionary work. The message of the renewing power of God's grace will go around the world. The sealed shall come from every nation, tribe, tongue, and people." (Review and Herald, February 6, 1908)
4. »Because the law is immutable, because man can only be saved by fulfilling its regulations, Jesus was taken up on the cross. Yet the very means by which Jesus established the law depicts Satan as abolishing the law. Herein will be the final conflict in the great controversy between Jesus and Satan. Satan claims today that the law, which God proclaimed with his own voice, was defective and that a statement was deleted from it. This is the last great deception he will plunge the world into."(Desire of Ages, 762-763; see. life of Jesus, 764-765)
5. »The law demands righteousness: a righteous life, a perfect character. But man does not have that to offer. He cannot fulfill the requirements of God's holy law. Then Jesus came to earth as a man, lived a holy life and developed a perfect character. He offers all this as a free gift to all who accept him. His life stands for the life of the people. In this way their past sins are forgiven them. God has forgiven them. Even more: Jesus imbues people with God's attributes. He weaves the human character in the image of the divine, a divine stuff of spiritual strength and beauty. Thus the righteousness of the law is fulfilled through Jesus in the believer. God can 'be righteous himself and at the same time justify him who is of faith in Jesus.' (Romans 3,26:XNUMX)" (Desire of Ages, 762; see. life of Jesus, 764)
6. »The war against God's law has begun in heaven and will continue until the end of time. Every human being will be tested. The whole world will decide whether to follow it or not. Everyone will decide between God's law and the laws of men. This is where the dividing line is drawn. There will only be two classes. Each character will be fully developed and all will show whether they have chosen loyalty or rebellion."(Desire of Ages, 763; see. life of Jesus, 765)
7. »Mankind needs a moral renewal, a character preparation, if it wants to stand in God's presence. People are on the edge of the abyss because of misconceptions that are designed specifically to fight the gospel message. Who wants to consecrate themselves completely and become a co-worker with God? (Testimonials 6, 21; see. testimonials 6, 30)
8. “Praying men of faith will feel compelled to go out with holy zeal and speak the words that God is stirring in them. The sins of Babylon are laid bare: the terrible consequences of church laws enforced by state authority; the incursion of Spiritism; the secret but rapid advance of papal power—all will be exposed. These dire warnings will worry people. Thousands and thousands will be listening who have never heard anything like this before. They are amazed to hear that Babylon is the church that fell because of their errors and their rejection of the truth sent to them from heaven.« (great controversy, 606; see. big fight, 607)

Identifying features of the end-time seal bearers

1. »Behold, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; and suddenly the Lord whom you seek shall come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith the LORD of hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming, and who will stand when he appears? For he is like the fire of the silver smelter and like the lye of the washers. He will sit and melt and purify the silver; he will cleanse the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver; then they will bring offerings to the LORD in righteousness.« (Malachi 3,1:3-XNUMX)
2. »Until we all come to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to perfect maturity, to the measure of the full greatness of Christ; so that we are no longer babes tossed about and driven about by every wind of doctrine by the deceitful play of men, by the cunning with which they lead to error, but, truly in love, growing in every way towards him who is the head, the Christ." (Ephesians 4,13:15-XNUMX)
3. »The great, mighty work is to be accomplished, to bring forth a people who have the character of Jesus and can stand on the day of the Lord."(Testimonials 6, 129; see. testimonials 6, 134)
4. “I also saw that many do not realize what it takes to live through the time of trouble before the Lord and without a high priest in the sanctuary. Only those who fully reflect Jesus' image will receive the seal of the living God and be protected in the time of trouble."(Early Writings, 71; see. early writings, 61)
5. “The most earnest prayers of this faithful little company will not be in vain. When the LORD goes forth as an avenger, He comes as a protector of all who keep the faith pure and undefiled by the world. At that time, according to God's promise, he will avenge his own elect who cry out to him day and night. He has been patient with them for a long time.« (Testimonials 5, 210; see. testimonials 5, 220)
6. »Once God's people are sealed in their foreheads - not with any visible seal or sign, but by a spiritual establishment in the truth, that they cannot be shaken again - so once God's people are sealed and prepared for the sifting, it will come. Yes, it has already started. God's judgments are already going over the land to warn us of what is yet to come.« (Maranatha, 200)
7. »Just as wax is shaped by the signet ring, so should man be shaped by God's spirit and retain the moral image of Jesus. We may partake of the divine nature and experience the power and perfection of spiritual life for ourselves.« (Review and Herald, November 1, 1892)
8. “What is the use of our works if we merely speak of the blessings of the Holy Ghost and do not prepare ourselves to receive them? Do we strive with all our might to attain the stature of men and women in Christ? Are we looking for its fullness, are we always pushing forward to the goal that has been set for us: perfection of character? When the Lord's people have achieved this goal, they will be sealed in their foreheads. Filled with the Spirit they will be perfected in Jesus. The reporting angel will declare: ›It is finished.‹« (Our High Calling, 150)

True Sabbath Keeping: Mark of God's Followers

1. "Thus says the LORD: Uphold the law and do justice; for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who keeps it: who keeps the Sabbath so as not to profane it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil!« (Isaiah 56,1:2-XNUMX)
2. »And the strangers, who join the LORD to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, and all who take care not to violate the sabbath and keep my covenant." (Isaiah 56,6:XNUMX)
3. »The seal of the living God is given to those who faithfully keep the Sabbath of the Lord."(Review and Herald, July 13, 1897)
4. »Keep my sabbaths and fear my sanctuary; I am the LORD!« (Leviticus 3:26,2)
5. »The Sabbath was given to the world as a sign of God the Creator. It is also the sign of the sanctifying God. The power that created everything is the same power that remakes man into his image. For those who keep the Sabbath day holy, it is a sign of sanctification. True sanctification means being at one with God, one with him in character. One receives sanctification by following those principles that express God's character. The Sabbath is the sign of obedience. Whoever obeys the fourth commandment from the heart also keeps the whole law. He is sanctified by his obedience. The Sabbath has been given to us just as it was to Israel: as an everlasting covenant. For all who honor its holy day, the Sabbath is a sign that God recognizes them as a chosen people. He is the guarantee that he will keep his covenant with us. Every human being who receives the sign of God's government places himself under the divine, eternal covenant. He fastens himself to the golden chain of obedience, the links of which are nothing but promises."(Testimonials 6, 350; see. testimonials 6, 351)

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