FRIDAY MORNING MANNA
Biblical Numerology: NUMBER SEVEN – Part 4
God’s Expanded Number 7 Plan- No. 2
The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth,purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, Thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever. Psalms 12, 6, 7, K.J.V.
One of Almighty God’s first spoken and written warnings to fallen mankind, particularly addressed to those set apart and tasked with the grave responsibility of safeguarding the purity of God’s word that has been “purified seven times,” acting as Holy-Spirit-guided expositors of Christ’s everlasting gospel, magnifying His law as the transcript and standard of His merciful and just character, and teaching the only plan of salvation devised by the Godhead as detailed in the sanctuary message—the spiritual guardians of the people—is also the same last warning to be recorded after earth’s final merciful warnings given in the three and fourth angels’ messages of Revelation 14 and 18, respectively.
It is a divine echo following the Crescendo Principle as it was amplified in all the recorded experiences of God people corresponding to the needs of each generation of the Old and New times and dispensations until the final one—ours—through the fulfillment of all the prophesied events of the history of nations and the church since it was first given to the ancient Israelites and on to the Jewish nation for them to preserve by heeding it and warning the rest of the world through precept and example.
It follows the more specific Crescendo Plan under the overarching Type and Antitype Principle that Jesus and Jesus alone is “the “Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and Last.” (Rev. 21: 6). The repetition of a prophecy is its magnification thereof; the local becomes global; the literal becomes spiritual, etc.
This warning, purified seven times—“not one jot or tittle” less or more—has withstood the test of time and all that Satan and his evil angels in desperate confederacy with wicked men pretending to be righteous, described in the Bible as “ravening wolves in sheep’s clothing” (Matt. 7: 15; 10: 16; Luke 10: 3; Acts 20: 29] have, and continue trying to water down with counterfeit “peace-and-safety” and “ear-pleasing” doctrines (1 Thess. 5: 3; 2 Tim. 4: 3, 4) to cater to the demands of the “willingly ignorant” (2 Pet. 3: 5) and those who “have the form of godliness but deny the power thereof.”(2 Tim. 3: 5).
“All who have an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the (seven) churches” (Rev. 1:11; 2: 3, 11, 14, 29; 3: 6, 13, 22). “Not willing that anyone should perish but that all come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3: 9 ), this warning (and all the rest in the Bible, particularly in Revelation) will constantly be repeated until the Holy Spirit is fully withdrawn from the earth, His work having been finished and earth’s probation ended. (Gen. 6: 3; cf.Rev. 18: 1-5, 21-24; etc]..
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out from the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Rev. 22: 18, 19, 20, 21, K.J.V.
18. I testify. “The speaker is Jesus (see v. 20). His testimony must be accepted.
Every man. “Man’s relation to God and His message is a personal matter. One cannot accept another’s responsibility in such things.
Heareth. “Not a mere reference to the falling of the sound of the sound of thw words of this book upon one’s ear; rather, an allusion to one who hears and studies the import of the messages (see on ch. 1: 3).
Of the prophecy. “John is speaking of additions to the book of the Revelation: though the same would apply to any book of the Sacred Canon.
Add. “Compare Deut. 4: 2; 12: 32. Jesus is authenticating this book of the Revelation. He warns against deliberate changes in the message of the book. Josephus says concerning the 22 books constituting the Hebrew Old Testament: ‘For, although such long ages have now passed, no has ventured either to add, or to remove, , or to alter a syllable’ (Against Apion 1.8 [42]; Loeb ed., pp. 179, 180).
God shall add. “In justice, God can do no other than to give to each his due, in harmony with his work.
19. Take them from. “The one who takes away from the words of the Revelation is equally guilty with the one who adds to the words (see on v. 18).
Take away his part. “The guilty one in this case will suffer three major losses: (1) the loss of immortality, and the consequent suffering of eternal death [not “eternal fire”!]; (2) loss of any part in the corporate life in the city of the new earth; (3) loss of all the blessings and promises of the Revelation. A complete and staggering loss is here presented that nothing in this life can even remotely compensate for.
20. He which testifieth. “That is, Christ. The specific reference is to the testimony in vs. 18, 19.
Surely. “Greek nai, a term of strong affirmation, like the old English ‘verily.’
Quickly. “The Master reaffirms the surety and imminence of His second coming (see chs. 3, 11; 22: 7, 12; see on ch. 1: 1).
Amen. “Compare chs. 1; 7, 7, 18; 3: 14; 5: 14; 7; 12; 19: 4. For the meaning of the term see on Matt. 5: 18. This Amen is probably spoken by the apostle. If so it should be connected with what follows thus: ‘Amen, come, O Lord Jesus.’
Come, Lord Jesus. “Textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 10) for the reading, come, Lord Jesus Christ.’ This exclamation is John’s response to the testimony of Jesus, who assures the apostle that He is coming quickly (cf. on ch. 1: 1). John was probably reminded of that night in the upper room, more than half a century before, when he heard Jesus declare, ‘I will come again’ (John 14: 3), and of that day a few weeks later, on the Mount of Olives, when he had heard the angels say, ‘this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven’ (Acts 1: 11). Now, while in holy vision, John is given one last assurance that his blessed Lord is to return, and that, quickly. This assurance comes from the lips of His Master Himself—the faithful and true witness [Rev. 1: 5; 3: 14; cf. 20:4]. His heart thrills at the words, and with eager anticipation he looks forward today when in reality, not in vision, he will see his blessed Lord fact to face.
21. The grace. “This verse is a benediction, deep from the heart of the apostle, reaching out to all who read the words of his visions. The benediction is similar to that used by Paul in concluding his epistles (see Rom. 16: 24; 1 Cor. 16: 23; 2 Cor. 13: 14; etc.). The words from a fitting climax to the canon of the Scripture, appearing as they do at the end of the collection of sacred books as we know them.
Christ. “Important textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 10) for the omission of this word.
You all. “Textual evidence favors (cf. p. 10) the reading, ‘all the saints.’ Textual evidence may also be cited for the reading ‘the saints.’ The word ‘saints’ occurs frequently throughout the Revelation (see chs. 5: 8; 8: 3, 4; 11: 18; etc.).
Amen. “Textual evidence may be cited (f. p. 10) for the omission of this word.”-
Quoted from Footnotes on Revelation 22: 18-21, An Exhaustive Ellen. G. White Commentary on Revelation, Vol. 2, pp. 1250-1252:
Now, more on the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ—the means by which we are saved:
Apostle Paul wrote, and all should take heed who will not be deceived by the popular false teachings and notions regarding God’s amazing grace! Read it carefully, ridding oneself fully of any preconceived ideas:
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity [sin], and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2: 11-15, K.J.V.
“Without the grace of Christ, the sinner is in a hopeless condition’ nothing can be done for him; but through divine grace [imparted through the Holy Spirit], supernatural power is imparted to the man and works in mind and heart and character. It is through the impartation of the grace of Christ [not Mary!] that sin is discerned in its hateful nature and finally driven from the soul [the whole living person] temple. It is through grace that we are brought into fellowship with Christ, to be associated with Him in the work of salvation. Faith is the condition upon which God has seen fit to promise pardon to sinners; not that there is any virtue in faith whereby salvation is merited, but because faith can lay hold of the merits of Christ, the remedy provided for sin. Faith can present Christ’s perfect obedience instead of the sinner’s transgression and defection. When the sinner believes that Christ is his personal Savior, then according to His unfailing promises, God pardons his sin and justifies him freely. The repentant soul realizes that his justification comes because Christ, as his Substitute and Surety, has died for him, in His atonement and righteousness.” – E. G. White, “Faith & Works,” pp. 100-101.
THE SABBATH—THE “SIGN” BETWEEN GOD AND SPIRITUAL ISRAEL—IS A SPIRITUAL INSTITUTION
“The Third Angel’s Message is a call from the Lord Jesus Christ to His people to show their loyalty to Him by obedience to all of His Commandments. The Sabbath is the ‘sign’ of this obedience. Scriptures teach that when the seventh-day Sabbath is faithfully [not fitfully] observed it is proof that the heart is spiritually united to Christ [‘the Son of man is the Lord of the Sabbath’ [Matt. 12: 8; Mark 2: 27, 28; Luke 6: 5]. ‘Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed. Exo. 31: 13-17; Ezek. 20: 12, 20; Rev. 7: 1-4, etc. In the Scriptures the Sabbath is inseparable from the sanctuary. Lev. 19: 30; 26: 2; Rev. 1: 10, etc. The books of the Bible particularly explaining the sanctuary and its services, invariably mention the Sabbath. In this connection study Hebrews 4 and 10: 25; Rev. 1: 10 and its contexts, etc.
“When God’s last-day Message brought light concerning the ministry of Jesus in the ‘true tabernacle which the Lord pitched,’ it also brought light concerning the importance of the Sabbath in the plan of God. The Third Angel’s Message is based upon the spiritual interpretations of the typical services ofancient Israel. The Lord and His Sabbath were the central features in the New Testament. In the Book of Revelation, a solemn warning is sounded against ‘the mark of the beast’ (Rev. 13: 17, etc.), which is Satan’s counterfeit of ‘the seal of God.’ Rev. 7: 2-4. Both are spiritual Louis F. Were wrote CTAM 72-4:
signs or marks: one the sign of loyalty to God, the other the sign of disloyalty to God.” – Louis F. Were, “Certainty of the Third Angel’s Message,” ch. XI, p. 72.
(Continued next week)