It is therefore difficult to understand how those who claim to be “New Testament Christians” say that there is no judgment in open contradiction to this passage, among others, that so clearly warn of God’s righteous judgments and its nature.
We read in Matthew 17: 1-7 and Mark 9:2-8 that after six days (the number of man), Jesus was transfigured. He first takes with Him to the mount three witnesses—Peter, James and John. These three disciples, in turn, also witness two other living witnesses who represent the two classes of people who will enter heaven: Moses, “the meekest of all men” (Num. 12: 3, 7) who first tasted the first death because of one sin (Num. 20:10, 11; Deut. 32: 48-52; 34: 1-50, but was resurrected, and Elijah, who was translated to heaven without tasting death. Both Enoch, the seventh patriarch from Adam and Elijah represent the 144,000–who will be formed when the last of all tests upon mankind will be given in the enforcement of the mark of the beast before probation closes, and will be similarly translated.
The Two Witnesses of the Holy Scriptures
In Revelation 11: 2-12 Jesus revealed to John at Patmos His “two witnesses”—the Old and the New Testaments which were also shown in vision to the prophet Zechariah as the two olive trees and the two candlesticks. The Old Testament, comprised of “the law and the prophets,” Jesus referred to as “the Scriptures that testify of Me.” John 5:39. These two witnesses did “prophesy clothed in sackcloth” for 1,260 years (42 prophetic months) as it suffered together with the persecuted “remnant of her seed, the Waldenses, Albigenses, and Huguenots who carried the light of truth through the Middle Ages, or more accurately, the Dark Ages under papal persecution, 538-1798 A.D.
It must be quickly added at this point that there is a “third witness,” and that is, the inspired writings of E. G. White whom I am fully convinced after many years of investigation has truly the “spirit of prophecy which is the testimony of Jesus” particularly for and to the law-keeping remnant church of prophecy. Her voluminous messages and writings are for the world as well. They are “the lesser light” that leads to “the greater light”—the Old and New Testaments. They never duplicate, replace, or add to the Holy Scriptures but magnify the meaning and explain passages where many have lost the ability or desire to understand the spiritual applications and principles of the Bible. Here is what she herself says:
“Rev. 19:10 quoted. Above all other books, the Word of God must be our study, the great textbook, the basis of all education. The Testimonies are not to belittle the Word of God, but to exalt it and attract minds to it, that the beautiful simplicity of the truth may impress all. I took the precious Bible and surrounded it with the several Testimonies for the Church. . . . Here, said I, the cases of nearly all are met. The sins they are to shun are pointed out. The counsel that they desire can be found here, given for other cases situated similarly to themselves. . . . The written Testimonies are not to give new light, but to impress vividly upon the heart the truth of inspiration already given. . . . Additional truth is not brought out; but God has through the Testimonies simplify the great truths already given and in His chosen way brought them before the people to awaken and impress the mind with them, that all may be left without excuse. If we disregard them [the warnings in the Testimonies], what excuse can we offer?” – The Faith I Live By, p. 295.
God promised to give “visions” in the last days (Joel 2: 28) for “without vision the people perish” (Prov. 29:18). But this particular spiritual gift is sacred and entrusted only to appointed agencies whose lives and works testify to this sacred calling. Countless are … (click “Next Post” to continue)