The making of 144,000 prophets

“Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him....” (Rev. 14:7).

“... the Lord ... scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.” (Heb. 12:6).

“Who does God think He is?” “Who does He think we are?” “Who do You think You are?”, I can hear the people say when they read Hebrews 12:6. The above Bible text would be a real turn off if it were taken out of context. There is a real offense that comes with the words from God. But, 1) who are we to speak against God? And 2) can’t we trust Him since He spared not His own Son and spared not Himself through His Son in worse ordeals than He puts us through? “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.” (Heb. 5:8). Father and Son suffered together. Here’s the context:

“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: 

For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. 

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not? 

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. 

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” (Heb. 12:5-13).

In context, scourging is not so threatening. It meant fatherly, loving, and wise guidance, correction, and reproof.

Speaking of contexts, listen to a nine year old whom the Lord scourged “for [her] good^H2896 [H2896 ‘good in the widest sense’ ‘sweet’ ‘welfare’ ‘loving’ ‘kindness’, etc.]” (Jer. 24:5), “...for [her] profit” (Heb. 12:10). She learned years later that it was , as she put it, “for my good, to turn my heart away from the world and its unsatisfying pleasures, and incline it toward the enduring attractions of heaven.”

“In March, 1840, William Miller visited Portland, Maine, and gave his first course of lectures on the second coming of Christ. These lectures produced a great sensation, a

by Mr. Miller, was crowded day and night. No wild excitement attended these meetings, but a deep solemnity pervaded the minds of those who heard his discourses. Not only was there manifested a great interest in the city, but the country people flocked in day after day, bringing their lunch baskets, and remaining from morning until the close of the evening meeting.

In company with my friends I attended these meetings and listened to the startling announcement that Christ was coming in 1843, only a few short years in the future. Mr. Miller traced down the prophecies with an exactness that struck conviction to the hearts of his hearers. He dwelt upon the prophetic periods, and brought many proofs to strengthen his position. Then his solemn and powerful appeals and admonitions to those who were unprepared, held the crowds as if spellbound.

Special meetings were appointed where sinners might have an opportunity to seek their Saviour and prepare for the fearful events soon to take place. Terror and conviction spread through the entire city. Prayer meetings were established, and there was a general awakening among the various denominations, for they all felt more or less the influence that proceeded from the teaching of the near coming of Christ.

When sinners were invited forward to the anxious seat, hundreds responded to the call, and I, among the rest, pressed through the crowd and took my place with the seekers. But there was in my heart a feeling that I could never become worthy to be called a child of God. A lack of confidence in myself, and a conviction that it would be impossible to make anyone understand my feelings, prevented me from seeking advice and aid from my Christian friends. Thus I wandered needlessly in darkness and despair, while they, not penetrating my reserve, were entirely ignorant of my true state.

One evening my brother Robert and myself were returning home from a meeting where we had listened to a most impressive discourse on the approaching reign of Christ upon the earth, followed by an earnest and solemn appeal to Christians and sinners, urging them to prepare for the judgment and the coming of the Lord. My soul had been stirred within me by what I had heard. And so deep was the sense of conviction in my heart, that I feared the Lord would not spare me to reach home.

These words kept ringing in my ears: ‘The great day of the Lord is at hand! Who shall be able to stand when He appeareth!’ The language of my heart was: ‘Spare me, O Lord, through the night! Take me not away in my sins, pity me, save me!’ For the first time I tried to explain my feelings to my brother Robert, who was two years older than myself; I told him that I dared not rest nor sleep until I knew that God had pardoned my sins.

My brother made no immediate reply, but the cause of his silence was soon apparent to me; he was weeping in sympathy with my distress. This encouraged me to confide in him still more, to tell him that I had coveted death in the days when life seemed so heavy a burden for me to bear; but now the thought that I might die in my present sinful state and be eternally lost, filled me with terror. I asked him if he thought God would spare my life through that one night, if I spent it agonizing in prayer to Him. He answered: ‘I think He will if you ask Him with faith, and I will pray for you and for myself. Ellen, we must never forget the words we have heard this night.’

Arriving at home, I spent most of the long hours of darkness in prayer and tears. One reason that led me to conceal my feelings from my friends was the dread of hearing a word of discouragement. My hope was so small, and my faith so weak, that I feared if another took a similar view of my condition, it would plunge me into despair. Yet I longed for someone to tell me what I should do to be saved, what steps to take to meet my Saviour and give myself entirely up to the Lord. I regarded it a great thing to be a Christian, and felt that it required some peculiar effort on my part.

My mind remained in this condition for months. I had usually attended the Methodist meetings with my parents; but since becoming interested in the soon appearing of Christ, I had attended the meetings on Casco Street. The following summer my parents went to the Methodist camp meeting at Buxton, Maine, taking me with them. I was fully resolved to seek the Lord in earnest there, and obtain, if possible, the pardon of my sins. There was a great longing in my heart for the Christian’s hope and the peace that comes of believing.

I was much encouraged while listening to a discourse from the words, I will ‘go in unto the king,’ ‘and if I perish, I perish.’ In his remarks the speaker referred to those who were wavering between hope and fear, longing to be saved from their sins and receive the pardoning love of Christ, yet held in doubt and bondage by timidity and fear of failure. He counseled such ones to surrender themselves to God, and venture upon His mercy without delay. They would find a gracious Saviour ready to present to them the scepter of mercy, even as Ahasuerus offered to Esther the signal of his favor. All that was required of the sinner, trembling in the presence of his Lord, was to put forth the hand of faith and touch the scepter of His grace. That touch ensured pardon and peace.

Those who were waiting to make themselves more worthy of divine favor before they venture to claim the promises of God, were making a fatal mistake. Jesus alone cleanses from sin; He only can forgive our transgressions. He has pledged Himself to listen to the petition and grant the prayer of those who come to Him in faith. Many had a vague idea that they must make some wonderful effort in order to gain the favor of God. But all self-dependence is vain. It is only by connecting with Jesus through faith that the sinner becomes a hopeful, believing child of God. These words comforted me and gave me a view of what I must do to be saved.

I now began to see my way more clearly, and the darkness began to pass away. I earnestly sought the pardon of my sins, and strove to give myself entirely to the Lord. But my mind was often in great distress because I did not experience the spiritual ecstasy that I considered would be the evidence of my acceptance with God, and I dared not believe myself converted without it. How much I needed instruction concerning the simplicity of it!

While bowed at the altar with others who were seeking the Lord, all the language of my heart was: ‘Help, Jesus, save me or I perish! I will never cease to entreat till my prayer is heard and my sins forgiven!’ I felt my needy, helpless condition as never before. As I knelt and prayed, suddenly my burden left me, and my heart was light. At first a feeling of alarm came over me, and I tried to resume my load of distress. It seemed to me that I had no right to feel joyous and happy. But Jesus seemed very near to me; I felt able to come to Him with all my griefs, misfortunes, and trials, even as the needy ones came to Him for relief when He was upon earth. There was a surety in my heart that He understood my peculiar trials and sympathized with me. I can never forget this precious assurance of the pitying tenderness of Jesus toward one so unworthy of His notice. I learned more of the divine character of Christ in that short period when bowed among the praying ones than ever before.

One of the mothers in Israel came to me and said: ‘Dear child, have you found Jesus?’ I was about to answer, ‘Yes,’ when she exclaimed: ‘Indeed you have, His peace is with you, I see it in your face!’ Again and again I said to myself: ‘Can this be religion? Am I not mistaken?’ It seemed too much for me to claim, too exalted a privilege. Though too timid to openly confess it, I felt that the Saviour had blessed me and pardoned my sins.

Soon after this the meeting closed, and we started for home. My mind was full of the sermons, exhortations, and prayers we had heard. Everything in nature seemed changed. During the meeting, clouds and rain prevailed a greater part of the time, and my feelings had been in harmony with the weather. Now the sun shone bright and clear, and flooded the earth with light and warmth. The trees and grass were a fresher green, the sky a deeper blue. The earth seemed to smile under the peace of God. So the rays of the Sun of Righteousness had penetrated the clouds and darkness of my mind, and dispelled its gloom.

It seemed to me that everyone must be at peace with God and animated by His Spirit. Everything that my eyes rested upon seemed to have undergone a change. The trees were more beautiful and the birds sang more sweetly than ever before; they seemed to be praising the Creator in their songs. I did not care to talk, for fear this happiness might pass away, and I should lose the precious evidence of Jesus’ love for me.

As we neared our home in Portland, we passed men at work upon the street. They were conversing with one another upon ordinary topics, but my ears were deaf to everything but the praise of God, and their words came to me as grateful thanks and glad hosannas. Turning to my mother, I said: ‘Why, these men are all praising God, and they haven’t been to the camp meeting.’ I did not then understand why the tears gathered in my mother’s eyes, and a tender smile lit up her face, as she listened to my simple words that recalled a similar experience of her own.…” Testimonies for the church, vol. 1, p. 14-18.

Young Ellen let the condemnation of God sink her deep into sorrow and conviction, which resulted in deep repentance and an offer from Jesus to prepare the way for the grand finale of the great controversy!! Amazing what the Lord can create after He recreates! Peace, Peace to them that are afar off and to them that are near. Peace that passes all comprehension. Eye hath not seen the things God has prepared for those who love Him and come to love His scourging. Out of great tragedy arose a soul and spirit that could faithfully give the Noah message of the last days. That message will be a one time event. The only practice run for that message is the life we have now, studying the Spirit of Prophecy counsels, and learning how to trust and obey. Full faith must be engaged throughout the final event. It must be accomplished by pristine commands from the Commander, and with pristine obedience from our generalissima’s counsels and from her 144,000 hosts.

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit.” (Joel 2:28,29).

Jesus will pour out His Spirit for preaching “afterward”? After what? Ohhh. Myyyy. Eeeesh… After trouble?

After Revelation’s fifth trumpet, voracious and tormenting locust hordes’ sweep across the Protestant world, and after a caving of its constitutional landscape, its biblical doctrine landscape, its middle class capitalist landscape, its free election landscape, its compliant-to-Noah’s-ancient-world-order landscape, its family-centered landscape, its liberty-loving landscape.

“They had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon [G3 Abaddōn, “a destroying angel”], but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon [G623 Apolluōn, “a destroyer”].” (Rev. 9:11). The fifth trumpet black smoke and locusts pouring out of the bottomless pit indicate the powers of hell being loosed by Him who permits Satan to go as far as the inhabitants of earth desire to serve that destroyer. These sons from the bowels of perdition are the beast power. “And when they [God’s Dark Ages witnesses who experienced salvation by faith (see Rev. 11:4, cf Zech. 4:6,14)] shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.” (Rev. 11:7).

Similar to the first three plagues upon Egypt that fell on the Egyptians, but also involved the children of Israel, the first three woes (i.e. the last three trumpets) are the first three of ten final plagues from the Dark Ages’ beast, plagues (see Revelation 9:20) that have been falling upon the Protestant world since the Sabbath conferences ended.

“The judgments of God are now upon the land, to give us warning, that we may know what is coming.” Maranatha, p. 200 (MS 173, 1902). 

“Satan works through the elements also to garner his harvest of unprepared souls. He has studied the secrets of the laboratories of nature, and he uses all his power to control the elements as far as God allows.... It is God that shields His creatures and hedges them in from the power of the destroyer. But the Christian world have shown contempt for the law of Jehovah; and the Lord will do just what He has declared that He would—He will withdraw His blessings from the earth and remove His protecting care from those who are rebelling against His law and teaching and forcing others to do the same. Satan has control of all whom God does not especially guard. He will favor and prosper some in order to further his own designs, and he will bring trouble upon others and lead men to believe that it is God who is afflicting them.” Great Controversy, p. 589.

And after Revelation’s ultimate, and most assuredly soon coming, sixth trumpet locust hosts’ throw-down and installation of their “new and improved” world government of enslavement, communist legislation, lying religious doctrines, communist dictatorial decrees, rulership by the 1%, state-owned children, then, and not until then, the “afterward” comes. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh....”

“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 

And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil.

Who knoweth if He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?” (Joel 2:12-14).

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit.” (Joel 2:28,29).

But, His relenting and blessing only comes “afterward”. That is, after the “northern army” (vs. 20), the “vile” “king of the north”, after “the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.” (Rev. 11:7).

“The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Rev. 12:17).

These two witnesses mirror the remnant of the protesting church of Revelation 12 that fled into the wilderness during the same Dark Ages period of 1,260 years, while the heavenly Jerusalem is being trampled under unholy, uncircumcised feet. This killing is not a literal, but a spiritual, killing of God’s remnant Adventist and 11th hour Protestant people. Their faith and love are killed. They are suffering the divine consequences for breaking the covenant that their apostolic and Reformation forefathers made with the only true God, the living God, the God of heaven. We know it is a spiritual killing because 1) after they are dead for a symbolic 3 ½ days they will stand up from being laid out in the middle of Jerusalem like Jeremiah heard in his chapter 16:4 vision and like Ezekiel saw in his chapter 37 vision, 2) then they will hear a spiritual voice from heaven saying, “Come up hither”, and 3) they will spiritually ascend up in a cloud to heaven (the Latter Rain), per Ephesians 2:6 and Colossians 1:13. That’s when the great multitude that no man can number will fear God and give glory to Him because the witnesses will have finally preached that messages.

“Fear^G5399 God and give glory to Him”, doesn’t mean the watered down respect Him. Away with that pagan blasphemy! It means be afraid of Him and His scourging. It means have a phobia of Him and of disobeying Him because of the punishment that is forthcoming.

“For what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not?” (Heb. 12:7).

G5399

φοβέω

phobeō

fob-eh'-o

From G5401; to frighten, that is, (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy to be in awe of, that is, revere: - be (+ sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence.

If we won’t fear God we will express Lucifer’s vitriol, “Who does God think He is? Who does He think we are?” And we will miss the Latter Rain, which if we miss that, we therefore miss everything that heaven sends after it—we even miss standing at the Lord’s return. Instead, we will run from Him, we will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming, we take part in the second resurrection and end up outside the New Jerusalem when the whole divine government comes, instead of being on the inside of the holy city.

So, let’s not play games with the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy requirements. We are already dead in the streets of the church spiritually called Egypt and Sodom. All the virgins in the parable slumbered and slept. But, will we now go to the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy, and stand before it as a mirror so that it shows us all of our deficiencies and deformities? Will we make up for all the lost time we’ve wasted, and be wise virgins when the time comes for every Adventist to wake up, instead of waking up to being foolish virgins? What will it be?

The scourging and growing of the 144,000 are going to happen. Will the 144,000 be us? Will the last message be our privilege to give? It will be if we will now be scourged by the prophet who Jesus sent just for this occasion.