Revival and Reformation Within the Framework of Last-Day Events

In view of the current emphasis on revival and reformation, it is useful for us to ask what role these elements have with respect to our Adventist understanding of last-day events as revealed in the Bible and the writings of Ellen White. Within the canon of Scripture, the book of Revelation gives the most detailed sketch of these events. Additional aspects, often only implicit in the biblical text, are developed by Ellen White, particularly in The Great Controversy. While these inspired authors provide us with a good preview of what lies ahead, we need to guard against over-interpretation; it would be a mistake to suppose that we know exactly how, when, and in what order future events will unfold.

Outline of last-day events

Central to Seventh-day Adventist eschatology are the events described in Revelation 12–14. Chapter 12 outlines, in brief, the history of the Christian church from the first century a.d. to the time of the end, when Satan makes war on the remnant who “keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus” (12:17).¹ Chapter 13 portrays the climax of this war in symbolic terms. The first beast that rises out of the sea and the second beast that comes out of the dry land work together to enforce their brand of worship on the whole world. This second beast will compel the whole world on pain of death to worship the first beast and its image and to accept its mark. Deliverance, for those who refuse the mark of the beast, comes in chapter 14 with the second advent of Christ.

Based on the historicist method of prophetic interpretation, Seventh-day Adventists have understood these two beasts of Revelation 13 as symbols of the papacy and Protestant America respectively. According to Revelation 13, sometime in the future apostate Protestantism will call upon the world to worship the first beast, that is, be obedient to the papacy by the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, in place of the seventh-day Sabbath of the Bible.² This Sunday legislation will eventuate in a death decree for those who refuse to accept the mark of the beast. But before the death decree can be carried out, Christ will come to deliver His people.

Since 1844, we have been living in the time of the investigative judgment, referred to also in Revelation 14:7.³ During this time period leading up to the close of probation, the following events will take place:

In heaven. The investigative judgment deals with those names found in the book of life and saved on the basis of Christ’s work for us and in us (1 John 4:17; 5:12).

On earth. Shortly before the close of probation, during a period sometimes referred to as the early or little time of trouble,⁴ an image to the beast will be formed and universal Sunday legislation issued, which culminates in a death decree for those who refuse and reception of the mark of the beast for those who comply. Also during this period the remnant church gives the loud cry in latter-rain power and experiences the shaking, the sealing, and true revival. No chronological sequence for these events in the church is provided by the Bible or Ellen White. Many of them may occur in parallel, but certainly they occur before the decree of Revelation 22:11 is issued and the great time of trouble begins. While no specific time frame is given for these events, we are told that “the final movements will be rapid ones.”⁵

Revival and reformation in the church

A thorough revival and reformation prepares the church for final events and the giving of the loud cry. There will be a “revival of primitive godliness” such “as has not been witnessed since apostolic times,”⁶ including miracles of healing and genuine conversions.⁷ Satan will endeavor to prevent this revival: The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work; and before the time for such a movement shall come, he will endeavor to prevent it by introducing a counterfeit. In those churches which he can bring under his deceptive power he will make it appear that God’s special blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest. Multitudes will exult that God is working marvelously for them, when the work is that of another spirit. Under a religious guise, Satan will seek to extend his influence over the Christian world.⁸

Thus, we are able to understand better Paul’s words, that “the coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders” (2 Thess. 2:9).

Turning to Revelation 7, which also refers to the end time, the winds of trouble are held back until God’s people are sealed and prepared for the time of trouble. This “is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved.”⁹

The latter rain and loud cry

Just as the apostolic church received the early rain at Pentecost, so the remnant will receive the latter rain, enabling it to finish the work of proclaiming the everlasting gospel (Joel 2:23, 28, 29).

“As the ‘former rain’ was given, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the gospel, to cause the upspringing of the precious seed, so the ‘latter rain’ will be given at its close for the ripening of the harvest.”¹⁰

This promise is for us today, not just for the future; but we have to be ready to receive it, by seeking the Lord in humility and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, purifying ourselves from all that is displeasing to Him.¹¹

The message of the fall of Babylon, given by the second angel (Rev. 14:8), is repeated in the message of the angel in Revelation 18:1–4. The work of this angel joins “in the last great work of the third angel’s message as it swells to a loud cry.”¹²

The early time of trouble and the mark of the beast

Before the close of probation, there will come a time of trouble for the world and for the church. Political, financial, and social problems will increase (Luke 21:25). Ellen White refers to this time in Early Writings: “At the commencement of the time of trouble, we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully.” Later on in the book she explains further: “ ‘The commencement of that time of trouble,’ here mentioned does not refer to the time when the plagues shall begin to be poured out, but to a short period just before they are poured out, while Christ is in the sanctuary. At that time, while the work of salvation is closing, trouble will be coming on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in check so as not to prevent the work of the third angel.”¹³

There will also be a shaking among God’s people “caused by the straight testimony” of the True Witness to Laodicea¹⁴ and the introduction of false theories. Many Adventists will ultimately leave the church¹⁵ because they are not fully converted and have come to view religious matters “in nearly the same light” as the world.¹⁶

The image to the beast will be formed when the Protestant churches in America unite with the state to use its power to enforce their decrees and sustain the institutions of the church. Then “there will be a national apostasy which will end only in national ruin.”¹⁷ Then, “as the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ.”¹⁸ This throws light on Jesus’ words that “ ‘if possible, even the elect’ ” would be deceived (Matt. 24:24).

Ever since Constantine, in a.d. 321, issued the first Sunday law, there have been Sunday laws in existence in many countries as well as in America. But many of these were limited in extent and focused primarily, if not exclusively, on commercial activities. Revelation 13 predicts that future Sunday legislation will be national, even international, and that such decrees will include religious observances: “All the world marveled and followed the beast” (Rev. 13:3). Ellen White elaborates on this: “As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honor the false sabbath, the people of every country on the globe will be led to follow her example.”¹⁹ “Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in darkness.” One reason for this apostasy will be “threatened imprisonment, and death.”²⁰

Ellen White even beheld Satan saying, “When death shall be made the penalty of violating our sabbath, then many who are now ranked with commandment keepers will come over to our side.”²¹ Since there will be no changing of sides after the close of probation, the test involving a death threat must, therefore, come before the close of probation.²² Regarding the mark of the beast, we are told the following: “When Sunday observance shall be enforced by law, and the world shall be enlightened concerning the obligation of the true Sabbath, then whoever shall transgress the command of God, to obey a precept which has no higher authority than that of Rome. . . . [These] will thereby accept the sign of allegiance to Rome—‘the mark of the beast.’ ”²³

The close of probation marks the end of Christ’s ministry in heaven. The work of investigation and judgment will then be finished, and “the door of mercy” for the world will be forever shut.24 By the time Christ announces probation’s close with the words found in Revelation 22:11, God’s people will already have been sealed25 and will be protected from the plagues poured out during the great time of trouble, just as ancient Israel was protected from the plagues that fell upon Egypt.

Conclusion

Seventh-day Adventist eschatology follows the historicist method of prophetic interpretation. While the precise order of future events has not been clearly revealed, we know the time of the Lord’s coming is near. “ ‘Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near’ ” (Luke 21:29–31). Ellen White reminds us: “Our position has been one of waiting and watching, with no time-proclamation to intervene between the close of the prophetic periods in 1844 and the time of our Lord’s coming. We do not know the day nor the hour, or when the definite time is, and yet the prophetic reckoning shows us that Christ is at the door.”²⁶