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BY
D. SURESHKUMAR—writing
from U.S.A.
The
picture of a triumphant people
John the
Revelator states: "I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire:
and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his
image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on
the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song
of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great
and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are
thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and
glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come
and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest" (Revelation
15:2–4).
"The angel
from heaven came to John in majesty. His countenance beamed with the
excellent glory of heaven. He revealed to John scenes of deep and
thrilling interest concerning the church of God, and brought before
him the perilous conflicts they were to endure. John saw them pass
through fiery trials, and made white and tried, and, finally, victorious
overcomers, gloriously saved in the kingdom of God. The countenance
of the angel grew radiant with joy, and was exceeding glorious, as
he showed to John the final triumph of the church of God. John was
enraptured as he beheld the final deliverance of the church."1
So this
is the scene of the final deliverance, the triumph of God's church.
"The work
is soon to close. The members of the church militant who have proved
faithful will become the church triumphant."2
"Christians
are engaged in a warfare. The church militant is not the church triumphant.
The followers of Christ, marching toward Zion, must fight at every
step."3
More than
nineteen centuries have passed since the apostles rested from their
labors. Written under the direction of the Holy Spirit, the history
of their strenuous, exhausting labor and their sacrifices for Christ
is still among His children for their edification. It was recorded
in order that by it God's children might be encouraged to greater
sincerity in the cause of the Saviour.
Who
will triumph?
The Revelator
describes a special people who are going to triumph.
"Here
is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments
of God, and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12). These are the
people that are going to triumph that we read about in Revelation
15. "And 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" (Revelation 12:17). These
are they who believe that he who loves Him keeps His commandments.
They are in harmony with that law that rests in the ark in the Most
Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary.
Indeed,
there is a group of people who are going to triumph and it is the
church, the remnant that will enlighten the earth with its glory.
"'God has a church upon the earth who are His chosen people, who keep
His commandments. He is leading, not stray offshoots, not one here
and one there, but a people.'"4
This is
a movement of people, the movement symbolized by the angel coming
down from heaven, and crying mightily with a strong voice, announcing
the sins of Babylon,5 a movement with a message
from heaven which has great authority, for they follow after Christ.
Historical
records
Emperors,
kings, governors, priests, and rulers tried to destroy the temple
of God to eradicate God's children. But in spite of imprisonment,
persecution, harassment, and death, faithful men continued to forward
the work with devotion and there was a remnant in all periods of earth's
history to bear the banner of Christ. Many times they were almost
destroyed by the aggression of their opponents. But with determined
faith and unfailing courage they moved forward with the hope of triumph.
One after
another the enemy tried to eradicate the foremost architects of God's
church. Stephen was stoned; James was slain by the sword; Paul was
beheaded; Peter was crucified; John was exiled. But more and more
faithful ones took the place of those who fell, and more blocks were
added in the building of God's temple. Slowly the temple of the church
of God ascended. Although many workmen were killed, the work of the
Lord progressed. The Waldenses, John Wycliffe, Huss and Jerome, Martin
Luther and Zwingli, Cranmer, Latimer, and Knox, the Huguenots, John
and Charles Wesley, and many others brought to the foundation material
that will continue throughout eternity.
Many centuries
of violent persecution followed but there was never a lack of persons
who valued the Work of God more than their life. There were people
who could not be bought or sold and who stood firm as the needle to
the pole. Of such it is written: "And others had trial of cruel mockings
and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were
stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the
sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute,
afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered
in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth"
(Hebrews 11:36–38).
We are
to bring to the foundation material that will stand
All these
righteous men and women have done their part. But we must continue,
for the work is not yet complete. We who are living in this age have
a work to do, a part to act. We are to bring to the foundation material
that will stand the test of fire—gold, silver, and precious stones,
"polished after the similitude of a palace" (Psalm 144:12). To those
who thus build for God, Paul speaks words of encouragement and warning:
"If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive
a reward" (1 Corinthians 3:14).
These
are the people by whom God will give His last message to this world
"in this generation" (Genesis 7:1). But He cannot have such a church
to give the message until He shall have a people who will love their
fellowmen and be ready to make sacrifices for their salvation.
Those
who say, "I am part of the church, I am part of the remnant church,"
but have the world in them, are not going to triumph. Those who are
indifferent are not going to triumph. The church that will triumph
will not be a professed church that is joined to the world or its
customs. It is not enough to say, "I am part of the church" and have
other gods with them. "The Lord hath a controversy with His people,
and although in His great mercy He bears long with them, yet if they
persist in living in transgression of His law, they will not stand
in the day of His rebuke."6
The great
time of trouble begins after the close of probation. But God's people
are prepared for the trying hour before them. The season of distress
and anguish before us will require a faith that can endure weariness,
delay, and hunger—a faith that will not faint, though severely
tried.
"The remnant
church will be brought into great trial and distress. Those who keep
the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus will feel the ire of
the dragon and his hosts. Satan numbers the world as his subjects.
He has gained control of the apostate churches; but here is a little
company that are resisting his supremacy. If he could blot them from
the earth, his triumph would be complete. As he influenced the heathen
nations to destroy Israel, so in the near future he will stir up the
wicked powers of earth to destroy the people of God."7
A death
penalty, similar to that issued by Ahasuerus will be pronounced for
all who do not honor Sunday. "A decree went forth to slay the saints,
which caused them to cry day and night for deliverance."8
But the
remnant make God their defense. "If the people of God will put their
trust in Him and by faith rely upon His power, the devices of Satan
will be defeated in our time as signally as in the days of Mordecai."9
"And I
saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had
gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his
mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass,
having the harps of God" (Revelation 15:2).
The
greatest trial
"Our greatest
trials will come from those who profess godliness. It was so with
the world's Redeemer; it will be so with His followers. I should doubt
whether I were a child of God, if the world, or even all professed
Christians spoke well of me. Those who are in earnest to win the crown
of eternal life need not be surprised or disheartened because at every
step toward the heavenly Canaan they meet with obstacles and encounter
trials. The opposition which Christ received came from His own nation,
who would have been greatly blessed had they accepted Him. In like
manner the remnant church receives opposition from those who profess
to be their brethren."10
Notice
again the last sentence of this prophecy: "In like manner the remnant
church receives opposition from those who profess to be their brethren."
The remnant church is going to receive opposition, but from whom?
From those who say, "We are the remnant church"—from those who
profess to be their brethren. That is where the hostility is going
to come from.
God draws
a line right there in the middle of this great big group of people.
He draws the line between those who profess to be His children, the
remnant church, and those whose characters show who they actually
are. They are actually obedient. They do not just make a profession,
but they actually obey.
The
characteristics of the triumphant
Who are
those that will triumph? Here are their characteristics, from the
Bible. If you have these characteristics in your life, you will be
part of the triumphant company.
1. The
people who triumph will not be joined to the world. They will separate
themselves from the world and worldliness.11
(James 4:4.)
2. These
triumphant ones will be a people who are faithful to the truth and
to the church. The church is a pillar and the ground of the truth
(1 Timothy 3:15).
3. These
triumphant people will take the final warning to the entire world
and proclaim the message of that other angel with power. "The third
angel's message will triumph, and we must hold fast to the truth and
triumph with it."12 "The truth of the third
angel's message is bound to triumph, and those who purify their souls
from all defilement will triumph with it."13
4. The
church that triumphs will actually keep the commandments of God (Revelation
12:17; 14:12) by the power that Jesus provides. They will not only
make a profession.
5. The
people who triumph will not be seeking worldly recognition or honor
(Revelation 13:15–17; chapters 14 and 15).
6. The
people who triumph will have conquered selfishness. As a result of
the death of Christ on Calvary's cross, they no longer live for themselves,
but for Him who died for them (2 Corinthians 5:15).
7. They
are wholehearted in doing God's will, not half-hearted. They do not
do mere lip service but actual heart service.14 They understand that
mere forms are as sounding brass and as a tinkling cymbal. Many are
content with lip service, but the few who triumph will have a sincere,
earnest, affectionate longing after God.
8. They
walk humbly with God in meekness and contrition of spirit, and the
Lord recognizes them and gives them the grace of His Holy Spirit,
in order that they may do the work, according to their ability, which
God would have them do. Micah 6:6–8.
9. They
are laborers together with God. They claim no wisdom of their own,
but acknowledge that divine power alone can enable them (1 Corinthians
3:9).
10. The
church triumphant will be a church that has gone through a mighty
conflict, as described in Revelation 13, 14, 15, and 17:14. They withstand
all difficulties. "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself
for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of
water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious
church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it
should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:25–27).
11. These
people understand that it is not by belonging to the church that they
belong to Christ, but that they must belong to Christ in order to
belong to the church. And the difference between these two things
is the difference between Christianity and the mystery of iniquity.
12. These
are part of the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed
from the earth. "In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without
fault before the throne of God" (Revelation 14:5).
13. "These
are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their
robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14).
The
experience of Jacob
The hour
had come. The patriarch Jacob was facing one of the darkest chapters
of his life. The cruelty of his sons in slaying the innocent inhabitants
of an entire city sadly reflected to some degree the patriarch's own
negligence in guiding his family aright. God was dishonored and all
their lives were now in serious jeopardy. Events had escalated to
a real crisis, and where could Jacob turn? What hope did exist in
the face of such obvious guilt?
The outlook
appeared painfully bleak. There seemed to be absolutely nowhere to
turn, no arm to lean upon, no sweet light to dispel the darkness.
The only glimmer of hope that he found was in humbly bowing down to
beseech the tender mercies of a compassionate Saviour.
"Jacob
'had power over the Angel, and prevailed' (Hosea 12:4). Through humiliation,
repentance, and self- surrender, this sinful, erring mortal prevailed
with the Majesty of heaven. He had fastened his trembling grasp upon
the promises of God, and the heart of Infinite Love could not turn
away the sinner's plea."15
Unwavering
effort and unconditional faith is essential for victory. Jacob was
in fear and anguish while he tried in his own power to gain the victory.
He mistook the heavenly visitor for a foe, and struggled with him
while he had any strength left. But when he threw himself upon the
compassion of God he found that he was enclosed in the arms of immeasurable
love, and instead of being in the hands of an enemy, he realized his
sins were pardoned. This was his victory.
Jacob's
efforts to remove wrong were accepted by God. Jacob was humbled, and
required his family to humble themselves, and to lay off all their
ornaments, for he was to make atonement for their sins by offering
a sacrifice unto God that He might be entreated for them, and not
leave them to be destroyed by other nations. God accepted the efforts
of Jacob to remove the wrong from his family, and appeared unto him,
and blessed him, and renewed the promise made to him, because His
fear was before him. This was his victory.
As evidence
that Jacob had been forgiven, his name was changed from one that was
a reminder of his sin to one that commemorated his victory. "Thy name,"
said the angel, "shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for as
a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed"
(Genesis 32:28).
Jacob's
experience repeated by us
"Jacob
prevailed because he was persevering and determined. His experience
testifies to the power of importunate prayer. It is now that we are
to learn this lesson of prevailing prayer, of unyielding faith. The
greatest victories to the church of Christ or to the individual Christian,
are not those that are gained by talent or education, by wealth, or
the favor of men. They are those victories that are gained in the
audience chamber with God, when earnest, agonizing faith lays hold
upon the mighty arm of power."16
"We can
do nothing of ourselves. In our helpless unworthiness we must trust
in the merits of the crucified and risen Saviour. None will ever perish
while they do this. The long, black catalogue of our delinquencies
is before the eye of the Infinite. The register is complete; none
of our offenses are forgotten. But He who listened to the cries of
His servants of old, will hear the prayer of faith, and pardon our
transgressions. He has promised, and He will fulfill His word."17
The
privilege entrusted to us
"We have
an enemy which we must meet, who is vigilant; who is not off his guard
one moment. The claims of our country are not higher than the claims
of God. If hardships are borne and trials endured by our soldiers
fighting in behalf of the country to obtain the mastery and bring
into obedience the rebellious, how much more willing should the soldiers
of Christ endure privation, self denial, and any taxation for Christ's
sake. The Captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering
that He might bring many sons and daughters to the Lord. We are standing
under the blood-stained banner of the cross of Christ. We are to meet
Satan and his host. We must conquer in the name of Jesus or be conquered.
Armed with the mind of Christ we shall be more than overcomers. As
faithful soldiers of the cross we are not to fight against principalities
and powers, but against spiritual wickedness in high places. There
is no rest in this war, no release. Obedience and faith must characterize
us as Christ's servants."18
The Lord
wants us to be triumphant over the powers of darkness. He is ready
and willing to save all who come to Him. It is through Him that "we
have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand" (Romans 5:2).
With the sword of truth He defeated the enemy. Equipped with this
sword, and protected by the shield of faith, we, the church militant,
shall be able to stand unyielding before Satan's attack. Continuing
to resist the enemy, we shall always increase in power and at last
become the church triumphant.
Conclusion
"If the
church will put on the robe of Christ's righteousness, withdrawing
from all allegiance with the world, there is before her the dawn of
a bright and glorious day. God's promise to her will stand fast forever.
He will make her an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations."19
We are
to examine ourselves and ask, "Am I a member of the church because
I am enrolled in the books of the church? Or am I a member of the
church because my name is in the book of life, since I have given
myself to Christ, and belong to Him, and live and move and have my
being in Him?
"I beheld,
and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations,
and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and
before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth
upon the throne, and unto the Lamb" (Revelation 7:9, 10).
"These
are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their
robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are
they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his
temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall
the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the
midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living
fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes." "And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed
away" (Revelation 7:14–17; 21:4).
_________________________
1 Spiritual
Gifts, vol. 1, pp. 130, 131.
2 Evangelism, p. 707.
3 The Signs of the Times, June 10, 1903.
4 Testimonies to Ministers, p. 61.
5 See The Great Controversy, p. 604.
6 The Signs of the Times, March 12, 1894.
7 Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 231.
8 Early Writings, pp. 36, 37.
9 The Signs of the Times, February 22, 1910.
10 The Review and Herald, August 28, 1883.
11 Testimonies to Ministers, p. 128.
12 Manuscript Releases, vol. 20, p. 236.
13 Sermons and Talks, vol. 2, p. 131.
14 See Counsels on Sabbath School Work, pp. 179, 180.
15 Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 197.
16 Colporteur Ministry, p. 81.
17 Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 203.
18 The Signs of the Times, January 15, 1880.
19 The Acts of Apostles, p. 601.
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