The Mysterious Fourth Angel’s Glory
The Four Words of the First Table of the Decalogue together teach the true worship of Jehovah Elohim. We should all know what they are. The Fourth Word has the seal of His authority, containing His Name (Jehovah), Title (Creator), and Territory (heavens and earth and sea and all that in them is). Interestingly, both the Four Words and the four parts of the seal (including the seal itself) correspond to the four angels’ messages. Let us begin to explore this.
The territory of the seal is repeated nearly word for word in the first angel’s message, which says before that to “worship Him who made” those things; hence, we see the connection to the First Word of the Decalogue teaching the worship of the true Elohim.
The second angel’s message deals with Babylon falling. This historically happened in 1844 CE in the rejection of the first angel’s message. In Great Controversy, Ellen White clearly expresses that Babylon refers especially to the Protestant bodies, with their conflicting creeds of confusion. The center of Protestantism is America, which, as the second beast of Revelation 13, will become the “image”—forbidden by the Second Word of the Decalogue—of the original beast when it allows the apostate church to legislate Rome’s practices. Recall that the first king of Babylon was Nebuchadnezzar. His kingdom, along with the successors, was depicted as an image, with the head of gold representing him. He later built an image of pure gold, which defiantly declared that his kingdom would be forever, as if denying kingdoms would succeed his. It was 60 cubits tall, 6 cubits wide—as reflected in the number of the beast, which combines the two numbers and magnifies it further to the third digit: 666. The character of the number of six being magnified is that of working but having no rest. Rome and its image can legislate all the laws it wants, and its adherents can practice them all they want, but they will not bring rest (signified by seven).
The third angel’s message deals with Babylon breaking the Third Word of the Decalogue. This is more challenging, but notice these words included in it: “and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Here we see the four counterfeit principles of false worship: (1) worship of the beast (counterfeiting the true Elohim); (2) worship of the image; (3) the name of the beast; and (4) the mark of the name.
Let us focus on the third one, and this is a key word in the third angel’s message: “name.” Another word that links to it is here: “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead” (v. 9). Where does “forehead” appear before this? In the first verse:
And I saw, and behold, the LAMB was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having His Name, and the Name of His Father, written on their foreheads.
Revelation 14:1
Here we see both key words: “Name” and “foreheads.”
Now, here is what the Third Word of the Decalogue says:
Thou shalt not bring the Name of Jehovah thy Elohim to naught; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that bringeth His Name to naught.
Exodus 20:7
The 144,000 have the Name of Jehovah in their foreheads (as well as that of His SON), denoting character. But in place of this, the rest of the world has the name of the beast, thus bringing to naught the Name of Jehovah; and the mark of that name is Sunday—the eighth day (as the early Catholic fathers called it), similar to how the first king of separated Israel, Jeroboam, instituted a festival in the eighth month to replace the Tabernacles of the seventh month. Sunday is the mark of the beast of Rome, containing the name of ‘Blasphemy’, for it is written of the beast that “upon his heads” is written “the name of ‘Blasphemy’ ” (Revelation 13:1). That is its generic name, but the literal name of the Papacy is Vicarius Filii Dei (Vicar of the Son of Elohim)—the number of which (v. 17) is 666 in Latin. But the Son of Elohim is all the fullness of the Deity, and to usurp that role, even by legislating laws against His Father’s laws, is clearly blasphemy.
But there is one more Word left: Principle of the Sabbath. This must correspond to another angel. Which one? None other than the fourth one to the first three: “After these things I saw another angel (or messenger) coming down out of the sky, having great authority; and the earth was lightened from his glory” (Rev. 18:1). Seeing how the three angels of Revelation 14 correspond to the first three Words of the Decalogue, this one must correspond to the Fourth Word—the Sabbath.
But here we do not see the seventh day. We see something much greater. Let’s read first from Ellen White:
Several have written to me, inquiring if the message of justification by faith is the third angel’s message, and I have answered, “It is the third angel’s message in verity.” The prophet declares, “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.” Brightness, glory, and power are to be connected with the third angel’s message, and conviction will follow wherever it is preached in demonstration of the Spirit. How will any of our brethren know when this light shall come to the people of Elohim? As yet, we certainly have not seen the light that answers to this description. Elohim has light for his people, and all who will accept it will see the sinfulness of remaining in a lukewarm condition; they will heed the counsel of the True Witness when he says, “Be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”
Review and Herald, 4/1/1890
I saw that we sensed and realized but little of the importance of the Sabbath, to what we yet should realize and know of its importance and *glory*. I saw we knew not what it was yet to ride upon the high places of the earth and to be fed with the heritage of Jacob. But when the refreshing and latter rain shall come from the presence of the Lord and the *glory* of His *power* we shall know what it is to be fed with the heritage of Jacob and ride upon the high places of the earth. Then shall we see the Sabbath more in its importance and *glory*.
Letter 3, 1851
And 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. This enraged the churches and nominal Adventists, as they could not refute the Sabbath truth. And at this time Elohim’s chosen all saw clearly that we had the truth, and they came out and endured the persecution with us. I saw the sword, famine, pestilence, and great confusion in the land.
Early Writings, p. 33
And I heard another voice from Heaven, saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues’.”
Revelation 18:4
There is a Sabbath truth that nominal Adventists, who know the seventh day Sabbath, will not understand. It has “brightness, glory, and power”—a message that was a mystery to Ellen White and her colleagues. But it is no longer a mystery. Remember, the seventh-day Sabbath is a “sign” (Ex. 31:13-17). It is not the actual thing. The actual thing being signified is the glory that that fourth angel’s message brings.
Now here is more from EGW; this is from a raw vision, as recorded by Joseph Bates:
Where did the light break out? Let thine angels teach us where the light broke out! It commenced from a little, then Thou didst give one light after another. The testimony and commandments are linked together, they cannot be separated; that comes first the ten commandments, by Elohim.
The commandments never would be struck against if it were not to get rid of the Sabbath commandment. That one that has relaxed it is very foolish. It was very small, and when it rose, though it rose in strength, it was weak back there, when it came up it increase, (or increased.) If they won’t hear it they are as accountable as though they did hear it…
Out of weakness it has become strong from searching His Word. The test upon it has been but a short time. All who are saved will be tried upon it in some way. That truth arises and is on the increase, stronger, and stronger. It’s the seal! It’s coming up! It arises, commencing from the rising of the sun. Like the sun, first cold, grows warmer and sends its rays.
When that truth arose there was but little light in it, but it has been increasing. O the power of these rays.
It grows in strength, the greatest weight and light is on that truth for it lasts forever when the Bible is not needed. It arose there in the east, it began with a small light, but its beams are healing. O how mighty is that truth; it’s the highest after they enter the goodly land, but it will increase till they are made immortal. It commenced from the rising of the sun, keeps on its course like the sun, but it never sets…Look ye! that rising is in strength, and grows brighter and brighter. That truth is the seal, that’s why it comes last. The shut door we have had. Elohim has taught and taught, but that experience is not the seal, and that commandment that has been trodden under foot will be exalted. And when ye get that you will go through the time of trouble.
Yea, all that thou art looking at, thou shalt not see just now. Be careful, let not light be set aside which comes from another way from which thou art looking for.
Manuscript 1,1848
“That truth is the seal.” What truth? “The Sabbath truth.” It is depicted as a glorious light, shining like the sun. It cannot be the seventh day itself but what it signifies. What is that truth? Why is it so mysterious and glorious?
