Luke 21:8

Christian, Be Not Deceived!

Third Angel's Message

ENTER INTO LIFE

In God We Trust: Enter Into Life

Brian A. Willard, 2020

The (virtual) School of one Tyrannus

Contents

Section 1: War in heaven

Section 2: A third party needed

Section 3: Creation and test of trust

Section 4: Failed test slows down the jury

Section 5: Overview of longest court case known to man

Section 6: Every knee will bow

Section 7: The everlasting kingdom

Abstract

This paper considers the false perceptions associated with being saved by grace by faith alone. It focuses on the purpose and place of obedience (if any) in the life of the believer of Jesus Christ. And has the goal of correctly interpreting these words of James: “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” James 1:23-24.

Keywords: Saved, Faith, Grace, Obedience, Commandments, Law, Jury, Court, Life

From Here to Forever

For 6000 years this earth has been Satan’s prison-house that has received God’s people in their graves, but Christ has broken his bonds and will set the prisoners free “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump [1 Cor. 15:52]”. Alone for 1000 years with all the other disloyal angels he will reflect on the outcome of his rebellion against God: “The kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house [the grave]. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch. ... Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people.” Isaiah 14:18-20.

Section 1: War in Heaven

Participants

[Rev 12:7-9 KJV] “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

All of heaven was involved in this war. “The Son of God [Michael/Christ], the Prince of heaven, and His loyal angels engaged in conflict with the archrebel [Lucifer/Satan] and those who united with him. The Son of God and true, loyal angels prevailed; and Satan and his sympathizers were expelled from heaven. All the heavenly host acknowledged and adored the God of justice. Not a taint of rebellion was left in heaven. All was again peaceful and harmonious as before. Angels in heaven mourned the fate of those who had been their companions in happiness and bliss. Their loss was felt in heaven.” –The Story of Redemption, p. 19.

Section 2: A Third Party Needed

Conflict to be Objectively Resolved

Consider the method used today to objectively resolve conflict. When two parties have a conflict and are unable to reach mutual agreement, the case is taken to a court of law. And according to the Supreme Court, “serious” offenses require a trial by jury. The jury serves as a neutral third party taking the role as fact finder, hearing the evidence each side presents, and then determining if the prosecutor(s) have met their burden of proof as required by law.

Now consider the parties involved in the war in heaven:

God and His loyal angels
Satan and disloyal angels

Notice there is no neutral third party in this conflict. All of heaven is involved. After Satan and the disloyal angels were expelled from heaven, “the Father consulted His Son in regard to at once carrying out their purpose to make man to inhabit the earth.” –The Story of Redemption, p. 19.

This new order of intelligent beings created by God would not only have the purpose to one day fill the void left by the disloyal angels, but will also serve the role of a neutral third party. If God immediately destroyed Satan and the disloyal angels, God would have lost His ability for love to be the basis of loyalty to Him. How many would have been loyal because of fear of annihilation rather than legitimate love for God?

How soon this neutral third party could have heard the evidence presented by each side and reached its verdict remains unknown. This is because God first saw fit to give them a test of loyalty; and they failed the test. “[Gen 2:17 KJV] But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

Section 3: Creation and test of trust

How long before the newly created beings failed their test of loyalty is not recorded, but it was likely not long as it was prior to Adam and Eve having their first child.

Creation

“After the earth was created, and the beasts upon it, the Father and Son carried out their purpose, which was designed before the fall of Satan, to make man in their own image. They had wrought together in the creation of the earth and every living thing upon it. And now God said to His Son, ‘Let us make man in our image.’ As Adam came forth from the hand of his Creator he was of noble height and of beautiful symmetry. He was more than twice as tall as men now living upon the earth, and was well proportioned. His features were perfect and beautiful. His complexion was neither white nor sallow, but ruddy, glowing with the rich tint of health. Eve was not quite as tall as Adam. Her head reached a little above his shoulders. She, too, was noble, perfect in symmetry, and very beautiful.” –The Story of Redemption, p. 21.

Test of Trust

For a test of loyalty and trust to be most effective and successful it must hinge on taking God on His word alone rather than performing some act that otherwise appeals to the logic of the one being tested. For example, which of the following would be a better test of loyalty?

Don’t drink poison
Don’t eat a piece of fruit (known to be desirable food)

(With this question in mind, which of the God’s ten commandments best models this test of loyalty? This will be revisited later in this paper.)

Section 4: Failed test slows down the jury

Far too many Christians fail to grasp the big picture regarding the purpose of this world. Their individual case (which is summed up by the following two passages of scripture) tends to form the lens through which they view God:

[Rom 3:23 KJV] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
[Rom 6:23 KJV] For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Many miss the bigger, all-important picture that their being saved or lost is ultimately their vote for, or against, God.

Far too many Christians only latch onto and understand that God is love, that Christ died to pay the penalty sin [the transgression of God’s law], that sinners are saved by faith in Jesus accepting His death on their behalf, and that good works cannot buy one's way into God’s everlasting kingdom.

Trust results in obedience

It is however sad that the vast majority of Christians have a flawed understanding of the purpose and importance of obedience to God. Although there are a great number of Bible passages that make it abundantly clear how critical obedience is to God, it is unfortunately, and most always, frowned upon by most Christians as “legalism” when anyone emphasizes the need for obedience. Even Martin Luther early on called the epistle of James “an epistle of straw”; and noted he almost felt “like throwing Jimmy into the stove,” as did the priest in Kalenberg. Luther later saw the harmony of Paul and James as he commented on James 2:26, saying : “That is, as the works do not follow, it is a sure sign that there is no faith there; but only an empty thought and dream, which they falsely call faith.” –Luther’s Church Postil, vol. 4, p. 308.

Whereas obedience to God has zero to do with a person not being under the penalty of sin (Rom. 6:23), it has everything to do with whether or not someone truly trusts God. If a person truly trusts God how can they choose to ignore and violate His clear, simple and concise commands? Is it not abundantly clear that obeying His commands directly corresponds to trusting Him to only require that which is for our best interest? How does it make sense to claim to love God yet disagree with, and ignore, His principles of life?

[Mat 19:17 KJV] And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
[Jhn 14:15 KJV] If ye love me, keep my commandments.
[Jhn 15:10 KJV] If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
[1Jo 2:4 KJV] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

How long (Rev. 6:10)

Whereas it is unknown how soon the case against God that Satan (Lucifer at the time) launched in heaven, resulting in the war recorded in Revelation 12, could have been heard and God vindicated by a neutral third party, it is now known it will take more than 6000 years. The following texts confirm however that the day will come:

[1Co 6:3 KJV] Know ye not that we shall judge angels?
[Dan 7:22 KJV] ...judgment was given to the saints of the most High…
[Rev 20:4, 6 KJV] 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. ... 6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Section 5: Overview of longest court case known to man

[2Pe 3:9 KJV] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Throughout the history of this world, Satan has had but one objective: to justify himself and to prove God responsible for the conflict. “For thousands of years this chief of conspiracy has palmed off falsehood for truth.” –From Here to Forever, p. 406.

The following is a very concise and well-written overview of this, longest court case known to man:

“Daniel and Revelation both reveal the great cosmic conflict as a curtain drawn aside and readers are shown the struggle between God and the powers of evil. Readers are allowed to see how this great controversy, which began in heaven, takes place on earth and how it directly affects the people of God. The issue of worship and thus allegiance lies at the center of this conflict. Satan and his kingdom of evil angels are behind the corrupt social, political, and religious structures on earth, and his forces are ever working to draw attention away from God and toward himself. The message of both books is that God has triumphed and is working His will to make these devilish deceptions plain to all, at which time He will no longer allow them to continue. Evil will not destroy itself, nor is it destroyed vindictively by God; rather, God’s justice and love will intentionally destroy it forever. That is why God instructs His people to be patient….

“John, who lived during the Roman period, was shown (Rev. 1-3) that Jesus Himself is with His people throughout all seven eras of church history from John’s day until the coming of the kingdom of God. In this way, the religious character of the Roman period that Daniel saw in the feet of iron and clay [Dan. 2] and the little horn of chapters 7 and 8, as well as the kings of the north and the south in chapter 11, is expanded upon in greater detail in the book of Revelation. John was then shown the throne room of God (Rev. 4-5). Most of the book of Revelation deals with what he saw in the throne room. He was shown the opening of the seals through all seven church eras (Rev. 6-7) and also the trumpet messages given in all seven eras (Rev. 8-11). Daniel’s book had been sealed for a time until knowledge concerning the Bible would be increased (Dan. 12:4). During the sixth church era, his book was unsealed (Rev. 10). Then John was shown the cosmic conflict itself (Rev. 12) and its manifestation first in heaven between Michael and Satan and then on earth between God’s people (symbolized by a woman, harkening back to Gen. 3:15-16) and Satan (symbolized as a dragon, the serpent from the garden; Gen. 3:14). John saw that Satan was indeed behind all the geopolitical entities from Daniel’s time to his own and also behind the rebellious religious element (Rev. 13). John saw that some of God’s people were unwittingly in Satan’s kingdom (called Babylon) and thus needed to be called out through a series of three final warning messages to the world (Rev. 14). Then, he saw how the great cosmic conflict came to a resolution (Rev. 15-20). Finally, John was allowed to see the peace and harmony of a universe without sin and evil in the final two chapters of the book of Revelation (chaps. 21-22), corresponding to the eternal kingdom of God.”–The Great Prophetic Books of Daniel and Revelation: A Bible Study Journal, Andrews University Press, 2020, pp. 3-4.

The second advent ushers in the millennium which is in its entirety the great day of judgement. “ We have never been able to harmonize all the scripture testimony relating to the judgment, with any other view than that the great day of judgment will be one thousand years long.” –The Advent Review, vol. 1", 1850, p. 49, para. 5.

The patience of the saints

[Rev 14:12 KJV] Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

“As the Sabbath becomes the special point of controversy throughout Christendom, it will be urged that the few who stand in opposition to the church and the state ought not to be tolerated, that it is better for them to suffer than for whole nations to be thrown into confusion and lawlessness. The same argument was brought against Christ. ‘It is expedient for us,’ said Caiaphas, ‘that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.’ John 11:50. This argument will appear conclusive; a decree will finally be issued against those who hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, denouncing them and giving the people liberty after a certain time to put them to death. Romanism in the Old World and apostate Protestantism in the New will pursue a similar course. The people of God will then be plunged into those scenes of distress described as ‘the time of Jacob’s trouble.’ Jeremiah 30:5-7; Genesis 32:24-30.” –From Here to Forever, p. 374.

The correspondence between man’s first test of loyalty and his last is clear. Both are simple tests of loyalty with requirements that don’t appeal to common logic. What sense is it for good fruit from one tree to be any different than good fruit from the others? What sense is it for one day in week to be any different than the others?

Section 6: Every knee will bow

Whereas no one knows the day nor the hour of the day of the Lord (Mat. 25:13), the criterion for the day is known: “[Mat 24:14 KJV] And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” This is when the entire neutral third party (i.e., every person born into this world) has cast their verdict for, or against, God.

For 6000 years Satan’s prison-house (the graves on this earth) has received God’s people, but Christ has broken his bonds and will set the prisoners free (see 1 Cor. 15:52-54). Alone for 1000 years with the disloyal angels, Satan realizes the effect of sin: “The kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house [the grave]. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch. ... Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people.” Isaiah 14:18-20.

They shall be priests of God

“During the 1000 years between the first and second resurrections, the judgment of the wicked takes place. Paul points to this as an event that follows the second advent. 1 Corinthians 4:5. The righteous reign as kings and priests. John says: ‘I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them. ... They shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years.’ Revelation 20:4-6.

“At this time ‘the saints shall judge the world.’ 1 Corinthians 6:2. In union with Christ they judge the wicked, deciding every case according to the deeds done in the body. Then the portion the wicked must suffer is meted out, according to their works, and it is recorded against their names in the book of death.

“Satan and evil angels are judged by Christ and His people. Says Paul: ‘Know ye not that we shall judge angels?’ 1 Corinthians 6:3. Jude declares: ‘The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.’ Jude 6.

“At the close of the 1000 years, the second resurrection will take place. Then the wicked will be raised from the dead and appear before God for the execution of ‘the judgment written.’ Psalm 149:9. Thus the Revelator says: ‘The rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.’ Revelation 20:5. And Isaiah declares, concerning the wicked: ‘They shall be gathered together as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.’ Isaiah 24:22. –From Here to Forever, pp. 399-400.

It is during the execution of this judgment that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall swear:

[Isa 45:23 KJV] I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth [in] righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
[Rom 14:11 KJV] For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
[Phl 2:10 KJV] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;

Section 7: The everlasting kingdom

In the dreams and visions of Daniel recorded in chapters 2, 7, 8 and 11, each sweep through all history of the conflict between Christ and Satan here on this earth from the time the vision was given until God establishes his everlasting kingdom on this earth (as portrayed in Rev. 21-22). In each of these visions God’s kingdom is set up without hands (i.e., without human intervention.) For example, in Daniel 2:34, it is described as the stone cut out without hands that ends the world—and this final power in Daniel 8 is destroyed “without hand” (Daniel 8:25).

Affliction shall not rise up again

We can be forever grateful that we have a loving Creator God, who operates His government on a foundation of love, who “will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” [Amos 3:7], and who involves fallen, but repentant sinners in His court case that paves the way to ensure that sin “shall not rise up the second time” [Nahum 1:9].

References

White, E. G. (1947). The Story of Redemption. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association.
Luther, Martin, et al. (1904). Luther’s Church Postil: Gospels First to Twelfth Sunday After Trinity, Volume 4, Based on the Kaiser Chronological Edition, with References to the Erlangen and Walch Editions. Minneapolis, Minn., Lutherans In All Lands Co.
(2020). The Great Prophetic Books of Daniel and Revelation: A Bible Study Journal, Andrews University Press.
White, James, et. al (1850). The Advent Review, Vol. 1, No. 4, Auburn, New York.
White, E. G. (1982). From Here to Forever. Pacific Press Publishing Association.

End Note

The book of Galatians (written by Paul) is often called the Magna Carta of Christian freedom. It follows from this that Martin Luther’s extensive commentary of the book of Galatians is hailed as the great Reformer's Magna Carta of Christian liberty. Luther, as do Christians in general, found it a struggle to reconcile the words of Paul (especially Galations) with the words of James (especially regarding “faith” and “works”). The reference in the header of this paper to the virtual school of one Tyrannus, is a light-hearted attempt at highlighting the words of inspiration from Paul which make it abundantly clear that the repentant sinner is not under the law (i.e., curse of the law) but under grace (i.e., the pardon and power of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ). It is the hope and prayer of the author that this paper not only provides a helpful thumbnail of the history of this world from the perspective of the conflict that is the context of its existence, but that it also proves helpful in better understanding faith in Jesus cannot exist in the absence of endorsing His law and leaning on the power of Grace to live in accordance with His principles of life.