Introduction

	Preparing for the End of Time
	IAUA End Time Ministry
	The Lord is Coming! Are you ready?
(Book Contents) Home

Chapter Contents

Fourth Angel's Message
Foundation Cornerstones

Faith
Prayer
Study

Stages of Growth

Stage One - Babes
Stage Two - Children
Stage Three - Youth
Stage Four - Adult

Biblical prophecy says we are now living in the time of the end. The end of time is very near. The end of this age will not be the result of pollution, nuclear holocaust, ecological catastrophe, or asteroid bombardment. The end of this world will not be from any natural or man-made disaster, though any or all of these things may be a part of the end.
The war in Afghanistan and then Iraq has aroused an interest in the biblical prophecy of Armageddon. Many expect the ongoing instability in the Middle East to lead to a final battle between the forces of good and evil.
Worldwide disasters, including the tsunami in the Indian Ocean, have led to talk about the Apocalypse. Bible prophecy speaks of a cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the ruling powers of evil.
Blockbuster movies, the "Left Behind" series, and spiritualistic themes in television shows have stimulated interest in the rapture, the final tribulation, the mark of the beast, and the mysterious number 666. All of these events are a part of the final prophecies of Daniel and Revelation.
Preparing for the end of time is not about stockpiling food, building shelters, or buying electrical generators. It is about making a spiritual preparation.
Many have a sense of dread of end-time events. This fear is valid if you are not following the will of God. The first of the Three Angels says "Fear God!". This is no mild warning to respect or love God. The Greek word translated here as "fear" means "to put to flight by terrifying".
⁶ And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
⁷ Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Revelation 14:6-7
The fear of God is not because He is scary, angry, or mean. It is because His righteousness is terrifying to anything evil. Those who are following the will of God have a different viewpoint. We do not fear the end of this age of sin. This is a time of great hope and rejoicing. The end of the pains and suffering of this world is coming. These things are the results of sin.
The end of this earth, as we now know it, is an event of cosmic proportions. It is the end of the Great Controversy between good and evil. It is a religious event. What does Bible prophecy tell us about the end of time? How does one prepare for the end of time? What are the issues to understand? I have asked these questions myself. I have found these answers in the Bible.

Fourth Angel's Message

The final message to the world is the Fourth Angel's Message of Revelation 18. This is a message to be proclaimed to the whole world. Then the end will come.
¹⁴ 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.
Matthew 24:14
The Fourth Angel's Message comes out of the Third Elijah Message of Malachi 4. The Third Elijah Message is to the church of the Three Angels' Message of Revelation 14:6-12. It is a message of a simple even primitive godliness without the embellishments and distortions of human traditions.
These messages are the restoration of God's law as practiced by the Savior, the disciples, and the apostles. This book will introduce you to a misunderstood part of God's Law called the statutes.
This book starts with the background needed to lead to an understanding of the final message for our time. This book does not intend to be a detailed persuasive exposition of facts. Think of this book as a study guide to point you to the Bible. It is not my intent to try to convince you of these truths. This book is only planting a seed. (See Matthew 13:3-9, Mark 4:3-9, and Luke 8:5-8.) Understanding requires you to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Conviction of truth can only come from the Holy Spirit. This book will only point you to the scripture passages about this message. You must search these truths and study them for yourself. You must grow the truth in your own heart by your prayer and study. No one can do this work for you.
¹⁰ With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
¹¹ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
¹² Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
Psalms 119:10-12

You will see many familiar scripture passages quoted with unfamiliar context. I hope this will lead you to see a great light, which Satan has hidden for centuries. I am not presenting anything new. I hope you will see, as I have seen, truth, which Satan has buried and denied.
The Fourth Angel's Message is a final restatement of the second of the Three Angels' Message of the Seventh-day Adventist church. I agree with the fundamental beliefs of the Adventist message. The Third Elijah Message of Malachi 4 is calling out a reformation and revival of the church. The purity of the Adventist church and its message is being undermined. The church will soon face the realization God has tied the commandments and the statutes together. Denying one will place you in mockery of upholding the other.
This book begins with the basics before advancing to a greater truth. It is important to have a strong foundation. We must never forget the foundations of our faith. All spiritual growth must build on the foundation of God’s love for us. We must never let the details of truth cause us to lose balance in our lives. The necessity of obedience to God’s Law must never overshadow God’s Love.

Foundation Cornerstones

You must base the practice of true religion on a relationship with God. This relationship has a foundation with three major cornerstones. These three cornerstones are faith, prayer, and study. You must maintain these three cornerstones in a balanced integration. Faith comes first for without faith we cannot come to a relationship with God. Without replacing faith, prayer comes second to maintain our relationship. Study comes third and when integrated with faith and prayer causes our relationship to grow.
Faith or prayer without an ongoing study of the word becomes hollow or repetitious. Study without faith or prayer does not receive the illumination of the Holy Spirit. These three cornerstones work together to increase the depth and effectiveness of each other.
It is also interesting to note the repeating cycle of growth in these words, which show even faith comes from the word.
¹⁷ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17

Faith

Faith is a very broad topic. The English word only appears twice in the Old Testament though the Hebrew words appear 54 times. Habakkuk contains the most fascinating and well known of these passages:
¹ I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
² And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
³ For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
⁴ Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Habakkuk 2:1-4

The preceding scripture from Habakkuk gives great inspiration and hope when applied to the Third Elijah Message and the Second Coming. The following is the parallel passage in the New Testament.
³⁴ For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
³⁵ Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
³⁶ For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
³⁷ For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
³⁸ Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
³⁹ But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Hebrews 10:34-39

Read these passages carefully to draw out the depth of what the Bible says. The Bible translators changed the Hebrew word for faith to many associated and similar words, which give us insight into different aspects. The most numerous of these words are faithfulness, trust, and truth. Interestingly, the Greek word and the modern view seems to emphasize an intellectual belief. The Hebrew concept seems to emphasize a practice of belief, which is more than just an intellectual belief. Read carefully James chapter 2 on this subject.
Prayer

Prayer is our practice of communication with God. Prayer without sincere Bible Study leaves us without His word to speak back to us by the impress of the Holy Spirit. We need to be willing to accept what the Bible says no matter what the church teaches. Others diligently study the Bible, but only with a narrow focus as the church leads them to study, constrained to denominational teachings. A lack of prayer, particularly for the work of the Holy Spirit, fails to reach a deeper understanding in study.
¹⁷ Pray without ceasing.
I Thessalonians 5:17

There is a seeming paradox because we may ask why we need to tell God our needs. He knows what they are. God often tells us we need to ask. The process of asking reinforces in our hearts and minds that He is the provider of all good things. If we ask for selfish and greedy reasons, our wise Father does not indulge us.
² Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
³ Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
James 4:2-3

Prayer changes us and is primarily for our benefit and not for God. It is our offering in a relationship with Him. He is eager to participate in the relationship but He knows the information we offer to Him. We benefit from the conscious interaction with Him and in letting ourselves be open to the impress of the Holy Spirit. Our requests and concerns are like permitting Him to work in our lives over the objection of Satan. Sometimes, to our temporary dismay, He does not grant our every desire to strengthen us.
¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
¹⁸ While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
II Corinthians 4:17

Study

Study of the Bible is the primary focus of this book and this ministry. This does not minimize the importance of faith and prayer. Other ministries focus on faith, prayer and other aspects of a godly life. Our methods in following the call of God on our lives are different but God is the creator of infinite variety. Each has their part in God's plan.
¹⁵ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
II Timothy 2:15

A living, growing faith depends on Bible study for knowledge and understanding of our belief and practice. Powerful prayer is a two-way communication, which depends on Bible study to know and understand what God says to us. Bible study depends on faith and prayer to open our hearts to the work of the Holy Spirit to lead us to an understanding of God's Word.

Stages of Growth

It is important to understand we build our faith in stages. We start as babes in the truth with the simplest understandings. We cannot continue as babies but must grow into all truth. No part of God's message is less important but there are parts, which must come first. These words of the Messiah illustrate this principle.
²³ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Mathew 23:23

Stage One - Babes
The beginning of the truth is the gospel. As babes in the truth, we must immerse ourselves in the good news to the world. God saves us from the eternal death of sin and gives us eternal life when we believe in the Savior.
¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
The penalty of sin is death. (See Genesis 2:17 Romans 6:23.) The Savior paid the penalty and became our sacrifice on the cross at Golgotha. When we believe in the Savior, we study the Bible to learn more about Him. When we learn more about Him, we learn the truth He teaches. When we study and accept these truths, the Savior comes into our hearts. Those who accept the Savior into their hearts begin a life-long study of the Bible to learn the full truth of the gospel. This study leads to baptism and fellowship in the church. This book assumes you have already heard the good news and accepted the Messiah as your Savior.
The "Time of the End" (TOE 01.1/6) YouTube videos and others is a good source of learning the gospel truth. The book Steps to Christ is also a good place to start learning the gospel truth. If you are not already familiar with the gospel, I recommend pursuing a study of gospel truth in parallel with studying the Bible presentations of this book. I encourage you to find and attend a local Seventh-day Adventist church. I encourage you to determine if you can receive 3ABN satellite television or radio for ongoing learning of the full gospel.
Interestingly, some religions teach belief is all you need. How can you say you believe in the Savior if you do not study His words and His life? How can you say you believe in the Savior if you do not follow the truths He teaches?
¹⁶ And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luke 6:46

Stage Two - Children
As children of God, we learn we can be free of the dangers and evils of this world of sin. The pain and suffering of this world is not what God intends for us. Satan tells us God is a tyrant who makes demands on us, which are not necessary. The Bible tells us Satan is a liar. God loves us and desires our good. His requirements are not because He is mean but because He knows what is best for us. His Law of Love offers us an escape from the burdens of sin.
²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
Through prayer and Bible study, we begin a lifetime of growth into all truth. This book assumes you are already in a relationship with the Messiah as your Savior.
The Desire of Ages is a good book to start learning to grow in your walk with the Saviour. If you are not already deeply involved in a study of the Bible, I recommend pursuing a study of Bible truths in parallel with studying the Bible presentations of this book.
Warning! There is a danger as we advance in the study of the new walk of life in the Saviour. We may forget, only accepting the Messiah as our Saviour saves us. Our walk with the Savior brings purity, truth, and righteousness to our lives. This is a result of being saved. It is not the way we are saved.
Stage Three - Youth
As we mature in our study of truth, we learn about the errors of the past. Some of these errors still linger. The Reformation began to reverse the Dark Ages of apostasy and led to the proclamation of the Three Angels' Message for the time of the end. The study of these great truths is necessary to lead to understanding the 21^st century present truth for the end of time. This book makes only a brief mention of these truths as a background leading to present truth.
¹⁴ That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Ephesians+4:14-15

The book The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan is a good place for learning the truths of the Three Angels' Message. If you are not already familiar with the Three Angels' Message, I recommend pursuing a study of those Bible truths in parallel with studying the Bible presentations of this book.
Warning! There is a danger as we learn and obey more of the law of God. We may forget, only accepting the Messiah as our Saviour saves us. We obey the law because we love the Saviour. Obeying the law does not save us. Believing obedience saves you is legalism. Choosing not to obey the law indicates we do not believe in the Saviour and love Him. We may on occasion fail to live according to our understanding of the law.
⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
I John 1:6-10

Stage Four - Adult
When we are mature, we begin studying deep into the issues of present truth for this generation. Truth is progressive! When we faithfully follow the truths we already see, we receive more truth. The “Present Truth” of the 19^th century is not the “Present Truth” of the 21^st century, the last century of this world of sin.
The topics of this book are the study of these Bible truths found in prophecy for the end of time.

The Third Elijah Message
The Fourth Angel's Message
Prophetic understanding of the final events.

¹³ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
John 16:13

Warning! The more we learn, the greater the temptations to forget, we always depend on the grace of God. We love and obey the law because we love the Saviour. If we do not have His love in our hearts, we are worthless. Without this love, the information in this book will seem pointless and legalistic.
I encourage you to determine if you can receive BETV satellite television or Internet streaming (www.BibleExplorations.com) for ongoing learning of the full gospel message.
The Bible alone is the Word of truth. Do not trust any man to be the source of truth. Men can lead us to the truth but depend on God, His Word, and the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth.
⁵ Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
⁶ For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
⁷ Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
⁸ For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
⁹ The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
¹⁰ I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Jeremiah 17:5-10

(Book Contents) Next: The Time of the End

Revised 2015-08-21