Daniel 2: The Stone Comes from the Mountain
As Seventh-day Adventists we are very familiar with the prophetic history revealed in the metal man image recorded in Daniel chapter two. However, the work of the stone that is cut of the mountain is shrouded in mystery. Upon closer inspection many Adventists are shocked to learn that this stone is not Christ at his second advent. Come investigate the evidence for yourself and see who the stone is a symbol of in the last great work of the gospel as it swells into a Loud Cry. A systematic study outline is provided as a downloadable PDF file at the link following the video viewer.
Daniel 2: The Stone that comes from the Mountain (PDF download)
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
SR vol. 2 p. 161 ” The great stone of Daniel two, that smote the image on the feet is a symbol of the coming of Christ; and the breaking of the image denotes the breaking of the nations. ” This passage is inconsistent to your study. Dan. 2:45. How do you harmonize this? Please reply immediately. Thanks…
Dear Rafael:
Greetings in Christian love!
Thank you for your question. By the grace of God we will endeavor to answer any man of the reason of the hope that is within with meekness and fear.
We can only harmonize the passage in SR Vol. 2, p. 161 with all that the author, Victor Houteff, wrote and published on the subject of the stone smiting the feet of the image. Below are listed several references from the Rod that make it plain that the stone is Christ’s kingdom and this is a symbol of the coming of Christ. As the study sets forth, based solely on the Rod, this involves an in gathering of the living saints, the 144,000 first fruits from the SDA church and then the Great Multitude second fruits from the nations. Finally the saints who die in the faith of Jesus are resurrected just prior to His visible second advent at which time He takes them all to heaven, the kingdom complete. If you would like copies of the any of the original Shepherd’s Rod literature to study for yourself, please let us know and we would be happy to send you some.
Yours in that blessed hope,
The Publishers
“ . . . while on the other hand the church with which God will break the nations, cannot congruously be likened to a woman, but rather to a “stone” (Dan. 2:45), or an “axe.” Jer. 51:20.” — Tract No. 2, p. 26
The “stone” (Dan. 2:45; Zech. 3 :9), the 144,000 (Rev. 14:1), “cut out of the mountain [the Laodicean church] without hands” (without human help), is to break the nations that are symbolized by “the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold” of the great image. And “all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.” So “in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” Dan. 2:44.” — Tract No. 8, p. 63
The work of gathering set forth in these scriptures, shows that before the resurrection of the righteous (1 Thess. 4:16) and before the pre-millennial destruction of the nations, the Lord is to make up His kingdom at first of the living saints only, as seen from the prophecy of Daniel 2: the “stone” being “cut out” of the mountain (Dan. 2:45), and being symbolical of the kingdom of Christ in its beginning (Dan.2:44), then the mountain from which it is cut out, must necessarily represent the church from which the first fruits of the kingdom, the 144,000, are gathered. And as the stone grows and becomes “a great mountain” (Dan. 2:35) after it is “cut out,” it obviously at first represents the kingdom in its infancy — the “first fruits” only. The fact, also, that the stone grows and fills “the whole earth,” is another evidence in the proof that after this long-looked-for kingdom is “set up,” a great multitude is to join it. Were this not so, then the stone could not become “a great mountain.” Its being, furthermore, at first but a very small part of the mountain, shows that the kingdom has a very small beginning, just as the Lord says: “The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, . . . which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs.” Matt. 13:31, 32.” — Tract No. 9, pp. 40-41
The “mountain,” the kingdom of God, clearly then, is begun with the first fruits of the living (the 144,000) and followed by the second fruits of the living (the great multitude — Rev. 7 :9), and is completed with the first and second fruits of the dead — the 120 (those who received the Spirit on the day of Pentecost), plus those who arose with Christ (Matt. 27:52, 53), plus the great multitude who accepted Him after the Pentecost (Acts 5:14), plus all who awake to everlasting life in the resurrection of Daniel 12:2, plus the remaining dead of all ages, who rise on the great resurrection day (Rev. 20:6), also those of Ezek. 37:1-14.” — Tract No. 9, pp. 41-42.
Then, when the gospel work is finished and “the seed of the woman” mature to full-grown Christians (become the Lord’s battle ax — Jer. 51:20) — and bruise the serpent’s head, also smite the wicked nations — Dan. 2:44, 45), then shall be plainly seen that that which the first Adam lost through indulgence, the second Adam through self-control recovered, — the Kingdom Eternal again ruling the whole earth (Dan. 2:35).” — Shepherd’s Rod Tract 1, p. 65
On Daniel’s own word, the stone is symbolical, not of something else, but of the Kingdom, the which in the parable of the wheat and tares Jesus calls “barn,” the place into which He is to put the wheat (saints) after it is separated from the tares (Matt. 13:30). Now mark carefully that according to Daniel’s interpretation the stone depicts the Kingdom, the which God shall set up not after the days of these kings, but in their days, and that the stone Kingdom Itself, not something else, shall break the great image. If our interpretation of the stone contradicts Daniel’s interpretation of it, then we do not only reject Daniel’s inspiration, but even misconstrue the Word of God! We better not.” — Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 15, p. 11
“. . . a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet, . . . and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth . . . and in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, and . . . it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.” Dan 2:34, 35, 44, 45.
What smites the image? Is it not the stone which Daniel reveals is symbolical of the Kingdom of God restored? Also keep in mind the fact that the image is not smitten by the stone until after it (the stone) is cut out of the mountain, without hands, and that afterwards it grows and fills the earth, thus in turn becoming a mountain of itself. In elucidation of this truth, the prophet Isaiah adds:
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” Isa. 2:2, 3.
Thus as the stone, supernaturally cut out of one mountain, supernaturally turns into another mountain, then fills the whole earth, it reveals the process of the prophecy’s turning into history: that the stone (in that it is to grow) is symbolical of the first-fruits in the kingdom; that the infant kingdom begins with the 144,000 “servants of God” (Rev. 7:3); that consequently the church of Laodicea (in that it is the last in which the wheat and the tares commingle, and therefore the one in which the wheat, the 144,000 first fruits, is harvested) is necessarily the mountain out of which the stone, the first fruit of the kingdom, is cut or taken from.
Further, it is seen that their being “cut out without hands,” without human aid, obviously points out the fact that they are garnered by the angels; that their increasing, then, as the growth of the stone reveals, is the result subsequently of the gathering of the second fruits out of all nations, causing the mountain or kingdom, to fill the earth; and that this super-natural work of cutting out the stone, of separating the 144,000, the nucleus of the kingdom, is the purification of the church.
Finally, since the stone, as has been seen, is cut out — the infant kingdom set up — “in the days of these kings” (the toe-kings), not after their days, and since the 144,000 “servants of God” stand on mount Zion (Rev. 14:1), it conclusively follows that the stone kingdom in its beginning is set up in the Holy Land, while the toe-kings are yet in existence.
Beyond question, therefore, the 144,000 guileless servants of God (Rev. 14:5), composing the government of God in its beginning, the stone which smites the image, and which subsequently becomes a great mountain that fills the whole earth, are instrumental in the eventual overthrow of all earthly governments. Accordingly, therefore, of who else at that time in all the world, of who else indeed but themselves, could it be written:
” . . . they are men wondered at; . . . a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.” Zech. 3:8; Joel 2:2.” — Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 46, p. 30
how can be the 144000 become the battle ax after the close of provision?
“Thou [art] my battle ax [and] weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;”– Jeremiah 51:20
If one examines this verse in the context of the entire chapter it can be seen that the prophet is referring to the work of the 144,000 as they preach the Loud Cry, the time in which Babylon falls and God calls His people out (Rev. 18:4). I could encourage you to read Tract Nos. 8 and 9 which go into more detail to explain God’s kingdom will be established and the work of the 144,000 as God’s battle ax. These tracts are found on our publications page at the following link. God bless
http://www.shepherds-rod-speaks.org/rod-publications/
You are quoting Isaiah 2:2. first question: Is it applicable after or before slaughtering? second question: Is it applicable in our time? What’s the relation to this verse to the house of David?
Thank you for your question. We quoted Isa. 2:2 in the Daniel 2 study only to shown that a “mountain” is a symbol of God’s church. In the case of Isa. 2:2 it represents the church during the Loud Cry in a purified state which is after the slaughter. In contrast the mountain in Dan. 2:45 is the SDA church prior to the slaughter as a mixture of wheat and tares. The great mountain in verse 35 of Dan. 2 is the same as the one in Isa. 2:2.
Thanks for the study keep it up
Dear Skhumbuzo,
Thank you for the encouragement and may God richly bless your search for Truth as for hidden treasure.
The Publishers
We must encourage people to repent, and accept Jesus Christ as thier personal saviour and keep His commandmets as He is coming to for the second time. What is it going to assist us to interprete the stone , if its Jesus or not. Who is telling the truth between those coming with this truth and the spirit of prophesy? what is it going assist us after knowing that the stone is not representing christ? is it going to stop His comming?
Dear Friend,
You ask the question what is going to assist us to interpret the stone in Daniel 2? Without inspiration speaking through a prophet then it is impossible for us to understand any prophecy in the Bible except we fall into the dreaded trap of private interpretation which is exactly what has happened to the SDA church in regard to the stone in Daniel 2 and many other prophecies. They rely for the most part on the writings of one man, Uriah Smith and various modern theologians to give to us the meaning yet tragically ignoring what God has sent to us through inspiration in the original writings of the Spirit of Prophecy and the Shepherd’s Rod message. Thus we see the cause for the confusion that abounds as reflected in some of your questions.
We would very much encourage you to investigate the writings of the Shepherd’s Rod as it is the divine remedy for all your questions and will provide answers far beyond man’s feeble wisdom and open up portals of truth from God’s Word that will harmonize all things and cause us to exclaim “what manner of love has God bestowed upon us that we can come to a better understanding of His Word and believe all that His prophets have spoken and prosper in all knowledge and wisdom coming straight from the heavenly portals.” Marvelous truth indeed, come and see for yourself and receive a refreshing from the Lord that nothing can compare. All of your questions will then vanish as the dew escapes the ground under the first warming rays of the morning sun.
Please go to the “Publications” link in the main menu of this website and there you can download copies of the original SRod message as PDF files. Or you can send us a mailing address via email and we would be happy to send you some literature without cost or obligation.
May God bless your search for all Truth as for hidden treasure.
The Publishers
who is victor Houteff!is the shepherds rod not misapplying and misquoting scriptures and the sop
Greetings friend in the name of the only Beloved.
If you would really like to know who is Victor Houteff, then please take the counsel that he himself offered to those in his day asked similar questions. “Read my writings and then you will know who I am.”
Fortunately, all of the original writings of the Shepherd’s Rod is preserved on this website and are available for your earnest investigation as does determine our soul salvation how we treat an inspired message coming from God (please click the “Publications” link in the menu bar). Please take your time to download PDF scans of the original Rod tract literature and read them for yourself to see if they contain Truth that is fully supported by the Word of God.
As to your charge that the Shepherd’s Rod is misapplying and misquoting the scriptures and the Spirit of Prophecy (SOP) you are obliged and will be held accountable to God to give some specific examples by which we will be able to respond and demonstrate that there is perfect harmony between what the Rod teaches and what is found in the Holy Bible and the SOP. Because where ever the Rod is taught the Bible and the SOP are also taught. To fail in this duty required of you would place you into class who falsely accuse a message coming in the name of the Lord without taking the pains to investigate its claims for themselves. We pray and hope that you brother will not fall into this snare of the enemy.
In Christian concern,
The Publishers
My dear brother in Christ,
Your outline of Daniel 2 was spot on! What a blessing it was to read! I praise God for your ministry and helping bring others to the pure and true word of God!
Dear Sister in Christ:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow! We are thankful that you found this study outline on Daniel 2 to be useful. Please feel free to share with our beloved brethren in Laodicea and make use of some of the many resources on this website including more study outlines, video presentations, and downloaded copies of the original Shepherd’s Rod tract literature.
Yours to be used by God as the harvest is ripe and the laborers are few.
In that blessed hope, The Publishers
brethren would you please answer to my question- in bible prophecy a church is referred to as a woman right? so how come you referring the mountain where the ‘stone’ cut out without hands as the Laodicean church?
Dear Confuzed:
It is true that a woman is a symbol of a church as scripture indicates (Jer. 6:2). However, there are also other symbols the depict God’s church as a mountain (Dan. 9:16, 20; Isa. 56:7, Zech. 8:3, Isa. 2:2, 3), or a city (Mt. 5:14, Mic. 6:9, Eze. 9:4). This is not unusual as for example people or nations are symbolized in scripture as water (Rev. 17:5) or grass (Dan. 4:15, Isa. 40:7). Doctrine can be represented by wine (Hos. 4:6-11, Joel 1:1-5, Rev. 14:8, Jer. 51:7) or meat (1 Tim. 4:1, 3, 6; Jn. 6:27; Jn. 4:32-34; Heb. 5:13, 14; Isa. 28:9) just to name a few.
In the case of the stone cut out of the mountain in Dan. 2, since the mountain represents God’s church in the time of the ten toes, the Seventh-day Adventist, then the stone must represent a smaller group of people that are cut out (separated) from the larger church body. And this group of people represented by the stone is none other than the 144,000 living saints.
We can argue no end about the topic you present. But they are still confusing as you do not specify the clear link between the stone cast and the 144k people.
“Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” — Daniel 12:10
Dear Albert, the study in Daniel 2 demonstrating that the stone cannot positively be Christ at His second advent, but rather a purified group of people from the Seventh-day Adventist church is so plain that even a child can see it. Thus no need to argue unless you are the one who does not want to yield your preconceived ideas to the authority and logic of God’s Holy Word. You are the one who will remain confused unless you humble yourself and ask for wisdom from God how to understand and rightly divide the Word of Truth. Our prayers for you are to this end. — The Publishers
I have studied most of the Rod literature. Perhaps never in history has the Word been so forcibly made clear. God bless you.
Dear Brother Sam:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow! We are thankful to God that you have taken the time and effort to read and study the original SRod message for yourself and indeed find that it is the greatest manifestation of light ever made clear and offered for the salvation of souls at the end of this present world. May God help you to remain steadfast in the faith until the end.
In that blessed hope, The Publishers.
my question,,,, what is the meaning Daniel 2:45 ? is it symbolizing Christ the Stone? or else?
Hi Admin, im in need of the shephead’rod
How can i acess it here in zambia?
Dear Seeker for Truth:
The stone in Daniel 2:45 represents the kingdom of God which will be comprised initially of the 144,000 coming from the SDA church and then the Great Multitude (Rev. 7:9) coming from Babylon during the period of the Loud Cry. Below please find a link to a video presentation on this very topic. If you are not able to view video, the second link below provides a Bible study outline on Dan. 2 in PDF format which shows how the stone cannot possibly be Christ coming in the clouds of glory at the 2nd advent. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us anytime. — The Publishers
http://www.shepherds-rod-speaks.org/shepherds-rod-studies/daniel-2-the-stone-comes-from-the-mountain/
http://www.shepherds-rod-speaks.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Dan-2-study-outline.pdf
Dear Friend of the Present Truth,
Please send your request to the following email (hosea21@gmail.com) and include an address where we can send you a resource DVD which contains all of the original Shepherd’s Rod message and associated Bible Study outlines.
May God bless your search for all truth as for hidden treasure, The Publishers
Hi SR admins, I’m all the way in Adelaide Australia, I just need more prove concerning Daniel 2 and more examples from Bible and SOP about whom the stone and mountains resemble in these last days. I am also a disfellowshipped member of the SDA Church because together with my Filipino brethren here, I decided to stand upon Adventist truth and principals, and our local Conferences here are going against what we believe, there’s too much corruption within the local conferences.
Dear Brother Luke:
We thank God for your faithful report and stand for the Adventist truth and principles against the flood of corruption that has come into the church fold. May God continue to grant you faith and perseverance to stand strong, come what may.
In regard to your question about the stone in Daniel 2 below please find the link to a Bible study outline that has several references showing the stone coming from the mountain is the separation of the 144,000 from the SDA church through the purification event found in Ezekiel chapter 9. We will also include some additional scripture references which show that a mountain is God’s people here on earth in the latter days.
http://www.shepherds-rod-speaks.org/shepherds-rod-studies/daniel-2-the-stone-comes-from-the-mountain/
Mountain = church, God’s people
“O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people [are become] a reproach to all [that are] about us. And whiles I [was] speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;” — Dan. 9:16, 20
“Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices [shall be] accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” — Isa. 56:7
“Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.” — Zech. 8:3
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, [that] the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” — Isa. 2:2-3
Stone = Christians (See also: Eph. 2:20-22)
“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” — 1 Pet. 2:5
“And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.” — Zech. 12:3
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter (Petros – a small stone), and upon this rock (petra, a large immovable object) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”– Matthew 16:18 (italics in brackets added)
The teaching that the stone in Daniel 2 is Christ did not originate with Uriah Smith or the pioneers of the SDA church. They all took the Bible as it reads and believed the stone represented Christ’s kingdom. If one looks at all of the published editions of Daniel and Revelation by Elder Smith from 1884 to 1912 they all say the same thing, that the stone is a representation of Christ’s soon coming kingdom. However, in 1944 a committee of scholars from the SDA church decided to tamper with Elder Smith’s book and published a revised edition of Daniel and Revelation. Therein they changed the teaching on the stone by adding the comments of Hippolytus, a 3rd century theologian, who argued that the stone was Christ himself. This is quoted coming from p. 67 of the revised edition footnote 12 as Hippolytus, “Treatise on Christ and Antichrist”, Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 5, p. 210. This deceptive and criminal act was done to contradict the plain teaching coming from the original Shepherd’s Rod message that the stone was the 144,000 separated from the SDA church through the purification event of Ezekiel 9. In was a coincidence that the same year this revised book was published 1944 was the year that the full size SRod study chart on Daniel 2 was revealed plainly showing what the Bible teaches that the stone comes from the mountain on earth, not from heaven. Thus the leaders of the SDA church have purposely tampered with the works of a man long dead (Elder Smith died in 1903) in an effort to deceive the laity. Their crime is recorded in the books of heaven.
To Brother Rafael Alba
The reference 2SR p. 161 is not a contradiction. Notice it says: “The great stone of Daniel two, that smote the image on the feet is a symbol of the coming of Christ; and the breaking of the image denotes the breaking of the nations.”{2SR 161.5}
It states that the stone is a symbol of the COMING of Christ and NOT a symbol of Christ. The 144,000 ultimately “prepare the the way” for second COMING of The Lord Jesus by saving as many souls as possible trapped in the world- wide mark of the beast system. This is clearly revealed and proven with The Spirit of Prophecy if you continue to read the rest of The Shepherd’s Rod publications. Therefore, 2SR p. 161 is still correct, but it was stated in a general fashion. The stone is a symbol of the second COMING of Christ being prepared by the 144,000.
The Shepherd’s Rod Volume 2 is merely the beginning of some of the teachings. The best is still yet to come if you keep reading the rest of The Shepherd’s Rod publications.
There are two different close of probations, one for the church and one for the world and the close of probation for church precedes that of the world’s (1Peter 4:17, 2SR p. 186). The slaughter of Ezekiel 9 will fall upon Israel (Ezekiel 9:4) and the destruction of the 7 plagues will fall upon Babylon (the world)(Revelation 16:19). The slaughter of Ezekiel 9 will precede the destruction of the 7 plagues (1Peter 4:17, 6 angels in Ezekiel 9, 7 angels in Revelation 16, 6 precedes 7).
Thank you Brother Roberto for your excellent analysis. May God continue to bless your search for Truth as for hidden treasure.– The Publishers
The Publisher’s statements here seems explaining different views than the Seventh-day Adventists Church Beliefs on Daniel 2.
Shepherd’s Rod, why are you so controversial, eager and zealous in composing the 144,000? while it was clearly said in Selected Messages vol. 1 page 174 paragraph 3 that ” It is not His (GOD) plan that His (GOD) people shall present something which they have to suppose, which is not taught in the Word(BIBLE). It is not His (GOD) will that they shall get into controversy over questions which will not help them spiritually, such as, Who is to compose the hundred and forty-four thousand? This those who are the elect of God will in a short time know without questio
Is it right to be zealous and eager to be part the 144,000?
Is it right to take over God’s plan? Isaiah 55:8 ” For My thoughts are not your thoughts, so are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
the stone/rock cut out from the mountain in Daniel 2 is in Psalms 18:31 For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?
That is why the Seventh-Day Adventist is true because we believed that the mountain and the rock in Daniel 2:44-45 clearly is the LORD. Why?
lets read Daniel 2:44-45
44. “And in the days of these kings(present time) the God of heaven will set up a kingdom (the Seventh-Day Adventist Church) which shall never be destroyed (because it is God who made the church); and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
45. “Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands (because it is God’s commandments not human endeavor), and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold–the great God has made known the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is true.
It is not the 144,000 endeavors, it is not a number or a thing, there is no such thing but the “LAW OF THE LORD” the only power which will smite the law of the kings here in our present times, because the kingdoms in our present times were runned by earthly and human laws which were like as the old time in babylon. that is why the LORD GOD is making a God abiding church the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Laodicean era.
If we do not accept God as the rock in our faith then we are thinking of a different rock except of Him. Beware of the misleadings.
Dear Frost:
It is best not to be so short sighted to ignore all that Ellen White said about the subject of the 144,000. For example, if we are told to “strive with all the power God has given us to be among the 144,000.” — The Review and Herald, Mar. 9, 1905 then how can we be expected to follow this admonition if we are never to have any discussion on the topic of the 144,000? Perhaps it would be wiser if we humbled ourselves and considered that more light would shine on this most important subject as given below in a quote from the original Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 1, Tract Ed. pp. 6-18.
“The mystery concerning the sealing of the 144,000 is probably peer to any vexed Bible subject. Theory has crowded theory, only the more to mystify and confuse the truth of it. No Christian denomination seems to have escaped the controversy which, in giving rise to many divergent views, has only increased the rift in the Protestant lute.
This has been exceedingly regrettable, and very much the more so among us as Seventh-day Adventists, for long ago the messenger of the Lord admonished us to “strive with all the power God has given us to be among the 144,000″ (The Review and Herald, March 9, 1905), and then graciously placed in our hands the necessary knowledge for the time then present as to when and where, why and what, the sealing is.
“This sealing of the servants of God,” the Lord revealed, “is the same that was shown to Ezekiel in vision.” — Testimonies To Ministers, p. 445. (Read Ezekiel 9).
And in amplification of the subject the messenger wrote: “Especially in the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand who are to stand without fault before the throne of God, will they feel most deeply the wrongs of God’s professed people.” — Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 266.
Accordingly, the marking takes place in the church because of “the abominations” practiced in her midst. Hence, the removal of those who foster the abominations is her closing work, not the world’s.
With this key knowledge in hand, the church was to have gone on enlightenedly with the progress of Truth and at the appointed time be enabled to unlock the mystery. But failing to obey the voice of the Lord and thus to walk in the Light and to advance from knowledge to knowledge, she lost her way and consequently has for years wandered in the wilderness of theory, so to speak.
And while she was in confusion on the subject, the Spirit of Truth pronounced silence on it then to be “eloquence.” But eloquence for how long? Forever? — Obviously not, but only until the Lord Himself should unroll the scroll, the sealing commence, and the subject become present truth. Then silence could no longer be eloquence; in fact, not even possible — not if there are ever to be 144,000 sealed and made ready to stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion (Rev. 14:1).
A thoroughgoing knowledge of the subject must necessarily be of as great importance as is a comprehensive knowledge of Daniel 7, Revelation 13 and 17, the Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14, or any other revealed Bible mystery or prophecy. And how can one escape the slaughter unless one knows what the sealing, marking, is, when it is, and where it is to be?
So while on the one hand is seen the utter necessity and hence the absolute certainty of Inspiration’s fully unfolding the subject at the time of the closing work for the church, on the other hand is seen the consequent utter impossibility of anyone’s discovering the whole truth beforehand.
Any thinker knows that to have made known the truth of it before time, would have left it as vain, valueless, and ineffective as would making known the truth about the image of the beast years before or a minute after it does its deceptive work. But at the striking of the foreordained hour, the time Inspiration unlocks the mystery, all can behold the truth and profit by it. Happily, we can then intelligently strive to be among this guileless company, and can be sealed with them, if we sincerely and steadfastly follow on to know the truth on time.
“When,” someone asks, “will this closing work for the church begin?” — Obviously, it is already in progress. Light is pouring in upon the subject, dispelling the darkness which has long enveloped it. Having consequently become present truth to lighten the way in which the 144,000 are to “follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth” (Rev. 14:4), it must be proclaimed as from the housetops.
In 1844, as all Seventh-day Adventists know, Sister White was given a vision of the 144,000 signalizing the sealing angel’s starting his ascent from the east (Rev. 7:2-4). From then on he was ascending, and the saints were awaiting his arrival. Finally, in 1929, through the Sabbath School Lessons the Lord announced throughout the Seventh-day Adventist Denomination that the angel had arrived. Then the scroll began to unroll and the angel’s presence to be felt by many of those who were agonizing for truth and righteousness.
“But how can we know for sure,” another questions, “that this and companion publications are the genuine fruit of the unrolling of the scroll and of the sealing angel’s arrival?” — Simply if the claimant herein on trial is vindicated by all relevant Scripture and other inspired testimony. And if it is, then the only admissible conclusion is that the Divinely appointed and long-awaited hour has struck, and that this literature is the instrument used by Inspiration to make the event known to God’s people.
Since, as we have previously seen from the Spirit of Prophecy, the sealing and the slaughter take place in the church during the closing work for her, they could not antedate the present time. And the prophecy itself shows that the sealing must begin at a time when her spiritual life is at its lowest ebb, when she is polluted with sin — in “exceeding great…iniquity.” Ezek. 9:9. For it is her defiled condition that causes a Holy God to do in her midst the work of marking, sealing, the saints, and of doing away with the sinners among them.
How did she start to reach this condition? — The servant of the Lord sadly answers:
“The Lord has not closed Heaven to us, but our own course of continual backsliding has separated us from God. Pride, covetousness, and love of the world have lived in the heart without fear of banishment or condemnation. Grievous and presumptuous sins have dwelt among us. And yet the general opinion is that the church is flourishing, and that peace and spiritual prosperity are in all her borders.
“The church has turned back from following Christ her Leader, and is steadily retreating toward Egypt. Yet few are alarmed or astonished at their want of spiritual power. Doubt and even disbelief of the testimonies of the Spirit of God, is leavening our churches everywhere.” — Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 217.
“We have wandered away from the old landmarks. Let us return. If the Lord be God, serve him: if Baal, serve him. Which side will you be on?” — Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 137.
“As Jesus views the state of his professed followers today, he sees base ingratitude, hollow formalism, hypocritical insincerity, Pharisaical pride and apostasy.” — Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 72.
“Who can truthfully say, ‘Our gold is tried in the fire; our garments are unspotted by the world’? I saw our Instructor pointing to the garments of so-called righteousness. Stripping them off, He laid bare the defilement beneath. Then He said to me: ‘Can you not see how they have pretentiously covered up their defilement and rottenness of character? “How is the faithful city become an harlot?” My Father’s house is made a house of merchandise, a place whence the divine presence and glory have departed! For this cause there is weakness, and strength is lacking.’” –Testimonies, Vol. 8, p. 250. “The time has come for earnest and powerful efforts to rid the church of the slime and filth which is tarnishing her purity.” — Testimonies To Ministers, p. 450.
Thus with humiliating certainty we are made to see and to acknowledge that the condition of the church “is deplorable in the sight of God.” — Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 253.
And it is a mournfully admitted fact among all the informed and honest throughout the Denomination, that though she has for years been steadily declining spiritually, she has never hitherto reached her present low level where she retains scarcely any of her former distinction from the world.
“Spiritual death,” laments the Voice of Inspiration, “has come upon the people that should be manifesting life and zeal, purity and consecration, by the most earnest devotion to the cause of truth. The facts concerning the real condition of the professed people of God, speak more loudly than their profession, and make it evident that some power has cut the cable that anchored them to the Eternal Rock, and that they are drifting away to sea, without chart or compass.” — Christ Our Righteousness, p. 36 (1941 edition).
“Men and women are in the last hours of probation, and yet are careless and stupid, and ministers have no power to arouse them; they are asleep themselves. Sleeping preachers preaching to a sleeping people!” — Testimonies, Vol. 2, p. 337.
Indeed, “the conviction is gaining ground in the world that Seventh-day Adventists are giving the trumpet an uncertain sound, that they are following in the path of worldlings.” — Testimonies To Ministers, p. 86.
For all these and for other reasons, some of which we know not, a pure and Holy God is “whetting his sword in Heaven to cut” down those who do not sigh and cry. “Oh that every lukewarm professor could realize the clean work that God is about to make among his professed people!” — Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 190.
“Mark this point with care: Those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen, are those ‘that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done’ in the church.” — Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 267.
“The seal of God will be placed upon the foreheads of those only who sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land.” — Testimonies Vol. 5, p. 212.
Necessarily, “while the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth.” — The Great Controversy, p. 425.
Now that this special work is on, there is doubt no longer that “the days of purification of the church are hastening on apace. God will have a people pure and true. In the mighty sifting soon to take place, we shall be better able to measure the strength of Israel. The signs reveal that the time is near when the Lord will manifest that his fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor.” — Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 80.
In another memorable vision of this same crucial work, Sister White “saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven, descending to the earth, and again ascending to heaven, preparing for the fulfillment of some important event.
“Then I saw another mighty angel,” she continues, “commissioned to descend to the earth, to unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his message. Great power and glory were imparted to the angel, and as he descended, the earth was lightened with his glory…. This message seemed to be an addition to the third message….” — Early Writings, p. 277
And “only those,” avers the Spirit of Truth, “who have withstood temptation in the strength of the Mighty One will be permitted to act a part in proclaiming it [the Third Angel's Message] when it shall have swelled into the loud cry.” — The Review and Herald, No. 19, 1908.
“The great issue so near at hand will weed out those whom God has not appointed, and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain.” — B-55-1886.
Why are the sinners taken from among the righteous before the earth is lightened with the glory of the angel? — Because “one sinner may diffuse darkness that will exclude the light of God from the entire congregation.” — Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 265.
The clear sequence of facts here brought to view conclusively points out that we are now in “the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand”; that the sealing, marking, sifting, shaking, “special work,” “important event,” “closing work,” and “purification,” all result alike in the destruction of the unsealed and in the purification of the sealed. Yes, this is the preparation for the time of trouble, the Loud Cry, the closing work for the world.
Obviously, then, the closing message for the world is proclaimed by the faithful only, and God’s people during the plagues are apart by themselves with no unfaithful among them.
So the subject of the 144,000, with its interrelated subjects coming into clear, harmonious focus, shows that the eleventh-hour call for laborers in the Lord’s vineyard is now in progress, and that now is the time to “strive with all the power God has given us to be among the 144,000.” — The Review and Herald, Mar. 9, 1905.” — Shepherd’s Rod Vol. 1, Tract Ed. pp. 6-18
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.” — 2 Peter 1:20, 21
It is prudent for you to take your time and prayerfully study what inspiration has to say about the stone in Daniel 2 rather than mindlessly repeat what you have been taught without considering that the Bible has two meanings for a stone and in its proper context the stone that comes from the mountain (SDA church) cannot logically be Christ at His second coming because when He comes, He comes from heaven, NOT from God’s church on earth. Think it though without being a bait hunter.
Is 144000 literally.or figurative number
Dear Watson
The 144 000 is a LITERAL number NOT figurative. I will just give you brief reasons for my answer. For more information on your question, please visit the links below.
Reasons why literal:
1. John heard the number (Rev 7:4).
2. John saw the 144 000 standing with the Lamb on Mt Sion (Rev 14:1).
3. John divides the number mathematically (Rev 7:5-8).
4. They are from Israel (modern Israel = SDA Church) (Rev 7:4 and Vol, 9 Testimonies for the Church, page. 164)
5. They are called virgins (Rev 14: and Christ Object Lessons, page 406)
6: Sister EGW says they are numbered. Early Writings, page. 14 “The living saints, 144,000 in number”
https://youtu.be/0PI3HA1Fu6U
http://www.shepherds-rod-speaks.org/rod-publications/
Yours in Christ
Brother Lindoll
The Stone is Jesus. God’s Church is built on a Rock. It is NOT the rock. God’s Kingdom will fill this earth when God makes this Earth brand new.
You really need to study your Bible friend. Where does the stone come from in Dan. 2:45?
Brethren!
“Selected Messages vol. 1 page 174 paragraph 3 that ” It is not His (GOD) plan that His (GOD) people shall present something which they have to suppose, which is not taught in the Word(BIBLE). It is not His (GOD) will that they shall get into controversy over questions which will not help them spiritually, such as, Who is to compose the hundred and forty-four thousand? This those who are the elect of God will in a short time know without question”… A careful reader here will notice that we are here counselled not to get into controversy on who is to “personally” compose or “Not,” the number, 144000 but we can know what this company is…otherwise it would not be necessary to be counselled by the servant of our Lord in Review and Herald march,9 1905 “to strive with the all power that God has given us to be among the hundred and forty four thousands”….