"The very name 'Revelation' contradicts the statement that it is a sealed book. 'Revelation' means that something of importance is revealed. The truths of this book are addressed to those {the saints} living in these last days."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 113 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Of all the books of the Bible, the Revelation is the most important to us now for this reason: "In the Revelation all the books of the Bible meet and end" (A.A. 585). Therefore, if we understand this book, the whole of the Bible becomes easier to understand.

In the entire book of Revelation the word "angel" or "angels" is mentioned no less than 70 times. And though the word "angel" is mentioned many more times than 70 in the whole of the Bible, generally referring to literal angels, yet, one must not conclude that all 70 of the "angels" mentioned in the Revelation are literal angels. Since the Revelation is a symbolic book that reveals "something of importance," in symbolisms to God's people "living in these last days," we must conclude that the "angels" mentioned there will primarily have a symbolic meaning.

In the 14th chapter of Revelation there are three angels mentioned in particular that Seventh-day Adventists are familiar with, which they understand as "three angel's messages." These angels have always been correctly understood to be symbolic of "messages" of truth proclaimed by God's people.

"The angels are represented as flying in the midst of heaven, proclaiming to the world a message of warning, and having a direct bearing upon the people living in the last days of this earth's history. No one hears the voice of these angels, for they are a symbol to represent the people of God who are working in harmony with the universe of heaven. Men and women, enlightened by the Spirit of God and sanctified through the truth, proclaim the three messages in their order."--2 Selected Messages, pg. 387 (bold emphasis added).

"To William Miller and his co-laborers it was given to preach the warning in America. This country became the center of the great Advent Movement. It was here that the prophecy of the first angel's message had its most direct fulfillment. The writings of Miller and His associates were carried to distant lands. Wherever missionaries had penetrated in all the world, were sent the glad tidings of Christ's speedy return. Far and wide spread the message of the everlasting gospel. 'Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgement is come.'"--Great Controversy, pg. 368 (bold emphasis added).

"As the churches refused to receive the first angel's message, they rejected the light from heaven and fell from the favor of God. They trusted to their own strength, and by opposing the first message placed themselves where they could not see the light of the second Angel's Message. But the beloved of God, who where oppressed, accepted the message, 'Babylon is fallen,' and left the churches."--Early Writings, pg. 237 (bold emphasis added).

"Our hopes were now centered on the coming of the Lord in 1844. This was also the time for the message of the second angel, who, flying, through the midst of heaven, cried, 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city.' Rev. 14:8. That message was first proclaimed by the servants of God in the summer of 1844. As a result, many left the fallen churches."--Life Sketches, pg. 59 (bold emphasis added).

"The most fearful threatening ever addressed to mortals is contained in the third angel's message. That must be a terrible sin which calls down the wrath of God unmingled with mercy. Men are not to be left in darkness concerning this important matter;..."--Story of Redemption, pg. 383 (bold emphasis added).

"The three angels of Revelation are represented as flying in the midst of heaven, symbolizing the work of those who proclaim the first, second, and third angel's messages. All are linked together. The evidences of the abiding, everliving truth of these grand messages, that mean so much to the church, that have awakened such intense opposition from the religious world, are not extinct."--6 Testimonies, pgs. 17, 18 (bold emphasis added).

"In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchman and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the word of God. They have been given a work of the most solemn import--the proclamation of the first, second, and third angel's messages."--9 Testimonies, pg. 19 (bold emphasis added).

Were it not for the fact that the Spirit of Prophecy admonishes Seventh-day Adventists to look for another message of truth (angel) in Revelation 14, we would come to the conclusion that the three angel's messages are all the messages of truth to be given to us from the Lord. But this cannot be true, because the Bible tells us that there are five angel's messages in Revelation fourteen!

FIVE ANGEL'S MESSAGES!

"All classes of second advent believers agree, that the angel brought to view in the 6th, and 7th verses of this chapter, represents the advent message, to the church and world. If this is true, then all five of the angels brought to view in this chapter represent five distinct messages, prior to the advent, or we are left without a rule to interpret this chapter....The last two angels are messages of prayer. We shall, no doubt, better understand them at the time of their fulfillment: James White."--A Word To The Little Flock, pgs. 10, 11 (bold emphasis added).

Who was this person "James White" that wrote the above statement about Revelation fourteen having five angel's messages? He was the man that Ellen Gould Harmon married; and that, of course, is why she has been known among the people in the Seventh-day Adventist church as Sis. E.G. White--the prophetess (1 S.M. 34:5) of the Lord to that church. In the statement above he stated emphatically that there are five angel messages in Revelation fourteen. And she, being the prophetess of God, was inspired by the Lord to endorse what he wrote, as is noted in her statments below:

"God has permitted the precious light of truth to shine upon His word, and illuminated the mind of my husband."--3 Testimonies, pg. 502 (bold emphasis added).

"He {God} has opened before me many channels of light, not only for my benefit, but for the benefit of His people at large. He has also given my husband great light upon Bible subjects, not for himself alone, but for others."--3 Testimonies, pg. 85 (bold emphasis, braces added).

The fact that God has given "great light" to James White who wrote statements on pgs. 10, 11 in the booklet entitled, A Word To The Little Flock, and that his wife, Ellen White, also wrote in the same booklet on pgs. 12 and 20, proves irrefutably that she accepted and endorsed all that he wrote about the five angels in Revelation fourteen. These facts prove that there are five angel's messages in Revelation 14, contrary to the common belief of Seventh-day Adventists that there are only three angel's messages! And though James White's inspired statement along with his wife's endorsement of it prove this fact indisputable, yet, even without his statement, the Bible Itself proves this fact irrefutably, because we can count them!

The first one is Rev. 14:6; the second one is Rev. 14:8; the third one is Rev. 14:9; the fourth one is Rev. 14:15; and the fifth one is Rev. 14:18. And they all have something in common to prove that they are symbolic of messages--they speak. Yes, all five of the symbolic angels are messages that speak; and they cannot be silent, for they are messages of truth from the Lord voiced to the people. The first one (Rev. 14:7), the second one (Rev. 14:8), and the third one (Rev. 14:9) are all "saying" (speaking) their messages of truth to the people with a "loud voice." The fourth one (Rev. 14:15) is "crying" (speaking) his message of truth to the people with a "loud voice" also, and the fifth one (Rev. 14:18) "cried" (spoke) his message of truth to the people with a "loud cry." What better way could the Lord represent pure messages of truth from His throne, by holy angels who are "saying" (speaking) with a "loud voice," to show the importance of these five messages? How important to our soul's salvation is the correct understanding of the messages of all five of these symbolic angels!

But this is not all of the angels in the 14th chapter of Revelation. There is still another one in verse 17. This angel is different from all the other five angels because he is silent--he does not say anything. Therefore, he does NOT represent a message, because a message (angel) must speak; it must proclaim its message of truth with a "loud voice." The fact that A Word To The Little Flock, pg. 11 did not say "all six" but "all five of the angels brought to view in this chapter represent five distinct messages," proves that the sixth one is NOT a message, for he does NOT speak; he is NOT one of the five angel's messages. This angel is the FORGOTTEN ANGEL--the one that is slighted, ignored, overlooked, neglected, and disregarded. He comes out of the temple and has a sharp sickle. Who is he? We shall learn more about him later, for we cannot afford to forget the FORGOTTEN ANGEL. First, though, before we can learn about the other two angels (messages) or the FORGOTTEN ANGEL, we must clearly understand the purpose of the other three angels.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE THREE ANGEL'S MESSAGES?

"Why David a type?

"Inevitably because he is the only one who perfectly fits the antitype--the leadership in the time of the Loud Cry of the Third Angel's Message. This being so then it necessarily follows that Saul, the first king who reigned over Israel, and who was largely responsible for the early experience of David's life, is a type of the church leadership in the period preceding the Loud Cry--the {Seventh-day Adventist} leadership which was raised up in 1844, and for the sole purpose of gathering the 144,000, the first fruits of the kingdom."--8 Tract, pgs. 47, 48 (bold emphasis, braces added)

One can easily see from this inspired statement that "the leadership which was raised up in 1844," the Seventh-day Adventist ministry, were to preach the three angel's messages "for the sole purpose of gathering the 144,000" into the Seventh-day Adventist church.

"Let Leah represent the true church of Christ (Seventh-day Adventists); Rachel, a sister church, but not the true (Protestant); Zilpah and Bilhah, the world (religious and irreligious). These are the mothers of the 144,000, and the way they (the 144,000) are gathered. But while the twelve tribes came from many mothers, they were begotten by the same father. so with the true--the 144,000. While they are gathered from all churches and the world, they must be brought into one church {Seventh-day Adventists}, at the same period of church history, by the same message (the third angel's message)."---1 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 62 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Such crystal clarity as presented in this inspired statement proves again that the Seventh-day Adventist ministry, "raised up in 1844" were to preach the third angel's message and gather people "from all churches." That is, gather people from "Rachel (Protestant)" and "Zilpah and Bilhah, the world (religious {Jewish, Buddist, Islam} and irreligious {infidels, atheists, heathens)" into one church--Leah, Seventh-day Adventists, "at the same period of church history," so that"for the sole purpose of gathering the 144,000" into the Seventh-day Adventist church from all over the world. This same divine purpose is also found in Rev. 10:10, 11, which John the Revelator wrote, but which refers to other people when his prophecy is fulfilled.

"And I {William Miller and First-day Adventist associates} took the little book {prophecy of Daniel 8:14 for the latter days} out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, by belly was bitter."--Revelation 10:10 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"The latter prophecy has been applied to William Miller after he had studied {ate} the book of Daniel and accepted its teachings. Symbolically speaking, he ate the little book {sweet as honey}, which became a part of him and his co-workers. Had this not been true, he would not have proclaimed the message with such enthusiasm as he did. As the expected event {Christ's 2nd advent} failed to transpire in 1844, to them it was a bitter experience, thus fulfilling the Scriptures that men have eaten the Word of God."--1 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 17 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"And he said unto me, Thou {Sis. White and Seventh-day Adventist associates} must prophecy again before many peoples and nations, and tongues, and kings."--Revelation 10:11 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"To correct their misunderstanding on Dan. 8:14 the prophetic Word of God declared: 'Thou must prophecy again;' that is, repeat the preaching of Christ's coming to earth. But as His people were then greatly confused and unable to reconcile the Scriptures, God sent into their midst, one, Ellen G. Harmon {who later married James White}, seventeen years of age, to be His mouthpiece unto them. She was given a vision relative to the disappointment and the ingathering of the first fruits, the 144,000. (See Early Writings, pgs. 13-20)....Possessed of this understanding, a small group of believers, who later called themselves 'Seventh-day Adventitst,' organized into a body, and zealously moved on with the prospect in view of gathering in 'the servants of God' (the 144,000).... When the long-sought number (144,000) of living church members was finally reached in the year 1917, and the world had yet barely been touched by the message, the leaders of the denomination became confused, but only because they lost sight of the truth that there were bad as well as good in the 'net' (gospel church), as Christ had predicted."--5 Tract, pgs. 102-103 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"So it was that just as soon as the set date in 1844 passed and the peoples' hopes failed, the Lord encouraged them by giving to Sister White a vision of the ingathering of the first fruits, the 144,000 the first to get to Mount Zion and there to stand with the Lamb (Rev. 14:1), the comfort of Zion and of Jerusalem. so they started out again with a set goal to gather the 144,000 guileless servants of God, those who were to be used for the ingathering of the second fruits, the innumerable multitude out of all nations (Rev. 7:9). But as time went on rather than working with God the denomination backslid by unbelief in the Spirit of Prophecy (Testimonies, Volume 5, pg. 217) and thus lost sight of the Truth that was yet to be unfolded, and the which is now brought to light."--1 Timely greetings, No. 11, pg. 9 (bold emphasis added).

With the foregoing inspired references, one should clearly see that the purpose of the three angel's message is to "prophecy again before many peoples and nations, and tongues, and kings," (Rev.10:11) to gather the 144,000 into one church--the Seventh-day Adventist church. And after they are gathered into this one church, they must be sealed. For not all of the Seventh-day Adventists are to be of the 144,000; some are wheat and some tares. Consequently, the wheat must be sealed apart from the tares, which is noted in the Bible.

THE MESSAGE THAT IS TO SEAL THE 144,000

"And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice... And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel."--Rev. 7:2, 4.

"This angel's message of Revelation 7--the angel ascending from the east--is as important as the first, second, and third angel's message of Rev. 14:6-11....This angel of Revelation 7, can not be the third angel, for John's explanation of them differ. The three angels of Revelation 14 are flying in the midst of heaven, or where the sun stands at noon, but the one of Revelation 7, is ascending from the east, or the rising of the sun."--1 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 15 (bold emphasis added).

"This particular angel is ascending from the east. 'Ascending' here could not mean departing or flying away, but simply coming, or advancing. For example, in the morning while the sun is rising or ascending, the temperature gains in heat as it nears mid-day; just so with this angel that is to seal the 144,000. The angel was seen coming, but he is taking time. the sealing cannot begin until after he arrives, for the seal of the living God is in his possession. If we can locate the time when he arrives we may know the beginning of the sealing time of the 144,000."--1 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 22.

"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."--1 Shepherd's Rod, pocket ed., pg. 10 (bold emphasis added).

"If we were to mark out the exact time of the beginning of this sealing, we would say it began sometime during 1929."--1 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 32 (bold emphasis added).

"In compliance with the Lord's command, we should now with open ears hear the Rod's message--THE SEALING OF THE FIRSTFRUITS--THE 144,000."--1 Shepherd's Rod Tract, pgs. 6, 7.

"Thus, the sighing and crying since 1929 for the abominations in the church, has been the supreme evidence that we are living in the period of the sealing."--2 Answerer Book, pg. 34 (bold emphasis added).

Just as the Seventh-day Adventist ministers are commissioned to preach the three angel's messages, and "prophecy again before many peoples and nations, and tongues, and kings" (Rev. 10:11) to bring the 144,000 into the Seventh-day Adventist church, so it was that after the arrival of the sealing angel in 1929 the Davidians were commissioned to preach the sealing message to Seventh-day Adventists that all the 144,000 may receive the Truth, and be sealed by the "angel ascending from the east." (Rev. 7:2).

"Therefore, as the sealing message makes its way through the {Seventh-day Adventist} church, only those who awake and reform (sigh) and endeavor to share with others (cry) the light that is shining upon them, will receive the seal....If one cannot part from his sins now, neither will he later."--2 Answerer Book, pg. 34 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"The price they had to pay was to 'sigh and cry for the abominations done in the midst thereof,' give up sinning and obey the truth. Their receipt for the value of the exchange would have been the seal of the living God in their foreheads."--2 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 183 (bold emphasis added).

And when the sealing angel has sealed all the 144,000, then they are reaped:

JESUS REAPS 144,000 BY THE SLAUGHTER OF EZEKIEL 9

"'The seal of the living God,' the Truth, by which the 144,000 are sealed (Rev. 7:2), is a special seal, being the same as 'the mark' of Ezekiel 9."--2 Answerer Book, pg. 32 (bold emphasis added).

"Now if the sealing of the 144,000 of Revelation 7, is the same as {the marking of} Ezekiel 9, in order to find the kind of sealing it is, and the time of its beginning, we must study Ezekiel 9:1-9."--1 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 26 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"Those who are sealed from 1929 to the fulfillment of Ezekiel 9, (close of probation for the church), are living saints, 144,00 in number, who shall never die--translated without tasting death. The class which neglected their opportunity were left without seal to perish under the ruin of Ezekiel 9; Isaiah 63; and Isaiah 66:15-17."--2 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 162 (bold emphasis added).

"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. This is forcibly set forth by the prophet's illustration of the last work under the figure of the men each having a slaughter weapon in his hand. One man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side....Read the ninth chapter of Ezekiel."--3 Testimonies, pg. 266:2, 267:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Note that the above references clearly reveals that the sealing is the same as the marking of Ezekiel 9:1-9, which describes a slaughter of all the wicked in the Seventh-day Adventist church who failed to receive the mark or seal. After the three angel's messages of Rev. 14:6-11 has done its work of bringing thousands into the Seventh-day Adventist church; and after the sealing angel of Rev. 7:2-4 has sealed 144,000 out of many thousands of Seventh-day Adventists; then the sanctuary work in heaven--judgment of the dead--will cease for "half an hour" (Rev. 8:1), at which time Jesus, as our high priest, leaves the heavenly sanctuary, comes to the earth, and destroys all the Seventh-day Adventists who do not have the seal, and reaps the remaining 144,000. The Lord's coming to slay all the wicked in the Seventh-day Adventist church "under the ruin of Ezekiel 9; Isaiah 63; and Isaiah 66:15-17" (2 S.R. 162) is described in the following references:

"Thus, while the five men {angels--Gen. 19:1,5; T.M. 431} with the slaughter weapons are taking away those {wicked} represented by the tares within the {Seventh-day Adventist} church, there will be silence in heaven {no judgment} for about half an hour (seven days), after which the judgment will commence again for {for the living of} those who shall be sealed in the time of the great harvest {great multitude}, which is the end of the world."--2 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 217 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I {Jesus} that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger {for 7 days}, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment."--Isaiah 63:1-3 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"In vision the prophet saw someone with blood-stained garments hastily returning from Edom and Bozrah. To the prophets question, 'Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?' came the answer, 'I {Jesus} that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.'

"Who else could this person be but the Lord {Jesus} Himself, the Saviour of the world, the Mighty One to save?"--1 Timely Greetings, No. 43, pg. 13 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"As the prophet saw the day of vengeance upon the sinners in Zion {the Seventh-day Adventist church}, and the Lord returning from the slaughter, he asked: 'Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I {Jesus} that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.'"--2 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 101 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"The prophet saw Christ Himself returning from the slaughter of the Edomites--the class who were deceiving God's people in the church, the tares, or adversaries who had trodden down His sanctuary. 'Bozrah' means 'sheepfold' {Jn. 10:--the {Seventh-day Adventist} church. He saw His garments stained with the blood of the tares, in delivering His people from their hands. The prophet asked: 'Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?' The purification of the church makes it necessary for Christ to leave the place of the judgment and descend to deliver His redeemed (the 144,000), and this is what causes the judgment to cease, and the voices to be silenced for about half an hour--seven days."--2 Shepherd's Rod, pgs. 217, 218.

"Before the gospel goes to all nations, a great slaughter {of the wicked in the Seventh-day Adventist church} takes place.

"'For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.' Isa. 66:16

"Here you see that very thing--a great slaughter; and that by the Lord {Jesus} Himself."--6 Tract, pg. 67 (bold emphasis, braces added).

The crystal clarity of the foregoing references conclusively proves Jesus will leave the heavenly sanctuary, after the 144,000 have all been sealed, and come to the earth to destroy all the tares in the Seventh-day Adventist church and reap, by the slaughter of Ezekiel 9, 144,000 saints. This same coming of Isaiah 63:1-4 and Isaiah 66:15-17, though invisible to the human eye, is described in the book of Revelation, chapter 14, verse 14

"And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man {Jesus}, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle."--Rev. 14:14.

Thus, this coming of Jesus on the "white cloud" is the same coming in Isa. 63:1-4 when Jesus, "I {Jesus} that speak in righteousness, mighty to save, " comes from the slaughter of the wicked in "Edom," stains his "garments" with their blood, and reaps the "redeemed" (Isaiah 63:4), the 144,000 from "Bozrah," the Seventh-day Adventist church. It is also the same coming in Isaiah 66:15, 16 when Jesus comes "with his chariots like a whirlwind," to reap the 144,000, "those that escape"(Isaiah 66:18) the slaughter, when "the slain of the Lord shall be many." Both comings, Isaiah 63:1-4 and Isaiah 66:15,16, are the same coming of Jesus on the "white cloud" in Rev. 14:14 to reap the 144,000; but His coming described in Isaiah 63:1-4; 66:15, 16 primarily deals with the destruction of the tares, whereas His coming in Rev. 14:14 is primarily dealing with the reaping of those left from the slaughter--144,000.

We have already learned that before Jesus can come and slay the wicked, He must first send a message of truth to seal the 144,000 in order to know who He is to slay and who are the 144,000 He is to deliver. This sealing angel (message) of Rev. 7:2-4 which is to seal the 144,000 is the same as the fourth angel:

THE FOURTH ANGEL'S MESSAGE OF REVELATION 14:15

"And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat of the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap; for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe."--Revelation 14:15.

Since "A Word To The Little Flock" on page 11 says there are five angel's messages in Revelation, chapter 14; and since we have already counted them and found the angel of Rev. 14:15 to be the fourth one; and since the Shepherd's Rod message came, after the three angel's messages, with the sealing message of Rev. 7:2-4, then this fourth angel of Rev. 14:15 and the one of Rev. 7:2-4 must both represent the same sealing message that seals the 144,000.

Both angels are messages, because they both speak with a "loud voice"--Rev 7:2 and Rev. 14:15. The sealing angel of Rev. 7:2-4 represents the time the sealing message started his ascent "from the east" in 1844, to the time he finally arrived in 1929 (1 S.R. pocket edition, page 10), to begin to seal the 144,000 until the sealing is completed; for John "heard the number of then which were sealed"--144,000 (Rev. 7:4). John could not have heard the number if they had not been first sealed by the sealing angel. And the angel of Rev. 14:15 represents the same sealing message of Rev. 7:2-4, but only after the sealing is completed, when he instructs Jesus to thrust in His "sickle and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap" the 144,000.

This fact is clearly seen because the angel cries with a "loud voice" (message speaks) to "him that sat on the cloud," and tells Him to "thrust in thy sickle, and reap." That is, this sealing angel (message) has done its work, and the 144,000 have been all sealed, signalizing that Jesus is to come and slay the wicked, and "reap" the 144,000. Only the angel (message) could know when to "reap;" only the angel could say "the time is come for thee to reap;" only he would know that "the harvest of the earth is ripe"--144,000 all sealed. Thus, Jesus must wait until the angel of Rev. 14:15 has sealed all the 144,000 before He can appear on the "white cloud," thrust in His "sharp sickle," and "reap" the 144,000, who "follow the Lamb withersoever He goeth." (Rev. 14:4).

Note that "He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped" (Rev. 14:16), after the angel in verse 15 had told Him that "the time is come for thee to reap." Thus, when the Shepherd's Rod message has finished its work, and all the 144,000 from the Seventh-day Adventist church has accepted the message of Rev. 7:2-4 and Rev. 14:15, then will Jesus come on the "white cloud" to "reap" them.

Now since the 144,000 have not all been sealed as of yet, and Jesus has not yet appeared on the "white cloud" to "reap" them, it proves the Shepherd's Rod message (Rev. 7:2-4 and Rev. 14:15) is still "present truth" for today, not some other messages men have appointed to get a following.

Furthermore, the fact that the "angel came out of the temple" (Rev. 14:15), representing a message of truth coming directly from the throne in the heavenly sanctuary (temple), proves it to be the Voice of the Lord in the form of a message to the Seventh-day Adventist church, while they are proclaiming the three angel's messages during the judgment of the dead.

"The Lord's Voice crieth unto the city [S.D.A. church], and the man of wisdom shall see Thy name: hear ye the Rod, and Who [God, not man] hath appointed it."--Micah 6:9.

"Now it is up to all of us individually to decide whether we {Seventh-day Adventists} should hear the voice of man or the Voice of God's Rod. This is now everyone's test, and it must be everyone's concern, for one of these two voices--the voice of men or the Voice of God's Rod--will determine everyone's destiny either for eternal death or for eternal life."--1 Timely Greetings, No. 27, pg. 8:1.

All Seventh-day Adventists who do not hear this angel's message of Rev. 14:15, who hear someone else instead, will not be sealed as one of the 144,000. They will be cut down in the slaughter of Ezekiel 9. But this fourth angel is not all of the angels in revelation 14; there is another one:

THE SIXTH ANGEL OF REV. 14:17---THE FORGOTTEN ANGEL

"And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle."--Rev. 14:17.

Now since this angel is silent, does not speak, he cannot symbolize a message as the other five angels in Rev. 14 represent, for they speak their messages of truth with a "loud voice." Remember, "A Word To The Little Flock" on page 11 says there are only five angel's messages in Rev. 14, whereas there are in reality six angels counted, but the sixth angel does not symbolize a message.

Why, though, is it that this angel is forgotten? Why has he not been understood? Why has he been overlooked, neglected, and disregarded? Could it be that because Seventh-day Adventists have repeated the words "three angel's messages" for so many years that they have come to assume that an angel in the Revelation must always symbolize a message? Is it because this sixth angel would interfere with someone's private opinion, that does not harmonize with the Bible; and that is why this angel is forgotten, ignored, and disregarded? Could there be another meaning for the word "angel" in the Revelation besides a "message"? Yes, there is! "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,..."--Rev. 3:14.

Since Jesus explained in Rev. 1:20 that "the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches;" and since "Sanctified Life," page 78 says "In his hand are seven stars, representing the ministers of the churches;" and since "Gospel Workers," page 13 says "God's ministers are symbolized by the seven stars;" then it should not be too hard for one to see that an "angel" also symbolizes "ministers."

"The 'angel,' the one that has charge of the {Seventh-day Adventist} church, cannot represent any class but the ministry of the church, His servants."--2 Timely Greetings, No. 11, pg. 17 (bold emphasis, braces added).

After quoting Rev. 14:14-16, the SRod says: "This coming of the Son of man {Jesus} is plainly, therefore, not when the resurrected and the living righteous are caught up together to meet Him in the air: for verses 17-20, following the ones quoted in the paragraph above, reveal that after He came and reaped the earth, 'another angel...having a sharp sickle' came and reaped a second harvest before the wrath of God--the seven last plagues (Rev. 15:1)--was poured out upon the wicked."--3 Tract, pg. 48 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Again, after quoting Rev. 14:14-19, the Rod says: "Here we are again told that there are two reapings: one by the Son of man {Jesus}, and another by an angel. The reaping by the Son of man precedes the reaping by the angel. 'The Son of man,' therefore, gathers the first fruits {144,000}, and the angel {144,000} gathers the second fruits {great multitude}....The Son of man {Jesus} Himself obviously reaps the firstfruits because His servants (figuratively the angel {ministers} of the church of the Laodiceans) are in no condition {unfit--1 Ans. 83:1} to do such a work, for they themselves are 'wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked,' and know it not (Rev. 3:14-18)."--2 Timely Greetings, No. 44, pg. 37 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"For the second reaping {of the great multitude}, however, He uses His guileless 'servants,' the 'firstfruits,' the 144,000, as prefigured by the angel with the sharp sickle (Rev. 14:17, 18)."--2 Timely Greetings, No 44, pg. 38 (bold emphasis, braces added).

The crystal clarity of the foregoing references proves conclusively that the sixth angel of Rev. 14:17--the forgotten angel thats neglected, disregarded, and ignored---is none other than the 144,000 "servants of God"---the Lord's gospel ministers. And when we consider the following truths: (1) that the angel (ministers) of Laodicea (Rev. 3:14), Seventh-day Adventist church, are commissioned to preach the three angel's messages (Rev. 14:6-11) to bring the 144,000 into the church; (2) that the fourth angel (Rev. 14:15) is the message of the SRod sent to seal the 144,000 (Rev. 7:2-4) out of the thousands of Seventh-day Adventists; (3) that Jesus is to come on a "white cloud" (Rev. 14:14), after the 144,000 are all sealed, to destroy the tares and "reap" the 144,000; then, we should be able to see this truth: (4) that the sixth angel (Rev. 14:17) must represent the sealed 144,000 ministers (priests) whom Jesus, on the "white cloud," "reaps" after He slays the wicked in the Seventh-day Adventist church by the slaughter of Ezekiel 9 (Isa. 63:1-4; 66:15, 16), who failed to secure the seal.

"In volume 5, pages 475-6, speaking of the 144,000, we read: 'They are to be as kings and priests unto God..."These are they which follow the Lamb withersoever He goeth."' Therefore, the {angel} 144,000 are priests, and Christ the High Priest, (and King)."--1 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 39 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Note that the 144,000, the sixth "angel came out of the temple which is in heaven" (Rev. 14:17). This "temple" is the heavenly sanctuary where the judgment began in 1844. The fact that the "angel," the 144,000, came from the temple proves that they were acquainted with the work of the heavenly sanctuary, and had received a divine commission from the Lord, who sits on the throne in the Most Holy apartment of the heavenly sanctuary (temple). And before the 144,000 could come "out of the temple," they had to first go into the temple and stand before the Lord where "they sung as it were a new song before the throne" (Rev. 14:3). How is it, though, that the 144,000 (angel) can go into the temple in heaven, and yet still be on the earth in their mortal state? The following references should answer and clarify any misunderstanding on this point.

"I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son....Before the throne I saw the Advent people--the {Seventh-day Adventist} church and the world. I saw two companies, one bowed down before the throne, deeply interested, while the other stood uninterested and careless."--Early Writings, pg. 54 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"Now this company was in this mortal state, on the earth, yet represented to me as bowed before the throne. I never had the idea that these individuals were actually in New Jerusalem."--Early Writings, pg. 92 (bold emphasis added).

"They {Seventh-day Adventist} were not to be present in person at the marriage; for it takes place in heaven, while they are upon the earth. The followers of Christ are to 'wait for their Lord, when He will return from the wedding.' But they are to understand His work, and to follow Him by faith as He goes in before God. It was in this sense that they are said to go in to the marriage....And all who through the testimony of the Scriptures accept the same truths, following Christ by faith, as He enters in before God to perform the last work of mediation, and at its close to receive His kingdom,--all these are represented as going into the marriage."--Great Controversy, pgs. 427,428 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Thus, when Jesus comes on the "white cloud" (Rev.14:14) to the Seventh-day Adventist church, He "reaps" (Rev. 14:16) the 144,000, who are "bowed down before the throne, deeply interested" in the sealing message (Rev. 14:15), and have gone into the "temple" by faith, while in their "mortal state;" but He slays all the others who "stood uninterested and carele-the . They did not enter the "temple" by faith, nor did they get the seal. And if they refused to enter the "temple" by faith, they could not come out of the "temple" "having a sharp sickle;" and thus, be one of the 144,000--symbolized by an angel!

Furthermore, note that the sixth angel (the 144,000) also has a "sharp sickle" (Rev. 14:17), just as Jesus on the "white cloud" has "in His hand a sharp sickle" (Rev. 14:14). And as Jesus uses the "sharp sickle" to "reap" the 144,000 ministers (angel of Rev. 14:17), so the angel (144,000) in turn uses his "sharp sickle" to reap the great multitude. This further proves that the sixth angel (Rev. 14:17) is not a message, for none of the five angel's messages have a "sharp sickle" to reap with; they only cry with a "loud voice;" they do not reap. And the fact that the sixth angel is to reap, proves that there must also be a message (angel) to tell the 144,000 when to reap a harvest of souls; just as the fourth angel (message of Rev. 14:15) told Jesus on the "white cloud" (Rev. 14:14) that the 144,000 had all been sealed, and when He was to "reap" them.

Now since "A Word To The Little Flock," pg. 11 says that "all five of the angels brought to view in this chapter represent five distinct messages, prior to the advent;" and since we have already counted four of them--three in Rev. 14:6-11 and the fourth one in Rev. 14:15; then, there is no way of escaping the conclusion that there can only be one angel's message left in the fourteenth chapter of Revelation that cries with a "loud voice." And that message is the fifth angel.

THE FIFTH ANGEL'S MESSAGE OF REV. 14:18

"And another angel {message} came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him {angel--144,000} that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe."--Revelation 14:18 (bold emphasis, braces added).

The fact that this angel "cried with a loud cry" proves that he symbolizes a message which comes directly from the heavenly sanctuary (temple), where the "altar" stands. But why is the "altar" mentioned? Because this angel "had power over fire" which is burning on the "altar." This "fire" on the "altar" represents the power of the Holy Spirit.

Note the similiar verse in the Revelation speaking about "fire" being the Holy Spirit: "And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer;...And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth:..." (Rev. 8:3,5).

"The casting of the fire from the altar into the earth is the outpouring of the spirit of God. We have stated before that the book of Revelation is a revealing of prophecies, and not a prophecy of itself. Therefore, we find the prediction of this glorious event in Joel 2:28, 29."--2 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 221 (bold emphasis added).

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit."--Joel 2:28, 29 (bold emphasis added).

Now the fact that the casting of the fire (Holy Spirit) in Rev. 8:5 is after the half-hour silence (Rev. 8:1)--the slaughter of Ezekiel 9 (2 S.R. 217)--proves that not until after the tares have all been destroyed, will the 144,000 receive the Holy Spirit. This is proven in Ezekiel 10:2, after the slaughter of Ezekiel 9, that the "coals of fire" scattered "over the city" represents the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

"The scattering of the 'coals of fire...over the city' represents absolute purification of the heart (Gospel Workers, pg. 23) effected by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon those who receive the 'mark'--those who escape the 'slaughter'"--1 Tract, pg. 39. (See 3 Tract, pg. 86 and 1 Answerer Book, pg. 91).

Plain it is , then, that after the Seventh-day Adventist ministry (angel of Rev. 3:14) preaches the third angel's messages (Rev. 14:6-11), and bring in people by the thousands; and after the fourth angel's message (Rev. 7:2-4; 14:15) seals the 144,000; and after Jesus comes on the "white cloud" (Rev. 14:14), slays the wicked, and reaps the 144,000 (6th angel of Rev. 14:17), then, as ministers (priests) the 144,000 (angel) will preach the message of the Loud Cry (5th angel of Rev. 14:18) with the power of the Holy Spirit (fire) from the "altar." and bring in the great multitude of people (Rev. 7:9) out of Babylon.

"A great army of 144,000 filled with the Holy Ghost will fearlessly proclaim the message in all the world, going forth conquering and to conquer."--1 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 178 (bold emphasis added).

"As the 144,000 are the 'first fruits,' the fulfillment of Ezekiel 9 and the sealing of the servants of God (the 144,000), marks the commencement of the final harvest, or as it is also called, 'The Loud Cry.' At that time the great multitude of Revelation 7:9, will be gathered in the church by the servants of God (the 144,000) {angel}. (See Isaiah 66:19, 20)."--2 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 162 (bold emphasis, braces added).

This message of the fifth angel in Rev. 14:18 is the same as the message of the angel in Rev. 18:1--Loud Cry angel. "And after these things I saw another angel {message} come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory."--Revlation 18:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"Then I saw another mighty angel commissioned to descend to the earth, to unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his message....The work of this angel comes in at the right time to join in the last great work of the third angel's message as it swells to a loud cry....And I heard voices which seemed to sound everywhere, 'Come out of her, My people {great multitude}, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues....This message seemed to be an addition to the third message, joining it as the midnight cry joined the second angel's message in 1844."--Early Writings, pg. 277. (See G.C. 425, 604, 611; T.M. 300, 468; 1 S.M. 192) (bold emphasis, braces added).

It is as clear as crystal to see that both angels, Rev. 14:18 and Rev. 18:1-4, are the one and same message, because both messages teach the same truth that brings in a great multitude from Babylon, the second fruits, during the same period of time--the Loud Cry. The angel of Rev. 14:18 indentifies the people (144,000) who, being filled with the Holy Spirit (fire) will take their "sharp sickle" and "reap" the great multitude; whereas the angel of Rev. 18:1-4, being the same message, identifies where these people are gathered--from Babylon. Both angels represent the same Loud Cry message; both angels identify two peoples--the 144,000 gathering a great multitude.

These two groups are further seen when we compare Rev. 14:15 with Rev. 14:18. In Rev. 14:15 the angel told Christ to "reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe." The harvest that Christ gathers out of the Seventh-day Adventist church represents the "wheat" (Matt. 13:30), the 144,000, but the tares He destroys by the slaughter of Ezekiel 9. In comparing Rev. 14:18, the angel told the 144,000 to "gather the clusters {grapes} of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe." The harvest that the 144,000 gathers represents the "grapes"--the great multitude out of Babylon, while the wicked in Babylon are destroyed as vines (Rev. 14:19) being "cast into the great winepress of the wrath of God."--seven last plagues. That is:

"'The Son of man {Jesus},' therefore, gathers the firstfruits {144,000}, and the angel {144,000} gathers the second fruits. (The vines, not the fully ripe grapes {great multitude}, he casts in the wine press.)"--2 Timely Greetings, No. 44, pg. 37 (bold emphasis, braces added).

The fourth message (angel) of Rev. 14:15 seals the "wheat"--144,000 (Rev. 7:4-8), but the fifth message (angel) of Rev. 14:18 seals the "grapes"--great multitude (Rev. 7:9).

"While this great multitude is being made up and gathered into His barn {kingdom church}, the reapers {angels--Mt. 13:39} are binding the wicked in bundles (separated, or kept apart from the church) for the wrath of God. See Rev. 14:19."--1 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 104 (bold emphasis, braces added).

A natural question that many Bible students will ask is this: "What message, then, is this fifth angel's message of Rev. 14:18--the Loud Cry angel of Rev. 18:1-4"? A careful study of the Bible along with the SRod message reveals conclusively that the SRod is the Loud Cry message.

SHEPHERD'S ROD IS THE LOUD CRY MESSAGE OF REV. 14:18

"To get the proper understanding of the third angel's message we shall divide it into three periods: (1) Beginning of the proclamation of the true Sabbath, Rev. 14:6-11; (2) Reformation, and sealing of the 144,000, Rev. 7:1-8; (3) The Loud Cry, Rev. 18:1. The truth being known, it is evident that we are in the second period. If we had not known the commencement of the third angel's message in its beginning, we would have had no message. Therefore, we must know the time of the last two periods when they came, being of no lesser importance."--1 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 32.

Since we already know that the third angel's message of period one has been preached by Seventh-day Adventists since 1844; and since we also know that the sealing message of Rev. 7:1-8, the second period, has been preached since 1929; then we must know when the third period, the "Loud Cry, Rev. 18:1" message, is to begin. For the above statement says "we must know the time of the last two periods when they came." The following inspired statement says the Loud Cry message commenced in the year 1930.

"When will this chariot arrive? How long will it stay?

"When considered in the light of the four main facts so far established, these questions are virtually self-answering: (1) the Lord comes to earth in this chariot; (2) from it He commands Ezekiel to go speak to His people; (3) Ezek. 1 did not bear the message to the people of his day; (4) he will bear it to the people at the commencement of the 'Loud Cry.'

..."And that the church has already reached this time and condition is conclusively evidenced by the threefold fact that the first part of this 'most startling revelation' (dilated herein), was published in December, 1930, in a 255-page book entitled The Shepherd's Rod, Vol. 1; that the second part was published in the month of September, 1932, in a 304-page book entitled The Shepherd's Rod, Vol. 2; and that the third part--the series of tracts (of which this is the first) which since 1933 aggregates to date some 898 pages--comprises Volume 3.

"The fact, therefore, that from the chariot, the Lord commands the prophet to go speak, bear the message to His people, and that the message totals over 1250 pages of literature published since 1930, unfolding its truth from different angels, solemnly reveals that the chariot, though invisible to human beings (as to 'the young man' were the chariots which covered the mountains--2 Kings 6:17), has already arrived."--1 Tract, pgs. 36, 37 (bold emphasis added).

Now since Ezekiel was to bear his message "to the people at the commencement of the 'Loud Cry'," after the chariot had arrived in 1930, which is The Shepherd's Rod, Volumes 1 and 2; then the third period, mentioned in 1 S.R., pg. 32--"the Loud Cry, Rev. 18:1" (message)--commenced in the year 1930. This is further proven again in the following inspired statement:

"This {Shepherd's Rod} message, as some of you already know, began to unfold in 1930. ...Since we have seen that the 430 years ended in 1930, we had better now find out when the 390 years ended, the time the 40 years of grace began. To find this date we subtract 40 years from 1930, which takes us back to 1890. What happened then to mark the beginning of the 40 years?--Just this: The denomination then wholly rejected the message that was to unfold the truth of 'righteousness by faith' and the 'righteousness of Christ,' the very truth that again began to unfold years later, the Truth that we are now feasting on!"--2 Timely Greetings, No. 39, pgs. 18, 19 (bold emphasis, braces added).

What is this message of " righteousness by faith," that was rejected in 1888--1890, which came back later in 1930, "that we are now feasting on"--contained in the Shepherd's Rod message? When we consider what the Spirit of Prophecy says about "THE MESSAGE OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH," brought by "Elders Waggoner and Jones" (T.M. 91), "the third angel's message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure" (T.M. 92); and "The light that is to lighten the whole earth with its glory was resisted, and by the action of our own brethren has been in a great degree kept away from the world" (1 S. M. 235), we can easily see that the Loud Cry message (Rev. 18:1) which "is to lighten the whole earth with its glory," righteousness by faith, that was rejected in 1888, came back in 1930 in the form of The Shepherd's Rod message, which "we are now feasting on."

"There must be a marked difference between the voice of the message before the Loud Cry, and the voice of the message in the Loud Cry; otherwise it would not be called 'loud'"--1 Answerer Book, pg. 82 (bold emphasis added).

"The message swells to a Loud Cry by virtue of an 'addition' which gives it 'power and force.'--Early Writings, pg. 277. The only conclusion admissible, therefore, is that since the church has never accepted an additional message, and since there has never come one (other than that in The Shepherd's Rod publications) that would give 'power and force' to the old message, the Loud Cry could not have begun at any time previous to this."--1 Answerer Book, pg. 82 (bold emphasis added).

"Moreover, the 'abominations' in the church have not only kept back the Loud Cry but have also even silenced the fainter cry which precedes it. Indeed, 'the angel of the church of the Laodiceans,' being unfit even to finish the proclamation of the message in its fainter cry, must be altogether unfit {in no condition--2 T.G. 44:37:3} to proclaim it in the Loud Cry. Obviously, if he does not now quickly accept the additional message which is to begin the Loud Cry, then not only will he not help to proclaim it but he will even be 'spued out.'"--1 Answerer Book, pg. 83.

Notice that these inspired statements prove that The Shepherd's Rod is "the additional message which is to begin the Loud Cry." And since the Loud Cry message first came in 1888 to begin the "fainter cry," preparatory to swelling to a "Loud Cry;" and since it was rejected, and silenced for 40 years, proves that it had to come back again in 1930 "to begin the Loud Cry"--as a "fainter cry"--to seal the 144,000 who will, after the slaughter of Ezekiel 9, teach the Shepherd's Rod message, which gives "power and force" to the third angel's message, causing it to swell to a "Loud Cry." This is proven in the following inspired reference:

"So while the fainter cry is proclaimed by those who have, as well as those who have not overcome temptation, the Loud Cry is to be proclaimed by those {144,000} who have {overcome}."--1 Answerer Book, pg. 83 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Yes, The Shepherd's Rod message came in 1930 as a "fainter cry," to seal the 144,000, while the wheat and the tares are still commingled--"proclaimed by those who have, as well as those who have not overcome temptation." But after the slaughter of Ezekiel 9 has removed all the tares, then the Shepherd's Rod message will be "proclaimed by those who have" overcome temptation--the 144,000, because the material for the Loud Cry is all ready and waiting in The Shepherd's Rod message since 1930.

"How do I know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is almost here?--I know it because the announcement of it is here already, and because the message of the marking that is foretold in Ezekiel's chapter nine, the work of the judgment {of the living}, is already making its way throughout the adventist world. I know it also because the material for the glory that follows immediately thereafter (the material that is to lighten the earth with the glory of the angel, the Loud Cry--Rev. 18:1) is all ready and waiting."--1 Timely Greetings, No. 5, pg. 12 (bold emphasis, braces added).

There it is as plain as day--the "Loud Cry--Rev. 18:1" "material" is The Shepherd's Rod message, and its "all ready and waiting"--waiting for the 144,000 (as wheat--Mt. 13:30) to be sealed now, while Davidians proclaim it to Seventh-day Adventists during the "fainter cry" period, and then the same light of The Shepherd's Rod message will be proclaimed with a "Loud Cry" by the 144,000 Davidians (angel of Rev. 14:17) to bring in a great multitude (as grapes--Rev. 14:18). Read it for yourself in the following inspired reference:

"It is our privilege, therefore, not only to bring the light of God to the {Seventh-day Adventist} Denomination where the 'firstfruits' (the 144,000---Rev. 14:1) of the great spiritual harvest are, but even to bring the same light to the second fruits, to the great multitude that are gathered out of all nations, a multitude which no man can number (Rev. 7:9)."--1 Timely Greetings, No. 46, pg. 6 (bold emphasis, braces added).

This "same light," the message of the Loud Cry (Rev. 18:1), which came in 1930--The Shepherd's Rod--is none other than the "latter rain" (Joel 2:23).

"The only revelation pertaining to and coming 'at a month' is 'the latter rain in the first month' (Joel 2:23)--the light of the {Loud Cry} angel who is to lighten the earth with his glory (Rev. 18:1; Early Writings, pgs. 277, 278)."--5 Tract, pgs. 87, 88 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"Thus only (with the former rain being the writings {Testimonies} of Sister White, and the 'latter rain' being the Rod) {writings of Bro. Houteff} can both the former and the latter rain fall at the same time, as required by Joel 2:23."--1 Answerer Book, pgs. 87, 88.

Crystal clear it is, then, that the light of the angel of Rev. 18:1, the Loud Cry, is The Shepherd's Rod message, which is the "same light" to be preached to the great multitude--both of which is the "latter rain"!

"What is the message? The eleventh hour message {of the SRod} is none other than Revelation 18--the loud cry of the Third Angel."--2 Shepherd's Rod, pgs. 230, 231 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"This direction of the compass denotes that the message of the 'loud cry' is to start eastward when it is first revealed....This symbolical prophecy reveals that the message of the 'loud cry' is to originate in California."--2 Shepherd's Rod, pg. 297).

Now since we know that The Shepherd's Rod, the eleventh-hour message, came in 1930 (2 T.G. 39:18; 1 Tr. 37), and that it originated in Los Angeles, California, proves that it is indeed "the message of the loud cry" of Rev. 18:1. And now that we know that both the angels of Rev. 14:18 and Rev. 18:1 represent The Shepherd's Rod message--the "Loud Cry," then why are they called messages of prayer?

THE LAST TWO ANGELS ARE MESSAGES OF PRAYER

Remember, "A Word To The Little Flock," which stated on pages 10 and 11 that the five angels in revelation 14 "represent five distinct messages," concluded by stating that "the last two angels are messages of prayer." What does that mean?

Since we have solidly proven the following points of truth: (1) the message of Rev. 14:15 (Rev. 7:2-4) is The Shepherd's Rod message during the sealing time of the 144,000, the "fainter cry," which will, at the conclusion of the sealing, tell Jesus on the "white cloud" to "reap" the wheat--the 144,000; and (2) the message of Rev. 14:18 (Rev. 18:1) is also The Shepherd's Rod message as it swells from the "fainter cry" to the "Loud Cry," when the 144,000 (angel of Rev. 14:17) will reap the great multitude (grapes), then there is no escaping the conclusion in point (3) that The Shepherd's Rod message in its two phases--"fainter cry" and "Loud Cry"--must represent "the last two angels {which} are messages of prayer."

Now since these "last two messages" involve two peoples--the sealing of the 144,000 (Rev. 14:15), during the "fainter cry," and the sealing of the great multitude (Rev. 14:18), during the "Loud Cry;" and since the symbolic angels do not pray; then its obvious that the 144,000 will pray a certain prayer during the message of Rev. 14:15 (fainter cry), and the great multitude will likewise pray a certain prayer during the message of Rev. 14:18 (Loud Cry). So what is that certain prayer that each group will pray?

"The oppressed people of God are yet to raise to Heaven one united day and night cry for deliverance. Luke 18. This is symbolized by the message of prayer of the fourth angel of Rev. 14:15. And in answer to this prayer, the remnant which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus, will find deliverance."--3 Spiritual Gifts, pgs. 23, 24.

Did you notice that the above reference says that "the fourth angel of Rev. 14:15" "is symbolized by the message of prayer"? Since "A Word To The Little Flock" on page 11 says the "last two," fourth and fifth angels (Rev. 14:15; Rev. 14:18), are both to be "messages of prayer;" and since God's people crying "day and night for deliverance" is the prayer of these "last two messages," (as the above quoted statement says) proves that:

(1) While The Shepherd's Rod message is sealing the 144,000 during the "fainter cry," the Assyrian confederacy will be formed in the time of the leopard-like beast (12 S.C. 1:6-9) with a death-decree (12 S.C. 2:14; 13 S.C. 3:8, 9). It will bring a time of trouble upon the 144,000 (Jer. 30:5-8), causing them to raise their voices in "one united day and night cry for deliverance," which is the same as the message of prayer in Rev. 14:15; and which guarantees their deliverance in Rev. 14:16 when Jesus on the "white cloud" thrusts in His sickle and delivers (reaps) the 144,000 (wheat)into God's Kingdom. (Dan. 2:44).

(2) While The Shepherd's Rod message is sealing the great multitude during the "Loud Cry," the image-beast confederacy will be formed worldwide in the time of the scarlet-colored beast with a death-decree (D.A. 121, 122). It will bring a time of trouble upon the great multitude (15 Tr.60), causing them to raise their voices in "one united day and night cry for deliverance," which is the same as the message of prayer in Rev. 14:18; and which guarantees their deliverance in Rev. 14:19 when the 144,000 (angel of Rev. 14:17) thrusts in his sickle and delivers (reaps) the great multitude (grapes) into God's Kingdom. (Dan. 2:44).

Why, though, is it so important that Davidians clearly understand the meaning of all five of the angel's messages in Revelation 14, especially the sixth angel of Rev. 14:17--the forgotten angel? Because there are found to be among Davidians those who are usurpers.

ACTIVE USURPERS OF ELIJAH'S PROPHETIC OFFICE

"The fact that Inspiration takes the pains to tell who {the prophet Elijah that} is to finish the work in itself is proof that there must be active {Davidian} usurpers of his office as there were of Moses' office."--1 Timely Greetings, No. 14, pg. 22 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Ever since the death (1955) of V.T. Houteff (the promised Elijah in T.M. 475), there has arisen among Davidians the active usurpers of the prophetic office that he held, trying to fool the Davidian sheep into following them. These wolves in sheep clothing, in order to pull the wool over the eyes of the sheep, must fool them into believing two errors about themselves: (1) That they are inspired as a porter, or prophet, or president; and (2) that they have a message, in one form or another, other than The Shepherd's Rod message.

The "usurpers," therefore, teach to the sheep error no. 1 that there must be another inspired porter-prophet-president to come after the death of Bro. V.T. Houteff (Elijah), in spite of the fact that this Elijah said Elijah is the last prophet to the Seventh-day Adventist church.

"So it is that the Elijah {Bro. V.T. Houteff} of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, the last prophet to the {Seventh-day Adventist} church of this day, comes in the same spirit and power, to prepare the way for the Lord's second advent."--General conference Special, pg. 32 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"To re-emphasize the fact, let it be said again that {Bro. V.T. Houteff} being the last of the prophets Elijah is, therefore, the only one who can open to our understanding all the prophecies of the Scriptures pertaining to the great and dreadful day."--General Conference Special, pg. 19.

Then, the usurpers teach error no. 2 that they, being so-called porter-prophet-presidents, have been given an inspired message, other than the SRod, in spite of the fact that The Shepherd's Rod message is the last.

"What is the Lord's counsel concerning the Voice of Elijah's publication? And what is the title of them?--

"The answer comes through Micah the prophet:

"The Lord's Voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the Rod, and Who hath appointed It." Mic. 6:9.

"Here is a Rod which speaks; and its voice, the scripture points out, is the voice of God to His people. And since 'The shepherd's Rod,' the publications which contain the message of 'the great and dreadful day of the Lord.' is the only Rod that has ever spoken, then it is the 'Rod' publications {authored by Bro. V.T. Houteff--Elijah} which the Lord demands all {Seventh-day Adventist} to hear."--General Conference Special, pgs. 35, 36 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"Nevertheless, one's only safety will be in the teaching of Elijah {Bro. V.T. Houteff}, for there will be no other voice of timely Truth and authority to whom one may turn. Any others {the usurpers} will lead their victims blind-folded into perdition."--General Conference Special, pg. 8 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"The Enemy made Laodiceans {Seventh-day Adventists} believe they have no need of more Truth,...Now we {Davidians} really are enriched with Truth if we have studied and assimilated what has been given us,...Therefore the Devil is not going to attack us where he attacked Laodiceans, but he {through the usurpers} will tell us {Davidians} that we are poor in Truth. He will do this in almost any way."--11 Symbolic Code, No. 2, pg. 11 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Once the sheep accept the above two errors, they are easily led to believe further errors which the USURPERS tell them about the five angel's messages of Rev. 14, especially the fifth angel in verse 18, which they say is the message to come after the Rod message. Since we have already seen that the first three angel's messages are taught by the Seventh-day Adventist church; and since the 4th and 5th angel's messages of The Shepherd's Rod will seal both the 144,000 in its "fainter cry," and the great multitude in its "Loud Cry," proves that there is no other message to come after the SRod message; for it is the last message of Rev. 14:18--the Loud Cry of Rev. 18:1--which "is all ready and waiting." (1 T.G. 5:12). In spite of all this evidence, why do the "active usurpers" continue to exist, and Davidians continue to follow them?

"These two sins--trust in man, and desire to exalt self--are still the leading sin elements now here on earth....This same stumbling block, the {usurpers} desire to exalt self, has predominated throughout the ages, and it predominates today."--2 Timely Greetings, No. 28, pgs. 13, 14 (bold emphasis, braces added).

The "active usurpers" have "desired to exalt self," while the sheep desire to "trust in man." That is, some of the Davidian sheep trusted in Elijah (not in his message from God), because they thought the Bible said to "hear ye Elijah--Bro. V.T. Houteff." Therefore, after his passing these trust-in-man Davidians found another man to hear and follow. And as long as these Davidians desire to "trust in man," then the Lord's Voice--"hear ye the Rod"--will fall on deaf ears; for they can only hear the voice of the man which they follow. And when that voice conflicts with the SRod, they will hear and obey the voice of man every time.

"The intention of The Shepherd's Rod is to 'cry aloud, spare not,' show the {two} sins {trust man and exalt self} and uncover the shame. It is to destroy the confidence of the {Davidian} sheep on the arm of flesh {usurpers}."--10 Symbolic Code, No. 7, pg. 10 (bold emphasis, braces added).