Counsel #1 — Three Angels’ Messages — Historical Intro

Picture: Counsel #1 — Three Angels’ Messages — Historical IntroCFL 43.1

The essence of the Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14:6-12 is God’s warning to unrepentant sinners, those who have not yet accepted His grace and substitutionary sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. These messages about the soon coming of Jesus and the necessity of obedience to the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus are to be proclaimed by God’s church of the last days.^{[37]https://adventistreview.org/magazine-article/2010-18/}CFL 43.2

A renewed interest in the apocalyptic books of Daniel and Revelation in the 1830s and 1840s caused William Miller and others to urge repentance and heart preparation for the coming of Jesus. These early heralds of the Three Angels’ Messages put Jesus Christ at the center and faith in His righteousness as the sinner’s only hope.CFL 43.3

“God our Savior…. desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3, 4 NKJVCFL 43.4

“Of all professing Christians, Seventh-day Adventists should be foremost in uplifting Christ before the world. The proclamation of the third angel’s message^{[38]The founders of the Seventh-day Adventist church often referred to the truths of all three messages under the umbrella phrase “the third angel’s message.”} calls for the presentation of the Sabbath truth. This truth, with others included in the message, is to be proclaimed; but the great center of attraction, Christ Jesus, must not be left out.” Ellen White in The Three Angels’ Messages, p. 112CFL 43.5

Reflect: Is making Jesus the center and focus of the Three Angels’ Messages a new concept for you?CFL 43.6