Revelation 10 and 11
and the Advent Movement

Revelation chapters 10 and 11, tells the story of the rise of Seventh-day Adventism.

The key Bible texts which validate the Seventh-day Adventist church, it's mission and the foundational doctrine on the Sanctuary are found in these chapters.
This in turn, parallels and sustains the three angel's messages found in Revelation chapter fourteen. In other words, the foundation of Adventism is in these texts.

Revelation chapter 10, begins with the unsealing of the book. What book?

The same BEING seen in Daniel 12:7 stands upon the land and sea in Revelation 10. In Daniel we are told the BOOK WAS SEALED-- HOW LONG?-- Daniel 12:7 says [1260 years].
In Revelation 10, the little book is OPEN!

 

Revelation 10:1-2

And I saw another mighty Angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

Revelation 10.3-6

And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

Daniel 10:5-6,

"I lifted my eyes and looked and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude....

Daniel 12:5-7,
But you Daniel shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.

Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

The prophecies of Daniel present a succession of events leading down to the opening of the judgment when thrones would be set up and the Ancient of Days would sit as thousands upon ten thousands of heavenly beings would witness as the books were opened and the work of the grand heavenly court began. (See Daniel 7: 9-10)

However, that part of his prophecy which related to the last days, Daniel was asked to SEAL, to close up until the time of the end. Not until this time was reached could a mighty message concerning the judgment be proclaimed, based on the fulfillment of these prophecies. At that time, "many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." (Daniel 12:4)

Then, at the end of the 1260 years, knowledge shall be increased.

In Revelation 10 the book is opened-- it is the END OF THE 1260 years--

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Since 1798 the book of Daniel has been unsealed, knowledge of the prophecies has increased, and many have proclaimed the solemn message of the judgment near." {GC88 356.2}
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Historian David Ludlum writes:

"At the turn of the century many tomes of biblical exegesis came from New England presses and received a wide circulation. Though differing on minor points, all agreed that the "times of the prophecies" had arrived, that the present constituted the predicted Reign of Infidelity, and that the Second Coming of Christ and commencement of the Millennium were at hand". ("Social Ferment in Vermont, 1791-1850" 1948 page 38)

Not only were people writing a great number of volumes concerning the prophecies, in the New England, but the same was happening over in Europe. What is now often termed "the religious awakening" swept in recurring waves over the people. In 1798 the Connecticut Missionary Society was organized. 1804 the Bible society. This was followed by other Bible and Missionary Societies. In 1803 even a newspaper, "New Hampshire Gazette) ran a serial called the "Book of Antichrist" based on prophecy. The understanding that the papacy was the predicted power, and that, in accordance with the prophecy, it had been gravely wounded by the French Revolution was being printed in books, pamphlets, printed sermons, published reports, and periodical and newspaper columns.

It was the accepted Protestant understanding that the 1260 years of papal reign had ended in 1798, comfirming the prophecies in regard to the beastly religious power.
But now the attention of the prophetic students of scripture were being turned to the 2300 years.

As people pondered this prophecy there arose, not only in Britain and Europe, but also in Africa and India, and especially in America several dedicated men, quite apart from each other, the conviction that the 2300 day/years would end sometime in the 1840's. In America the movement was led by William Miller, in England, by Edward Irving; in Asia, by Joseph Wolff, in Sweden, where the laws prohibited adults from giving the message, children preached. The words rang throughout the world, "Prepare to meet you Lord."

The message was being preached; "Fear God and give Him glory, for the hour of His judgment IS come, and worship Him who made the heavens and the earth." (Rev. 14:7)

The 1st angel's message, from Rev. 14:7 was sounding.

1798 MARKED the beginning of “the time of the end” when knowledge would be increased and the angel’s of Rev. 14 would begin to sound.

It all pointed to the opening of the judgment.

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A Great religious awakening under the proclamation of Christ's soon coming, is foretold in the prophecy of the first angel's message of Revelation 14. An angel is seen flying "in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." "With a loud voice" he proclaims the message, "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his Judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." [REV. 14:6, 7.] {GC88 355.1}
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The BOOK OF DANIEL was opened to them.
The message was that time would be no longer.
The message was sweet to them --very sweet.
And they did preach the message-- with everything they had-- fully believing that time on earth would be no longer after 1844. Yes, it was the close of the long prophetic periods.

 

Revelation 10.3-4
And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

Revelation 14:6,7
And I saw another angel...saying with a loud voice, 'Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and whorship him that made heaven and earth, and the sea"

From 1840-144 the message was preached with great power, but at this point knowledge was not fully revealed--

John, heard seven thunders utter their voices, and he understood the words those thunders uttered. He took up his pen and was about to record the message when he was told to seal up the message of the thunders.

Ellen White writes:

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"The special light given to John which was expressed in the seven thunders was a delineation of events which would transpire under the first and second angel's messages. It was not best for the people to know these things, for their faith must necessarily be tested." {7BC 971)
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Like a mighty voice the prophetic message spread over land and sea but--
the voices of the seven thunders is still sealed, they full message is not yet understood.

The prophetic message announces the end of the prophetic periods. Yet right here in Rev. 10 where it is announced that "time shall be no longer", prophecy reveals it is not the end of all things. However, the disappointment of those who expected to see our Lord in 1844 and the end of all things on earth, was not anticipated by those to who had gained knowledge of the prophetic time periods of scripture.

Rev. 10.7
But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

The seventh trumpet at this point is still future. During the seventh trumpet the mystery of God will be finished. The mystery of God is the plan and actions of salvation-- it is the atonement Christ made which must be declared to every son and daughter of Adam. The atonement which was purchased and provided BY CHRIST upon the cross, and FINISHED on the great "day of atonement".

In the meantime the book is sweet!

 

Revelation 10.8-9
And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, God and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which stands upon the sea and upon the earth.

And I went to the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said to me, Take it and eat it up; and it shall make your belly bitter, but it shall be in your mouth sweet as honey.

And I took the little book 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, my belly was bitter.

 Jeremiah 15:16
Your Words were found, and I did eat them; and your word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by your name, O Lord God of hosts."

Ezekiel 3:1,2
He said to me..eat this roll, and go speak to the house of Israel. so I opened my mouth and he caused me to eat that roll, and he said to me..cause your belly to eat, and fill your bowels with this roll that I give you. Then did I eat it and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.

 

With joy the advent message that time should be no more went to the world. They had eaten the little book and filled their hearts and minds with it. It was sweet!
The joy and sweetness would turn to bitterness. The message was, "It shall make your belly bitter, but it shall be in your mouth sweet as honey". The autumn of 1844 came and went, and the intensity of the disappointment was beyond description. No earthly inducement ever seemed so sweet as the message of His coming; no disappointment was ever so bitter as that experienced by the believers in that Christ would come in 1844.

It happened just as Revelation 10 predicated--
the message turned to bitterness as the disappointment enveloped them.

They were told to go forth again and preach to every nation kindred tongue and people.

Prophecy again--

Rev. 10.11
And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

WHAT WERE THEY TO PROPHECY?

The first and second angel's messages were given at the right time-- but they were to prophecy AGAIN-- they were to preach the full message as the prophecy was more fully comprehended after 1844, in other words, when the cloud was penetrated in the search for Christ. The truth of His work in the heavenly sanctuary was discovered as the seventh trumpet began to sound and the third angels' message was added to the first two messages.

They were told to go forth again and preach to every nation kindred tongue and people.

Prophecy again--

WHAT WERE THEY TO PROPHECY?

We must remember that Biblical chapter divisions were added later.
The writer of Revelation tells us exactly what was to be the message of the disappointed believers in prophecy.

In chapter ten the disappointed ones are told to prophecy again and the very next verses say --

"A reed like a rod was given me, and the angel said, Rise, and measure the temple of the God, and the altar, and them that worship therein." But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not" (11:1-2) They were commanded to "measure the temple".

They thought the sanctuary was this earth--
They thought the earth would be cleansed at the end of the time periods.
But no-- they were NOT to measure the "courtyard" of the temple.
The "courtyard" where the altar of sacrifice stood represents the earth.

However, the inner holy places of the earthly sanctuary represented the great heavenly sanctuary.

What was to be measured?

The same three things that were to be cleansed in the day of atonement!

As these disappointed ones examined and evaluated "what sanctuary" was to be "cleansed" at the end of the 2300 day/years, they found out that during the seventh trumpet, the temple IN HEAVEN was opened and the ark of the testament was seen in heaven. (obviously this part of the temple was opened near the end of earth's history-- at the seventh trumpet!)

 

Revelation 10:11
And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings. 		Daniel 12:3
They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmanment; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Revelation 11:1
And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

Leviticus 17:15-17
[On the day of Atonement] he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.
And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it;.
Revelation 11:2,3
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. [1260 day/yars]

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days [1260 day/years], clothed in sackcloth.

Daniel
7.21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
7.25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time [1260 days].
8.11 He magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily was taken away, and the PLACE of his sanctuary was cast down.
8.12 And an army was given him against the daily by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered.
11.31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
12.6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
12:7...it shall be for a time, times, and an half; [1260 day/years] and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
8.13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
8.14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

 

Revelation 11:2-3 has close parallels with Daniel 7 and 8. If we turn to Daniel we see a lot of TRAMPLING going on. [Dan. 7:7,19; 8:7,10] The links pointing to "Gentiles" who do the trampling of the holy place and its host in Daniel is not the heathen Roman Empire, but the rebellious and idolatrous Papal Roman worship that causes desolation [Dan. 7:21,25; 8:11-13; 11;21-25; 12:11] It is reaching into heaven and usurping Christ's daily ministry and casting truth to the ground, and the PLACE of the sanctuary, and trampling on it.

This oppressive power is given a set TIME in the prophecy.. "A time, times, and half time" or 3 1/2 years. (7:25) This time period equals 42 months and thus establishes a specific link between Daniel 7 and Rev. 11.

To make it even clearer, Rev. 11 defines that time in two different ways: 42 months in Rev. 11:2 and 1260 days in Rev. 11:3. Forty-two prophetic months of 30 days yield 1260 days. This in turn links this time of trampling with Rev. 12:6 and 14 as well. Thus showing this "trampling" by the "gentiles" takes place after Christ's ascension when God's true church is in the wilderness.

The Gentiles would thus be the little horn arising out of the Roman [Gentile] beast. It is a Gentile religious power, who is the one persecuting God's people who are in the wilderness during this "time". This 1260 day/years stretched from 538-1798 A.D. when the papal power to use the state to destroy heretics was removed. See for more on time periods/

Those 1260 years ended in 1798
This was followed by the "great awakening"
and the sounding of the 1st angel's message pointing to the end of the 1335 or 2300 day/years in 1844. Expecting the blessing to be Christ's second coming--

-- the sweetness turned to bitterness, prophecy again they were told-- measure the temple.

The were told to go forth again and preach to every nation kindred tongue and people the fuller message --

Measure the sanctuary--
the altar
and the worshippers therein.

This IS THE COMMISSION OF Seventh-day Adventists-- to preach the three angel’s messages in it’s fullness. Preach it AGAIN-- but this time see the SANCTUARY IN HEAVEN as the main focus. (The interpretation of TIME was correct, time will never again be an issue-- but focus on the heavenly sanctuary where the mystery of God is being finished)

Revelation chapter 11 explains more fully the time this prophecy is dealing with, showing the clasmatic event and that destroyed the papal hold over the lives of the people.
It shows more on the world situation bringing the 1260 years to an end.

The French Revolution, both terrible -- showing the awful end results of Rome’s teachings and the people's reaction to it, yet also liberating and OPENING THE DOOR for truth to spread comes at the end of the 1260 years.

Then -- the seventh trumpet blows announcing Christ’s victory and that the time of judgment has arrived. What do we see next?

The temple of heaven opens to reveal the ark of the covenant in the Most Holy Place!

Rev. 11.18
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and he time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Rev. 11.19
And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Rev. 14:7,12
Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him Who created heaven and earth...
Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

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"At the time appointed for the judgment--the close of the 2300 days, in 1844--began the work of investigation and blotting out of sins. All who have ever taken upon themselves the name of Christ must pass its searching scrutiny. Both the living and the dead are to be judged "out of those things wich were written in the books, according to their works." (GC 486)
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Obviously here the dead were not judged previously-- the time had come to judge the dead when the seventh trumpet sounded. What do we see next?
Rev. 11.19
And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

The temple of heaven opens to reveal the ark of the covenant in the Most Holy Place!

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"As the temple of God was opened unto His people, the light of the law of God, which was in the ark, shone forth. Those who received this light are brought to view in the proclamation of the third angel's message." (4BC 1152)
"Therefore the announcement that the temple of God was opened in heaven and the ark of His testament was seen points to the opening of the most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844 as Christ entered there to perform the closing work of the atonement.
Those who by faith followed their great High Priest as He entered upon His ministry in the Most Holy beheld the ark of His testament. (GC 433-434)
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