Remnant Seventh Day Adventist Church
Remnant Seventh Day Adventist Church
"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 Peter 2:5.
God’s final warning message to the inhabitants of earth, found in Revelation 14:6-12, is a three-fold announcement:
[1st angel, announces the day of God’s judgment has begun and a call back to keeping God’s fourth commandment (7th day Sabbath worship),
2nd angel, announces the utter corruption and fall of Babylon (papal hierarchy system),
3rd angel, announces the eternal destruction of Babylon and her worshippers]
As the result of rejecting the three-fold message of Revelation 14, chapter 18 points forward to when the utter corruption of Babylon is to be repeated. But before the visitation of God’s wrath His faithful ones must be called out, that they partake not of her sins and “receive not of her plagues.” This announcement constitutes the absolute last warning given.
“Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him [2nd coming], and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself.” Psalm 50:3-6. “Unto you therefore which believe [Jesus] is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” 1 Peter 2:7-8.
The following is an actual occurrence in the history of God’s people connected with the building of Solomon’s first temple:
“And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.” 1 Kings 6:7. When the stones were brought to the place of building the workmen had only to place them in position. Not an instrument was to be used upon the stone when it was brought to the place of building. One stone of irregular shape was brought from the quarry to be used in the foundation of the temple. But the workmen could find no place for it and would not accept it. There it lay unused, and the laborers passed around it or stumbled over it, greatly annoyed by its presence. Long it remained a rejected stone. But when the builders came to the laying of the corner-stone, for a long time they searched in vain for a stone of sufficient size and strength, and of the proper shape, to take that particular place and bear the great weight which would rest upon it. Should they make an unwise selection of a stone for this important place, the safety of the entire building would be endangered; they must find a stone capable of resisting the influence of the sun, frost and tempest. Several stones had been chosen at different times; but when subjected to the pressure of immense weights they had crumbled to pieces. Others would not bear the test of sudden atmospheric changes, and were therefore pronounced unfit for the place. But there lay the stone so long rejected by the builders; it had endured exposure to the air and to the scorching rays of the sun without revealing a seam or the slightest crack. Storms had beaten upon it, yet it remained the same. The attention of the builders was finally attracted to this large stone, and they examined it closely. It had already borne every test but one. If it could bear the test of severe pressure they decided to accept if for the corner- stone. The trial was made to the satisfaction of all. The stone was accepted, brought to its assigned position and found to be an exact fit.
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22. All of our hewing, fitting and polishing of character must be done during this probation time on earth. When Jesus Christ returns it will not be to purify and refine any character, and to fit it for Heaven. His work then will only be to change our corruptible bodies and gives us Christ’s most glorious body.
Many persons are hewn, polished and beautified by their own worldly endeavors, but they never will become “living stones” because you are not connected with Jesus Christ. “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27.
