The Last Years of Earth’s History

I believe that we are living in the last years of Earth’s history. Ellen White says in Manuscript Releases, vol. 13, 379, “In His Word the Lord declared what He would do for Israel if they would obey His voice. But the leaders of the people yielded to the temptations of Satan, and God could not give them the blessings He designed them to have, because they did not obey His voice but listened to the voice and policy of Lucifer. This experience will be repeated in the last years of the history of the people of God, who have been established by His grace and power. Men whom He has greatly honored will in the closing scenes of this earth’s history pattern after ancient Israel.”

That is a startling statement when considering their final stages and that it would be repeated. We are living in the last years, and we need to press together and help each other get ready for the kingdom of heaven. Ellen White says that the prophecy Jesus gave in Luke 21:34 was especially for those who live in the last days. Jesus says, “But take heed [pay attention] to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.” That word translated carousing, which the King James Version translates surfeiting can be translated dissipation, or sensual indulgence. Be careful that you don’t get weighed down because of sensual indulgence, drunkenness, or the cares of this life.

We all suffer with the cares of this life. All over the world people are struggling—the poor with poverty, the rich with other worries and everyone in between. Jesus says, “Watch out! Don’t let the cares of this life crush you.”

I have known people who purchased land in the country and decided to save money by building their own house while at the same time running a business. They are so busy that when Sabbath morning comes around, they are just too tired to get up and go to church. We are creatures of habit. Sometimes we don’t realize how strong these habits can become. Once you start sleeping in, you will do it again and again until you’re in the habit of working hard all week and then require the weekend to catch up on missed sleep. We all have the power to choose our own lifestyle and prioritize.

On one occasion when everyone had left Jesus, He asked His disciples, “Do you want to go, too?” (See John 6:60, 61.) He gave them the choice; they could either stay or go. This is a choice we all have. Some people struggle with sensual gratification while others struggle with drunkenness, which is the use of alcohol, drugs or mind-altering substances. There are others who are not tempted by any substances but still have many cares just in daily living that occupy all of their time.

This has taken a tremendous toll within Adventism. In the early days, yearly camp meetings were held for ten days covering two weekends. Then, as life became busier and numbers decreased, it was cut down to start Wednesday or Thursday night and go through the weekend. Steps to Life camp meeting is two days shorter this year than it has been in the past. Why is that? God’s people are so busy with the cares of this life; they don’t have time to come to camp meeting. This is a serious problem and something we need to study and pray about. Are we so busy that we don’t have time to pray? Are we so busy that we don’t have time to go to church? Are we so busy that we don’t have time to go to camp meeting? Are we so busy that we don’t have time to attend prayer meeting? Do we allow time at all to talk to the Lord?

“And as we near the close of time, Satan’s temptation to indulge appetite will be more powerful and more difficult to overcome.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 164. Notice, one of the things Jesus mentioned was dissipation or sensual gratification, which is regarding appetite.

“As we near the close of time, we must rise higher and still higher on the question of health reform and Christian temperance, presenting it in a more positive and decided manner.” A Call to Medical Evangelism and Health Education, 41.

“As our first parents lost Eden through the indulgence of appetite, our only hope of regaining Eden is through the firm denial of appetite and passion.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 59.

Spiritual concepts are often unable to be understood by people because of their poor physical condition due to the way they eat, drink, smoke, and use drugs, alcohol, or other substances. The mental power needed to think clearly about spiritual things is directly affected by a person’s physical condition.

Ellen White wrote, in The Review and Herald, April 1, 1875, the following: “Satan is a cunning foe. And it is not difficult for the evil angels to represent both saints and sinners who have died, and make these representations visible to human eyes. These manifestations will be more frequent, and developments of a more startling character will appear as we near the close of time.”

We need to be on our guard in regard to spiritualism. You may see representations that claim to be the apostles. And eventually, as stated in The Great Controversy, 624, Satan himself is going to impersonate Christ, and when he does that, almost the whole world is going to fall down and worship him. You and I are going to be commanded to fall down and worship him. This will be more startling, more dazzling, more glorious, Ellen White says, than anything that human eyes have yet beheld.

Unless we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we will be mesmerized, or hypnotized, and we will not realize what we are doing. I realize more and more that we must pray daily that we might receive the Holy Spirit, which is the only means by which we can be kept from being deceived.

We have the example of another development that will happen, as we draw near the end of time, in the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. (See Numbers 16.) Paul tells us that, “These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.” I Corinthians 10:11.

“Satan has led persons to imitate the example of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, in raising insurrection among the people of God. Those who permit themselves to rise in opposition to the plain testimony, become self-deceived, and have really thought that those upon whom God laid the burden of His work were exalted above the people of God, and that their counsels and reproofs were uncalled for.” Testimony Studies on Diets and Foods, 149. Mrs. White speaks here in regard to rebellion against the Spirit of Prophecy. The children of Israel under the direction of Korah, who led Dathan and Abiram to help him, with 250 princes, rebelled against the authority of Moses. Remember, God had already said, “If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face.” Numbers 12:6–8.

In the wilderness, the Israelites had somebody in their midst that was more than a prophet. Do we have someone who is more than a prophet? Yes we do. Throughout the history of the Great Controversy since the fall of man, in addition to the sending of Jesus Christ, three times God has sent to His people someone that was more than a prophet.

The first was Moses. God said, “Moses My servant is not so.” Numbers 12:6, literal translation. In other words, he is more than a prophet.

The second was John the Baptist. “Among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist.” Luke 7:28. (See also Matthew 11:9.) He was more than a prophet.

The third time, just as God sent someone that was more than a prophet to His people to prepare them for the First Advent, he also sent someone to them to help prepare for the Second Advent. People asked Ellen White, “Why is it that you don’t claim to be a prophet?” She said, “My work includes much more than the word ‘prophet’ signifies.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 32.

But people will always arise to oppose the plain testimony. How does that happen? How does a church go into apostasy? It is usually without anybody in the church knowing about it. But by the time you get to the point that people are outwardly opposing the straight testimony, the church is not just approaching but actually is already in apostasy.

Jesus said, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14. That prophecy was fulfilled before the destruction of Jerusalem, and it will be fulfilled again before the Second Coming. It is predicted, in Revelation 14:6 and 7, that the everlasting gospel will go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. Taking the gospel to every nation, kindred, language, and people requires money. Notice what Ellen White said about this: “The wants of the cause will continually increase as we near the close of time.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 156.

“We are placed on trial in this world, to determine our fitness for the future life. None can enter heaven whose characters are defiled by the foul blot of selfishness. Therefore, God tests us here, by committing to us temporal possessions, that our use of these may show whether we can be entrusted with eternal riches.” Counsels on Stewardship, 22. As we near the close of time, God’s work is going to need more money, and we need to pray that the Lord will help us to acquire the funds we need to do bigger projects and get the work finished. There’s a lot of work that has to be done before Jesus can come.

In a special testimony to the Battle Creek church in 1882, Ellen White wrote: “As we near the close of time the demarcation between the children of light and the children of darkness will be more and more decided. They will be more and more at variance. This difference is expressed in the words of Christ, ‘born again’—created anew in Christ, dead to the world, and alive unto God. These are the walls of separation that divide the heavenly from the earthly and describe the difference between those who belong to the world and those who are chosen out of it, who are elect, precious in the sight of God.” Last Day Events, 215, 216.

When Jesus comes, those waiting for Him are going to be like Him and not like the world. But those who decide to be a friend of the world are enemies of God (James 4:4). Revelation 19:19 says, “I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.” All of the forces in the world will be united to fight Jesus Christ when He comes in the clouds of heaven. So, all who have become like Jesus, reflecting His character, will find the whole world at variance with them.

This demarcation between the children of light and the children of darkness will be more and more decided, and they will be more and more at variance as time goes on. The devil is trying everything, especially with our young people, to persuade them of some advantage of becoming like the world. If you are getting ready for Jesus to come, you are going to become more and more different than the world. The gap widens—some people becoming more like the world while others becoming more like the Lord. That difference causes splits, separations, strife and variance among God’s professed people. I do not want to speak from the standpoint of unbelief, but I want to be realistic in my faith and my understanding of religion and the times in which we live.

Many preachers talk about the unity and harmony that will be in the church when the latter rain falls. Those who are going to be ready for Jesus to come will be in harmony and unity, but don’t think there will be harmony and unity between everybody.

Yes, within the same church there will be harmony and unity within one group, but also variance and division within another. Research the expression, nominal Adventists. When I was studying theology, we were taught that the nominal Adventists were the first day Adventists after 1844 that did not accept the Sabbath. But, over and over again Ellen White says that at the time of the latter rain, the loud cry, when the work of God is finishing in the world, there are going to be some nominal Adventists, and that they will be our most bitter enemies.

“As we near the close of time, the human mind is more readily affected by Satan’s devices. He leads deceived mortals to account for the works and miracles of Christ upon general principles.” Messages to Young People, 57.

You and I are not going to make it unless we study Inspired writings and accept what is said there and follow it. One of the things we need to emphasize is that the people who are lost are going to really think that they are saved until they come right up to the end. That is scary, but it is a fact. Within the Adventist church as well as the Christian world at large, the people who are lost will think that they are saved until they come right up to the end.

“We make a few feeble efforts to do right, and then go back to our old life of sin. If we ever enter the kingdom of God, we must enter with perfect characters, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. Satan works with increased activity as we near the close of time. He lays his snares, unperceived by us, that he may take possession of our minds. In every way he tries to eclipse the glory of God from the soul.” The Youth’s Instructor, January 4, 1900.

Satan lays his plans, unperceived by us, and is working as we draw near the close of time with increased activity. We cannot see what he is doing, but let me tell you, if you are a preacher or if you are involved in evangelism, you should be able to see today the results of his work.

I have never seen anything like what we are going through today, either in the church or in the world. People think that no matter what they believe, we are all going to the same place in the end. But we are not all going to the same place.

Ellen White wrote: “Through the pleasures and ambitions of the world, the enemy is working to draw the youth into his ranks, and he has much success. As we approach nearer to the close of time, he will invent every possible attraction to draw their minds into worldly channels.” The Review and Herald, February 1, 1912.

We have seen this happen. We are losing almost all of our young people. What is responsible? “Human nature is still the same. And Satan is as active, earnest, and persevering now as at any period in the past. Nay, rather, the word of God declares that his power and enmity increase as we near the close of time.” The Signs of the Times, January 24, 1884.

The devil will work upon human imagination. He has been more successful than we could ever imagine in stealing the young people from among God’s people.

“The repeated murmurings of the Israelites, and the visitations of God’s wrath because of their transgressions, are recorded in sacred history for the benefit of God’s people who should afterward live upon the earth; but more especially to prove a warning to those who should live near the close of time.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, 270.

All those things that happened to the children of Israel were recorded especially for those that would live near the close of time. Especially mentioned are their repeated murmurings. There were 600,000 men over 20 years of age that left Egypt, and out of those 600,000, only two went into the Promised Land. What happened to the rest? They murmured their way into the wilderness. Today we would describe it as grumbling or complaining. They complained about the food and the leadership. Moses was continually blamed for all their troubles.

They became so unhappy with Moses that at one point they wanted to stone him. They planned to select another leader who would take them where they wanted to go—back to Egypt. They were unhappy about the leadership that God chose for them.

Today, God is raising up men and women to lead the people to the Promised Land, but history is being repeated. “With a malicious spirit they attack the character and motives of those who stand in defense of unpopular truth. Though very unbelieving in regard to the sure word of prophecy, they manifest the utmost credulity in accepting anything detrimental to the Christian integrity of those who dare to reprove fashionable sins. This spirit will increase more and more as we near the close of time.” Ibid., vol. 4, 292.

We are living in a time when you have to decide whether you will be in trouble with either men or with God. You will not be able to get along with both. “The devil has come down to you having great wrath because he knows that he has a short time.” Revelation 12:12.

The devil commenced his destructive work in heaven with the angels by making accusations against the Father and the Son, the government of God and the law of God. He knows his time is short so he turns up the heat. “As we near the close of time, Satan comes down with great power, knowing that his time is short. Especially will his power be exercised upon the remnant. He will war against them, and seek to divide and scatter them, that they may grow weak and be overthrown.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 210. This can be seen in our churches.

A united group of people working harmoniously can do far more in God’s work than all of those people working separately and alone, so the devil causes people to argue and disagree to cause division “that they may grow weak and be overthrown.” One of the most successful ways the devil does that is through gossip, which is the cause of two-thirds of church trials. Satan’s first claim in heaven was that he was not treated right! He didn’t get the job he thought he should have! Can anyone relate to that?

There are so many people who say they believe the Three Angels’ Messages but who will not worship with this one or that one over the most incidental things. But the bottom line is often, “They didn’t treat me right, so I can’t go to church with those people.” We had better sort it out soon, because there is only one church in heaven, and if we can’t worship together here, some of us won’t be there.

There is another group of people who believe that we will continue to sin right up until the Lord comes, and then, miraculously, every sinful desire will be taken away from them, all rifts will be healed, and those who could not worship together before will become best friends.

What a delusion! Jesus is not going to come and take a bunch of separate groups of people who can’t get along here to heaven. We might as well face up to it, because that is not going to happen. Now, before probation closes, is the time to work out our differences. Do not give up on each other but pray for one another, press together and don’t allow the devil to have his way in dividing and scattering us so we will “grow weak and be overthrown.”

When Jesus comes, those who are saved will be united and a part of God’s one church. They will receive a new immortal body when He comes, but the attitude they have on the first day in heaven will not be any different than their last day on earth.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Free Seventh-day Adventist Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.