3 Angels Message3 Angels Message

2008 Prophecy School

Fear God

Outline

• The Message– Four Parts– EGW– Problem– Solution

• Focus– Fear God– Premise

• Fear Not

Outline Continued

• Reverence– Summary

• Spirit of Prophecy– Fear – Love – Reverence

• Conclusion– Questions

1st Angels Message

2008 Prophecy School Ozark

The Message

Revelation 14:7

• Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, 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.

Four Parts

• Fear God

• Give Glory

• Judgment

• Worship Him who has made the heavens and Earth

Conclusion

• Mat 10:28-31 KJV And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (29) Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

Conclusion

• (30) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (31) Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

EGW

• Those who engage in the solemn work of bearing the third angel's message, must move out decidedly, and in the Spirit and power of God fearlessly preach the truth, and let it cut.

EGW

• They should elevate the standard of truth, and urge the people to come up to it. It has too frequently been lowered to meet the people in their condition of darkness and sin. It is the pointed testimony that will bring them up to decide.

EGW

• A peaceful testimony will not do this. The people have the privilege of listening to this kind of teaching from popular pulpits; but those servants to whom God has entrusted the solemn, fearful message which is to bring out

EGW

• and fit up a people for the coming of Christ, should bear a plain, pointed testimony. Our truth is as much more solemn than that of nominal professors, as the heavens are higher than the earth. {GW92 89.2}

EGW

• The people are asleep in their sins, and need to be alarmed before they can shake off this lethargy. Their ministers have preached smooth things; but God's servants, who bear sacred, vital truths, should cry aloud and spare not, that the truth may tear off the garment of security, and find its way to the heart.-- Vol. 1, p. 248.

EGW

• The people are asleep in their sins, and need to be alarmed before they can shake off this lethargy. Their ministers have preached smooth things; but God's servants, who bear sacred, vital truths, should cry aloud and spare not, that the truth may tear off the garment of security, and find its way to the heart.-- Vol. 1, p. 248.

The Message – Revelation 14:7

• Saying with a loud voice, 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 14:7 KJV)

Judgment Begins Where?

• Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. (Eze 9:6 KJV)

• In refusing the warning of the first angel, they rejected the means which Heaven had provided for their restoration. They spurned the gracious messenger that would have corrected the evils which separated them from God, and with greater eagerness they turned to seek the friendship of the world.

• Here was the cause of that fearful condition of worldliness, backsliding, and spiritual death which existed in the churches in 1844. {GC88 380.2}

• The record is to be kept in mind, for history will repeat itself. The darkness of the mysteries of the night is to be illuminated with the light of heaven. . . . {PM 175.3}

Past – Present – Future

• In the future, Satan's superstitions will assume new forms. False theories, clothed with garments of light, will be presented to God's people. Thus Satan will try to deceive if possible the very elect.

Past – Present – Future

• Our watchword is to be, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isa. 8:20).-- Lt 238, 1903. {PM 175.4}

• But the churches generally did not accept the warning. Their ministers, who as "watchmen unto the house of Israel," should have been the first to discern the tokens of Jesus' coming, had failed to learn the truth, either from the testimony of the prophets or from the signs of the times.

• As worldly hopes and ambitions filled the heart, love for God and faith in his Word had grown cold, and when the Advent doctrine was presented, it only aroused their prejudice and unbelief.

• The fact that the message was, to a great extent, preached by laymen, was urged as an argument against it. As of old, the plain testimony of God's Word was met with the inquiry, "Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed?”

• And finding how difficult a task it was to refute the arguments drawn from the prophetic periods, many discouraged the study of the prophecies, teaching that the prophetic books were sealed, and were not to be understood.

• Multitudes, trusting implicitly to their pastors, refused to listen to the warning; and others, though convinced of the truth, dared not confess it, lest they should be "put out of the synagogue.”

• The message which God had sent for the testing and purification of the church, revealed all too surely how great was the number who had set their affections on this world rather than upon Christ.

Warning & Promise

• Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

Warning & Promise

• And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. (Isa 8:12-14 KJV)

• The ties which bound them to earth were stronger than the attractions heavenward. They chose to listen to the voice of worldly wisdom, and turned away from the heart-searching message of truth. {GC88 380.1}

• And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. (Job 28:28 KJV)

• The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. (Psa 111:10 KJV)**

• The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Pro 1:7 KJV)

• The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Pro 9:10 KJV)

• The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. (Pro 15:33 KJV)

• And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; (Isa 11:2 KJV)

• And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure. (Isa 33:6 KJV)

FOCUS

2008 Prophecy School Ozark

Topic: Fear God

EGW

• The Bible is its own expositor. One passage will prove to be a key that will unlock other passages, and in this way light will be shed upon the hidden meaning of the word. By comparing different texts treating on the same subject, viewing their bearing on every side, the true meaning of the Scriptures will be made evident. {CE 85.1}

• Fear God

• What do the words mean?

• What does Scripture say?

• Hebrew: H3372 ירא yare' yaw-ray'

• A primitive root; to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten: - affright, be (make) afraid, dread (-ful), (put in) fear (-ful, -fully, -ing). (be had in) reverence (-end), X see, terrible (act, -ness, thing).

• In the OT the word fear is used in the following ways: (3372 Hebrew Strong's #)

– Total count: */334 / fear 156 / afraid 80 / feared 43 / terrible 31 / dreadful 5 / things 5 / reverence 3 / fearful 2 / feareth 2 / thing 1 / fearing 1 / terribleness 1 / dread 1 / affright 1 / durst 1 / reverend 1 / fearfully 1 / acts 1 / fearest 1 / see 1

• Greek: G5399 φοβεω phobeo fob-eh'-o

• From G5401; to frighten, that is, (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy to be in awe of, that is, revere: - be (+ sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence.

• In the NT the word fear is used in the following ways: 

– Total count: */93 / afraid 29 / fear 34 / feared 18 / feareth 4 / fearing 6 / reverence 1 / ye 1

• In understanding what it means to “fear God” there is a needed belief.

• The belief is that God is Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent hence He knows our condition and what we are thinking even before we begin to think those thoughts.

• If we agree to this then we go to the next which is - the word fear and what it does and does not mean in scripture.

• Next we will examine scripture texts in respect to fear and fear not “God”. Today many believe that the word “fear” in scripture should actually mean reverence. Is that valid or is it part of the whole?

• How does scripture look at it and how does the “Spirit of Prophecy” look at it. From these two sources we will be able to determine what our position should be in understanding this fearful message.

Fear NotFear Not

2008 Prophecy School Ozark

Fear Not

• And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Mat 10:28-31 KJV)

Focus “Fear Not”

• Our first focus will be on the position “fear not” God but reverence Him. In order to determine if it is just “fear not” we will examine what scripture has to say about “fear not”. In this way we allow scripture to be its own interpreter or as many say expositor.

“FEAR NOT”

• The words in this order “fear not” appear together in scripture 63 times. (KJV) Gen. 15:1; 21:17; 26:24; 35:17; 43:23; 46:3; 50:19; Exo. 20:20; Deu. 1:21; 20:3; 31:6, 8; Jos. 8:1; 10:25; Jdg. 4:18; 6:10, 23; Ruth 3:11; 1Sa. 4:20; 12:20; 22:23; 23:17; 2Sa. 9:7; 13:28; 1Ki. 17:13; 2Ki. 6:16; 17:34; 25:24; 1Ch. 28:20; 2Ch. 20:17; Psa. 55:19; 64:4; Isa. 7:4; 35:4; 41:13, 14; 43:1, 5; 44:2; 54:4; Jer. 40:9; 46:27; Lam. 3:57; Dan. 10:12, 19; Joel 2:21; Zec. 8:13; Mal. 3:5; Mat. 1:20; 10:28; 28:5; Luke 1:13, 30; 2:10; 5:10; 8:50; 12:7, 32; 18:4; John 12:15; Acts 27:24; 1Pe. 2:18; Rev. 1:17;

Scripture Texts OT

• And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. (Gen 21:17 KJV)

Scripture Texts OT

• And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. (Jdg 6:23 KJV)

Scripture Text OT

• Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. (Dan 10:12 KJV) 

Scripture Text OT

• And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. (Dan 10:19 KJV)

Scripture Text NT

• And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. (Mat 28:5 KJV)

• Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luk 12:32 KJV)

Scripture Text NT

• Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. (Act 27:24 KJV)

Scripture Text NT

• And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (Rev 1:17 KJV)

Reverence

2008 Prophecy School Ozark

Topic 1st Angels Message

“Fear Not” next “Reverence”

• Since the word “fear” can also be used as “reverence” we will now examine how it is used in both the OT and NT.

OT Reverence & Reverend

• Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD. (Lev 19:30 KJV+)

• Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary:I am the LORD. (Lev 26:2 KJV+)

OT Reverence & Reverend

• God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. (Psa 89:7 KJV+)

• He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant forever: holy and reverend is his name. (Psa 111:9 KJV+)

OT Reverence to Fear?

• The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. (Psa 111:10 KJV)

Scripture Contextual Example

• Psa 111:6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

• Psa 111:7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

• Psa 111:8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

Scripture Contextual Example

• Psa 111:9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

• Psa 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

NT Reverence

• Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence5399 her husband.

Reverence

• The Word Reverence appears 13 times in scripture with the use of 5 different words, in the OT two and NT three. Whereas “Fear” shows up 400 times with over 300 being the word we are discussing.

Reverence Usage

• Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence.7812 And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant! (2Sa 9:6 KJV+)

Reverence Usage

• Having yet therefore one son, his well-beloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence1788 my son. (Mar 12:6 KJV+)

Summary

• 1. We have seen that “Fear” – “Fear Not” and “Reverence/Reverend” have very specific meanings.

• 2. That these meaning are based in context and usage of the word.

• 3. That there is a distinct understanding of the usage of these words in scripture and can be explained in scripture.

EGW

2008 Prophecy School Ozark

Topic Fear-Reverence-Love

Fear - Reverence Love?

• We are not bidden to prove them by their fair speeches and exalted professions. They are to be judged by the Word of God. . . . "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.”

Fear - Reverence Love?

• Prov. 19:27. What message do these teachers bring? Does it lead you to reverence and fear God? Does it lead you to manifest your love for Him by loyalty to His commandments? {FLB 322.5}

EGW

• Ministers of Christ, your experience must be of a higher type, or you can never be co-laborers with the Master. Learned or great men have not been chosen, but those who fear God and reverence spiritual and eternal things.

EGW

• Such will have the mind of Christ. His Spirit, shining through humanity, lights up the face, and finds expression in the tones of the voice. It is something that cannot be defined, and yet is plainly felt. {RH, October 21, 1884 par. 15}

EGW

• God in mercy has sent light and messages of warning to the world in reference to his law which has been trampled upon. There is a people who reverence and fear God,

EGW

• and who respond to his messages of warning, who repent of their transgression of the law of God, and, through faith in the merits of Christ, receive pardon for their transgression.

EGW

• Many who profess to be followers of Christ are weak in moral power. They have never been heroes of the cross, and are easily attracted from their allegiance to God by selfish pleasures or amusements. These persons should be helped. They should not be left to chance in choosing their companions and roommates.

EGW

• Those who love and fear God should bear the burden of these cases upon their souls, and should move discreetly in changing unfavorable associations. Christian youth who are inclined to be influenced by irreligious associates should have for companions those who will strengthen good resolutions and religious inclinations

EGW

• A well-disposed, religiously inclined youth, and even a professor of religion, may lose his religious impressions by association with one who speaks lightly of sacred and religious things, and perhaps ridicules them, and who lacks reverence and conscientiousness. A little leaven may leaven the lump.

EGW

• Some are weak in faith; but if placed with proper roommates, whose influence is strong for the right, they may be balanced in the right direction, obtain a valuable religious experience, and be successful in the formation of Christian character. {FE 55.1}

EGW

• God, through his prophet commends, and gives precious promises to those who keep the Sabbath of the Lord: "And they that be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in." {ST, February 28, 1878 par. 14}

Conclusion “Fear God”

2008 Prophecy School Ozark

Topic “Fear God”

Questions

• Why did the children of God Apostatize?

• What was the reason for this scattering?• When people “Fear God” what will happen?

Question

• What does Jesus say about “Fearing God”?

• Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Question

• So how is “Fear God” a part of the last day message in particular this verse from Daniel 11:44.

• Dan 11:44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.

• H926 בהל bahal baw-hal'

• A primitive root; to tremble inwardly (or palpitate), that is, (figuratively) be (causatively make) (suddenly) alarmed or agitated; by implication to hasten anxiously: - be (make) affrighted (afraid, amazed, dismayed, rash), (be, get, make) haste (-n, -y, -ily), (give) speedy (-ily), thrust out, trouble, vex.

Scripture Text

• Mat 10:28-31 KJV And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (29) Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

Scripture Text

• (30) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (31) Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.