“And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” Revelation 18:1–2
Here we have a picture of the last work of God on the earth. One more angel is sent out with the warning message. Once more God is calling the inhabitants of the world to repent and turn to Him before it is forever too late.
To give this last call, He has chosen the mightiest of angels. He did not choose a helpless weakling, but one having great power. And He did not choose a little twinkling light, but one whose glory lightens the whole earth. This angel has a terrible work to do.
“I then saw the third angel. Said my accompanying angel, ‘Fearful is his work. Awful is his mission. He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the tares, and seal, or bind, the wheat for the heavenly garner.’” –Early Writings, p. 118
The true reformers are this mighty angel. “I was shown that the third angel, proclaiming the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, represents the people who receive this message and raise the voice of warning to the world, to keep the commandments of God as the apple of the eye, and that in response to this warning many would embrace the Sabbath of the Lord.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 76
No other work is so important, and so rewarding. Those who stand before the world as reformers are compared to Elijah, who alone stood before the king and his men, and challenged the priests of Baal to prove who is the true God.
There is a great need for reformers in the world; they can bring the blessing of God to others. “And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake: and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house and in the field.” Genesis 39:5. Because there was one reformer in Potiphar’s house, everyone received the blessing of the Lord.
“And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD. Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.” 2 Kings 8:18–19. David had already died, but for his sake the Lord would not destroy Judah, even that they had fallen into a sinful life.
Ten reformers would have saved Sodom and Gomorrah from destruction.
There is great need of reformers in the church of God, to encourage others who may have fallen into apathy, into careless indifference, and into a lukewarm condition. This condition existed in the church of God in 1888, and God sent them the message of reformation by Jones and Waggoner. This is the one bright spot in our world, the only hope—the few faithful reformers who stand for the truth, and for righteousness, who have responded to God’s call by saying, “Here am I, send me.”
Yet, are these reformers appreciated? No. In 1888 not one of the 96 delegates accepted the message of Jones and Waggoner. No one is so hated by Satan and his followers than the faithful reformers, those who stand as a bulwark against the tide of evil and spiritual darkness, and are holding the banner of truth before the world.
The sad thing is that many of the leaders of the churches and the ministers can fall into apathy and reject the message that could save them. Do we understand the solemnity and magnitude of our calling? We have the last message ever to be proclaimed among the nations. How much would Satan love to see the faithful standard bearers lower their banner and fall asleep, and to not be different from the world.
The mighty angels are waiting to go with us to preach the gospel to the world; the Holy Spirit is ready to help us to give to the world the last invitation of mercy. God is depending on your help to lead souls to salvation to complete the number of 144,000. It is not a time now to seek worldly pleasure, comfort, and an easy life, while souls are perishing on every side. Jonah did not go to Nineveh to seek entertainment, pleasure, or riches, and neither are we in the world to seek comfortable lives.
A reformer is not an ordinary Christian; he is filled with the Holy Spirit and with the power that God has given him; therefore he can do a mighty work. Study the lives of Enoch, Noah, Moses, Nehemiah, and Elijah, and you will get a picture of a reformer. Elijah especially is an example of the last-day reformers. Alone he accomplished a great reformation in Israel.
The first requirement of a reformer is that he is humble. “The Lord uses humble men to proclaim His messages.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 253
Moses was chosen to do the special work of a reformer, to educate 2 million people for 40 years, because he was the meekest man on the earth (Numbers 12:3). A humble person esteems others better than himself. A humble person cannot be offended or made angry. You can hurt him and call him by abusive names, but he will still love you, and pray for you, like Jesus did for the men who crucified Him.
This first requirement already disqualifies many professing Christians as reformers. God has no use for proud, self-important professing Christians; they are Satan’s agents to discourage others.
A reformer is also faithful. He has nothing to hide. His life is as transparent as glass. “My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all Mine house.” Numbers 12:7
A reformer is faithful in Sabbath keeping and in tithes and offerings. He keeps all of God’s Commandments, following health reform faithfully. As long as he lives, he is faithful in all things. He would rather die than commit the smallest sin.
Reformers please all people, “Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” 1 Corinthians 10:33. “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.” 1 Corinthians 9:19
Being a servant of all and pleasing all men in all things leaves us no time to seek for selfish pleasure. Paul did this service without wages. Before, he had a position in the Sanhedrin, with high wages, but he gave it up and started voluntary missionary work for the rest of his life. The more service the reformer does for the Lord, the happier he is; he has fullness of joy. If he would suddenly lose all his money and his possessions like Job did, his joy and happiness would not change, because his heart is not in earthly things; his treasure is in heaven.
The reformer has a missionary spirit. He wants to save others. Every moment he is watching for opportunities to witness to someone. The highlight of his life is having a Bible study with an interested soul. His greatest enjoyment is to speak of Christ and His love. He cannot be silent. “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20
A reformer is not comfort loving. The voice of duty is a stronger motive than the desire for ease and comfort. Moses made the right choice in his life. “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:24–27
The reformer is a peacemaker. He works for unity as far as it is possible, even sacrificing his own goods and time for it.
The reformer loves God above all. He even loves his enemies.
He seeks to please everyone else, forgetting his own interests.
He is working for unity in the church so that everyone will speak and believe the same thing.
He is faithful unto death.
He is working alone, like Elijah, if others are not available to help him.
He has the spirit of sacrifice. He will even sacrifice his own opinion in order to unite with the people of God.
He will denounce the world and the things of the world, lifting Jesus up before the world.
After hearing this, is it your desire to be a reformer? Are you willing to pay the price of discipleship? “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33
Can you drink the cup of Jesus, and be baptized with the baptism of fire? Do you see the beauty in the life of a reformer? Are you willing to be the angel of Revelation chapter 18, whose glory will lighten the whole earth? Do you permit the Lord to use you in the finishing work on this earth?
If all this is your desire, then you have made the right choice. Then you are learning the new song that the 144,000 will sing with the Lamb on Mount Sion. It is a song that no one else can learn except the 144,000. If you say yes to God, “Here am I, send me,” then all heaven will rejoice, and will join in your work as a reformer. Amen.
Timo Martin