The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Seite 283

The European Union in Prophecy
20. The Awakening
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." Verses 6, 7.
The fact that an angel is said to be the herald of this warning is significant. By
the purity, the glory, and the power of the heavenly messenger, divine wisdom has
been pleased to represent the exalted character of the work to be accomplished by the
message and the power and glory that were to attend it. And the angel's flight "in the
midst of heaven," the "loud voice" with which the warning is uttered, and its
promulgation to all "that dwell on the earth,"--"to every nation, and kindred, and
tongue, and people,"--give evidence of the rapidity and world-wide extent of the
movement.
The message itself sheds light as to the time when this movement is to take
place. It is declared to be a part of the "everlasting gospel;" and it announces the
opening of the judgment. The message of salvation has been preached in all ages; but
this message is a part of the gospel which could be proclaimed only in the last days,
for only then would it be true that the hour of judgment had come . The prophecies
present a succession of events leading down to the opening of the judgment. This is
especially true of the book of Daniel. But that part of his prophecy which related to
the last days, Daniel was bidden to close up and seal "to the time of the end." Not till
we reach this time could a message concerning the judgment be proclaimed, based on
the fulfillment of these prophecies. But at the time of the end, says the prophet, "many
shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." Daniel 12:4.
The apostle Paul warned the church not to look for the coming of Christ in his
day. "That day shall not come," he says, "except there come a falling away first, and
that man of sin be revealed." 2 Thessalonians 2:3. Not till after the great apostasy,
and the long period of the reign of the "man of sin," can we look for the advent of our
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