Demonstration

The final days of this earth’s history are to be characterized by the proclamation of the everlasting gospel, according to the three angels’ messages found in Revelation 14. The messages are specific, detailed, and pointed, speaking to the spiritual needs of a planet that for six thousand years has been weighed down by the after-effects of the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God is striving to restore His image in fallen humanity, preparing sinners for everlasting life.

Satan is working tirelessly to keep people from coming to faith in Christ and to occupy the minds of men and women with anything other than the saving principles of the gospel. But if the mission of the church was simply to proclaim a message, to share words, to alert people to the information contained in a collection of Bible verses, the gospel commission could have been completed many years ago.

God, however, is looking to His church to do more than educate. He commissions the church to demonstrate. Like Israel of old, the church has been called into existence to reveal the character of God to the world.

Revelation’s fourth angel, the messenger who issues the final call to come out of Babylon, reveals the character of God to such an extent it is said that the earth is illuminated with a manifestation of His glory.

The angel in Revelation 18 represents the church, suggesting the church has a much broader mandate than simply preaching a litany of doctrines.

In Christ’s Object Lessons, Ellen White states, “It was God’s purpose that by the revelation of His character through Israel men should be drawn unto Him.”* In Matthew 5:14, Jesus informed His closest friends that they were to be “the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” The one who has yielded his or her life to Jesus and is filled with the Holy Spirit will reveal God’s character to others.

This is the work God has called His people to do.

Proclamation of God’s end-time message is vital.

Living that message is no less important.