Background: The Great Disappointment
In 1843 and 1844, a series of disappointments took place because the Advent people were looking for the end of the world and for the earth to be cleansed by fire. Their understanding of Daniel 8:14 was in error as to the event. They interpreted “…Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed” to mean that the earth (sanctuary) would be burned up (cleansed). After all their careful and diligent studies to determine exactly when this major event would occur, they were greatly disappointed because nothing visible happened.
The faithful few of that group continued to pray and study and hold to their faith in how God had led them up to that point. Because they remained faithful, they discovered one of the fundamental doctrines of the Advent Movement, namely the Sanctuary Doctrine, which teaches all about the anti-typical Day of Atonement which began in the heavenly sanctuary on October 22, 1844. This was the true meaning of Daniel 8:14. In retrospect, it makes sense that the earth could not have been destroyed by fire before the judgment had taken place to decide what reward each person would receive.
Introduction: Our Little Disappointments
Looking back, we have followed in the shoes of the Millerites. We went through a series of disappointments from February through May because we were looking for another “cleansing by fire” in the prophesied fireball event. Our understanding of the time prophecies of Daniel 12 was in error as to the events. We interpreted the commencement of each of the time periods to mean that the fireballs would fall on that date. After all our careful and diligent and (I must add) Spirit-led studies to determine exactly when these periods would begin, we were a “little” disappointed that nothing visible happened to confirm any of our studies.
Through it all, our small group has remained faithful and we have continued to pray and study and trust in how the Holy Spirit has led us up to this point. Because we remained faithful, we discovered precious truths about what has happened and is happening in the heavenly sanctuary in these unprecedented days, which is the counterpart to what the early Adventists learned. In other words, our studies complete the light of the Sanctuary Doctrine that began after the Great Disappointment of 1844.
We learned from our little disappointments that we have been too focused on earthly things, when our minds should be engaged in heavenly things, particularly what is going on in the heavenly sanctuary. Just as the prophecy in Daniel 8:14 pertained to heavenly things, so the start of the 1335, 1290, and 1260 days also pertain to heavenly things. The prophecies are for us to understand what has happened in the heavenly courts where Jesus is working, not to tell us when Satan will wreak havoc on the earth. As Adventists, we talk a lot about following Jesus into the Most Holy Place. Shouldn’t our thoughts then also be in the Most Holy Place?
The time prophecies in Daniel establish the beginning and end of kingdoms, but they do not specify exactly what those kingdoms will do and when they will do it.
Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. (Daniel 2:20-22)
God announces His doings, not the doings of the enemy. The fire that comes down from heaven is the doings of the beast power, not of God. I will tell you in this article just who is announcing the fireballs. But that is not the subject of this article; our focus is to show what exactly happened in the heavenly sanctuary that set the stage for the kingdom of Babylon to perform its final drama for the appointed “time, times, and a half.”
The 12 Tribes, Past and Present
In the beginning of the story of ancient Israel, Jacob had 12 sons. Those twelve sons multiplied into the twelve tribes of Israel. God chose to work out his covenant with those twelve. After all the rebellion of Israel culminating in the rejection of the Messiah, Israel was cut off and Jesus started his new church from the remnant believers of Israel.
Jesus continued the covenant with his 12 disciples. Those twelve went forth in power, preaching the gospel to the world. They became the heads of the Christian church and multiplied the gospel message among people the world over.
After the Great Disappointment, there were again about a dozen who stayed faithful. Those elders of the Seventh-day Adventist church led an organization that multiplied into the great Christian denomination it is today. However, the church (like ancient Israel) has reached a state of total apostasy, and the Holy Spirit has led another faithful remnant (of the remnant) to take the pure gospel to a confused world in these last days.
…and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of [each tribe] were sealed twelve thousand. (From Revelation 7:4-5)
The Holy Spirit has led 12 people to be leaders for the new church of the 144,000. Each one will be the leader of one “tribe” of 12,000 according to the above verses. Once the power described in Revelation 18:1 comes down from heaven, these twelve will “multiply” and light the whole earth with the character of God. After that, the wicked and rebellious people of the world will be forever cut-off by the Last Plagues and Jesus will return.
The 24 Elders of Ancient Israel
Ancient Israel was made up of twelve tribes, who were the descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob. The original “elders” of Israel are the twelve sons. Those twelve elders of Israel established the foundation of the Israelite nation and faith. From that time the nation grew and went through all its colorful history until at the end of it all, when the Messiah came, he called twelve disciples to represent the remnant. These were the last twelve elders of the Israelite nation. There were twelve elders at the start, and twelve elders at the close.
The first elders of Israel had the role of establishing the faith of the Israelite tribes. Their life experiences became the heritage of the nation and the foundation for their faith. Although they experienced a profound conversion experience and devotion to God, they did not see the promise of the Messiah come to fulfillment.
The last elders of Israel, the twelve disciples, had a different role. Through the faith of their fathers, they recognized Jesus as the Messiah and followed his call on their life. They walked with, talked with, and touched the Great Promise to Israel. These “last elders” of the tribes of Israel were changed by their walk with Jesus and they were afterward filled with the Holy Spirit and preached the gospel with power.
The 24 Elders in the Throne Room
As ancient Israel was born of twelve sons, so the Advent Movement was born after the Great Disappointment by twelve people. Notice the following:
As we trace the story of the beginning of Sabbathkeeping among the early Adventists, we go to a little church in the township of Washington in the heart of New Hampshire, the state that adjoins Maine on the east and whose western boundary is within sixty miles of the New York state line. Here the members of an independent Christian church in 1843 heard and accepted the preaching of the Advent message. It was an earnest group. Into their midst came a Seventh Day Baptist, Rachel Oakes, who distributed tracts setting forth the binding claims of the fourth commandment. Some in 1844 saw and accepted this Bible truth. One of their number, William Farnsworth, in a Sunday morning service, stood to his feet and declared that he intended to keep God’s Sabbath of the fourth commandment. A dozen others joined him, taking their stand firmly on all of God’s commandments. They were the first Seventh-day Adventists. {EW xx.2}
Like the twelve sons of Israel, these Adventist “elders” established the foundation of the Advent church and faith. They carefully and painstakingly hammered out the foundational doctrines of the church. The church has likewise grown and has gone through its own “colorful” history until at the end of it all, Jesus is now about to return.
What happened with the twelve disciples of Jesus is likewise a type for the last days of Adventism. Out of the remnant believers of Israel who looked for the coming Messiah, Jesus chose twelve leaders. Likewise, out of the remnant believers of Adventism who look for the Second Coming, Jesus through Orion has chosen twelve leaders. These “last elders” of Adventism are the prophesied leaders of the 144,000 (Revelation 7:4 and following). They are the twelve stars in the crown (SDA Church) of the woman (Christendom) of Revelation 12:1. Each one leads his “tribe” of 12,000.
The first elders of Adventism had the role of establishing the faith of the Advent Movement. Their experiences through the Great Disappointment and the careful working out of their faith became the heritage of Adventism and the foundation of our faith (like the twelve sons of Jacob). Although the Adventist pioneers went through profound experiences and were devoted to God, they did not see the promise of the Second Coming. All of this parallels the experience of the first elders of ancient Israel.
The last elders of Adventism, the twelve “tribe leaders,” have a different role. Through the faith of the fathers of Adventism, they recognized in Orion that Jesus is coming and followed his call. They will see the promise of the Second Coming unfold before their eyes, just as the apostles “handled” Jesus. These “last elders” of Adventism were changed by their experiences with Jesus in Orion and they will be filled with the Holy Spirit to powerfully brighten the world with the character of God in like manner as the apostles.
From the Orion study, we already deciphered that the 24 elders represent the 24 hours of the great Day of Atonement. But who are they? Could they include the sons of Israel, or the twelve disciples? Indeed not, because the Orion clock doesn’t start ticking until 1844! The 24 elders must be the elders of Adventism, all of whom served after the investigative judgment began in 1844.
The Role of the 24 Elders
What does it mean to wear a crown? Are not crowns worn by kings? Consider who is wearing crowns in the following verse:
And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. (Revelation 4:4)
Therefore, the 24 elders are actually “kings” in a sense. This is made even clearer, and elaborated further as follows:
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:8-10)
Again, we see that the 24 elders sing a “new” song, saying (among other things) that the Lamb (Jesus) made them “kings and priests” unto God. They also say that their “reign” is on the earth. So, the 24 elders are kings for God who reign on the earth.
Now, why do you suppose God has kings to reign on the earth, besides His Son? We have already explained in the article titled Our High Calling that God is on trial and that it is necessary for created beings to serve as witnesses to show the court that the Law of God can indeed be kept, thus refuting Satan’s allegation. All of the 144,000 will serve as witnesses, but the 24 elders in particular also serve as kings. Still, what do these kings actually do?
From antiquity, kings have fulfilled the role of a judge. Kings would sit in the gate of a city, or on a throne in their special place of judgment, and anyone who had a matter of dispute could come and bring their case before the kings. Remember that in the Great Controversy, it is now God who is on trial, and Satan who must be judged. This was prophesied in the following verse concerning Satan:
Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. (Ezekiel 28:17)
The above verse speaks of God bringing Satan before “kings” to settle the matter between them. You see, every trial has not only witnesses but also a judge. Neither the Father nor the Son can serve as the judge against Satan for the obvious reason that they are not neutral to the case. It is human beings, who were created “neutral” after the Great Controversy began, who will serve as “kings” to judge Satan.
Therefore, in their kingly capacity the 24 elders also fill the role of “judges” to pronounce judgment during their phase of the court proceedings.
The Key of David
The careful reader might have already noticed the clue in Revelation 5:10 that the 24 elders are not physically in heaven:
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10)
These kings, although they pronounce judgment in the heavenly courtroom, actually reign on the earth. Have you ever heard of anyone in the Bible that had authority to pronounce eternal judgment on people of the earth? Consider:
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:19)
The twelve disciples were given the authority to pronounce eternally binding judgment on the people of the earth. But did they really do it? Consider the example of Ananias and Sapphira recorded in Acts 5:1-11, when Peter judged them for lying and they dropped dead! Consider also the miracles they did:
And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; ….Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. (From Acts 5:12,15-16)
Keep in mind that miraculous healing was not always only a physical change. Jesus tells us that sometimes the physical healing is also an act of pardon in the heavenly court:
Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? (Mark 2:9)
Therefore, because the twelve apostles of the Lamb healed “every one” that came to them, they in so doing acted as mouthpieces for Christ who forgave sins, thus binding and loosing in heaven as well as on earth.
Remember that the twelve apostles are a type for the twelve leaders of the 144,000.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (John 14:12)
Certainly we can say that the apostles did great works, but did they do “greater” works than Jesus? That would be difficult to argue! However, in the article Our High Calling we explain what the “greater works” really are… And it is the last generation who does them, again confirming that 12 of the 24 elders are the leaders of the 144,000.
The figurative church of Philadelphia is given an open door into the Most Holy Place:
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. (Revelation 3:7-8)
We understand that the churches represent spiritual states as well as historical periods. Philadelphia represents the brotherly love that the 144,000 will exhibit. Not only are they given an open door, but it is prophesied that they will be given the key of David itself, which is the authority to open and shut:
And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. (Isaiah 22:22)
Who is this talking about? Verse 20 says “Eliakim the son of Hilkiah” is the one upon whose shoulder the key will be laid. Hilkiah was the man who found the Book of the Law in the temple in Josiah’s day. This prophecy pertains to the Advent people, who also re-discovered the Law of God while searching the heavenly sanctuary. It applies to the pioneers, but also to the last “elders” who through the Clock of God in Orion also re-discovered the pillars of God’s Law while searching the heavenly sanctuary.
The key allows the one who has it to open and shut the door. Namely, the door of grace! In other words, the ones who have the key also have the authority (like the disciples of Jesus) to bind and loose here on earth, with eternal consequences. They have the authority to pronounce judgment on the people of the earth, just like the apostles did.
These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. (Revelation 11:6)
This again shows that the 24 elders serve as judges during the phase of the judgment they attend.
The 1260 Days: What Really Happened
The 1260 days began when we held our second-month Lord’s Supper. That event represented the end of our efforts to warn the church and call the leaders of the 144,000 together, and therefore the end of the grace period for the Church to assemble for the Lord’s Supper. Many prayers ascended on behalf of the leaders, those who will be among the 144,000, and the martyrs.
Properly cleansed this time with the blood of Jesus on the doorposts of their hearts, the leaders finally entered into the Most Holy Place (figuratively). They took their seats with the other twelve elders, making up the total of 24 elders. The new leaders risked all to answer Christ’s call. They did their duty to warn others of the close of probation, and they kept their faith through all the trials and disappointments. The judgment of the living began.
And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:7)
Here at the end of the 168-year judgment of the dead represented in symbols, the 3½-year judgment of the living has begun. The first twelve elders (the pioneers of Adventism) have uttered their judgments through the foundational doctrines and the testimonies of the church for the past 168 years, and now in addition the new elders have joined them for the new phase.
This understanding was confirmed to us by various dreams that believers have had. A dream from August 2011 contained the following clues:
I was in a rectangular room longer than wide.... A mini orchestra was about to play consisting of strings in a semicircle to my left and brass in another semicircle adjacent to my right.... The music is soft and beautiful....
This dream did not draw much attention at first, but when it was re-sent by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and received the day before our second Lord’s Supper, its import became clear. We already knew from other evidences that the 24 elders were divided into two semicircles, and that only one semicircle was present until now. This dream confirmed to us clearly that it was at the beginning of the 1260 days that the full “orchestra” of 24 elders began to perform together in the judgment of the living. Just two weeks before our second Lord’s Supper, our brother was able to identify the event that he had seen in the dream. It was the birthday and farewell party, scheduled for the evening of May 5, 2012, for one of his relatives whom he had seen in his dream at this festival with the orchestra.
Right now, we are waiting for the outpouring of the latter rain, when we will receive the Holy Spirit and the power to light the earth with the character of God.
Summary of Events
A.D. 31 – The beginning of Jesus’ ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. Jesus began ministering in the Holy Place.
October 22, 1844 – The beginning of the investigative judgment. On this day, Jesus entered the Most Holy Place to begin His work of intercession and cleansing for us in front of the Father, who served as Judge.
February 27, 2012 – The beginning of the 1335 days. On this day, the Father left the Most Holy Place. The Father committed all judgment to Jesus, who remains in the Most Holy Place to serve as Judge as well as Intercessor. The Father’s departure from the Most Holy Place also marks the close of probation for the organized church and clears the way for it to be destroyed. At the same time, the small group of remnant leaders, the 12 last elders, figuratively entered the Holy Place, headed toward the Most Holy Place to begin their testimony as witnesses in the Father’s trial.
March 17, 2012 – The midpoint of the 40-days in the Holy Place. On this day, the little group of leaders figuratively “met” the Father at the half-way point going the opposite direction through the Holy Place. On this day, the Father transferred the candlestick of authority to the new leaders of the “last” remnant people.
April 6, 2012 – The beginning of the 1290 days. On this day, the Father exited the sanctuary, and we reached the door to the Most Holy Place. We observed the Lord’s Supper and took away all the mysteries of the “daily” through the articles we published. This was a 30-day process until the second-month Lord’s Supper, when the process of “taking away the daily” was completed.
May 6, 2012 – The beginning of the 1260 days. The 12 leaders entered the Most Holy Place with the Key of David in hand and took their seats as judges with the other 12 of the 24 elders. The judgment of the living began.
May 20, 2012 – The last day of unleavened bread. This day marks the end of the second week of unleavened bread following our second-month Lord’s Supper after the pattern of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 30).
Conclusion: Living in the Final Judgment
Dear reader, these are momentous times we live in. We are now in the period of judgment where living souls are being judged. Every thought, every action is weighed in the balances. Each will be held accountable in proportion to the favorable opportunities and privileges they have been given. Now! NOW is always the time to repent of your sins and avail yourself of the grace of Christ. Especially now in these last two-and-a-half years before the door of mercy for everyone will be closed forever at the commencement of the Last Plagues. I urge you to use every breath to glorify God during these final three-and-a-half years of earth’s history.
God allowed His people to experience the Great Disappointment of 1844 for a reason. Had they understood from the start that the event they looked for was not the Second Coming, there would have been no force behind the trumpet blast to warn the world of the impending judgment. Similarly, God allowed us to misunderstand the prophetic events in our day so that our trumpet blast would have a “certain sound” to effectively warn of the new judgment phase.
Satan is announcing his own plans. The dates of his grievous crimes (yes, the fireballs) are being announced all over the public media for anyone who is paying enough attention. Those who are “awake” already recognize that we are facing unprecedented changes in our world, in every realm. We believe that the enemy is working with all deceivableness to make the prophecies appear to fulfill on his schedule, confirming him as the savior of the world. Ground yourself in the messages sent by the Holy Spirit that we have presented, especially the Orion and the Vessel of Time which God gave as a sign to anchor us. Remember that the counterfeit must come before the real thing. Satan’s false plagues, as devastating as they are, cannot be the real plagues because they must come before the real plagues (which we know will be even greater!). Satan’s stupendous false appearance must come before the real Second Coming of Jesus otherwise he would not have an opportunity to come at all. Study to show yourselves approved, and be careful lest you be deceived! Know your high calling, and the consequences of failure.
Our prayer is that you will stay faithful during this time of “tarrying in Jerusalem” and that you will be blessed with the Holy Spirit without measure when the long-awaited but soon-to-come down-pouring of the latter rain falls upon God’s people.
