To wrap up this study, I would like to take a look at a parallel prophecy to the pause on the brink of eternity, as described in Revelation. Then I will try to give some very practical advice for how you can personally experience the power of the Laodicean message and hasten the coming of the day of God.
In many ways the books of Daniel and Revelation are similar. One of my favorite writers has even gone so far as to say that, “The books of Daniel and the Revelation are one. One is a prophecy, the other a revelation; one a book sealed, the other a book opened.” Ellen G. White, Manuscript 59, 1900. I don’t pretend to know what that really means, but I do know that understanding Daniel is a tremendous help in being able to decipher Revelation, and that there are many similarities between the prophecies in the two books. Daniel 10-12 contains many similarities to Revelation 10, and to better understand what is involved in the mystery of God being finished, looking back to Daniel is an enlightening aid.
There are other, more subtle similarities between these two passages of Scripture, but this list is sufficient to show that Daniel and John saw very similar visions, which complement each other and help us understand more about what each did see. Daniel saw the announcement of a time prophecy (“a time, times, and half a time”), while John saw what would happen after that prophecy was fulfilled, when “there would be no more delay.”
The interesting part of the similarities, at least the part I find most interesting, is the reference to the “shattering of the power of the holy people,” in close parallel to the mystery of God being fulfilled. Somehow, in order for the mystery of God to be fulfilled, the power of God’s people must be shattered. What can that mean? It seems oxymoronic at best to think that God will be able to finish anything when the power of His people has been shattered.
Perhaps this is one of those instances when God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:8). God seems to be able to work in us best when we see our nothingness, and realize that without Him we can do nothing. Paul realized this in his time, and wrote, “ when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10. When God shatters our power, when He shows us how helpless we are to perform any righteous act without His power, He can then use us, and can finish the mystery of God.
“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15.
According to the Strong’s Concordance, the word translated as “contrite” in this verse means “crushed (lit. powder),” and is also translated as “destruction” in Psalm 90:3. God dwells with those who have a contrite and lowly spirit. He crushes, pulverizes, and destroys that He may re-form us into an abode He can inhabit. When the power of the holy people is shattered, the mystery of God will be finished. The mystery of God is Christ in us, and in the Laodicean message, Jesus offers to come into us. He has first crushed and shattered our self-dependency and self-deception, and He stands knocking at the door of our hearts, wanting to come in and abide with us. Can you see how all of these beautiful truths of the gospel come together in the Laodicean message? Can you see how God wants to use it to shatter the power of His holy people, that He might remake them and dwell in them?
“There are a large number of professing Christians who do not really follow Jesus. They do not bear the cross by proper self-denial and self-sacrifice. Although making a great profession of being earnest Christians, they weave into the fabric of their character so may of the threads of their own imperfections that the beautiful pattern is spoiled. Of them Christ says: ‘You boast of being rich and increased with supposed spiritual attainments. In reality you are neither cold nor hot, but are filled with vain conceit. Unless converted, you cannot be saved; for you would mar heaven with your unsanctified wisdom. I cannot endorse your spirit and your work. You do not act according to the divine Example. You are following a pattern merely of your own invention. Because you are lukewarm, I must spew you out of My mouth.’
“Let us thank the Lord that while this class is so numerous, there is still time for repentance. Jesus says, ‘I, your Redeemer, known your works. I am familiar with the motives that prompt you to declare boastingly in regard to your spiritual condition, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” Thou “knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”’” Ellen G. White, Manuscript 138, 1902.
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