The Back Story

The Back Story:

The Great Controversy

All humanity is now involved in a great controversy between Christ and Satan regarding the character of God, His law, and His sovereignty over the Universe.

This conflict originated in heaven when a created being (Lucifer - the top-ranking angel), endowed with freedom of choice, in self-exaltation became Satan, God’s adversary, and led into rebellion a portion of the angels.

Satan introduced the spirit of rebellion into our world when he led Adam and Eve into sin, which resulted in the distortion of the image of God in humanity and the disordering of the natural world. Observed by the whole Universe, our world became the arena of the great conflict between good and evil, out of which the God of love will ultimately be vindicated.

To assist His people in this controversy, Christ sends His Spirit and the loyal angels to guide, protect, and sustain them in the way of salvation.

The Remnant

The church of God is composed of all who truly believe in Christ, but in the last days, a time of widespread apostasy (a falling away from the truth), a remnant has been called out to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. This remnant announces the arrival of the judgment hour, proclaims salvation through Christ, and heralds the approach of His second advent.

This final proclamation of warning and wisdom is symbolized by the three angels' messages of Revelation 14:6-12; it coincides with the work of judgment in heaven and results in a work of repentance and reform on earth.

Every believer is called to have a personal part in testifying to the Universe that God's law of love is just and true.

Luke 10:27 - And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and [thou shalt love] thy neighbour as thyself.

1 John 1:9 - If we confess (foresake, discontinue) our sins, he (God) is faithful and just to forgive us [of] our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (take away our desire for wrong-doing).

Luke 9:23 - And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

2 Peter 1:3-4 - According as his (Jesus Christ's) divine power hath given unto us (His believers) all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him (God) that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises (God's Word): that by [faith in] these (God's Words) ye might be partakers of the divine nature (holiness), having escaped (overcoming) the corruption (wickedness) that is in the world through lust (our sinful nature).

Romans 12:1-2 - I beseech (beg of) you therefore, brethren, by the mercies (grace) of God, that ye present (submit) your bodies [as] a living sacrifice (your whole being and your life), holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (true worship). And be not conformed to this [sinful] world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind (spirit), that ye may prove (demonstrate and verify) what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (that God's will for your life is indeed good, acceptable, and perfect).

Titus 2:13-14 - [We are] Looking for that blessed hope, and (which is) the glorious appearing of the great God and (who is) our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself (died) for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity (our sinful nature), and purify unto himself a peculiar (special, sanctified, set apart for a holy purpose) people, zealous of good works (right-doing = righteousness of Christ).

Colossians 1:27-29 - To whom God would make known (experience) what is the riches of the glory of this mystery (an unknown because of lacking the experience) among the Gentiles (non-believers); which is [the Spirit of] Christ in you, the hope of glory (justification-sanctification-glorification): [of] Whom we preach (Jesus Christ), warning every man (of the wages of sin), and teaching every man in all wisdom (the gospel truth); that we may present (convert) every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I (Paul) also labour, striving (cooperate with) according to his (Christ's) working (cleansing me from all my unrighteousness, 1 John 1:9), which worketh in me mightily (sufficiently, effectively).

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 - Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God (give yourself completely to Him), and keep his commandments (love God and love your neighbors, Exodus 20:1-17): for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing (motives and intentions), whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

The state of the world: Humans are wicked beyond comprehension, but God through His Son, Jesus Christ, is mighty to save. Not to save us in our sin, but to save us from our sin - to make us overcomers - victorious in Christ.

Will you choose to overcome your sinful nature, give yourself to God, and let the Spirit of Christ transform your character to be counted among His loyal remnant people at the end of time?

Our study of the book of Revelation
reveals the path to salvation in the last days:
Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
(John 14:6)

The Fall of Lucifer

Ezekiel 28:15-17 - Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 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.

Isaiah 14:12-14 - How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

The Fall of Man

Genesis 3:4-6 - And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

The Flood

Genesis 6:5-6 - And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

2 Peter 3:6 - Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

The Righteous

Job 1:6-8 - Now there was a day when the sons of God (representative from the unfallen worlds) came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan (as the representative from Earth) came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth (avoids) evil?

The Wicked

Romans 1:19-21, 25, 32 - Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them (created things); for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him (God) from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead (divinity); so that they are without excuse (for being ignorant of God): Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were [they] thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened... 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator,.. 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things (sin) are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

The Plan

Romans 5:12, 18-21 - Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned...18 Therefore as by the offence (sin) of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness (right-doing) of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one (Jesus) shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound (increase). But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Battle

Romans 8:19, 22 - For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God (salvation). 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together (condemnation) until now.

Romans 3:4 - God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every [sinful] man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings (truth), and mightest overcome [sin] when thou art judged.

Hebrews 1:14 - Are they not all ministering spirits (angels), sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (tempt into sin = dead in sin):

1 Corinthians 4:9 - For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

Isaiah 1:9 - Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

Isaiah 11:11 - And it shall come to pass in that day (the Last Days), that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

Jeremiah 23:3 - And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.

1 Peter 1:16-19 - Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass (spend) the time of your sojourning here in fear (consegration to God): Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1 Peter 4:16-17 - Yet if any man suffer (be punished) as a Christian (for doing right), let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf (in his suffering). For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God (among His professed believers): and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God (do not believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God)?

The Promise

Micah 2:12 - I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of [spiritual] Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men (the great number of the saved).

The Choice

Deuteronomy 30:19 - I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Joshua 24:15 - And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

1 Kings 18:21 - And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

If you choose Life, you need to be among the remnant in the last days. Study The Everlasting Gospel to know the Truth, then study The Revelation of Jesus Christ to know the Way.