The Last Church

By Julio Cesar Prado

“In the Revelation are portrayed the deep things of God. The very name given to its inspired pages, the ‘Revelation,’ contradicts the statement that this is a sealed book. A revelation is something revealed. The Lord Himself revealed to His servant the mysteries contained in this book, and He designs that they shall be open to the study of all. Its truths are addressed to those living in the last days of this earth’s history,” (Acts of the Apostles, p. 584).

“In the Revelation all the books of the Bible meet and end. Here is the complement of the book of Daniel. One is a prophecy; the other a revelation. The book that was sealed is not the Revelation, but that portion of the prophecy of Daniel relating to the last days. The angel commanded, ‘But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end.’ Daniel 12:4” (Acts of the Apostles, p. 585).

Whether in the New Testament or the Old, the same truths are made equally clear. In a holy vision received on the island of Patmos, the apostle John was allowed to look through the centuries of the Christian era. He saw the last Christian church, the church that would witness the Lord’s second coming. The apostle describes this church as follows: “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17).

The “dragon” here represents Satan. The “woman” symbolizes the church of Christ. “The remnant of her seed” has to do with the last part of God’s church, those at the end of time who will see Christ’s second coming. This church is described here as having two distinct marks: first, it keeps the commandments of God; second, it possesses the gift of prophecy, which is the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:10). This last church will be made up of people who keep the seventh-day Sabbath, because it can never be said that a church keeps the commandments of God if it doesn’t keep the Sabbath. A church is a commandment breaker if it observes only nine of God’s commandments. The final church is a commandment-keeping, Sabbath-observing church.

Looking back through the centuries, the apostle John sees the last gospel message being preached “to every nation, kindred, tongue and people.” This message is described in Revelation chapter fourteen. The message is threefold and, upon completion, Christ appears in the clouds of heaven to crown the earth (Revelation 14:14 and 15). So this must be the final message to be delivered to the world. John also sees the people who will deliver the message, and describes them as follows: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).

“When the books of Daniel and Revelation are better understood, believers will have an entirely different religious experience. They will be given such glimpses of the open gates of heaven … The book of Daniel is unsealed in the revelation to John, and carries us forward to the last scenes of this earth’s history” (Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 114, 115).

“We are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. Many of the prophecies are about to be fulfilled in quick succession … Past history will be repeated … Study Revelation in connection with Daniel, for history will be repeated” (Testimonies for Ministers, p. 116).

“As we near the close of this world’s history, the prophecies relating to the last days especially demand our study. The last book of the New Testament Scriptures is full of truth that we need to understand. Satan has blinded the minds of many so that they have been glad of any excuse for not making the Revelation their study. But Christ through His servant John has here declared what shall be in the last days” (Testimonies for Ministers, p. 116).

Thus, in both the Old and New Testaments, God makes it clear to the Bible researcher that every Christian is obligated to follow all aspects of His commandments. This law should be the evidence of His people’s faith in the last days. And those who stand the test with confidence will receive this promised blessing: “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14.

The Book of Daniel introduces the subject of sanctuary, and Revelation expands it. “As a people, we should be earnest students of prophecy; we should not rest until we become intelligent in regard to the subject of the sanctuary, which is brought out in the visions of Daniel and John” (Evangelism, p. 222). The book of Revelation is the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Heavenly Sanctuary. Some of the interpretations made by Bible scholars prior to 1844 are not centralized in the heavenly sanctuary. They can’t understand Revelation the way we understand it today because they lived before the unveiling of the book of Daniel. The sealed portion of the Book of Daniel is sealed until the end of time. The doctrine of the Heavenly Sanctuary would only be restored in the end times.

Are we the last church? Are we living in end times? If so, we urgently need to study Revelation in connection with Daniel, for these two books contain prophecies applicable for our day. We are in the period of the end-time church, and the remnant is made up of those who will be saved during this time.

About: Julio Cesar Prado is a journalist.