As I begin this short treatise on why we as a ministry believe that God is calling for a reformation in every aspect of our lives, it is important that we first understand what the word reform means. Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary furnishes us with the following meanings:
REFORM, v.t. [L. reformo; re and formo, to form.]
1. To change from worse to better; to amend; to correct; to restore to a former good state, or to bring from a bad to a good state; as, to reform a profligate man; to reform corrupt manners or morals.
2. To change from bad to good; to remove that which is bad or corrupt; as, to reform abuses; to reform the vices of the age.
Clearly, reform is an acknowledgement that there has been a general departure from the good and we are basically retracing our steps. We find this concept in Jeremiah 6:16:
Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Reform is going back to the old ways, the good way. In doing this, the promise is that we shall find rest for our souls. This is quite significant considering the world we live in where restlessness abounds and people are looking for that which will give them contentment, peace and rest. Notice this profound statement from Ellen White on what reformation is all about:
“A revival and a reformation must take place, under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend.–The Review and Herald, Feb. 25, 1902.” Selected Messages, Bk.1, p.128
While we have seen what reform is all about, we have also discovered that reform doesn’t happen alone. It is an accompaniment of spiritual revival, a resurrection from spiritual death. It goes without saying that we need a spiritual revival, and with that, a reformation. How shall a revival come about? When we answer this question, we shall see that we need a reformation, that is, “a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices.” Ellen White has this to say on the same,
“Let us give more time to the study of the Bible. We do not understand the word as we should. The book of Revelation opens with an injunction to us to understand the instruction that it contains. “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy,” God declares, “and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” When we as a people understand what this book means to us, there will be seen among us a great revival. We do not understand fully the lessons that it teaches, notwithstanding the injunction given us to search and study it.” {TM 113.2}
When we carefully consider the book of Revelation, there will be a revival. However, revival is never alone. There will be a reformation. Now, the book of Revelation contains one of the most solemn warnings found in the entire Bible. This is in Revelation 14:6-12. Even the casual reader will not fail to see that the messages found herein are of utmost importance. These are the messages that are to be given to the world in the closing work of the gospel as after the messages are preached, “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud [one] sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” Rev. 14:14, 15. Revelation being a book written in symbolic language, the earth being ready for harvest refers to the end of the world (see Matt.13:39). So this is the gospel that is preached in all the world as a witness and then the end comes (Matt. 24:14). Once they are preached, probation is closed. These are the messages that prepare each and every human being to meet their Lord when He appears a second time. They are therefore messages of prime importance to every human being who is living at this present time when the end of all things is at hand.
A careful consideration of these messages will bring to our attention the kind of reformation that God requires from a people who are preparing to meet their Lord. Let us consider, then, these messages and see the various reforms brought to our attention:
Revelation 14:6-12 KJV And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
9And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
There are many things we can gather from this threefold message. Firstly, the angels represent the fact that human beings and angels cooperate in giving this message. Human beings preach, while the angels help. This is because we see repeatedly in the New Testament human beings to whom had been committed a certain message for God’s people being referred to as angels (see Phil. 2:25; Matt. 11:10 etc). While to human beings has been committed the work of preaching (Matt. 28:18-20), angels aid in the work evidenced by numerous accounts in the book of Acts. A good example is the account of Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch. In Acts 8:26, it is an angel that puts Phillip in contact with the eunuch. Ellen White commenting on these instances says, “The experience of Philip, directed by an angel from heaven to go to the place where he met one seeking for truth; of Cornelius, visited by an angel with a message from God; of Peter, in prison and condemned to death, led by an angel forth to safety–all show the closeness of the connection between heaven and earth.” Acts of the Apostles, p.152.
Another important introductory matter worthy of our observation is that we are told that the angels are seen flying in the midst of heaven. This indicates that the messages are of a heavenly origin, sent by God. This is in stark contrast to Satan who is the king of the abyss (Revelation 9:11) and his representatives come from the sea (Rev. 13:1) and the earth (Rev. 13:11). James 3:15-17 contrasts the wisdom that is from above to that which comes from below:
“This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
There are many other points we could consider but that is far beyond the scope of this article. However, we must notice that the acceptance of these messages is about life and death. An acceptance of these messages will lead to receiving the seal of God and being saved while a rejection of these messages will lead to receiving the mark of the beast and thus eternal destruction. It is therefore of utmost importance to us to understand and accept these messages and experience the accompanying revival and reformation that follows.
Having dealt with the introductory matters about reform and why we need revival and reformation, let us now consider the reformation we are being called to in these solemn warnings.
