THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD WORKERS

“For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.” (Matt. 20:1-9).

REVIEW OF MATTHEW 20

In the parable of Matt.20, someone depicted as a householder sought to hire laborers to work in His vineyard at five different intervals. The first set of laborers was hired early in the morning. The early in the morning laborers were the only set of laborers the householder made an agreement with regarding their wages, a penny per day, all others were told, whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

The second set of laborers was employed at the third hour; they were found standing idle in the marketplace. The third was hired at the sixth hour, the fourth at the ninth, and the last at the eleventh hour, one hour before sunset. The third, sixth, ninth, and eleventh-hour workers were all found standing idle at the marketplace; the only exception was that of the early in the morning laborers. At the end of the parable, everyone received a penny for their labor, the last first and the first last.

WHY SPEAKETH THOU IN PARABLE

“And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” (Matt.13:10,11).

A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning (for the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man), written or spoken in mysteries, secrets or symbols for the understanding and purpose for those who are in the body of Christ. “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”

THE ANCIENT TIME CLOCK

During the Old and New Testament period, a day was measured from evening to morning (See Gen.1:5), twelve hours day, and twelve hours night. (See John 11:9). The parabolic time clock cannot refer to one literal day of twelve hours, into which the householder has made five calls for laborers in the vineyard, for there is no record where five church organizations were raised in one day and had them operating all at the same time. During the Biblical times, time was measured in twelve hours a day and twelve hours at night; early in the morning would be six am our time, the third hour would be nine am our time, the sixth hour would be high noon our time, and the ninth hour would be three in the afternoon our time, and the eleventh hour would be five pm in the afternoon our time, one hour before sunset.

The calls in the parable must extend over a period of world history in connection with the church, and that period the Bible allegorically compares to a twelve-hour day into which the householder hired laborers on five different occasions. If we can locate the time to which each of these calls refers, then we shall fully comprehend the lesson and the time in which we live. To accomplish this, we first need to understand all the different parabolic terminologies that were used. We will begin with who the householder and laborers are and what the vineyard represents.

THE HOUSEHOLDER, LABORERS AND VINEYARD

“The householder’s dealing with the workers in his vineyard represents God’s dealing with the human family.” “God claims the whole earth as His vineyard. (COL. 396, 397, 301). “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Matt. 9:38).

The “householder” in the parable has reference to God the Father, the vineyard is the world and those sent to labor in it are represented as the laborers, His chosen disciples who harvest souls.

MARKETPLACE

“It was the custom for men seeking employment to wait in the market places, and thither the employers went to find servants. The man in the parable is represented as going out at different hours to engage workmen.” (COL. 396).

“In this parable Christ employed an illustration with which all were familiar. In Europe this custom still remains. Those desiring to find work wend their way to the market-place, and there stand about, hoping to be employed. And those, also, who are in need of workmen go also to the market-place.” (Signs Of The Times, Aug.9 1899).

The market place in this scenario would represent the church where the householder (Christ), would find laborers (converts), who were standing idle (unemployed), to send into His vineyard, the world.

WHY STAND YE IDLE?

“…Why stand ye here all the day idle?’ Why are you not at work in some capacity in His vineyard?

Again and again He has bidden you: ‘Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.” (Matt.20:6,7).

“The words of Christ apply to the church: ‘Why stand ye here all the day idle?’” (5T 203).

Mark the question asked by the householder, “Why stand ye all the day idle?” The significance is that they should have been at work. They say unto him, “Because no man hath hired us.” When the church leadership is controlled by a particular class (the graduates) and a ban of restrictions placed on all others, thus the very ones whom God wishes to use are thrust aside and remain idle.

“…In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged…. God will work a work in our day that but few anticipate. He will raise up and exalt among us those who are taught rather by the unction of his Spirit, than by the outward training of scientific institutions…God will manifest that he is not dependent on learned, self-important mortals.” (Vol. 5, pp. 80, 82).

The workers hired by such leadership are selected from the viewpoint of technical education as a test of qualification instead of Biblical knowledge, consecration, and absolute obedience to the whole truth. Such practices are contrary to Biblical instruction.

THE PURPOSE OF THE DIFFERENT LABORERS

“In every age there is a new development of truth, a message of God to the people of that generation. The old truths are all essential; new truth is not independent of the old, but an unfolding of it. It is only as the old truths are understood that we can comprehend the new.” (COL 127).

“As never before, we should pray not only that laborers may be sent forth into the great harvest-field, but that we may have a clear conception of truth, so that when the messengers of truth shall come, we may accept the message and respect the messenger.” (6T p420).

Each call represents a new message of God to the people of that generation.

EARLY IN THE MORNING LABORERS

To find the answer as to who the early in the morning laborers were, the Bible stated that an agreement (contract or a covenant) was made with them.

“According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.” (Haggai 2:5).

“The Jews had been first called into the Lord’s vineyard, and because of this they were proud and self righteous.” (COL. 400).

The Jews were first called into God’s vineyard when they came out of Egypt. They are the only set of laborers that an agreement was made with. Their new message was the sacrificial system, God’s system of how they were to be cleansed from their sins.

“The rites of the Jewish economy were instituted by Christ Himself. He was the foundation of their system of sacrificial offerings, the great antitype of all their religious service. The blood shed as the sacrifices were offered pointed to the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. All the typical offerings were fulfilled in Him.” (COL 126).

THIRD-HOUR LABORERS

Seeing that the early morning laborers represented the Jews, the third-hour laborers must define the next set of workers that God employed. The reason for their employment was because the early morning laborers, the Jews, rejected the Messiah.

“And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.” (Mark 15:25).

“When the Jews sealed their rejection of Christ by delivering Him to death, they rejected all that gave significance to the temple and its services.” (DA p165).

“The one week–seven years–ended in A.D. 34. Then by the stoning of Stephen the Jews finally sealed their rejection of the gospel; the disciples who were scattered abroad by persecution ‘went everywhere preaching the word’ (Acts 8:4); and shortly after, Saul the persecutor was converted and became Paul the apostle to the Gentiles.” (PK 699).

“But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” (Acts 13:46).

The third-hour laborers represented the Apostles. After the early in the morning laborers rejected Christ, then by the stoning of Stephen and their attitude towards the preaching of Paul and Barabas, the Jews as a nation judged themselves unworthy of eternal life. The new message that were proclaimed by the Apostles was the crucified, resurrection and ascension of Christ.

SIXTH AND NINTH-HOUR LABORERS

“Again he went about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.” (Matt. 20:5.) Note that these words closely associate “the sixth and ninth-hour” calls, while the other calls are separated. The significance is that these two messages, represented by the “sixth and ninth-hour,” are to be closely joined.

Each of the calls being at intervals, extending over the entire day, it is evident that they must come one after another at different periods. On each occasion, there must be a call — message. If so, it cannot be merely a call of reformation — obedience to a former message. Therefore, the reformation by Luther could not be considered here, for it was only a revival of the message delivered before his time. Said Luther, “The just shall live by faith.” The message of justification through faith was first preached by Habakkuk, then by Paul. Knox, Wesley, and Campbell could not enter the parable, for they too had only a call for reformation (obedience) to the message (doctrines) delivered to the Gentiles — the early Christian church. The doctrine of the Holy Spirit by Knox, Grace by Wesley, and Baptism through immersion by Campbell were taught by the Apostles, and these were not new truths.

SIX-HOUR LABORERS

“As Elisha was called from following his oxen in the field, to receive the mantle of consecration to the prophetic office, so was William Miller called to leave his plow, and open to the people the mysteries of the kingdom of God.” (GC 332).

“…so Miller and his associates preached the message based on Daniel 8:14 and Revelation 14:7, and failed to see that there were still other messages brought to view in Revelation 14, which were also to be given before the advent of the Lord.” (GC p 353).

From the days of the Apostles until the call of the sixth-hour laborer, there was no new development of truths that were revealed. The Millerite movement, known as the First-Day Adventist, is represented in Scripture as the first and second angel in Rev. 14:6-8.

The new message Miller and his associates brought was that of Daniel 8:14: “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed,” the 2300-day prophecy.

THE NINTH-HOUR LABORERS

“The first and second messages [Revelation 14:6-8] were given in 1843 and 1844, and we are now under the proclamation of the third.” (CTr 338.4).

The Seventh-Day Adventist church is an upshoot of the Millerite movement; therefore, the ninth-hour call must come after Miller’s work ends. It was the Sanctuary truth and the investigative judgment preached since 1844, bound in the first, second, and third angel’s messages of Revelation 14:6-11.

Therefore, the Three Angel’s Messages constituted that call in 1844, the message of the investigative judgment of the dead, the cleansing of the sanctuary in it’s correct understanding, that was brought by E.G. White.

THE ELEVENTH–HOUR LABORERS

“The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders [E.J.] Waggoner and [A.T.] Jones…This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel’s message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure.” (TM 91, 92).

“I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven, descending to the earth, and again ascending to heaven, preparing for the fulfillment of some important event. Then I saw another mighty angel commissioned to descend to the earth, to unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his message…The work of this angel comes in at the right time to join in the last great work of the third angel’s message as it swells to a loud cry.” (EW 277).

“Furthermore, in the eighteenth chapter of the Revelation, in a message which is yet future, the people of God are called upon to come out of Babylon…“This scripture points forward to a time when the announcement of the fall of Babylon, as made by the second angel [Revelation 14:8] of Revelation 14, is to be repeated. (GC p382. 1888 edition).

“The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth.” (1SM 363).

The above references reveal another set of laborers with a message that the householder employed after the ninth-hour laborers that unite his voice with the third angel. The eleventh-hour message, therefore, constitutes the repeat of the second angel’s message, the message to call the people of God out of Babylon, as recorded in Rev. 18:1-4, the Loud Cry message. This message was the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth; unfortunately, it was rejected by the General Conference leaders, as stated below.

THE REJECTION OF THE ELEVENTH-HOUR LABORERS

“In 1888 the general conference held at Minneapolis, the angel of Rev 18 came down to do his work, and was ridiculed, criticized, and rejected.” E.G. WHITE in “Taking up a reproach.” “The whole of Revelation 18 will be fulfilled in the glorious closing of this work. It hasn’t yet been fulfilled, and the light of the FORTH ANGEL’S message began to shine in that strange and impressive way at Minneapolis. The only reasonable conclusion is that the light was put out by human instrumentalities.” (E.G. WHITE, LETTER 106).

“When did that message of the righteousness of Christ begin with us as a people? [One or two in the audience: ‘Three or four years ago.’] Which was it, three? Or four? [Congregation: ‘four’], Yes four. Where was it? [Congregation: ‘Minneapolis’] What then did the leading brethren reject at Minneapolis? [Some in the congregation: ‘The loud cry’]…What did the brethren in that fearful position in which they stood, rejected at Minneapolis? They rejected the latter rain-the loud cry-of the third angel’s message” (GCB, 1893 p183).

“An unwillingness to yield up preconceived opinions, and to accept this truth, lay at the foundation of a large share of the opposition manifested at Minneapolis against the Lord’s message through Brethren (E.J.) Waggoner and (A.T.) Jones. By exciting that opposition Satan succeeded in shutting away from our people, in a great measure, the special power of the Holy Spirit that God longed to impart to them.

The enemy prevented them from obtaining that efficiency which might have been theirs in carrying the truth to the world, as the apostles proclaimed it after the day of Pentecost. The light that is to lighten the whole earth with its glory was resisted, and by the action of our own brethren has been in a great degree kept away from the world.” (1SM pp 234, 235).

The eleventh-hour laborers are represented by the angel of Rev. 18:1, the fourth angel. Just as the first three angels of Rev. 14:6-9 is symbolic of earthly messengers of God, likewise with the angel of Rev. 18:1. According to the parable, they only have one prophetic hour to complete their work before sunset; therefore, Satan will do every thing in His power in preventing this message to accomplish it’s purpose, that’s the reason it was rejected by the leadership in 1888.

THE RETURN OF THE ELEVENTH-HOUR MESSAGE AND LABORERS

“I saw that Jones and Waggoner had their counterpart in Joshua and Caleb. As the children of Israel stones the spies with literal stones, you have stoned these brethren with stones of sarcasm and ridicule. I saw that you willfully rejected what you knew to be truth, just because it was too humiliating to your dignity. I saw some of you in your tents mimicking and making all manner of fun of these two brethren. I also saw that if you had accepted their message, we would have been in the kingdom two years from that date, but now we have to go back into the wilderness and there stay forty years.” (GCB May 9, 1892) (Melbourne, Australia).

After the official announcement that the General Conference had rejected God’s “most precious message,” the Lord sent another message, which was handed in writing to thirty members of the General Conference Committee while assembled at the 1930 San Francisco Conference session. It is interesting to note, E.G. White stated that if the church had accepted the Loud Cry message in 1888, we would be in the kingdom two years from that date (1890); instead, we would have to wander in the wilderness for forty years. Forty years from 1890 takes us to 1930. In 1930 just such a message came again to the Seventh-day Adventist church; the Loud Cry message and the investigative judgment of the living, and again it too was rejected, as predicted by E.G. White and A.T. Jones, as the following references will prove. Please note that the date of the references was made after the rejection of the 1888 message; therefore, they apply to a future event.

“In 1888 the general conference held at Minneapolis, the angel of Rev 18 came down to do his work, and was ridiculed, criticized, and rejected, and when the message he brings AGAIN will swell into a loud cry it will be ridiculed and spoken against and rejected by the majority.” E.G. WHITE in “Taking up a reproach.”

“That [the 1888 experience] however, is but a sample. There will be things TO COME that will be more surprising than that was to those at Minneapolis, more surprising than anything we have yet seen. And brethren we will be required to receive and preach that truth. But unless you and I have every fiber of that spirit rooted out of our hearts we will treat that MESSAGE and the MESSENGER by whom it is sent, as God has declared we have treated this OTHER message.” (G.C.B, 1893 p185) A.T. Jones. “I have no specific time of which to speak when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit will take place– when the mighty angel will come down from heaven, and unite with the third angel in closing up the work for this world; my message is that our only safety is in being ready for the heavenly refreshing, having our lamps trimmed and burning.–The Review and Herald, March 29, 1892. (1SM p 192.1).

“We are to throw aside our narrow, selfish plans, remembering that we have a work of the largest magnitude and highest importance. In doing this work we are sounding the first, second, and third angel’s messages, and are thus being prepared for the coming of that other angel from heaven who is to lighten the earth with his glory.” (6T 406 1900).

“As never before, we should pray not only that laborers may be sent forth into the great harvest field, but that we may have a clear conception of truth, so that when the messengers of truth shall come, we may accept the message and respect the messenger.” (6T 420.3, 1900).

The multiplicity of references provided clearly stated that another angel is to come (future tense, after 1888) and unite his voice with the third angel, the return of the FOURTH ANGEL that was first rejected at the 1888 Minneapolis session by the General Conference leaders. This other messenger is likewise identified in Rev 18:1 as “another angel” who joins the third angel as it swells to a Loud Cry. Both E.G. White and A.T. Jones prophesied that the fourth angel would return and would likewise be rejected. This other messenger – the fourth angel, is identified as the antitypical Elijah that is to come. He represents the last messenger before Christ’s second advent, as John the Baptist represented the last prophet before Christ’s first advent.

“Prophecy must be fulfilled. The Lord says: ‘Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.’ Somebody is to come in the spirit and power of Elijah, and when he appears, men may say: ‘You are too earnest, you do not interpret the Scriptures in the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach your message’.” (TM p. 475, 1890).

Sister White does not mean to say that she is that prophet Elijah but plainly says a prophet is to come, and it is said to be a prophet with the “same spirit and power of Elijah.” Elijah’s work in the days of Ahab, king of Israel, was to prove to Israel that they had apostatized (See 5T p 217). The spirit of Elijah was a spirit against idolatry, and his power was a power to destroy those who led in idolatry and to bring about purity. Such was the spirit and power of Elijah. Therefore, the message of antitypical Elijah is a message of purification or cleansing, the message of the investigative judgment of the living as recorded in 5T 207-216, in conjunction with the Loud Cry message.

“Solemn are the scenes connected with the closing work of the atonement. Momentous are the interests involved therein. The Judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. For more than forty years this work has been in progress. Soon—none know how soon—it will pass to the cases of the living.” (GC 490).

“As the books of record are opened in the Judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living.” (GC p483).

“In 1844 our great High Priest entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, to begin the work of the investigative judgment. The cases of the righteous dead have been passing in review before God.

When that work shall be completed, judgment is to be pronounced upon the living.” (1SM p125).

The return of the eleventh-hour messenger was none other than V.T. Houteff, the promised Elijah, who brought the return of the fourth angel’s message in 1930. The new message that was brought to this generation was; the investigative judgment of the living.

THE TWO VOICES OF REV. 18:1-4

This other angel in Rev. 18:1,2 that unites his voice with the third angel’s first represented Elders E.J. Waggoner and A.T. Jones. Upon the rejection of their message by the leadership, it was prophesied that the Loud Cry message would return. The message of the Loud Cry that returned coincides with the message of antitypical Elijah as previous stated; he therefore, represents that other angel from heaven with a strong voice in Rev. 18:1,2, the return of the fourth angel.

ANOTHER VOICE–SERVANTS OF GOD

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Rev.18:4).

“… But God still has a people in Babylon; and before the visitation of His judgments these faithful ones must be called out, that they partake not of her sins and ‘receive not of her plagues.’ Hence the movement symbolized by the angel coming down from heaven, lightening the earth with his glory and crying mightily with a strong voice, announcing the sins of Babylon. In connection with his message the call is heard: ‘Come out of her, My people.’ These announcements, uniting with the third angel’s message, constitute the final warning to be given to the inhabitants of the earth.” (GC 604).

“Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers. Satan also works, with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men. Revelation 13:13. Thus the inhabitants of the earth will be brought to take their stand.” (GC 611).

SERVANTS OF GOD–THE 144,000

“And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.” (Rev. 7:1-4). “This sealing of the servants of God is the same that was shown to Ezekiel in vision. John also had been a witness of this most startling revelation.” (TM 445).

The prophecy of Revelation identified who the servants of God represent, the 144,000, the eleventh hour laborers that God will use during the Loud Cry period in calling His people out of Babylon. The servant of the Lord said that Ezekiel also was shown the sealing of the servants of God. “The true people of God, who have the spirit of the work of the Lord and the salvation of souls at heart, will ever view sin in its real, sinful character. They will always be on the side of faithful and plain dealing with sins which easily beset the people of God. Especially in the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand who are to stand without fault before the throne of God, will they feel most deeply the wrongs of God’s professed people. This is forcibly set forth by the prophet’s illustration of the last work under the figure of the men each having a slaughter weapon in his hand. One man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side. ‘And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof…Their love for purity and the honor and glory of God is such, and they have so clear a view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that they are represented as being in agony, even sighing and crying. Read the ninth chapter of Ezekiel.” (3T 266).

“The work of judgment begins at the sanctuary. ‘And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar.’ Read Ezekiel 9:2-7. The command is, ‘Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.’” (TM 431).

“Study the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled; yet the time is passing, and the people are asleep. They refuse to humble their souls and to be converted. Not a great while longer will the Lord bear with the people who have such great and important truths revealed to them, but who refuse to bring these truths into their individual experience. The time is short. God is calling; will you hear? Will you receive His message? Will you be converted before it is too late? Soon, very soon, every case will be decided for eternity. (Letter 106, 1909, pp. 2, 3, 5, 7).

“The angel with the writer’s ink horn is to place a mark upon the foreheads of all who are separated from sin and sinners, and the destroying angel follows this angel (Letter 12, 1886).” (4BC 1161.5).

“The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over the sins of others, will be left without the seal of God. The Lord commissions His messengers, the men with slaughtering weapons in their hands: ‘Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.’

“Here we see that the church–the Lord’s sanctuary–was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. (5T 211.2).

“But the days of purification of the church are hastening on apace. God will have a people pure and true. In the mighty sifting soon to take place we shall be better able to measure the strength of Israel. The signs reveal that the time is near when the Lord will manifest that His fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor…In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view.” (5T p80).

Ezekiel gave a graphic description as to how the 144,000 receive the seal of protection, by sighing and crying for all the abominations that are done within the church. Upon receiving the seal, they are protected from the angels with the slaughtering weapons in their hands. The purification of the SDA church, the shaken, the sealing in Rev. 7, and the marking in Ezek. 9, have reference to the same event, the investigative judgment of the living. This is also known as the closing work of the church, the sealing of the 144,000 as seen in Rev. 7. The 144,000 without question are from the SDA church. John saw 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel, confirming the fact that the number is literal. E.G. White’s first vision confirms that the number is also literal. (See EW p14,15).

A PENNY A DAY

“So when even was come, the Lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should receive more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house.” (Matt. 20:8-11).

Note that those who were hired last were paid first, and the first, last. As all were equally regarded, the ones hired first murmured, though they were paid in full. Their disdainful act denotes that the Jewish nation was unworthy of their hire, and the Goodman said to them, “Take that thine is, and go thy way,” denotes the rejection of the nation. As ancient Israel is represented by the first call, to them, the words apply, and as they were the ones who murmured, it proves the parable correct.

Why were the first paid last and the last first? Answer. — The pay God’s servants receive is eternal life and is characterized by the penny. Therefore, those who are granted the assurance of a never-ending life first, are those who were hired last, and according to the parable, it was the company called at the eleventh-hour. They are those who are marked or sealed by the man with the writer’s inkhorn of Ezekiel 9, or as John calls him, the angel with the seal of God; and he sealed, or marked, 144,000. (See Rev. 7). This glorious company is the first who are granted the assurance of never tasting death. Thus they are paid first, but those who were called early in the morning (Israel after the flesh) are to be resurrected (the righteous) when Christ comes in the clouds, at which time they shall be given immortality. “So that the last shall be first, and the first, last.”

CONCLUSION

The parable of Matt. 20 reveals a historical, present, and futuristic revelation regarding God’s system of accomplishing His work on earth by the employment of different laborers throughout each generation; this was demonstrated by the use of a symbolic timepiece. It also reveals and identifies who are the different messengers and messages and the time that each were called, along with the messages they brought. In addition, it reveals exactly what time on the prophetic time clock we are presently located and how much time is left for the eleventh-hour laborers to accomplish their work.

According to the parable, we are at the eleventh hour, with only one prophetic hour left. The eleventh–hour laborers were identified to be the 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel, modern Israel, the Seventh-day Adventist church, those who received the seal or mark of protection from the angels with the slaughter weapons in their hands, the close of probation for our beloved church. These last set of laborers that God will employ to accomplish His work prior to His second advent will proclaim the Loud Cry message of the third angel, in calling God’s people out of Babylon, the great multitude that no man can number in Rev. 7:9, during the time of the mark of the beast system. Below reveals the future experiences the eleventh-hour laborers will encounter and their rewards.

“Upon the crystal sea before the throne, that sea of glass as it were mingled with fire,–so resplendent is it with the glory of God,–are gathered the company that have ‘gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name.’ With the Lamb upon Mount Zion, ‘having the harps of God,’ they stand, the hundred and forty and four thousand that were redeemed from among men; and there is heard, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of a great thunder, ‘the voice of harpers harping with their harps.’ And they sing ‘a new song’ before the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb–a song of deliverance. None but the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience–an experience such as no other company have ever had.

“‘These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.’ These, having been translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as ‘the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.’ Revelation 15:2, 3; 14:1-5. ‘These are they which came out of great tribulation;’ they have passed through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the time of Jacob’s trouble; they have stood without an intercessor through the final outpouring of God’s judgments. But they have been delivered, for they have ‘washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.’ ‘In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault’ before God.

“‘Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.’ They have seen the earth wasted with famine and pestilence, the sun having power to scorch men with great heat, and they themselves have endured suffering, hunger, and thirst. But ‘they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.’ Revelation 7:14-17.” (GC 648.3).

“Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand.” (RH March 9, 1905)

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