~ The Prophetic Pattern ~
We are familiar with the idea of the three angels' messages of Rev. 14 and look forward to the arrival of the fourth angel's message of Rev. 18. History repeats, and in the Bible the same pattern of three messages plus a fourth repeats itself several times, and thereby gives us some insights into future events.
This 3 + 1 pattern is most clearly revealed in the events that transpired during Elijah's showdown on Mt. Carmel, the return of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity at the beginning of the 2300 days, the time of Christ, the Millerite time at the end of the 2300 days, and again at the arrival of the Latter Rain and Loud Cry of the 4th Angel of Rev. 18.
The 3 + 1 message pattern itself is part of a larger10 point events pattern. They can be numbered thus: 1) Spiritual darkness precedes a reformation; 2) The first message is a Reform message; 3) The second message is a Revival message; 4) The third message is a Judgment message; 5) a Disappointment follows the third message; 6) Backsliding follows; 7) After the disappointment and backsliding is a new work of Repentance; 8) Then a new Revival; 9) Then a new Judgment; 10) Then finally, Jesus' second coming. This ten-point sequence reveals itself in the events of the Exodus up to the conquest of Canaan, the time of Christ up to John's exile on Patmos, and the time of the Millerites up to Jesus' second appearing.
The Israelites were in the darkness of captivity and bondage in Egypt (1). Moses brought messages of Reform and Revival (2 & 3). Then there was the Judgment of the 10 plagues (4), and a Disappointment with some Backsliding at the Red Sea (5 & 6). There was a new work of Repentance and Revival at the giving of the Decalogue (7 & 8), and then a Judgment at the Golden Calf (9).
Taking a longer view we can see Darkness during the wilderness wanderings, toward the end of which we can see a 3 + 1 message sequence in the utterances of Balaam, and a new Revival under Joshua (point 8), then Judgment in the conquest of the Canaanites (point 9).
In 1 Ki. 18, after a period of darkness (point 1) during the reign of Ahab and Jezebel, we see in the experience of Elijah on Mt. Carmel a clear illustration of the 3 + 1 sequence. The first message was a call to Reform, "turned their heart back again." The second message was a Revival, "The Lord, He is the God!" The third was a message of Judgment when they slew the false prophets, followed by a "disappointment" (point 5) when Elijah prayed six times for rain without results, and the fourth message was that of the Latter Rain when "there was a great rain" (point 8).
The return of the Jews from the darkness of the Babylonian captivity that marked the beginning of the 2300 years was under the decree of Artaxerxes (Ezra 6:14), which was the third of three "messages." Ezra was "disappointed" (point 5) at the small turnout, and when Ezra and Nehemiah returned to Babylon there was a time of backsliding (point 6). Then when Nehemiah returned with the fourth decree, which completed the 3 + 1 pattern, he had to institute a new work of Repentance and Revival (points 7 & 8), and engage in a work of cleansing/judgment (point 9).
At the time of Jesus, up to the Apostle John's imprisonment on the isle of Patmos, we again find the 3 + 1 messages and a more developed 10-point sequence of events. Once again, Darkness is the first point of the sequence. Then suddenly, John the Baptist appeared "in the spirit and power of Elijah," and also as Moses (point 2) with the first message of Repentance. The second message, that of Revival under the power of the Holy Spirit (point 3) was given by Christ at His triumphal entry, and the third message of Judgment (point 4) was at the Cross. The disciples were disappointed (point 5), then in their backslidden state they went back to fishing (point 6).
Later the disciples experienced a new Repentance (point 7) and came into "one accord," which prepared the way for the fourth message's new outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (point 8) which made each of them into a new Joshua, ready to go forth "conquering and to conquer" for God. Later, in 70 AD, there was a second Judgment upon Israel (point 9) and Jesus appeared the second time, figuratively, in the vision to John on Patmos (point 10).
Beginning at the Millerite time at the end of the 2300 days, and extending to the second coming of Christ we find again the three-messages-plus-one sequence and the ten-points-of-events sequence demonstrated most fully, and finally, and they wonderfully confirm for us the scenario of our immediate future.
After the darkness and captivity of the Church during the 1260 years (point 1), William Miller, and some others around the world, were called to repeat yet again the work of Moses, Elijah, and John the Baptist by giving the first angel's message, a call to repentance and reform (point 2). The second angel's message was an experience of Revival, including the call "out of Babylon," and was further boosted by the Holy Spirit in the Midnight Cry (point 3). The third angel's message, announcing the opening of the Investigative Judgment (point 4) began on October 22, 1844, but the Millerites were greatly disappointed (point 5). Since then we have been in backslidden Laodicea (point 6).
On the basis of other fulfilled prophecies some Bible students believe we are already under the final message of the Fourth Angel (the final 3 + 1 sequence), who has already begun a new work of Repentance and bringing into "one accord" among God's people (point 7), which should be marked before, but at least at, the Sunday law, which would help to catalyze the anticipated new Revival under the Pentecostal "latter rain" power of the Holy Spirit, and motivate the Loud Cry (point 8).
Note that the Latter Rain and Loud Cry of the 4th Angel joins to the third message as the Midnight Cry joined to the second message, and that the fourth message repeats anew the second message's call, "Out of Babylon!" Note also that both are separating or "cleansing" messages. Those that failed to heed the call to come out in their generation were no longer numbered as among God's people.
Finally, Point 9 in the sequence indicates the arrival of the Judgments of the Seven Last Plagues, and Point 10 is Jesus' greatly anticipated appearance in the clouds of heaven. Keeping these events in order in our minds, let us endeavor to cooperate with God in what He is already doing.