Let us re-emphasize this plan from a different prospective.
“The angel who unites in the proclamation of the third angel’s message is to lighten the whole earth with his glory. A work of world‑wide extent and unwonted power is here foretold.
“The work will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost. As the “former rain” was given, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the gospel, to cause the upspringing of the precious seed, so the “latter rain” will be given at its close for the ripening of the harvest.
“The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the former rain at the opening of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain at its close.” {The Great Controversy pgs.611, 612.}.
“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.
“Now the rays of light penetrate everywhere, the truth is seen in its clearness, and the honest children of God sever the bands which have held them. Family connections, church relations, are powerless to stay them now. Truth is more precious than all besides. Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a large number take their stand upon the Lord’s side. {The Great Controversy 612.2}.
Is it not a great privilege that is now being offered to us to be a participant in this final drama of the ages? There are 6 billion people yet to be warned, but our present mode of missionary work is insufficient for this great task. The Pentecostal program that the church is presently promoting is not the one that is on God’s agenda. We can no longer serve God with false perceptions. It is time for us to have a zeal that is according to knowledge. (See Romans 10:1). Why are we not having this kind of Pentecostal experience at the present time?
“The church is not now the separate and peculiar people she was when the fires of persecution were kindled against her. How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! I saw that if the church had always retained her peculiar, holy character, the power of the Holy Spirit which was imparted to the disciples would still be with her. The sick would be healed, devils would be rebuked and cast out, and she would be mighty and a terror to her enemies”. {Early Writings, pg. 227.1}.
We have just given an overview of God’s plan to cleanse His church, then endow the survivors, (144,000) with the Pentecostal Holy Spirit power to gather the Great Multitude (Rev. 7:9). Let us confirm this truth from an article that was published in 1927 in the Signs of the Times, written by a former General Conference President, Taylor Bunch.
“The 144,000 are said to be `without fault’ or `without blemish,’ which is the language used in describing all first fruits. They must be the `first’ in both time and quality, the `best’ and `chief’ fruits of the field or vineyard. The first fruits have been defined as `the fruit or product first matured and collected in any season.’ `Matured’ is from the Latin maturus, meaning `ripe, of full age, perfected by time or natural growth, brought to perfection, completed, prepared, ready.’ The 144,000 are the first to be brought to perfection of character in the gospel harvest of the last generation. They reach mature spiritual growth and are sealed and given the Holy Spirit in the `latter rain’ showers, the purpose of which is to call the innumerable company of God’s people out of spiritual Babylon before God’s wrath is poured out upon the rejectors of His grace in the seven last plagues.” {Signs of The Times, May 3, 1927, pg. 13}.
Before going any further, let us share with you the views of Pastor Doug Bachelor on the topic of the 144,000 which we believe is quite in harmony with the Spirit of Prophecy.