Ellen Chat Conversation

# The Special Resurrection Ellen White taught about a unique resurrection event that occurs **before** Christ's second coming and the general resurrection of the righteous. She wrote that "Graves are opened, and 'many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth ... awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt'" (Hvn 28.1), directly referencing Daniel 12:2. ## Who Participates in This Special Resurrection? This special resurrection includes two distinct groups. First, "All who have died in the faith of the third angel's message come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God's covenant of peace with those who have kept His law" (Hvn 28.1). These faithful believers are raised to witness Christ's return and receive the honor they deserve. Second, a group is raised for a very different purpose: "'They also which pierced Him' (Revelation 1:7), those that mocked and derided Christ's dying agonies, and the most violent opposers of His truth and His people, are raised to behold Him in His glory and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and obedient" (Hvn 28.1). This group witnesses Christ's coming in glory as a testimony to His vindication. ## The Nature of the Resurrected Bodies Ellen White emphasized that those raised in this special resurrection come forth "clothed with glorious immortality" (SH 111.2). She explained that "Those bodies that had gone down into the grave carrying the marks of disease and death came up in immortal health and vigor" (SH 111.2). The transformation is complete and instantaneous. Drawing from Christ's own resurrection as the pattern, she wrote: "The resurrection of Jesus was a type of the final resurrection of all who sleep in Him. The countenance of the risen Saviour, His manner, His speech, were all familiar to His disciples. As Jesus arose from the dead, so those who sleep in Him are to rise again" (DA 804.1). Individual identity is perfectly preserved—we will recognize our loved ones just as the disciples recognized Jesus. ## The Purpose and Significance This special resurrection serves as "a pledge of the resurrection of all who believe in Christ as their personal Saviour" (1SM 305.3). It demonstrates God's faithfulness to those who have kept His law and provides a powerful witness to both the faithful and the unfaithful. Ellen White declared that "The victory of the sleeping saints will be glorious on the morning of the resurrection. Satan's triumph will end, while Christ will triumph in glory and honor" (1SM 305.3). The special resurrection is thus a divine vindication—showing that God remembers and honors those who have been faithful to His truth, while also demonstrating His justice to those who rejected Him. --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What does Ellen White say about the general resurrection at Christ's second coming? • How did she describe the experience of the righteous who are alive when Jesus returns? • What counsel did she give about maintaining faith in the third angel's message during the final crisis? --- 📚 **hundreds of passages found** containing these search terms — [Explore in Full-Text Search](/advanced-search?q=Explain+the+Special+resurrection)

# Who Are Those Who Believed the Third Angel's Message? Ellen White identified those who believed the third angel's message as people who had experienced and understood the progression of prophetic truth through the first, second, and third angels' messages. She wrote that "All who have died in the faith of the third angel's message come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God's covenant of peace with those who have kept His law" (Hvn 28.1), showing that these believers are specifically identified by their faith in this message. ## The Foundation: Understanding All Three Messages Ellen White emphasized that true believers in the third angel's message understand the complete chain of prophetic truth. She explained that "Many saw the perfect chain of truth in the angels' messages, and gladly received them in their order, and followed Jesus by faith into the heavenly sanctuary" (EW 256.2). These believers recognized that the messages build upon each other and must be received together. She was clear that partial acceptance is insufficient: "The servants of God faithfully and fearlessly warn those who embrace but a part of the truths connected with the third message, that they must gladly receive all the messages as God has given them, or have no part in the matter" (EW 188.2). This shows that true believers accept the complete prophetic framework, not just selected portions. ## Two Categories of Believers Ellen White described two groups among those who believe the third angel's message: **First, those with direct experience:** These were people who lived through the fulfillment of the first and second angels' messages in the 1840s. They "followed on step by step in the very fulfillment of prophecy" (2SM 111.2) and had personal experience in the proclamation of all three messages. **Second, those who received it from others:** Ellen White explained that "those who have not had a personal experience in this work, are to take the Word of God and believe on 'their word' who have been led by the Lord in the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages" (2SM 111.2). She compared this to how Thomas and later disciples had to believe based on the testimony of those who saw Jesus: "In like manner those who have had no experience in the first and second angels' messages must receive them from others who had an experience and followed down through the messages" (EW 188.2). ## Their Distinguishing Characteristics Those who truly believe the third angel's message are characterized by several key traits: **They keep God's commandments:** The third angel's message itself identifies them as "they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (PH089 22). **They stand firm on established truth:** Ellen White saw "a company who stood well guarded and firm, giving no countenance to those who would unsettle the established faith of the body" (SR 385). These believers understand that "the true understanding of these messages is of vital importance. The destiny of souls hangs upon the manner in which they are received" (SR 385). **They are anchored against deception:** She wrote that "These messages were represented to me as an anchor to the people of God. Those who understand and receive them will be kept from being swept away by the many delusions of Satan" (EW 256.2). ## The Ongoing Work Ellen White made clear that the work of proclaiming these messages continues beyond the original pioneers. She explained that angels "are represented as flying in the midst of heaven, uttering a solemn proclamation. Their voices are not heard by the inhabitants of earth, save through the people who carry forward the work as the messengers of God" (PH089 22). Those who believe the third angel's message become the human voices through which these warnings reach the world. She also noted that the impact of these messages extends into the future: "Many to whom the truth is presented may not see it so clearly now as to take their position upon it; yet their minds are impressed, and when the loud cry of the Third Angel shall be given, they will hear and receive the message" (PH130 43.3). --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What specific truths are contained in the first, second, and third angels' messages? • How did Ellen White describe the sanctuary truth that became clear after 1844? • What does Ellen White say about the "loud cry" of the third angel's message? --- 📚 **thousands of passages found** containing these search terms — [Explore in Full-Text Search](/advanced-search?q=Who+are+those+who+believed+the+third+angels+message)