Old and New Testament Eras of Prophecy

In the history of the great controversy, from the fall of Adam to the close of probation, there have been three eras of prophetic manifestations.

1. First Era: The Old Testament Era. The manifestation of the spirit of prophecy during Old Testament times began when Moses wrote the first books of the Bible around 1500 B.C. The book of Malachi was written about 400 B.C. The most important purpose of the Old Testament prophecies was to prepare a people to receive Jesus as the Lamb of God, who was to shed His blood to ratify the covenant made with the Father before the foundation of the earth (Revelation 13:8) to redeem the fallen race.
2. Second Era: The New Testament Era. This era of biblical prophecy began about A.D. 50 when the first books of the New Testament were written by Paul. The book of Revelation, written by the apostle John, was completed in about A.D. 95. The purpose of this era of prophecy was to introduce a people to the heavenly sanctuary and Jesus’ ministry from A.D. 31 to the close of probation. This era revealed the apostasy that would take place in the Christian church, the opening of the investigative judgment and the closing scenes of the great controversy.
3. Third Era: The Second Advent Movement. These prophecies came from about A.D. 1845 to about A.D. 1915. One purpose of this prophecy was to prepare the world for the close of the investigative phase of the judgment, the close of probation. Another purpose of this era of prophecy was to prepare a people for the restoration of the kingdom of glory. These are the purposes of the Spirit of Prophecy during the Second Advent Movement.

Each era of prophecy has equal inspiration; all are equal in their level of importance. We will see how each of these eras fulfilled its purpose. Each succeeding era adds more light to our understanding of the new covenant—the great plan of redemption. In the third era of prophecy our understanding of the new covenant and the ministry of Jesus in the sanctuary of the new covenant reaches the full light of day.

1. Old Testament Era of Prophecy

This era of prophecy pointed forward to the death of Jesus on the cross, the crowning trial and final test of the disciples, the ratification and establishment of the new covenant and the opening of the sanctuary of the new covenant in heaven in A.D. 31, three days after Jesus was crucified. We will gain an understanding of what happened to the disciples and how they learned this truth, because they certainly did not know it when Jesus died on the cross.

“To man the first intimation of redemption was communicated in the sentence pronounced upon Satan in the garden.”

“Adam and his companion were assured that notwithstanding their great sin, they were not to be abandoned to the control of Satan. The Son of God had offered to atone, with His own life, for their transgression.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 65, 66.

“Heavenly angels more fully opened to our first parents the plan that had been devised for their salvation.” Ibid. It was revealed to them that “the law of Jehovah is the foundation of His government in heaven as well as upon the earth. … Not one of its precepts could be abrogated or changed to meet man in his fallen condition; but the Son of God, Who had created man, could make an atonement for him. As Adam’s transgression had brought wretchedness and death, so the sacrifice of Christ would bring life and immortality.” Ibid., 66, 67.

From the beginning of the Old Testament, God assured them that Jesus would come to pay the penalty for their sins. To help them keep focused on this covenant, the system of sacrifices was given to Adam. The sacrificial system did not start with the sanctuary on earth—it began outside the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were instructed that the sacrifice represented Jesus Christ who was going to come to this earth and ratify the covenant for them.

“The sacrificial offerings were ordained by God to be to man a perpetual reminder and a penitential acknowledgment of his sin and a confession of his faith in the promised Redeemer. … To Adam, the offering of the first sacrifice was a most painful ceremony. His hand must be raised to take life, which only God could give. It was the first time he had ever witnessed death, and he knew that had he been obedient to God, there would have been no death of man or beast. As he slew the innocent victim, he trembled at the thought that his sin must shed the blood of the spotless Lamb of God.” Ibid., 68.

Right at the beginning of the Old Testament, we see the sacrificial system pointing to the cross. That was a daily witness to them through all of the Old Testament.

The sacrifice of Christ, to establish and ratify the new covenant, became the focal point of God’s people from Adam to the death of Jesus on the cross. The book of Genesis gives us a record of the faithfulness of the patriarchs to the sacrificial system. We see it after the flood with Noah. With Abraham the covenant was renewed in a special way. Isaac and Jacob continued the sacrificial system.

At the time of the Exodus, the sacrificial offerings were expanded into a sanctuary with daily and yearly services and other special days of worship. The books of Exodus and Leviticus are almost wholly devoted to the instruction of these services.

Again we find in Isaiah 53 a clear picture of the purpose of Christ’s first advent, the covenant and Christ’s sacrifice.

“But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. …

“He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth” (Isaiah 53:5, 6).

This is a clear picture of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus.

“After the suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied; by His knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give Him a portion among the great … because He poured out His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:5–7, 11, 12.

The 70-week prophecy foretold Christ’s death. The book of Daniel gives a clear picture of Christ’s trial and crucifixion.

“Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy. … He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering.” Daniel 9:24, 27. (Emphasis added.)

Here we find in these prophecies of the Old Testament that Jesus was going to come as the Lamb of God to give His life to ratify the covenant.

With all of this prophetic information, why didn’t God’s people recognize Jesus when He came? History tells us that the church stepped off the true foundation and the leaders established another set of fundamental beliefs that were not in harmony with the Scriptures. Instead of looking for the Lamb of God to ratify the covenant and deliver them from their sins, they replaced Him with a Messiah that they hoped would deliver them from the control of the Romans. This change of emphasis replaced the true foundation with a false one and led the whole church astray. Thus they did not recognize the Lamb of God when He came to ratify the new covenant.

Even the disciples did not know what was happening. During His ministry, Jesus tried to help them understand that He had come to be a sacrifice, the Lamb of God, that would pay the penalty for their sins, but the false foundation prevented them from getting the message straight. This misapplication of Scripture brought the disciples to their crowning trial and final test.

“Compassionate Redeemer, who in the full knowledge of the doom that awaited Him, tenderly smoothed the way for the disciples, prepared them for their crowning trial, and strengthened them for the final test!” The Desire of Ages, 394.

When Jesus went through His trying experience in Gethsemane, His trial and death upon the cross, the disciples were scattered, confused and discouraged. Peter even denied Him. Why? Because they did not understand what was taking place. They had misinterpreted the Old Testament Scriptures that had clearly revealed the plan of redemption. Jesus understood their situation, but He continued to go about His work to fulfill the terms of the new covenant and open the holy place of the sanctuary in heaven.

By His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus ratified and established the new covenant. The third day after His crucifixion He ascended to heaven to open the sanctuary of the new covenant in heaven. The disciples, grieving and confused, did not know what was happening. When the body of Jesus was gone from the tomb, they still did not understand. When Jesus spoke to Mary after His resurrection, and she recognized Him, she moved forward as if to embrace His feet to worship Him. Notice what happened:

“Christ raised His hand, saying, Detain Me not; ‘for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.’ …

“Jesus refused to receive the homage of His people until He had the assurance that His sacrifice was accepted by the Father. He ascended to the heavenly courts, and from God Himself heard the assurance that His atonement for the sins of men had been ample, that through His blood all might gain eternal life. The Father ratified the covenant made with Christ, that He would receive repentant and obedient men.” (Emphasis added.) Ibid., 790.

Immediately, Jesus came back to this earth to give the news to the disciples, who should have known what was happening, and to reveal to them the true foundation of their faith. When He talked with two of the disciples on the way to Emmaus, the first thing He did was to rebuke them for not knowing the truth.

“He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.” Luke 24:25–27.

The Old Testament contained all the information they needed to know about the cross and about Christ’s ratification of the new covenant, but because they listened to the leaders who had stepped off the true foundation, they did not know what was going on. That was the cause of their crowning trial and final test.

When Jesus finished explaining the Scriptures to them, they understood the plan of salvation and why Christ had come. Their whole experience was turned upside down. Instead of being sad, they now had a message of hope to give to the world. When they understood that the covenant was ratified, they went to the world with the message of Christ’s ministry as their high priest in the daily service in the heavenly sanctuary. It was so powerful that a few years later a Gentile commented that this message was “turning the world upside down.”

When this message of the new covenant is correctly understood it will turn the world upside down.

2. New Testament Era of Prophecy

This era of prophecy began with the ascension of Jesus in A.D. 31. It was to point the people to the holy place and later to the most holy place of the sanctuary in heaven where Christ was ministering in their behalf.

Forty days after His resurrection, when Jesus ascended the second time, God wanted the world to know that Jesus had paid the price on Calvary. Acts 1:9–11 gives us a clear picture of this ascension. The disciples, with many others, were there watching.

The New Testament also tells us about His arrival to the holy place of the sanctuary in heaven. Revelation chapters 4 and 5 give us a picture of the celebration prepared to receive Jesus when He entered the heavenly courts upon His arrival from this earth. In vision, John was watching this celebration. All of a sudden, he “saw a Lamb as if it had been slain standing in the center of the throne.” Revelation 5:6. Ellen White describes the same scene. She portrays how the angels sang and escorted Him into the sanctuary. All the hosts of heaven are there to welcome the Redeemer. They are eager to glorify their beloved Commander.

“But He waves them back. Not yet; He cannot now receive the coronet of glory and the royal robe. … He approaches the Father, with whom there is joy over one sinner that repents; who rejoices over one with singing. Before the foundations of the earth were laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped Their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race. This pledge Christ has fulfilled. … The compact had been fully carried out.” The Desire of Ages, 834.

From His ascension in A.D. 31 to October 22, 1844, Jesus served in the holy place of the sanctuary in heaven.

If this message was turning the world upside down, why didn’t the people in the second advent movement know where the sanctuary was? An apostasy had taken place in the church. During the Dark Ages, the knowledge of the ministry of Christ in the daily service of the heavenly sanctuary was wiped out. The leaders in the church again changed the foundation of faith and established a false gospel in its place. Jesus and the New Testament writers warned the people about the “man of sin” who would oppose the daily ministry of Jesus in heaven.

The disciples asked Jesus what would be the sign of His coming. Jesus answered, “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Matthew 24:4, 5.

John the revelator tells us, “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.” I John 2:18.

The New Testament writers called the time they lived in the last hour, or the time of the end. Peter refers to the apostasy that would come before the time of the end when he says, “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.” II Peter 2:1.

Paul also had much to say about this. He says, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.” Galatians 1:6, 7.

Stepping off the foundation of the sanctuary and the covenant, they were introducing a different gospel. Paul continues in verse 7, “which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.”

The gospel we know is the new covenant—the plan Jesus and the Father made to restore us to the kingdom of glory. Paul says these people are deserting that very gospel. This apostasy was putting aside the sanctuary message of Christ’s ministry in the holy place. This apostasy spread and deepened and the New Testament continues to warn us.

The messages to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 explain this apostasy from the loss of the first love in the Ephesus church to the Thyatira church. God wanted the people to know that they should not drift from the foundation of truth—the sanctuary message—but they did not heed the warning.

Revelation 6:1–8 about the four horses is a graphic description of the apostasy and Satan’s attack against that early Christian church, and they could not withstand his attack. They should have been able to resist it because God promised the disciples, “The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations” (II Peter 2:9). The sanctuary message was lost so that in the 1840s nobody even knew where the sanctuary was.

When it reached the depths of apostasy in A.D. 538, Satan was in control of the church (Revelation 13:2), and he introduced the pope as head of the church. The Christians should have kept in mind that Jesus Christ, ministering in the holy place of the sanctuary in heaven, was the head of the church. However, they gave in to Satan’s deception and looked to the pope instead.

“Faith was transferred from Christ, the true foundation, to the pope of Rome. Instead of trusting in the Son of God for forgiveness of sins and for eternal salvation, the people looked to the pope, and to the priests and prelates to whom he delegated authority. They were taught that the pope was their earthly mediator and that none could approach God except through him; and, further, that he stood in the place of God to them and was therefore to be implicitly obeyed.” The Great Controversy, 55.

By the time of the second advent movement in the 1840s, the church had lost all knowledge of the sanctuary in heaven and began to teach that the earth was the sanctuary. Daniel 8:9–15 says that the little horn would be successful, would throw truth to the ground and would prosper in everything it did. He succeeded in wiping out the knowledge of the ministry of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary.

This brought on the great disappointment in 1844. These people should have known the truth; it was all available to them, but they allowed the church to distract them and take them on a different path.

“Like the first disciples, William Miller and his associates did not, themselves, fully comprehend the import of the message which they bore. Errors that had been long established in the church prevented them from arriving at a correct interpretation of an important point in the prophecy. Therefore, though they proclaimed the message which God had committed to them to be given to the world, yet through a misapprehension of its meaning they suffered disappointment.” Ibid., 351, 352.

In 1844 when the first angel’s message came to give the gospel of the sanctuary message and to proclaim the judgment hour message to begin, which would take place in the most holy place, the whole Protestant world rejected it. What a warning that is to us!

The New Testament prophecy, with the help of a few references from the Old Testament, was to prepare the world for the opening of the judgment in the most holy place on October 22, 1844. In these references, we find the information that restores the knowledge of the sanctuary of the new covenant in heaven.

Daniel 8:14 set the date for the most holy place to open. They should have known what was to take place at the end of the 2300 years.

Revelation 14:6 announced the proclamation of the eternal gospel—the message of the sanctuary of the new covenant in heaven. They did not know the meaning of the true gospel.

Revelation 14:7 announced the judgment to begin and the transition of Jesus from the holy place to the most holy place. They did not have a clue about the heavenly sanctuary, but they should have known. It was revealed in the New Testament.

They could have gone back to Daniel 7:9 and 10, which pointed forward to this judgment. It says, “The court was seated and the books were opened.” The Ancient of Days is the Father—the Judge. Christ enters as the Mediator. All of the heavenly angels are witnesses. It could not have been any clearer, but they had been led off the platform of eternal truth.

The announcement to the Philadelphia church (Revelation 3:7, 8) very clearly pointed out that Christ was moving from the holy place to the most holy place. He closed the door to the holy place and opened the door to the most holy place. The people did not know what that meant because they had been deceived.

Not only that, Paul wrote the whole book of Hebrews to explain that Christ had gone to the sanctuary of the new covenant in heaven to be their high priest—their mediator. Even though the information was there, the people could not understand what was going on.

The parable of the wedding banquet (Matthew 22:1–12) tells specifically about God’s invitation to the wedding banquet. To prepare for this event, they were to put on a wedding garment—a robe of righteousness, the character of Christ—and they were to understand that it was through His ministry in the most holy place that they were to obtain that robe of character. But they had lost sight of Christ and His ministry in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary.

The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1–12 is a description of the attitudes of the people toward the gospel—the new covenant. Some were wise and accepted the warning. The rest were foolish and allowed the leaders of the church to direct them to false fundamental beliefs. Had they studied and known the Scriptures as it was their privilege to do, they would not have been disappointed on October 22, 1844, when they expected Christ to come to this earth. It was their privilege to know the truth just like it was the privilege of the disciples to know about the sacrifice of Christ in the first advent. Because the leaders of the church had led them off the foundation, they were disappointed.

So we see that the New Testament era of prophecy was not received any better than was the Old Testament era of prophecy. Fortunately, in both of these situations they had an opportunity to get back on the platform of eternal truth after their test.

In the third era, we are going to notice something that is frightening.

To be continued …

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New International Version.)

Maurice Hoppe is Director of the Steps to Life training programs and a member of the Steps to Life Board. The Training Program for Ministers and Church Leaders is a correspondence course that prepares individuals to serve as pastors or Bible workers. Preparing for the Final Conflict is a correspondence course for the laity. Both of these courses teach present truth that will be an anchor for the soul during the storm of opposition and persecution just ahead. He and his wife also have a correspondence course offered through Revelation Ministry. He can be contacted at: mauricehoppe@stepstolife.org.