During the “beginning” of “the latter rain” of the 1888 era, Ellen G. White is reported to have said, “Let us have all of Romans and all of Galatians.” [1] The “most precious message” is “the third angel’s message in verity.” In other words, it is an understanding of justification by faith, which is parallel to and consistent with the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary. Of all the books of the Bible, Romans most clearly explains justification by faith. Ellen White understood that the companion books which give the greatest light on Revelation 14:6-12, the third angel’s message, are Romans and Galatians.
The cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary is practical truth. In other words, it involves the purification of the hearts of God’s people, so that they experience the atonement with God. They have seen the heart-warming truth of the love of God revealed in Jesus’ cross. They realize that if Christ had not died for all, then all would be dead. They can no longer live for themselves, but the agape motivation becomes living for Jesus and His Father. They would not willingly choose to bring disrepute upon the Heavenly family into which they have been adopted. This is the real meaning of justification by faith.
Most can identify with the Apostle Peter’s characterization of his brother Paul’s writings, that there are “some things hard to be understood” (2 Peter 3:16). With that discouraging word can we understand the Book of Romans much less the Book of Revelation? Actually it’s only the honest-hearted believer of God’s promises who can understand Romans. It’s the “unlearned and unstable” who misconstrue Paul’s writings to their own perdition.
It was to such folks that the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the church at Rome. They were “not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble” (1 Cor. 1:26). They were honest, candid believers. There were probably retailers, skilled craftsmen, day laborers, tradesmen, landscapers, even servants with a few upper class, and maybe a civil servant or two. It was to these kinds of people that Paul wrote. He wasn’t trying to shoot over their heads. He wrote simply and directly in order for them to understand. So this is an encouragement for us to “dig in” and apply our minds to some of the nourishing food of the Scriptures.
It was Martin Luther who declared Romans “the clearest Gospel of all” and he was right. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the eyewitness’ accounts of the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For the most part the Gospels do not explain the deeper meaning of the “good news” and the cross. God revealed the deeper meaning to Paul, and Romans is the “key” to understanding the atonement. John’s Revelation of Jesus Christ as the “Lamb” (25 times)—the Crucified One—is the Gospel for the closing age of the Christian era. However, the Revelation cannot be understood without the Book of Romans.
Luther’s heart was strangely warmed as he read Romans and saw the truth that “the just shall live by faith.” His Catholic training had directed him to receive grace through the sacraments which would motivate him to do good works that would make the “connect” with God. His agony of conscience was how to know when he had done enough good works. To Luther the joy of discovering that God justifies the ungodly by faith alone, was a great release from self-centered bondage in sin.