Do you have a dream? Dreams are incredibly powerful. They fuel us, keep us motivated, and give us purpose. But sometimes, we are tempted to give up on them when things get complicated. In this article, we will explore a dream shared by an individual, a nation, and even God—one so sacred and robust that it faced relentless attacks from the enemy.
Dream of Israel
“In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.” Daniel 9:2–3
Daniel is known as a man of prayer. He opened his windows and prayed three times daily toward Jerusalem—well, toward where it used to be, as it was ruined by Babylon by this time. Why did he pray so hard? It was because he had a dream. A wish in his heart was burning like a fire: to restore Jerusalem.
Why was this his dream? “Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of Thy servant, and his supplications, and cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake. O my God, incline Thine ear, and hear; open Thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by Thy name: for we do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousnesses, but for Thy great mercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for Thine own sake, O my God: for Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name.” Daniel 9:17–19
Daniel’s dream was not for himself but for God’s name and His glory. And Daniel was not the only one with this purpose in their hearts. All his nation was hoping the same, and it was also God’s
plan to do so. Finally, the day came when God answered his prayer.
Under Cyrus’s decree, the first group of Israelites returned to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua, the high priest. They faced many challenges. Yet, the temple was finally rebuilt with Darius’s second decree and the help of the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah. However, this was not the end of the project.
As we can see in Daniel’s prayer, the goal is to restore “the city Jerusalem.” The temple is only a part of the city. The project is not done until they reach the restoration of the city’s walls.
The wall was built about 70 years after the temple, under Artaxerxes’ decree and through Ezra and Nehemiah’s leadership. It is surprising that there was such a long gap—70 years! Why was there such a long break? Why did they stop?
Lost Dream of Israel
“Among those who had returned to Jerusalem in former years, there were many who had remained true to God as long as they lived; but a considerable number of the children and the children’s children lost sight of the sacredness of God’s law. Even some of the men entrusted with responsibilities were living in open sin. Their course was largely neutralizing the efforts made by others to advance the cause of God; for so long as flagrant violations of the law were allowed to go unrebuked, the blessing of Heaven could not rest upon the people.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 618
As a nation, they were losing interest in their dreams. They stopped pursuing the dream of restoring the city in God’s name. What was the cause? It was sin. Sins were getting into their lives, distracting them from their sacred purpose. Then, what sins were they committing specifically?
“Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass…” Ezra 9:1–3
The biggest problem in Israel at this time was marriage to the heathen. When Ezra heard about it, he was shocked.
“…And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied. Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.” Ezra 9:3–4
He was so shocked that he tore off his garment, plucked off his hair, and sat down, looking into the air until evening, when he finally opened his mouth. “And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to Thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.” Ezra 9:6. Why was he so shocked? Was he overreacting? Is marriage with the heathens such a big deal to be called a sin that is “grown up unto the heavens?”
Yes, it is. It is a great sin in itself. Yet, what makes it even worse is its result. In the following verses, we can see what this sin caused the Israelites in Ezra’s time to do: “In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.” Nehemiah 13:15
As a result of marriage to the heathens, their customs and influences started growing in Israel. Eventually, it reached a point where Israel began breaking the Sabbath as if it were no big deal.
Another result could be found in their tithes. “And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.” Nehemiah 13:10. Levites were not to have their land nor to farm, as they were to live from the tithes that people brought to the sanctuary. However, as everyone neglected the tithe and the service in the temple, the Levites started to go out and do work that was forbidden to them.
This is why Ezra cried so hard. Marriage to the heathens became a distraction to their minds away from God’s business. This was the cause of losing the dream. As a result, they turned their eyes to the worldly pleasures that their heathen spouses brought, eventually breaking the holy commandments.
Our Dream, Our Jerusalem
We are called to restore Jerusalem also. We are called to be reformers who rebuild the destructed city of Jerusalem. What is our Jerusalem? Firstly, it is our own hearts and bodies. We must restore His temple in us, which was once destroyed by spiritual Babylon, which is sin and the world. Also, we have to restore our family. God designed families to be a miniature of heaven on this earth, hence Jerusalem. Our family should be the holy city where God can be worshipped and people can find heaven.
Another Jerusalem we must restore is our church. Satan constantly attacks the church and tries to sneak sins into it. As watchmen of God, we must keep it pure and alert others to the enemy’s attack. Furthermore, we have the truth to restore. The truth and His words are the sacred city that protects us from evil forces. Satan has been trying hard to trample on this temple, especially through 1260 years of the Dark Ages. However, we are called to restore this Jerusalem. Among all, we should especially hold the banner of the Sabbath high. When all these Jerusalems are restored, finally, the day will come when the new Jerusalem in heaven will come down to this earth and be placed where it belongs.
Thus, we are called “the repairer of the breach” (Isaiah 58:12), just as Daniel, Zerubbabel, Joshua, Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Then, why is it so hard to see passion in the church? Where is the fire in our hearts? Why are we so disinterested in God’s business? What happened to our dream of restoring Jerusalem?
“The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands… For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands.” Ezra 9:1–2
We do not need to marry people outside of the church to repeat the sin of Israel, as we can also marry the world spiritually. It might be money. It might be pleasure or entertainment. It could be career, honour, fame, worldly music, friends, famous stars, or even family. Anything that distracts our hearts and decreases our interest in the restoration of Jerusalem is marriage with the heathen. We might seem to keep the law of God for now. However, this sin will eventually lead us to forsake the Sabbath. Is it hard for you to believe that is going to happen? Let me prove it to you from history.
Lost Dreams Throughout History
The Pharisees seemed to live sacred lives, being more passionate about God’s law than anyone else. However, their hearts were filled with worldly ambitions. Because of this spiritual marriage to the world, they could not understand the word of God correctly even when they read it. Eventually, they killed Jesus, who is the founder of the very law of God they claimed to be strict about.
What about the Protestants? It started with the restoration of the heavenly sanctuary. Martin Luther restored the yard, and John Calvin restored the first room of the sanctuary. However, as written in the message to the church in Sardis, they stopped (Revelation 3:1–2). They did not pursue their dreams. They stopped restoring Jerusalem. Why?
When the Protestants were given the freedom to keep their beliefs, they were satisfied with worldly peace. This condition became even worse when the Industrial Revolution started, and their minds were preoccupied with thoughts of earthly wealth. Well, they continued going to church every week. However, when the Advent movement began, they refused the message.
Unfortunately, the same history was repeated, even in the Adventist church. Many Adventists who claimed to believe in the third angel’s message did not truly experience the two former messages, which were the messages of repentance.
“Many who embraced the third message had not had an experience in the two former messages. Satan understood this, and his evil eye was upon them to overthrow them; but the third angel was pointing them to the most holy place, and those who had had an experience in the past messages were pointing them the way to the heavenly sanctuary. 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…” –Early Writings, p. 256
Many people regard the first and second angels’ messages as mere historical events. If so, why would Sister White emphasize the need to experience the two former messages? God would be unfair if we failed because we did not live in the early 19th century. The first and second angels’ messages are messages of repentance and separation—in other words, to break the marriage in our hearts with the world.
However, Adventists did not care about this message. Their hearts were bound to the world. As a result, they were given the Laodicean message, claiming that even though they seem to keep the Sabbath, their hearts are lukewarm and without passion. This message is also known as “another angel” of Revelation 18, and sadly, they refused it.
As we can see, marriage with the world, in other words, love for the world, might not show its effects immediately. However, if not removed, it will grow in our hearts and lead us to refuse the heavenly message. Now, let us think about ourselves. Are our hearts occupied with thoughts about His matter? Is our passion burning for His business? If not, we might be in great danger.
Repent
Then what should we do? How can we restore our dreams and passion? To this question, Ezra answers: “And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do His pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.” Ezra 10:10–11
The first step is to repent. Indeed, this was the message of God whenever His people lost interest in restoring Jerusalem. To the Pharisees, John the Baptist declared, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2. Jesus also started His ministry with the message that says “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17. The message of the early rain is also “Repent” (Acts 2:38). The message of the first angel to backsliding Protestants was the same.
Sister White describes the experience of the first Advent movement as follows: “Sinners inquired with weeping, ‘What must I do to be saved?’ Those whose lives had been marked with dishonesty were anxious to make restitution. All who found peace in Christ longed to see others share the blessing. The hearts of parents were turned to their children, and the hearts of children to their parents. The barriers of pride and reserve were swept away. Heart-felt confessions were made, and the members of the household labored for the salvation of those who were nearest and dearest. Often was heard the sound of earnest intercession. Everywhere were souls in deep anguish, pleading with God. Many wrestled all night in prayer for the assurance that their sins were pardoned, or for the conversion of their relatives or neighbors.” –The Great Controversy, p. 368
However, we should note the critical characteristics of true repentance. Repentance is not merely saying, “God, I’m sorry.” It reaches way beyond. True repentance is always followed by reformation, just as Jesus said “Go, and sin no more.” John 8:11
Reform
A call for reformation accompanied Ezra’s message of repentance. “And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do His pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.” Ezra 10:10–11
Just acknowledging our mistakes of marrying heathen spouses is not enough. We should depart from it. We must give up on things that occupy our hearts, no matter how painful.
We call ourselves reformers. However, our eyes often dwell on the reformation of superficial things. We talk so much about health reform, dress reform, tithes, and observance of the Sabbath. Of course, these are essential things. However, we often fail to see their essence. Remember how the Pharisees failed to accept Jesus by focusing their eyes on the surface of the prophecies, not their core.
Those who mistake the meaning of the reformation and focus their eyes on superficial things tend to observe how others dress or eat and start pointing these things out. However, that is not what true reformation means. We are not reformers if the spirit of kindness and tenderness is not shown in our tones and attitudes. See how Ezra reformed:
“Ezra’s motives were high and holy; in all that he did he was actuated by a deep love for souls. The compassion and tenderness that he revealed toward those who had sinned, either willfully or through ignorance, should be an object lesson to all who seek to bring about reforms. The servants of God are to be as firm as a rock where right principles are involved; and yet, withal, they are to manifest sympathy and forbearance. Like Ezra, they are to teach transgressors the way of life by calculating principles that are the foundation of all rightdoing.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 623
True reformation? It starts from our hearts and spirits. We are to restore love among families, not their appearance. We are to restore the spirit of the church first before addressing how they are dressed. It should all start from our hearts, and that is what Jesus worked so hard to make the Jews realize.
This is how Jesus led reformation also. Jesus did not point out sins harshly nor look down on others. “When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:10–11. We call ourselves reformers. If so, we should reform the way we reform. We must reform the way we talk to each other. In the world, it is said that the result justifies the process. That is not true in God’s kingdom. Every part of the Christian’s process should be just.
Now, when the reformation is made with the right motive, the right method, and the deep searching of hearts, there is a result that follows—revival.
Revive
What was the result of Ezra’s call for repentance and reformation? “Wherever Ezra labored, there sprang up a revival in the study of the Holy Scriptures. Teachers were appointed to instruct the people; the law of the Lord was exalted and made honorable. The books of the prophets were searched, and the passages foretelling the coming of the Messiah brought hope and comfort to many a sad and weary heart.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 623
There was a great revival. The Israelites searched the Scriptures again. In this way, their passions and dreams came back. The project got back on track, and eventually, the dreams of so many, including Daniel, came true. Jerusalem was rebuilt.
Revival or passion does not mean excitement or euphoria. That was not the characteristic of the revival by Ezra, John the Baptist, Jesus, or the three angels. Let us think about how Jerusalem was built. It was a persistent, calm and diligent process. Day by day, people constructed Jerusalem, brick by brick. It is the same with the restoration of our Jerusalem. It has to be done brick by brick, word by word, and verse by verse. We have to read the Bible and pray daily. It is a quiet yet solemn and thorough process.
Sister White wrote about the experience of the first angel as follows: “With unspeakable desire those who had received the message watched for the coming of their Saviour. The time when they expected to meet Him was at hand. They approached this hour with a calm solemnity. They rested in sweet communion with God, an earnest of the peace that was to be theirs in the bright hereafter. None who experienced this hope and trust can forget those precious hours of waiting. For some weeks preceding the time, worldly business was for the most part laid aside. The sincere believers carefully examined every thought and emotion of their hearts as if upon their death-beds and in a few hours to close their eyes upon earthly scenes. There was no making of ‘ascension robes;’ but all felt the need of internal evidence that they were prepared to meet the Saviour; their white robes were purity of soul,—characters cleansed from sin by the atoning blood of Christ. Would that there was still with the professed people of God the same spirit of heart-searching, the same earnest, determined faith. Had they continued thus to humble themselves before the Lord, and press their petitions at the mercy-seat, they would be in possession of a far richer experience than they now have. There is too little prayer, too little real conviction of sin, and the lack of living faith leaves many destitute of the grace so richly provided by our Redeemer.” –The Great Controversy, p. 373
Brothers and sisters, this is what it means to restore our dreams. Is this revival seen in ourselves? How much are we interested in the king’s business? Are we searching our hearts daily, building up the wall of Jerusalem?
Living Up to Our Names
My dear brothers and sisters, we call ourselves by many names – Christians, Adventists, and Reformers. However, are we living up to our names? How were we named Christians, after all? The disciples were talking about Christ so much that people who were sick of hearing it mockingly named us “Christians.” That is how it should be. How often do we talk about Christ, His Advent, and Reformation? Are our hearts occupied with thoughts of His business? How passionate are we for Him?
Very little is talked about in the church regarding this matter. While people talk more and more about the superficial part of reformation, there is little interest in the first and second angels’ messages. While people talk about the right arm of the third angel, very little is discussed about the centre of the third angel. When was the last time we had a deep conversation about another angel?
Brothers and sisters, it is time for us to restore our dreams. Without true revival, we will repeat the history of the Adventists in 1888. Hence, let us repent, reform, and revive. Let us search our hearts and depart from everything that distracts us. Let us search the Scriptures, not to judge others but to search our hearts. Let us again have the true revival seen in the early Advent movement. Let us put one more brick today in our Jerusalem.
It is my wish and prayer that we may “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Amen.
By Makoto Matsumoto (AB)