The Stoning of Stephen and the Gospel’s Shift

The transition of the title "God's people" is not a matter of a single event ending His love, but a change in the spiritual relationship where the faithful of all nations now constitute the true Israel Romans 9:6-8RDAC 109.2. While the literal Jewish nation was favored above every other and given every opportunity to be the light of the world, their rejection of the Messiah and the persistent resistance to the Spirit, exemplified by the stoning of the prophets and ultimately Christ Himself, led to a shift in how God's covenant is fulfilled Matthew 23:37GC 21.2+2.

The Transformation of Israel

The status of being God’s people is no longer determined by physical descent from Abraham, but by faith in Jesus Christ Galatians 3:7RDAC 109.2.

• A Spiritual Seed: The unbelieving descendants of Jacob are not counted as the seed, while those born of the Gentiles who exercise faith are now citizens of the commonwealth of Israel Romans 9:6-8RDAC 109.2.

• The New Covenant: The first covenant was a contract based on the people's promise to obey, which they failed to keep; the new covenant is established on better promises, where God writes His law directly in the hearts of believers Jeremiah 31:31-33+1SOSL 91.2.

• The True Israel: Today, spiritual Israel has taken the place of the literal seed in the plan of salvation, though they remain in subjection to earthly powers until the Messiah returns to set up His throneDAR1909 202.1.

The Role of the Jewish Nation in History

The Jewish nation was originally chosen to preserve the knowledge of God in a world under the sway of darkness5T 738.3+1.

• Unfulfilled Plans: Despite their privileges, the nation failed to carry out God's plans and bore little fruit, eventually being represented by the figure of a barren fig tree2BC 998.6+1.

• Rejection of Light: Their history of pride and stubborn resistance to truth serves as a beacon of warning for people today, so that they do not follow the same example of impenitencePC 142.4+1.

• Responsibility for Destruction: Because they refused to come to Christ for life, they became responsible for their own spiritual ruin, having rejected the Holy One of Israel John 5:40GC 21.2+1.

A Message of Hope and Warning

The door remains open for individuals, regardless of their background, to seek the Lord and be part of His people 🕊️.

• Personal Choice: The salvation of "all Israel" refers to the manner in which people are saved—through faith and the gathering of the remnant from all nationsPTUK August 23, 1900, page 533.2.

• Warning to Modern Believers: Many today who claim to be God's chosen people are in danger of repeating the follies of ancient Israel by indulging in self-confidence, murmuring, and a lack of true humilityPC 142.4+2.

• Recognition of Christ: Just as the Jews failed to recognize Christ at His first advent because of their worldly views, many who profess His name today might fail to recognize Him if He appeared to reprove their selfishness and pridePH123 55.1+1.

It is a beautiful truth that if you belong to Christ, you are truly Abraham's seed and an heir according to the promise Galatians 3:29RDAC 109.2. God’s invitation of mercy is extended to all who will hear His voice and harden not their hearts Hebrews 4:7SAIN 38.3.

Acts 7

1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so?

2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldæans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.

5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.

7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.

8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.

13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.

14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.

15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,

16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,

18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.

19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.

20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months:

21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:

25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.

26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?

27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?

28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?

29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.

31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,

32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.

33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.

36 He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,

40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?

43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.

45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;

46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

47 But Solomon built him an house.

48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my foot stool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

50 Hath not my hand made all these things?

51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.

59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Yes, a profound and monumental shift occurred after the stoning of Stephen in A.D. 34, which marked the end of the 490-year period of probation specifically allotted to the Jewish nation and the opening of the gospel message to the entire worldEW xiii.2.

Here is a deeper look into how this pivotal moment unfolded and forever changed the course of history:

📜 The Fulfillment of Prophetic Time

• The 490 Years: A specific prophetic period of seventy weeks, or 490 years, was specially allotted to the Jewish people to fulfill their divine purposeEW xiii.2.

• The Final Week: The final week of this prophecy began with Christ's ministry in A.D. 27, saw His crucifixion in the middle of the week in A.D. 31, and perfectly concluded three and a half years later in the autumn of A.D. 34ARSH January 7, 1858, page 68.15.

• The Close of Probation: The close of this prophetic timeline was distinctly marked by the martyrdom of Stephen and the formal rejection of the gospel of Christ by the Jewish SanhedrinARSH January 7, 1858, page 68.15+1. This officially completed the term of probation for the Jewish nation in possession of their city and templeSBBS 526.2.

🪨 The Martyrdom of Stephen Acts 7

• A Powerful Witness: Stephen was a faithful messenger who preached Christ with immense power and had a full understanding of God's purpose to spread the gospel to all nationsRH February 23, 1911, par. 2.

• The Sanhedrin's Reaction: In response to his Holy Spirit-inspired testimony, the religious leaders were filled with bitter hatred, stopped their ears, and rushed upon him with violent anger to silence his voiceRH February 23, 1911, par. 2+1.

• Sealing Their Rejection: By stoning Stephen, the nation officially sealed its rejection of the gospel and refused the final offer of pardon that was brought to them in the power of the Holy SpiritRH January 17, 1899, par. 8+2.

🌍 The Gospel Goes to the World

• The Scattering of Believers: Following Stephen's death, intense persecution forced the disciples to flee Jerusalem, causing them to go everywhere preaching the Word Acts 8:4-5EW xiii.2.

• Beyond Jerusalem: The message of salvation was no longer restricted to one chosen people, but was actively carried to other regions, such as when Philip went down to the city of Samaria to preach ChristEW xiii.2.

• The Apostle to the Gentiles: Saul, who stood by consenting to Stephen's death, was miraculously converted on the road to Damascus shortly after this event Acts 9:1-18SBBS 526.2. He was divinely commissioned as the apostle Paul to carry the glad tidings far away to the Gentiles Acts 22:21EW xiii.2.

The tragic death of Stephen was the definitive turning point where the divine mandate transitioned away from a single earthly nationEW xiii.2. From that moment forward, the beautiful message of salvation was opened to the entire world, establishing the Christian church in the Gentile world and creating a global, spiritual Israel made up of believers who accept Jesus ChristSBBS 526.2+1.

Acts 10

1 There was a certain man in Cæsarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,

18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

24 And the morrow after they entered into Cæsarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.

33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: ( he is Lord of all:)

37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judæa, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

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Acts 10

1 There was a certain man in Cæsarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,

18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

24 And the morrow after they entered into Cæsarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.

33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: ( he is Lord of all:)

37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judæa, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Yes, you are absolutely correct about the true meaning of the vision, though it was actually given to the apostle Peter rather than Daniel Acts 10:9-10AA 135.2. The vision of the sheet full of animals was never intended to abolish the biblical distinction between clean and unclean foods; instead, it was a striking divine lesson illustrating that the gospel is for all people, and that the Gentiles were to be welcomed into the faithSR 284.3+1.

Here is a closer look at the profound meaning behind the events of Acts 10:

Peter’s Vision on the Housetop

While praying on a housetop in Joppa, Peter fell into a trance and saw heaven open, with a great sheet descending to the earth containing all manner of four-footed beasts, wild beasts, creeping things, and fowls of the air Acts 10:10-12AA 135.2. A voice commanded him to "kill, and eat," but Peter firmly refused, stating he had never eaten anything common or unclean Acts 10:13-14AA 135.2. The voice responded, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common," a sequence that was repeated three times to emphasize its importance Acts 10:15-16AA 135.2.

Peter did not interpret this vision to mean he should start eating unclean animals; he knew God was conveying a much deeper spiritual truth and wondered what the vision could mean Acts 10:17SITI July 15, 1886, page 422.5.

Breaking Down the Wall of Partition

At that very time, the Lord had instructed Cornelius, a God-fearing Roman centurion, to send messengers to Peter's location Acts 10:1-5ULe 52.2. Up until this point, the apostles had confined their labors entirely to the Jews, viewing the Gentiles as an unclean race and maintaining traditional prejudices that forbade them from keeping company with those of another nationLBG 78.3+1.

The vision of the sheet was the exact preparation Peter needed to break down this "middle wall of partition" that had excluded the Gentiles from the privileges of the gospelSR 284.3+1. Upon arriving at the home of Cornelius and witnessing the Holy Spirit poured out upon the Gentiles, Peter clearly declared the definitive meaning of his vision, saying, "God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean" Acts 10:28SR 287.4. He recognized the beautiful truth that God is no respecter of persons, and that anyone from any nation who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him Acts 10:34-35TA 231.3.

The Unchanging Principles of Clean and Unclean

The distinction between clean and unclean meats, as carefully outlined in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 was not a temporary ceremonial law, but a health law based on natural principles established for human well-being Leviticus 11:1-47+1MR852 1.1.

• Established Before the Jewish Nation: This distinction existed from the earliest ages, long before the Jewish people or the ceremonial law, as seen when Noah was instructed to take both clean and unclean animals into the ark Genesis 7:2-8+1SITI September 30, 1886, page 598.9.

• The Absurdity of the Dietary Interpretation: The great sheet in Peter's vision contained a mixture of all creatures, including creeping things, wild beasts, and fowls of the air Acts 10:12. If the vision taught that all animals were now clean for food, it would mean it is perfectly acceptable and even a Christian duty to eat scavengers like vultures, hyenas, bats, rats, and lizardsSITI July 15, 1886, page 422.4+1.

God did not give Peter this vision to change the human diet or nullify the laws of healthSITI September 30, 1886, page 598.9. He used this powerful illustration solely to open Peter's eyes to the worldwide extent of His plan of salvation, ensuring that the message of Christ would be taken to the entire worldLBG 78.3+1.