-The first prophecy of definite time after the flood was when the Lord spoke these words to Abraham, and said, "Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;" (Gen.15:13 ) and this prophecy, expiring in 1491 B. C., found God's people in bondage: and with an high hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wondrous working, God brought out His people, so that in "the self-same day" the hosts of the Lord went out of Egypt, and that time prophecy was fulfilled. And when they had passed through the Red Sea by the miraculous working on the part of God, their Leader, they sang that song of Moses on the other shore; and, so far as any definite prophecy was concerned, they were ready to go into the land and possess it. Centuries passed by, and, because of the failure to follow out God's purpose fully, the time of the promise was still delayed, and the next time prophecy we find spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, when God told His people that He would bring Nebuchadnezzar against them, and that they should serve the King of Babylon seventy years; and down into Babylon they went, according to the prophecy, and for threescore and ten years they were a captive people in Babylon. At the close of that period, B. C. 536, God stirred up the heart of Cyrus, king of Persia, and the way was opened for them to return to their land. Those that were so minded came back, and, under the guidance of God and the leadership of the priests, they built again the wall of Jerusalem, and established themselves again in the Holy City; the worship was restored, and God's people were again in their place with God. {March 30, 1903 WWP, GCB 3.10}
It was during that seventy years of captivity that God gave definite prophetic periods to the prophet Daniel, in these words, Dan.9:25 "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks,"-sixty-nine weeks, four hundred and eighty-three days, four hundred and eighty-three years, from the going forth of the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, B. C. 457, unto the revelation of the Anointed One, the Messiah, A. D. 27; and at that very time the Messiah was manifested; He was baptized of John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove, and rested upon Him; the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him because He was anointed to preach the gospel-the prophecy was fulfilled. Seventy weeks are determined upon God's peculiar people; seventy weeks were cut off in a special manner as devoted to them; seventy weeks, four hundred and ninety years, beginning from the same date, expired in A. D. 34; and then they went everywhere preaching the Word; and they did what they were forbidden before to do,-they preached in all the villages of the Samaritans. The seventy weeks, the four hundred and ninety years, were fulfilled. {March 30, 1903 WWP, GCB 3.11}
In the same way, the time times and dividing of time, the thousand two hundred and threescore days, given to Daniel the prophet, were fulfilled. Dating from time of the supremacy of the Papacy over the kingdoms, marked in A. D. 538 by the uprooting of the last of the three horns which were to be overthrown by this power, the twelve
hundred and sixty years bring us to A. D. 1798, the beginning of the end, beginning of the day of preparation. {March 30, 1903 WWP, GCB 3.12}
In the same way, the thousand two hundred and ninety years closed with the same period. The two thousand three hundred days, or years, of Daniel's prophecy, reaching to the time when the sanctuary was to be cleansed, beginning at the same point, 457 B. C., bring us down to A. D. 1844, the last date of prophetic time, the close of the longest prophetic period, the time beyond which no prophecy reaches, and we have reached the end of the definite periods of prophetic time as set forth in the Scripture. {March 30, 1903 WWP, GCB 4.1}
There is one other period mentioned in time prophecy, and that is the five months of the fifth trumpet, and the hour, the day, the month, and the year, or three hundred ninety-one years and fifteen days of the sixth trumpet. Beginning with the 27th day of July, 1299, when Othman, leading his forces, invaded the territory of Nicomedia, and began that final course of attack which resulted in the overthrow of the Eastern Empire of Rome, these two periods reach to Aug. 11, 1840, marked by the loss of the supremacy on the part of that power which is the subject of the prophecy. Aug. 11, 1840, and the tenth day of the seventh month, the 22nd day of October, 1844,--landmarks in Advent history!
Thursday, 6 August 2026
WHICH
is the
Off—Shoot
God has a church upon the earth who are His chosen people, who Keep His (not man’s) commandments. He is leading, not stray offshoots, not one here and one there, but a people.
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers p. 61
“A company was present-ed before me under the name of Seventh-day Ad-ventists, who were advis-ing that the banner, or sign,
which makes us a distinct people should not be held out so strikingly; for they claimed that this was not the best policy in order to secure success to our institutions. But this is not a time to haul down our colors, to be ashamed of our faith.”
Testimonies Vol. 6 p. 144
“I saw a company who stood well guarded and firm, giving no counte-nance to those who would unsettle the established faith of the body. God looked upon them with approbation. I was shown three steps-- the first, sec-ond, and third angels' mes-sages. Said my accompa-nying angel, "Woe to him who shall move a block or stir a pin of these messag-es.”Early Writings p. 258
Back to “The Old Paths”
"Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein." Jeremiah 6:16
For Many years messages of solemn warning and earnest appeal, such as the following, were sent of God to Seventh-day Ad-ventists—
“As Jesus views the state of His professed followers today, He sees base ingratitude, hollow formalism, hypocritical insincerity, pharisaical pride and apostasy.” 5T p. 72
“My heart aches day after day and night after night for our churches. Many are progressing, but in the back track.” 5T p. 93
“They must face square about. I know what I say. Unless they shall become Christians indeed, they will go from weakness to weakness, divisions will increase, and many souls will be led to perdition.” 5T p. 93 “You are following the same path as did ancient Israel.” 5T p. 75
“The sin of ancient Israel was in disregarding the expressed will of God and following their own way according to the leadings of unsanctified hearts. Modern Israel are fast following in their footsteps, and the displeasure of the Lord is as sure-ly resting upon them.” 5T p. 93
For long years, too, the Lord demanded that a “decided” and “thorough” reformation should take place among His professed people,—
“I call upon all who have united in a course of action that is wrong in principle, to make a decided reformation and forever after walk humbly with God. . . . 8T p. 68 “The time has come for a thorough reformation to take place.” 8T p. 251
And God Made clear, also, just where the work of reform should begin, and just how it should be conducted,—
“A reformation is needed among the people, but it should first begin its purifying work with the ministers. (Leaders) ” 1T p. 469
“A revival and a reformation must take place, under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend.” RH, February 25, 1902
But God’s plans for this, surely the most important of all work at this time, have not been followed. The leaders do not acknowledge, repent of, and turn away from their unrighteous condition— their disloyalty to revealed light— their hypocrisy—their APOSTASY. They say, as did unfaithful men of old, “Wherein shall we return?” Hence their present efforts for reform—“among the people,” but excluding themselves—are out of harmony with divine instruction. The work is not carried forward “under the min-istrations of the Holy Spirit,” and God will not— He cannot—prosper a partial counterfeit effort. It is neither “decided” nor “thorough,” and it must therefore fail.
But in spite of man’s faithlessness, God has promised that a great spiritual revival and reformation will take place among His people, and He has made positive provision for the fulfillment of His promise. Through the medium of the Spirit of Prophecy the Lord has revealed the simple means to be used, and the certainty of the accomplishment of His ultimate purpose, thus,—
“When this reformation begins... One member working in right lines will lead other members to unite with him in making intercession for the revelation of the Holy Spirit...The barriers separating believer from believer will be broken down, and God's servants will speak the same things.” 8T p. 251
“We have been inclined to think that where there are no faithful ministers there can be no true Christians, but this is not the case. God has promised that where the shepherds are not true He will take charge of the flock Himself….The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view. 5T p. 81
“The little company who are standing in the light will be sighing and crying for the abominations that are done in the land. But more especially will their prayers arise in behalf of the church because its members are doing after the manner of the world…. These sighing, crying ones had been holding forth the words of life; they had reproved, counseled, and entreated. Some who had been dishonoring God repented and humbled their hearts before Him. But the glory of the Lord had departed from Israel; although many still continued the forms of religion, His power and presence were lacking. 5T p. 209, 210
This “little company” whom the Lord plans to use so efficiently in the work of genuine reform, are those faithful believers in every precious, peculiar principle of the third angel’s message who are described in “Early Writings” as being “firmly united,” bound together by the truth,”—”well guarded and firm, giving no heed to those who would unsettle, the faith of the body.” THEY are loyal and true—NOT an “offshoot.” They believe in the system of organization which was originally given of God , and they faithfully support the work. They love to walk in “the old paths” of the “Three Angels Messages.”
“ Which Side Will You Be On? ”
“Have faith in God. However stormy may be the times, looking unto Jesus (not a organization commonly called a church) who is the author and the finisher of your faith, you will be complete in Him. Abide in the old paths, whoever may turn back. Be rooted and grounded and built up in the most holy faith, a living epistle known and read of all men.” TMK p. 212
“God is sifting his people. He will have a clean and holy people….A corrupt people has arisen who could not live with the people of God….As we near the judgment all will manifest their true character, and it will be made plain to what company they belong. 2SG p. 201, 202
“ Now is the time when we should closely connect with God, that we may be hid when the fierceness of His wrath is poured upon the sons of men. We have wandered away from the old landmarks. Let us return. If the Lord be God, serve Him; if Baal, serve him. Which side will you be on?” 5T p. 137
Conclusion
God calls upon the ministers of the gospel not to seek to stretch themselves beyond their measure by bringing forward artificial embellishments, striving for the praise and applause of men, being ambitious for a vain show of intellect and eloquence. Let the ministers’ ambition be carefully to search the Bible, that they may know as much as possible of God and of Jesus Christ, whom he has sent. The more clearly ministers discern Christ, and catch his spirit, the more forcibly will they preach the simple truth of which Christ is the center. They will then preach the truth as it is in Jesus, and there will be no betraying of the sacred trust that has been committed to them in the work of the gospel. How painfully is the Lord Jesus Christ kept in the background! How his glory is veiled by the character and life of his representatives! Let the watchmen on the walls of Zion not join with those who are making of none effect the truth as it is in Christ. Let them not join the confederacy of infidelity, popery, and Protestantism in exalting tradition above Scripture, reason above revelation, and human talent above the divine influence and the vital power of godliness. RH March 24, 1896, par. 13
Dear reader, if you are interested and wish to make further study with reference into the old-fashioned principles of truth loved and upheld by the loyal “little company,” visit email us for more resources at ramahlifestylecenter@gmail.com or +254701165870
Night?"—Isaiah 21:11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: return, come.
WHAT TIME IS IT?
Time to Awake.—"It is high time to awake out of sleep." Rom. 13:11.
Time to Pray.----"It is time to seek the Lord." Hosea 10:12; Zech. 10:1.
Time to Work.—"Lift up your eyes and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." John 4:35.
"The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laborers into His harvest." Luke 10:2.
WHERE TO WORK?
At Home.—"Return to thine own house, and show how great things God bath done unto thee." Luke 8:39.
Neighborhood.—"Every one over against his house." Neh. 3:28.
Streets and Lanes.—"Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city." Luke 11:21.
Highways and Hedges.—"Go out into the highways and hedges." Luke 4:23.
WHEN TO GO?
Today.—"Son, go work today in My vineyard. " Matt. 21:28.
"There is danger in delay. That soul whom you might have found, that soul to whom you might have opened the Scriptures, passes beyond your reach. Satan has prepared some net for his feet, and tomorrow he may be working out the plans of the archenemy of God. Why delay one day? Why not go to work at once?"—"Testimonies", Vol. VI, p. 443.
HOW LONG TO WORK?
During Life.—"The true Christian works for God, not from impulse, but from principle; not for a day or a month, but during the entire life."— "Counsels to Teachers," p. 518.
Till Task is Done.—"Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate." Isa. 6:11.
WHOM TO WORK FOR?
Every Creature.—"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15.
"To save souls should be the lifework of every one who professes Christ. We are debtors to the world
for the grace given us of God."—"Testmony," Vol. IV, p. 53.
All Nationals.--"In the cities of America there are people of almost every language. These need the light that God has given to His church."—Id., Vol. VIII, p. 36.
WHAT TO DO?
House-to-House Work.—"There should be more house-to-house labor, in giving Bible readings and distributing literature."—Id., Vol. IX, p. 127.
Personal Effort.—"One of the most effective ways in which light can be communicated is by private personal effort. In the home circle, at your neighbor's fireside, at the bedside of the sick, in a quiet way you may read the Scriptures and speak a word for Jesus and the truth. Thus you may sow precious seed that will spring up and bring forth fruit."—Id., Vol. VI, pp. 428, 429.
Born in a nominal Christian family, I didn't know much of the word of God, but the presence of the Bible in our library led me to know how to read and write .One school holy day i took my time to read from Genesis to Deuteronomy, comparing it with Swahili version. This opened my mind and i could excel in school. It was such a miracle. Not only this, but I was so much interested in how I could be a missionary preaching the word of God. In 2009 I was baptised. Upon joining high school, I started preaching. I preached about true baptism. Upon making call 17, students gave their lives and were baptised at Upper Hill, Migori. Going to the school library introduced me to Ellen White books, which I borrowed. The entire 4 years brought a great change in my spiritual life .
2016 was the turning point of my Christian life. We used to meet every Wednesday to study Spirit of Prophecy books, and I became a medical missionary. I was so much interested in sharing the word of God. One day we were doing our mission work with Catholics, and I prayed to God, 'What should I present?' I didn't want any controversial topic, but the book of Romans came into my mind. Praise the Lord, it was such a blessing; those people accepted to worship with us .
In 2017, I went to the land of Pokot. I was to hand prophesy. I didn't have a laptop and a projector; I didn't have prophetic charts, and this could not help because I was presenting at night and the congregants were deep in tradition and had never met with the word of God. I just knelt down and prayed for wisdom. There was a young man who had his barber shop; he never attended the meeting but in his shop he received the truth. He gave his life on Sabbath afternoon when we were going for baptism. He had bo extra clothes to change into. i ran to my bag and took my suit, and the man went to the water. My heart's desire is to see this man again. When I returned there, he had migrated from the place and left his job. I gaze; he became a missionary. Many of the locals were amazed at how he could baptise.
When God's Love Shines Through
IT was up in northern England at a miner's camp that young Missionary Henry Moorhouse was at work for God. A notorious servant of the evil one, Ike Miller, entered the place and took a seat near the front. This followed:
"Preachers and helpers trembled,for this wicked man had threatened to break up the services. Henry Moorhouse preached on God's love in Jesus Christ. He longed to reach the heart of the wild, grimy miner who sat so strangely quiet, gazing into his face.
"After the meeting, the men gathered around the preacher reproachfully, saying, 'Ah, Henry, you didn't preach right! You should have preached at Ike Miller. You had a great opportunity, and you lost it.
That soft sort of preaching won't do him any good. What does he care about love? You ought to have told him the dreadful punishment he is going to get.'
"The young preacher only said, 'I am really sorry I did not preach to him right. I did so want to help him.'
"Meanwhile, the big miner was tramping home. His wife ran in front of the children when he came in. She stared at him in bewilderment. He was not drunk; he was not scowling.
He hastened to her, but not to harm her. He put his arms around her, and kissed her, and said: 'Lass, God has brought your husband back to you.' Then, embracing the shrinking children, he continued, 'My little boy and girl, God has brought your father back to you. Now let us all pray,' and he knelt down on the rude cottage floor.
"There was silence except for many sobs; he could think of no words. His heart prayed, but Ike Miller had voiced no prayer since he was a little boy. At length, words from those distant days came hack to him—and with his no-more-to-be-abused family about him, he uttered between sobs:
"'Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, look upon a little child; pity my simplicity, and suffer me to come to Thee!' It is safe to let the Holy Spirit extol the love of Jesus through any preacher's voice, young or old, in any heathen stronghold—if and when God's love shines through.
"LITTLE self-denials, little honesties,
little passing words of sympathy, little
nameless acts of kindness, little silent
victories over special temptation,—
these are the threads of gold, which,
woven together, gleam out brightly in
the pattern of life that God approves."
There is danger in delay. That soul whom you might have found, that soul to whom you might have opened the Scriptures, passes beyond your reach. Satan has prepared some net for his feet, and tomorrow he may be working out the plans of the archenemy of God. Why delay one day? Why not go to work at once?
{6T 443.1}
Impure Blood (How to Cleanse)
Causes.
-A wrong diet, constipation, overeating, eating a combination of food at the same meal which causes fermentation, devitalized foods. From many foods the very elements that would keep the blood pure are removed,as, for example, the heart and the outside of the wheat, the eyes and peelings of potatoes, the outside of rice, and the heart of corn, which is taken out of the meal. These are wonderful medicines, alkaline, and do a great deal toward keeping the blood pure.
One great cause of impure blood is improper breathing, improper ventilation, dark rooms, sleeping in rooms that are not properly ventilated,lack of exercise. Often the muscles are poisoned and feel tired because of thewaste matter and insufficient exercise.
Drinking impure water and other harmful drinks as tea, coffee, liquor, all kinds of soft drinks, are other causes. These confuse the mind and cause wrong thoughts and ideas. The brain is made up of about ninety per cent water, and when we drink these unwholesome drinks, many of which are stimulating, the blood is made impure and the mind is very much affected.
Worry, fear, anger, unhappiness, and hate greatly hinder the circulation of blood and thus the impurities are not carried off as they should be. The stagnated condition of the skin is one cause of impure - blood. Many times the blood that should be on the outside of the body is in a congested form ont he inside of the body, overloading the various organs, thereby causing congestion and various diseases.
Symptoms.
-The symptoms cover a large list of diseases and complaints: Pimples; boils; discolorations of the skin; jaundice; headaches; drowsiness; wrinkles; old age when young; insanity; nervousness; getting angry at best friends; frowning when we ought to smile; thinking evil thoughts when we should think evil of no man; seeing darkness where there is light; gray hair; loss of hair; loss of eye sight; loss of hearing; stiff joints; pain in various parts of the body. All of these symptoms will vanish to a great extent when the blood stream is purified.
Treatment.
-To make the blood stream pure, the first thing to do is to eliminate all harmful articles of food and drink, such as tea, coffee, all alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, all white-flour products, all cane-sugar products,and the liberal use of free fat or grease. The bowels must be kept active by proper diet and use of Herbal Laxative when needed. Take high herb enemas to clean out the colon and make it active and strong. Drink plenty of fresh, pure water; take plenty of outdoor exercise with deep-breathing; and get plenty of sleep in a well-ventilated room. Keep the skin active by cold morning baths and vigorous rubbing with a coarse, Turkish towel. Take hot baths at least two or three times a week. Wash the body thoroughly with some good soap, ' as Ivory. A thorough salt glow is good after a hot bath.
This will stimulate the skin, make it active, and open the pores. A massage from head to foot is beneficial. Give it thoroughly on the neck and upper part of the spine and especially on the feet. Go on a fruit diet for one week. In the absence of abundance of fruit, eat vegetables, prepared as given in this book, as, for example, the green part of leafy vegetables, carrots-either raw, grated,or baked until tender-carrot juice, and potatoes.
Reader, if you want to see wonderful results, live on the food that God gave to man before he sinned. There is an abundance of it. Just live on fruit for a while, and follow the sanitary habits as mentioned above. Make use of the herbs which God let grow for the healing of the nations, and you will say with many whom the writer has heard say, "Truly the day of miracles has not passed." "The fruit of the tree is for man's meat, and the leaves for his medicine." (Ezekiel 47:12)
I call attention to the Lord's words in the tenth chapter of Luke: "Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest." {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 370.2}
After having told his disciples not to make very great preparations for their personal comfort, he told them that when they came into the cities, "Heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." Two things were to be done; first, heal the sick; second, preach the kingdom of God. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 370.3}
I have been struck with the thought that in every instance where the Saviour has given the gospel commission, and sent out his workers, he told them to heal the sick. When he sent out the seventy, as recorded in Matthew, he said, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received. freely given. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 370.4}
So again, in the ninth chapter of Luke, we find that he called his twelve disciples, "and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases." Thus the Saviour gave his ministers just the same authority to heal the sick as to preach the gospel. He has united the two things in gospel work, so that it would seem almost impossible to separate them. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 370.5}
There is no one thing which has all the elements of success in it for city work. We used to think that an eloquent preacher was required to go into a large city; that he must stir the multitudes with his eloquence, and with his method of uniting the different points of doctrine, so that people would be charmed by it. But from my observation, and in fact from my own experience of many years in city work, I have learned that it is not the eloquent minister who succeeds in such work: in fact, a minister is but a single factor in the work. The great thing necessary is to have a competent and united force of consecrated workers. Workers are needed more than preachers in city labor. Where these are absent, not much can be accomplished which ought to be done. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 370.6}
A man may not be able to present the truth in the clearest way, but that matters not, if that man is a thinker and worker, if he will study up sure and safe plans by which to reach the people. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 370.7}
The very first thing necessary in city work is to teach the people how to work. You may ask. What people?--The people you have with you in the faith. If there are no paid laborers, no accredited Conference workers at hand, call on lay members of the church, no matter how humble they may appear, to assist in the work. We may think, when we enter a place, that there are none there who have talent, but upon investigation one is surprised to find the amount of talent that is rusting in our churches today. We do not want to get the idea that because a man is not accredited by the Conference with credentials, that he can not do anything in such work. I have found that when a person comes into the truth, he makes a better laborer than some who have been long in the church, because everything he has received, is fresh in his mind, and he knows better how to utilize it than do those who have been longer in the way, but have let the definite things of the truth fade in their minds. Besides, new converts are more easily instructed in methods than our older people are. The older ones criticize methods that the younger ones readily receive and act upon. It is therefore well to commence training young converts as soon as they receive the truth. In San Francisco, our best workers, outside of the Conference laborers, are those who have recently embraced the truth, and they do the most work. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 370.8}
The question arises. How can we get them into the work?--Not by preaching theory to them. They need preaching; but of that kind which will educate them in all lines of work. But in our San Francisco work, a Bible study is given following the morning service, in which from seventy-five to one hundred take part. These are held with a view to teaching the people how to work, giving them an opportunity to ask questions. I have been astonished at the questions sometimes asked, which show an anxiety to learn all that is for the people. There we teach the people, how to state this point of truth, or how to help in this emergency. If anything comes in to prevent our having such a meeting as that, the people are very much disappointed, and they come down to the front after the service, and say, "Why can we not have our Bible study to-day?" {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 370.9}
We have for the use of our people something which we have found worked well, and that is a folder, inviting people to our meetings. We have these printed by the thousands. They cost something to be sure, but the expense are all paid by our collections. You will notice on the outside of this little folder, "A cordial welcome to our church." When opened, the first thing to meet the eye is, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 370.10}
It also contains an invitation to make their church home with us. People like to be invited to make the church their home, whether they are with us in sentiment or not. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 370.11}
Next comes the location of the church, and the time of the meetings, with the name of the pastor signed thereto. At the bottom it says, "The pastor will, be most happy to make your acquaintance, or to call if furnished with your address." I have had many calls from those who do not belong to the church, asking for prayer, and ministration to them when sick. It is an astonishing thing how many people depend on us to come and see them in cases of emergency. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 370.12}
Then it says, "If you know of any sick or in distress, please inform the pastor." And so they come. Then on the side, right in the center of this we have also a text of scripture: "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 370.13}
These folders are neatly gotten up, and they take with the people. They cost something; but when you have them, you do not want to give them up after seeing results from them. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 370.14}
H. S. Shaw: About what do they cost? {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 370.15}
J. O. Corliss: I do not know. I have nothing to do with the finances of the church. That is to say, I do not handle any of the funds, and then I do not have any criticism. I have always kept out of every office that I could among Seventh-day Adventists, because I have found that there was more criticism than glory in office. As Moody said, I have found it a good deal better to be able to set ten men to work than to do the work of ten men. So I do not handle the finances. The treasurer of the church looks after every cent that comes in, in the form of collections as well as the tithes. I do not touch it. He informs me frequently of how much he has on hand, so that I may know what expenditures to arrange for, and so not to run in debt. The consequence is that the California Conference has not had one cent yet to pay for any church expenses in the city of San Francisco for printing or anything of the kind. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 370.16}
G. F. Watson: I would like to ask if you count this kind of work where we have a church in existence, hovering over the church? {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 371.1}
J. O. Corliss: No, sir; not if we do the work of reaching out for the lost. A man can hover over, and simply preach to a church until it depends entirely upon his preaching; but our church does not do that. Our church is at work. We try to get every member of the church at work. But the pastor wants to have a discriminating mind, as he talks with different members of the church, to know just what that individual is fitted for. I believe we can do this. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 371.2}
How is the work done? We have, in the first place, our regular Sundays at the Seaman's Home. We have the third Sunday there, also the fifth Sunday when it comes. That leaves only three Sundays to be distributed among all the other pastors of that city. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 371.3}
What do we do when we go there? We do not preach on the prophecies, on the nature of man, or on the Sabbath question. Having passed through the vicissitudes of seafaring life, we talk to these men in a way for them to know that we appreciate their position, and point them to Christ. After the service those men come around to me, and seem so glad to let me know that they are benefited by the meeting. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 371.4}
Then we have jail services every third Sunday. The brother who leads the meetings at the Helping Hand Mission attends to these, and the people are glad to have him take this work. By taking hold of these things, those concerned know that we have something else in our minds besides proselyting people. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 371.5}
But we have another preparatory work that I have come to consider one of the greatest factor we have in training workers. Every Thursday night, just as regularly as the weeks come, we have a doctor occupy the pulpit. There are two of them, in fact, who divide the time between them. There are Drs. Coolidge and Buchanan. They take up the most common diseases, and tell them how to know the symptoms of these. They do not talk in technical terms, but give popular talks, that a common person can receive. The people are then taught how to give simple treatments. There are many poor unfortunates in that city who need help that they are not able to procure in any other way. Our people are instructed to go out, and wherever they find a soul that needs such work done, to take hold and do it free, without saying a word about their religion, or anything of the kind. But they talk to these people, and console them with texts of Scripture, telling them that old, old story about Jesus Christ. The tears ran down the faces of those addressed, and they begin to say, "What church do you belong to?" upon receiving answer they say, "I have seen that little church a great many times." When that person gets on his feet again, he is quite sure to appear in our church. While in our regular Sabbath Congregation there are many people who seem to have just as much interest in those services as our own people have. It is the work of the church that does it. The doctors in their practice in the city come across cases that they treat as charity cases. But in order that they may show interest in such people, they offer to provide a nurse. Then the doctor comes to some one who has been sitting under his Thursday night teaching, and says: "I want you to take a case and nurse it for three or four days or a week, and do it for charity's sake, do it for the love of Christ." That individual takes the case, and nurses it through the extreme condition. One can not, after that, make such a patient think that Seventh-day Adventists are not Christians. In this way we may get hold of many. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 371.6}
The one nurse we have who does most of the work in that line is also connected with the branch sanitarium. But she meets with us in our workers' councils, and so proves a link to unite the medical and evangelical work in the city. In fact, the boards of the medical institutions, and of the church, hold joint meetings, thus working in perfect harmony in every way. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 371.7}
Another branch of the work is that of the Christian Help band. Although that is rather old, and has died out in some places, it is not so with us. I have not time now to read the report of what it is doing, but it meets once a week, in the basement of the church. There garments are made for the poor, and plans laid for aggressive work. Other people in the church go out and collect food and garments. I can not tell you all that they do. But I know that it is common to see some one bring to the prayer meeting Wednesday night a grain-sack full of bread, for the brethren to distribute where it is most needed. There is hardly a week passes in which there is not at least one grain-sack of loaves of bread coming to the prayer meeting in this way. Many are led to say, "Do not tell me that Seventh-day Adventists are not good people; if there's any religion in the world, they have it." {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 371.8}
We have also committees to visit old people. Wherever there are old persons who can not get to church regularly, those on this committee visit them as often as practicable. Others visit the sick and poor. Our people contribute regularly to a poor fund. All these committees report at the regular weekly workers' meetings. I have little else to do in these plans of work than to counsel with those engaged in carrying them out. This much seems necessary where so many are engaged in work, in order to preserve harmony and unity of purpose. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 371.9}
One important work is that of carrying about the city, and distributing the Signs of the Times, our pioneer preacher. Several bring in reports at each meeting of how many Signs they have sold during the week. They not only take the Signs of the Times, but the medical journal printed on the Coast, the Pacific Health Journal. One sister has reported the sale of two hundred and fifty Signs in a week, and as many as fifty Pacific Health Journals. How she did it, I do not know. I only know that she has done it, and she is not a very strong woman physically, either. When I think of this, I wonder what our young people are doing who are strong and able to work, but are waiting for the Conference to put them to work. These workers come to the meeting each week, and it would do you good to see the glow of grace and the smile of satisfaction upon their faces. I must acknowledge that they give me much courage. They never meet difficulties, even though their territory includes a large Catholic district. From among their readers they give out names and addresses to the Bible workers for the extension of their work. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 371.10}
We have also a Chinese work in the city, Brother and Sister Brand, members of our church, are doing the best they can for the Chinese who are in the city. They have a small work, but we do not overlook it. Of course there are great obstacles to meet in the Chinese work. But without specifying these, whoever goes into a large city, and undertakes to carry forward a work of that kind will find them without anybody telling him what they are. But these difficulties will put him where he will seek God for wisdom, and he will be sure to have some original thought about his plans every day. He can not depend upon his past knowledge of the second or seventh chapter of Daniel, and say, "I can preach on that subject without study," and then simply spend his time eating and sleeping and taking a little pleasure. A man working in a city goes there to study the situation from every detail he meets along the way. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 372.1}
We have workers' meetings once a week, on Wednesday evening. We pray together, and talk over the situation, ask and give counsel, so that everything may be understood for the week to come. If I were holding regular meetings every night in a city, and I had a company of workers sufficient for the enterprise, I would have a workers' meeting every morning, where the workers could receive instruction. The reports of the day before would then be given, and the difficulties talked over. But in our circumstances we get together but once a week. But these meetings are blessed, precious seasons, and tears run down my face at times as I hear the workers tell what they have found and what blessings have come to them. Not a single murmur or complaint comes from them. The spirit they have is permeating the church, and many are beginning to desire to sacrifice for the Master's sake. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 372.2}
We have also a Japanese school. We have one Japanese brother, who works all he can in behalf of the truth. Not long ago he brought three Japanese, and said, "Sie wants baptism." We got these three Japanese brethren together, noble looking men as you ever saw, and baptized them. They stayed in the church for two or three months, when they got to feeling a burden to go to Japan, and every one of them has gone back to Japan, to assist in the work there. I hope the brethren in Japan will find them, and set them to work; for they know what it means to work. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 372.3}
It is not eloquent preaching in the pulpit, or anything of the kind, that is needed in city work, so much as solid, earnest work to be carried on every day. My candid convictions are that to be most successful in city work, we must have men who will keep their eyes open, and will not feel that their work is done when they have preached a sermon on the state of the dead, the Sabbath question, or something of the kind. I do not know whether I ought to make an open confession now or not, but I believe I will. During my nearly two years' work in San Francisco, I have not preached one entire sermon on the Sabbath question. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 372.4}
David Paulson: And yet people have been accepting the Sabbath right along, have they not? {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 372.5}
J. O. Corliss: Yes, and we have had as many as three baptisms in a month. We have never failed to have a baptism every month, of people coming into the truth. It is done by working outside. The minister gets no credit for it, and deserves none. The earnestness of the workers, and their careful methods recommend the truth to others. It is not long before they begin to inquire about the Seventh-day Adventists, and what they believe, saying, "I have always thought that the seventh day is the Sabbath." You do not have to argue with such people. We preach Christ, and let everything cluster about him, and center in him. In every discourse Christ is the theme, and the Sabbath is put in in a way without saying very much about it, so that when people accept Christ, they accept the Sabbath with him. The Sabbath is an important part of this message. But we have come to a time when we can preach it more powerfully than by dwelling on the difference between two days. People want the Sabbath to come to them warm from the Saviour himself. We do not have to argue about the sleep of the dead. Our Sunday night services, for the last ten months have been according to the Testimonies. "What's that?" you say. The Testimonies have said, Study the books of Daniel and Revelation more. There is light in them for this people. So we have dwelt upon these with wonderful effect. You may ask, "Do not the people grow tired of hearing the prophecies of the second and seventh of Daniel?" We take the practical things in these prophecies, and apply them in this generation. I can not tell you just how -- I do not preach from notes, I have not carried any notes for many years; but I want to tell you that God does reveal wonderful things from these books of prophetic warnings. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 372.6}
F. M. Roberts: Would not that little folder be a good thing to use in tent work? {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 372.7}
J. O. Corliss: Yes, I think it would be excellent. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 372.8}
Question: Do not people sometimes ask for sermons on the Sabbath-question? Is the fact that we live the Sabbath, a reason why we need not preach it? or should not our living and preaching be in harmony? {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 372.9}
J. O. Corliss: I preach it, but I preach Christ, and then let the Sabbath weave about him. I do not have to show the difference between the Sabbath and the first day of the week. Do you not remember that in "Early Writings" it says that there came a time when we went forth and preached the Sabbath more fully? That is just what I believe is preaching the Sabbath more fully -- Christ in the Sabbath and the Sabbath in Christ. {April 21, 1901 N/A, GCB 372.10}
While you hold the banner of
truth firmly, proclaiming the law of God, let every soul remember that the
faith of Jesus is connected with the commandments of God. The third angel is
represented as flying through the midst of heaven, crying with a loud voice,
"Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of
Jesus" (Revelation 14:12). The first, second, and third angels'
messages are all linked together. The evidences of the abiding, ever-living
truth of these grand messages, that mean so much to us, that have awakened such
intense opposition from the religious world, cannot be extinguished. Satan
is constantly seeking to cast his hellish shadow about these messages, so that
the remnant people of God shall not clearly discern their import, their time,
and place; but they live, and are to exert their power upon our religious
experience while time shall last.{2SM
117.2}
The influence of these messages has been
deepening and widening, setting in motion the springs of action in thousands of
hearts, bringing into existence institutions of learning, publishing houses,
and health institutions; all these are the instrumentalities of God to
cooperate in the grand work represented by the first, second, and third angels
flying in the midst of heaven to warn the inhabitants of the world that Christ
is coming again with power and great glory.{2SM 117.3}
But is not the Third Angel’s
Message also already in the world?
Most assuredly it is and has
been for forty-two years. Starting in
February, 1845, with but one
person, it has spread from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, and from
British Columbia to Mexico; building
up thirty-eight Conferences; establishing
two large printing houses,
issuing millions upon
millions of pages of printed matter
every year; building one
of the largest health institutions in the
world, besides other
important health and educational institutions—
all in our own country.
The “few” everywhere receive
the love of the truth which it embodies,
while the “many” believe not
its truth, and receive not the
love of it, but have pleasure
in unrighteousness.
That the Third Angel’s
Message shall encompass the earth, even
to every nation, and kindred,
and tongue, and people, giving them
ample opportunity to receive
the truth and the love of it, which, if
received, will deliver
them from the power of Satan and give
them victory over all his
deceivableness of unrighteousness, is
clear from the word of
God. This we shall now make plain.
{December 8, 1887 ATJ, SITI 743.6}
1. This is the
"third" in a series of messages in which the second and the third
follow the first in quick succession. Rev. 14:6-12. The first of the three
(verses 6, 7) said with a loud voice to every nation, and kindred, and tongue,
and people; the second followed this one, and the third angel followed them.
As, therefore, the first one was to go to every nation, and kindred, and
tongue, and people, and as the third one follows, it likewise must go to every
nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. {December 8, 1887 ATJ, SITI 743.7}
2. The third angel says with
a loud voice, "If any man worship the beast and his image," etc. This
phrase, "If any man," shows that it is to all men; that it is a
universal message. {December 8, 1887 ATJ, SITI 743.8}
3. Of the beast it is said
that, "All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are
not written in the book of life of the Lamb." Rev. 13, 8. The work of
the image of the beast is to cause the earth and them that dwell therein to
worship the beast, as well as himself; therefore, the worship of the image of
the beast is indirectly the worship of the beast, and it is the mark of the
beast which the image causes men to receive. Now as the worship of the
beast is to be by "all them that dwell on the earth;" as the Third
Angel's Message is the warning against that worship; and as obedience to
this message is the only means of escaping that worship and the wrath of God;
it is, therefore, certain that this message must go to "all that dwell on
the earth"—the warning must be as extensive as the worship will be.
{December 8, 1887 ATJ, SITI 743.9}
This makes it incumbent upon
all people now to study the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus as they
have never studied them before, asking themselves the question, "Am I one
o whom this scripture speaks? Am I one who truly keeps the commandments of God
and the faith of Jesus? Have I received such a love of this truth that I can
stand against all the wiles of Satan when he shall work with all power and
signs and lying wonders?" {December 8, 1887 ATJ, SITI 743.10}
By the evidences which we
have now presented from the word of God, it is certain that we have reached the
day and generation when all these things shall be. God sends no message to a
people to whom its warnings do not apply. He did not send a warning of a coming
flood to a people who should never see a flood; the people whom the Lord warned
of a coming flood, those were the very people who saw the flood come. The
people whom the Lord besought to escape from the impending doom of Sodom, those
were the people who saw the doom of Sodom. So the people to whom the Lord sends
this message of warning against the worship of the beast and his image, these
are the people who will see the worship of the beast and his image. The people
upon whom God calls to keep his commandments and the faith of Jesus, that they
may escape the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of
his indignation, these are the very people who will see the wrath of God poured
out without mixture—these are the people who will see the seven last plagues
poured upon the earth. {December 8, 1887 ATJ, SITI 743.11}
The third angel is
represented as flying in the midst of the heavens, showing that the message is
to go forth throughout the length and breadth of the earth. It is the most
solemn message ever given to mortals, and all who connect with the work should
first feel their need of an education, and a most thorough training process for
the work, in reference to their future usefulness; and there should be plans
made and efforts adopted for the improvement of that class who anticipate
connecting with any branch of the work.{CE 45.1}
Who among our teachers are
awake and as faithful stewards of the grace of God are giving the trumpet a
certain sound? Who are voicing the message of the third angel, calling upon the
world to make ready for the great day of God? The message we bear has the
seal of the living God. {CT 459.2}
"Time is almost
finished. Do you reflect the lovely image of Jesus as you should?" Then I
was pointed to the earth and saw that there would have to be a getting ready
among those who have of late embraced the third angel's message. Said the angel,
"Get ready, get ready, get ready. Ye will have to die a greater death to
the world than ye have ever yet died." I saw that there was a great
work to do for them and but little time in which to do it.{EW 64.1}
The Lord has shown me that
the message of the third angel must go, and be proclaimed to the scattered
children of the Lord, but it must not be hung on time. I saw that some were
getting a false excitement, arising from preaching time; but the third angel's
message is stronger than time can be. I saw that this message can stand on
its own foundation and needs not time to strengthen it; and that it will go in
mighty power, and do its work, and will be cut short in righteousness.{EW 75.1}
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.
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}
[OFTEN IN CONNECTION WITH ERRONEOUS
TEACHINGS AND FALSE MOVEMENTS, THE ONE LEADING OUT IDENTIFIES HIS MESSAGE AND
WORK WITH THAT OF THE OTHER ANGEL OF REVELATION 18:1. SOME ERRONEOUS TEACHINGS
THROUGH THE YEARS HAVE INVOLVED AS WELL THE MESSAGES OF THE THREE ANGELS OF
REVELATION 14. SUCH WAS THE CASE IN A SITUATION MET IN 1896 BY MRS. WHITE IN
THE COMMUNICATIONS WHICH FOLLOW. THE REVIEW OF THE THREE ANGELS' MESSAGES IN
THEIR BROAD WORK, WHILE LENGTHY, WILL BE TREASURED FOR ITS CONFIRMING
STATEMENTS.--COMPILERS.]{2SM 101.1}
A Mixture of Truth and Error
I have not been able to sleep since half
past one o'clock. I was bearing to Brother T a message which the Lord had given
me for him. The peculiar views he holds are a mixture of truth and error. If he
had passed through the experiences of God's people as He has led them for the
past forty years, he would be better prepared to make the correct application
of Scripture. The great waymarks of truth, showing
us our bearings in prophetic history, are to be carefully guarded, lest they be
torn down, and replaced with theories that would bring confusion rather than
genuine light. I have been cited to the very erroneous theories that
have been presented over and over again. Those who advocated these theories
presented Scripture quotations, but they misapplied and misinterpreted them.
The theories supposed to be correct were incorrect, and yet many thought them
the very theories to be brought before the people. The prophecies of Daniel and
John are to be diligently studied.{2SM
101.2}
There are those now living who, in
studying the prophecies of Daniel and John, received great light from God as
they passed over the ground where special prophecies were in process of
fulfillment in their order. They bore the message of time to the people. The
truth shone out clearly as the sun at noonday. Historical events, showing the
direct fulfillment of prophecy, were set before the people, and the prophecy
was seen to be a figurative delineation of events leading down to the close of
this earth's history.. The scenes connected with
the working of the man of sin are the last features plainly revealed in this
earth's history. The people now have a special message to give to the world,
the third angel's message. Those who, in their experience, have passed over the
ground, and acted a part in the proclamation of the first, second, and third
angels' messages, are not so liable to be led into false paths as are those who
have not had an experimental knowledge of the people of God. . .{2SM 102.1}
There have been one and another who in
studying their Bibles thought they discovered great light, and new theories,
but these have not been correct. The Scripture is all true, but by misapplying
the Scripture men arrive at wrong conclusions. We are engaged in a mighty
conflict, and it will become closer and more determined, as we near the final
struggle. We have a sleepless adversary, and he is constantly at work upon
human minds that have not had a personal experience in the teachings of the
people of God for the past fifty years. Some will take the truth applicable to
their time, and place it in the future. Events in the train of prophecy that
had their fulfillment away in the past are made future, and thus by these
theories the faith of some is undermined.{2SM 102.2}
From the light that the Lord has been
pleased to give me, you are in danger of doing the same work, presenting before
others truths which have had their place and done their specific work for the
time, in the history of the faith of the people of God. You recognize these
facts in Bible history as true, but apply them to the future. They have their force still in their proper place, in the
chain of events that have made us as a people what we are today, and as such,
they are to be presented to those who are in the darkness of error. The true
workers of Jesus Christ are to cooperate with their brethren who have had an
experience in the work from the very rise of the third angel's message.
These followed on step by step, receiving light and truth as they advanced,
bearing one test after another, lifting the cross that lay directly in their
pathway, and pressing on to know the Lord, whose goings forth are prepared as
the morning. You and other of our brethren must accept the truth as God has
given it to His students of prophecy, as they have been led by genuine, living
experience, advancing point by point, tested, proved, and tried, until the
truth is to them a reality. From their voices and pens the truth in bright,
warm rays has gone to all parts of the world, and that which was to them
testing truth, as brought by the Lord's delegated messengers, is testing truth
to all to whom this message is proclaimed.{2SM 102.3}
The burden of
the warning now to come to the people of God, nigh and afar off, is the third
angel's message. And those who are seeking to understand this message
will not be led by the Lord to make an application of the Word that will
undermine the foundation and remove the pillars of the faith that has made
Seventh-day Adventists what they are today. The truths that have been unfolding
in their order, as we have advanced along the line of prophecy revealed in the
Word of God, are truth, sacred, eternal truth today. Those who passed over the
ground step by step in the past history of our experience, seeing the chain of
truth in the prophecies, were prepared to accept and obey every ray of light.
They were praying, fasting, searching, digging for the truth as for hidden
treasures, and the Holy Spirit, we know, was teaching and guiding us. Many
theories were advanced, bearing a semblance of truth, but so mingled with
misinterpreted and misapplied scriptures, that they led to dangerous errors.
Very well do we know how every point of truth was established, and the seal set
upon it by the Holy Spirit of God. And all the time voices were heard,
"Here is the truth," "I have the truth; follow me." But the
warnings came, "Go not ye after them. I have not sent them, but they
ran." (See Jeremiah 23:21.){2SM
103.1}
The leadings
of the Lord were marked, and most wonderful were His revelations of what is
truth. Point after point was established by the Lord God of heaven. That which
was truth then, is truth today. But the voices do not cease to be
heard--"This is truth. I have new light." But these new lights in
prophetic lines are manifest in misapplying the Word and setting the people of
God adrift without an anchor to hold them. If the student of the Word would
take the truths which God has revealed in the leadings of His people, and
appropriate these truths, digest them, and bring them into their practical
life, they would then be living channels of light. But those who have set
themselves to study out new theories, have a mixture of truth and error
combined, and after trying to make these things prominent, have demonstrated
that they have not kindled their taper from the divine altar, and it has gone
out in darkness. --Manuscript 31, 1896.{2SM 104.1}
The Three Angels' Messages in their Larger Setting
The proclamation of the first, second, and
third angels' messages has been located by the Word of Inspiration. Not a peg
or pin is to be removed. No human authority has any more right to change the
location of these messages than to substitute the New Testament for the Old.
The Old Testament is the gospel in figures and symbols. The New Testament is
the substance. One is as essential as the other. The Old Testament presents
lessons from the lips of Christ, and these lessons have not lost their force in
any particular.{2SM 104.2}
The first and second messages were given
in 1843 and 1844, and we are now under the proclamation of the third; but all
three of the messages are still to be proclaimed. It is just as essential now
as ever before that they shall be repeated to those who are seeking for the
truth. By pen and voice we are to sound the proclamation, showing their order,
and the application of the prophecies that bring us to the third angel's
message. There cannot be a third without the first and second. These messages
we are to give to the world in publications, in discourses, showing in the line
of prophetic history the things that have been and the things that will
be.{2SM 104.3}
The book that was sealed was not the book
of Revelation, but that portion of the prophecy of Daniel which related to the
last days. The Scripture says, "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and
seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and
knowledge shall be increased" (Daniel 12:4). When the book was opened, the
proclamation was made, "Time shall be no longer." (See Revelation
10:6.) The book of Daniel is now unsealed, and the revelation made by Christ to
John is to come to all the inhabitants of the earth. By the increase of
knowledge a people is to be prepared to stand in the latter days.{2SM 105.1}
The Sabbath the Great Issue
"And I saw another angel fly in the
midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell
on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying
with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his
judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and
the fountains of waters" (Revelation 14:6, 7).{2SM 105.2}
This message, if heeded, will call the
attention of every nation and kindred and tongue and people to a close
examination of the Word, and to the true light in regard to the power that has
changed the seventh-day Sabbath to a spurious sabbath. The only true God
has been forsaken, His law has been discarded, His sacred Sabbath institution
has been trampled in the dust by the man of sin. The fourth commandment, so
plain and explicit, has beenignored.
The Sabbath memorial, declaring who the living God is, the Creator of the
heavens and the earth, has been torn down, and a spurious sabbath has been
given to the world in its place. Thus a breach has been made in the law of God.
A false sabbath could not be a true standard.{2SM 105.3}
In the first angel's message men are
called upon to worship God, our Creator, who made the world and all things that
are therein. They have paid homage to an institution of the Papacy, making of
no effect the law of Jehovah, but there is to be an increase of knowledge on
this subject.{2SM 106.1}
The message proclaimed by the angel flying
in the midst of heaven is the everlasting gospel, the same gospel that was
declared in Eden when God said to the serpent, "I will put enmity between
thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy
head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15). Here was the first
promise of a Saviour who would stand on the field of battle to contest the
power of Satan and prevail against him. Christ came to our world to represent
the character of God as it is represented in His holy law; for His law is a
transcript of His character. Christ was both the law and the gospel. The angel
that proclaims the everlasting gospel proclaims the law of God; for the gospel
of salvation brings men to obedience of the law, whereby their characters are
formed after the divine similitude.{2SM
106.2}
In the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah, the
work of those who worship God, the Maker of the heavens and the earth, is
specified: "They that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places:
thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations" (Isaiah 58:12).
God's memorial, His seventh-day Sabbath, will be uplifted. "Thou shalt be
called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. If thou
turn away thy foot from the sabbath [no longer trample it under your feet],
from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the
holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him,... I will cause thee to
ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of
Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it" (Isaiah
58:12-14).{2SM 106.3}
The history of the church and the world,
the loyal and the disloyal, is here plainly revealed. The loyal under the
proclamation of the third angel's message have turned their feet into the way
of God's commandments, to respect, to honor, and glorify Him who created the
heavens and the earth. The opposing forces have dishonored God by making a
breach in His law, and when light from His Word has called attention to His
holy commandments, revealing the breach made in the law by the papal authority,
then, to get rid of conviction, men have tried to destroy the whole law. But
could they destroy it? No; for all who will search the Scriptures for
themselves will see that the law of God stands immutable, eternal, and His
memorial, the Sabbath, will endure through eternal ages, pointing to the only
true God in distinction from all false gods.{2SM 107.1}
Satan has been persevering and untiring in
his efforts to prosecute the work he began in heaven, to change the law of God.
He has succeeded in making the world believe the theory he presented in heaven
before his fall, that the law of God was faulty, and needed revising. A large
part of the professed Christian church, by their attitude, if not by their
words, show that they have accepted the same error. But if in one jot or tittle
the law of God has been changed, Satan has gained on earth that which he could
not gain in heaven. He has prepared his delusive snare, hoping to take captive
the church and the world. But not all will be taken in the snare. A line of
distinction is being drawn between the children of obedience and the children
of disobedience, the loyal and true and the disloyal and untrue. Two great
parties are developed, the worshipers of the beast and his image, and the
worshipers of the true and living God.{2SM 107.2}
The Angel of Revelation Ten
The message of Revelation 14, proclaiming
that the hour of God's judgment is come, is given in the time of the end; and
the angel of Revelation 10 is represented as having one foot on the sea and one
foot on the land, showing that the message will be carried to distant lands,
the ocean will be crossed, and the islands of the sea will hear the
proclamation of the last message of warning to our world.{2SM 107.3}
"And the angel which I saw stand upon
the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that
liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are,
and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things
which are therein, that there should be time no longer" (Revelation 10:5,
6). This message announces the end of the prophetic periods. The disappointment
of those who expected to see our Lord in 1844 was indeed bitter to those who
had so ardently looked for His appearing. It was in the Lord's order that
this disappointment should come, and that hearts should be revealed.{2SM 108.1}
Not one cloud has fallen upon the church
that God has not prepared for; not one opposing force has risen to counterwork
the work of God but He has foreseen. All has taken place as He has predicted
through His prophets. He has not left His church in darkness, forsaken, but has
traced in prophetic declarations what would occur, and through His providence,
acting in its appointed place in the world's history, He has brought about that
which His Holy Spirit inspired the prophets to foretell. All His purposes will
be fulfilled and established. His law is linked with His throne, and satanic
agencies combined with human agencies cannot destroy it. Truth is inspired
and guarded by God; it will live, and will succeed, although it may appear at
times to be overshadowed. The gospel of Christ is the law exemplified in
character. The deceptions practiced against it, every device for vindicating
falsehood, every error forged by satanic agencies, will eventually be eternally
broken, and the triumph of truth will be like the appearing of the sun at
noonday. The Sun of Righteousness shall shine forth with healing in His wings,
and the whole earth shall be filled with His glory. {2SM 108.2}
The Certainty of Prophecy
All that God has in prophetic history
specified to be fulfilled in the past has been, and all that is yet to come in
its order will be. Daniel, God's prophet, stands in his place. John stands in
his place. In the Revelation the Lion of the tribe of Judah has opened to the
students of prophecy the book of Daniel, and thus is Daniel standing in his
place. He bears his testimony, that which the Lord revealed to him in vision of
the great and solemn events which we must know as we stand on the very threshold
of their fulfillment.{2SM 109.1}
In history and prophecy, the Word of God
portrays the long-continued conflict between truth and error. That conflict is
yet in progress. Those things which have been, will be repeated. Old
controversies will be revived, and new theories will be continually arising.
But God's people, who in their belief and fulfillment of prophecy have acted a
part in the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages, know
where they stand. They have an experience that is more precious than fine gold.
They are to stand firm as a rock, holding the beginning of their confidence
steadfast unto the end.{2SM 109.2}
A transforming power attended the
proclamation of the first and second angels' messages, as it attends the
message of the third angel. Lasting convictions were made upon human minds. The
power of the Holy Spirit was manifested. There was diligent study of the
Scriptures, point by point. Almost entire nights were devoted to earnest
searching of the Word. We searched for the truth as for hidden treasures. The
Lord revealed Himself to us. Light was shed on the prophecies, and we knew that
we received divine instruction. . . .{2SM 109.3}
After the great disappointment there were
few who set themselves to seek the Word with all their heart. But some souls
would not settle down in discouragement and deny that the Lord had led them. To
these the truth was opened point by point, and entwined with their most
hallowed recollections and sympathies. The searchers after truth felt that the
identification of Christ with their nature and interest was complete. Truth was
made to shine forth, beautiful in its simplicity, dignified with a power and invested
with an assurance unknown before the disappointment. We could then proclaim the
message in unity.{2SM 109.4}
But among those who had not held fast
their faith and experience, there was great confusion. Every conceivable
opinion was presented as the message of truth; but the Lord's voice was,
"Believe them not; for I have not sent them."{2SM 110.1}
We walked carefully with God. The message
was to be given to the world, and we knew that this present light was the
special gift of God. The impartation of this gift was the prerogative of God.
His disappointed ones, who were still seeking after truth, were led step by
step to communicate to the world that which had been communicated to them. The
prophetic declarations were to be repeated, and the truth essential for
salvation was to be made known. The work moved hard at first. Often the hearers
rejected the message as unintelligible, and the conflict began in decided
earnest, especially upon the Sabbath question. But the Lord manifested His
presence. At times the veil which concealed His glory from our eyes was drawn
aside. We beheld Him in the high and holy place.{2SM 110.2}
The Lord will not lead minds now to set
aside the truth that the Holy Spirit has moved upon His servants in the past to
proclaim.{2SM 110.3}
Many will honestly search the Word for
Light as those in the past have searched it; and they see light in the Word.
But they did not pass over the ground in their experience, when these messages
of warning were first proclaimed. Not having had this experience, some do not
appreciate the value of the truths that have been to us as waymarks, and that
have made us as a peculiar people what we are. They do not make a right
application of the Scriptures, and thus they frame theories that are not
correct. It is true that they quote an abundance of Scripture, and teach much
that is true; but truth is so mixed with error as to lead to wrong conclusions.
Yet because they can weave Scripture into their theories, they think that they
have a straight chain of truth. Many who did not have an experience in the rise
of the messages, accept these erroneous theories, and are led into false paths,
backward instead of forward. This is the enemy's design.{2SM 110.4}
The Threat of Misapplied Scripture
Satan is working that the history of the
Jewish nation may be repeated in the experience of those who claim to believe
present truth. The Jews had the Old Testament Scriptures, and supposed
themselves conversant with them. But they made a woeful mistake. The prophecies
that refer to the glorious second appearing of Christ in the clouds of heaven
they regarded as referring to His first coming. Because He did not come
according to their expectations, they turned away from Him. Satan knew just how
to take these men in his net, and deceive and destroy them. . . .{2SM 111.1}
The very same Satan is at work to
undermine the faith of the people of God at this time. There are persons ready
to catch up every new idea. The prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation are
misinterpreted. These persons do not consider that the truth has been set
forth at the appointed time by the very men whom God was leading to do this
special work. These men followed on step by step in the very fulfillment of
prophecy, and 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.
These messages, received and acted upon, are doing their work to prepare a
people to stand in the great day of God. If we search the Scriptures to confirm
the truth God has given His servants for the world, we shall be found
proclaiming the first, second, and third angels' messages.{2SM 111.2}
It is true that there are prophecies yet
to be fulfilled. But very erroneous work has been done again and again, and
will continue to be done by those who seek to find new light in the prophecies,
and who begin by turning away from the light that God has already given. The
messages of Revelation 14 are those by which the world is to be tested; they
are the everlasting gospel, and are to be sounded everywhere. But the Lord
does not lay upon those who have not had an experience in His work the burden
of making a new exposition of those prophecies which He has, by His Holy
Spirit, moved upon His chosen servants to explain.{2SM 111.3}
According to the light God has given me,
this is the work which you, Brother F, have been attempting to do. Your views
have found favor with some; but it is because these persons have not
discernment to see the true bearing of the arguments you present. They have had
but a limited experience in the work of God for this time, and they do not see
where your views would lead them, and you do not see yourself where they would
lead. They are ready to assent to your statements; they see nothing in them but
that which is correct. But they are misled because you have woven together much
Scripture in constructing your theory. Your arguments appear conclusive to
them.{2SM 112.1}
Not so, however, with those who have an
experimental knowledge of the truth that applies in the last period of this
earth's history. While they see that you hold some precious truth, they see
also that you have misapplied Scripture, placing it in a framework of error
where it does not belong, and making it give force to that which is not present
truth. Because some accept that which
you have written, do not become elated. It is most trying to your brethren who
have confidence in you as a Christian and who love you as such, to state to you
that the network of argument, which you have thought of so great consequence,
is not the theory of truth that God has given His people to proclaim for this
time.{2SM 112.2}
The light God has given me is that the
Scriptures you have woven together you yourself do not fully understand. If you
did, you would discern that your theories tear up the very foundation of our
faith.{2SM 112.3}
My brother, I have had many testimonies to
correct those who have started out in the same way you are now traveling. These
persons seemed sure that they were led by God, and they have come with their
different theories to ministers who were preaching the truth. I said to these
ministers, "The Lord is not in this; be not deceived, neither take the
responsibility of deceiving others." At camp meetings I have had to speak
plainly in regard to those who were thus leading away from right paths. With
pen and voice I have borne the message, "Go not ye after them."{2SM 112.4}
Dealing With a Dying Man
The hardest task I ever had to do in this
line was in dealing with one who, I knew, wanted to follow the Lord. For some
time he had thought he was obtaining new light. He was very ill, and must soon
die. And oh, how my heart hoped he would not make it necessary for me to tell
him just what he was doing. Those to whom he presented his views listened to
him eagerly, and some thought him inspired. He had a chart made, and reasoned
from the Scriptures to show that the Lord would come at a certain date, in 1894,
I think. To many his reasoning seemed to be without a flaw. They told of his
powerful exhortations in his sickroom. Most wonderful views passed before him.
But what was the source of his inspiration? It was the morphine given him to
relieve his pain.{2SM 113.1}
At our camp meeting at Lansing, Michigan,
just before I came to Australia, I had to speak plainly in regard to this new
light. I told the people that the words they had heard were not the truth of
inspiration. The wonderful light, which presented such a show of truth, was the
result of a misapplication of Scripture. The Lord's work would not close up in
1894. The word of the Lord to me was, "This is not truth, but will lead
into strange paths, and some will become confused over this representation, and
will give up the faith." . . .{2SM
113.2}
No True Message Fixes Time
No one has a true message fixing the time
when Christ is to come or not to come. Be assured that God gives no one
authority to say that Christ delays His coming five years, ten years, or twenty
years. "Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of
man cometh" (Matthew 24:44). This is our message, the very message that
the three angels flying in the midst of heaven are proclaiming. The work to be
done now is that of sounding this last message of mercy to a fallen world. A
new life is coming from heaven and taking possession of all God's people. But
divisions will come in the church. Two parties will be developed. The wheat and
tares grow up together for the harvest.{2SM 113.3}
The work will grow deeper and become more
earnest to the very close of time. And all who are laborers together with God
will contend most earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. They
will not be turned from the present message, which is already lightening the
earth with its glory. Nothing is worth contending for but the glory of God. The
only rock that will stand is the Rock of Ages. The truth as it is in Jesus is
the refuge in these days of error. . . .{2SM 114.1}
Messages Given for our Day
Prophecy has been fulfilling, line upon
line. The more firmly we stand under the banner of the third angel's message,
the more clearly shall we understand the prophecy of Daniel; for the Revelation
is the supplement of Daniel. The more fully we accept the light presented by
the Holy Spirit through the consecrated servants of God, the deeper and surer,
even as the eternal throne, will appear the truths of ancient prophecy; we
shall be assured that men of God spake as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost.
Men must themselves be under the influence of the Holy Spirit in order to
understand the Spirit's utterances through the prophets. These messages were
given, not for those that uttered the prophecies, but for us who are living
amid the scenes of their fulfillment.{2SM 114.2}
I would not feel that I could present
these things, if the Lord had not given me this work to do. There are others
besides yourself, and more than one or two, who like you think they have new
light, and are all ready to present it to the people. But it would be pleasing
to God for them to accept the light already given and walk in it, and base
their faith upon the Scriptures, which sustain the positions held by the people
of God for many years. The everlasting gospel is to be proclaimed by human
agents. We are to sound the messages of the angels which are represented as
flying in the midst of heaven, with the last warning to a fallen world. If we
are not called upon to prophesy, we are called to believe the prophecies, and
to cooperate with God in giving light to other minds. This we are trying to
do.{2SM 114.3}
You can help us, my brother, in many ways.
But I am commissioned of the Lord to say to you that you are not to be
self-centered. Take heed how you hear, how you understand, and how you
appropriate the Word of God. The Lord will bless you in drawing in even lines
with your brethren. Those whom He has sent forth to proclaim the third angel's
message have been working in unison with the heavenly intelligences. The Lord
does not lay upon you a burden to proclaim a message that will bring discord
into the ranks of believers. I repeat, He is not leading anyone by His Holy
Spirit to frame a theory that will unsettle faith in the solemn messages He has
given His people to bear to our world.{2SM 115.1}
I advise you not to regard your writings
as precious truth. It would not be advisable for you to immortalize by putting
in print that which has cost you so much anxiety. It is not the Lord's will
that this matter should be brought before His people, for it will work to
hinder the very message of truth they are to believe and practice in these last
days of peril. . ..{2SM 115.2}
Theories will be continually agitated to
divert the mind, to unsettle the faith. Those who have had the actual
experience in the unfolding of the prophecies, have been made what they are
today, Seventh-day Adventists, by these prophecies. They are to stand with their loins girt about with
truth, and with the whole armor on. Those who have not had this experience are
privileged to hold the message of truth with the same confidence. The light
that God has been pleased to give His people will not weaken their confidence
in the path in which He has led them in the past, but will strengthen them to
hold fast the faith. We must hold the beginning of our confidence firm unto
the end. {2SM 115.3}
"Here is the patience of the saints:
here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus"
(Revelation 14:12). Here we stand, under the third angel's message. "And
after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great
power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a
strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the
habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every
unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath
of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with
her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her
delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my
people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her
plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her
iniquities" (Revelation 18:1-5).{2SM 116.1}
The Message of the Other Angel
Thus, the substance of the second angel's
message is again given to the world by that other angel who lightens the earth
with his glory. These messages all blend in one, to come before the people in
the closing days of this earth's history. All the world will be tested, and all
that have been in the darkness of error in regard to the Sabbath of the fourth
commandment will understand the last message of mercy that is to be given to
men.{2SM 116.2}
Our work is to proclaim the commandments
of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. "Prepare to meet thy God"
(Amos 4:12), is the warning to be given to the world. It is a warning to us
individually. We are called upon to lay aside every weight, and the sin which
doth so easily beset us. There is a work for you, my brother, to do, to yoke
up with Christ. Make sure that your building is on the rock. Do not risk
eternity on a probability. You may not live to participate in the perilous
scenes on which we are now entering. The life of no one of us is assured for
any given time. Should you not watch every moment? Should you not closely
examine your own self, and inquire, What will eternity be to me?{2SM 116.3}
The great burden of every soul should be,
Is my heart renewed? Is my soul transformed? Are my sins pardoned through faith
in Christ? Have I been born again? Am I complying with the invitation,
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest" (Matthew 11:28)? . . . Do you count all things but loss for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus? And do you feel it your duty to
believe every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God?--Manuscript 32,
1896.{2SM 117.1}
Two Temple Cleansings--Two Calls Out of Babylon
While you hold the banner of truth firmly,
proclaiming the law of God, let every soul remember that the faith of Jesus is
connected with the commandments of God. The third angel is represented as
flying through the midst of heaven, crying with a loud voice, "Here are
they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus"
(Revelation 14:12). The first, second, and third angels' messages are all
linked together. The evidences of the abiding, ever-living truth of these grand
messages, that mean so much to us, that have awakened such intense opposition
from the religious world, cannot be extinguished. Satan is constantly
seeking to cast his hellish shadow about these messages, so that the remnant
people of God shall not clearly discern their import, their time, and place;
but they live, and are to exert their power upon our religious experience while
time shall last.{2SM 117.2}
The influence of these messages has
been deepening and widening, setting in motion the springs of action in
thousands of hearts, bringing into existence institutions of learning,
publishing houses, and health institutions; all these are the instrumentalities
of God to cooperate in the grand work represented by the first, second, and
third angels flying in the midst of heaven to warn the inhabitants of the world
that Christ is coming again with power and great glory.{2SM 117.3}
The prophet says, "I saw another
angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened
with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the
great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils"
(Revelation 18:1, 2). This is the same message that was given by the second
angel. Babylon is fallen, "because she made all nations drink of the wine
of the wrath of her fornication" (Revelation 14:8). What is that wine? --Her
false doctrines. She has given to the world a false sabbath instead of the
Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and has repeated the falsehood that Satan
first told Eve in Eden--the natural immortality of the soul. Many kindred
errors she has spread far and wide, "teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9).{2SM 118.1}
When Jesus began His public ministry, He
cleansed the Temple from its sacrilegious profanation. Among the last acts of
His ministry was the second cleansing of the Temple. So, in the last work for
the warning of the world, two distinct calls are made to the churches. The
second angel's message is, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city,
because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication"
(Revelation 14:8). And in the loud cry of the third angel's message a voice is
heard from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not
partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins
have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities"
(Revelation 18:4, 5).--The Review and Herald, Dec. 6, 1892. {2SM 118.2}
