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Christ。 Even after entering upon His earthly mission； the Saviour； wearied
with the stubbornness and ingratitude of men； might have drawn back from the
sacrifice of Calvary。 In Gethsemane the cup of woe trembled in His hand。 He
might even then have wiped the blood…sweat from His brow and have left the
guilty race to perish in their iniquity。 Had He done this； there could have
been no redemption for fallen men。 But when the Saviour yielded up His life；
and with His expiring breath cried out； 〃It is finished；〃 then the
fulfillment of the plan of redemption was assured。 The promise of salvation
made to the sinful pair in Eden was ratified。 The kingdom of grace； which
had before existed by the promise of God； was then established。
Thus the death of Christthe very event which the disciples had looked upon
as the final destruction of their hope was that which made it forever
sure。 While it had brought them a cruel disappointment； it was the climax of
proof that their belief had been correct。 The event that had filled them
with mourning and despair was that which opened the door of hope to every
child of Adam； and in which centered the future life and eternal happiness
of all God's faithful ones in all the ages。
Purposes of infinite mercy were reaching their fulfillment； even though the
disappointment of the disciples。 While their hearts had been won by the
divine grace and power of His teaching； who 〃spake as never man spake；〃 yet
intermingled with the pure gold of their love for Jesus； was the base alloy
of worldly pride and selfish ambitions。 Even in the Passover chamber； at
that solemn hour when their Master was already entering the shadow of
Gethsemane； there was 〃a strife among them； which of them should be
accounted the greatest。〃 Luke 22：24。 Their vision was filled with the
throne； the crown； and the glory； while just before them lay the shame and
agony of the garden； the judgment hall； the cross of Calvary。 It was their
pride of heart； their thirst for worldly
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glory； that had led them to cling so tenaciously to the false teaching of
their time； and to pass unheeded the Saviour's words showing the true nature
of His kingdom； and pointing forward to His agony and death。 And these error
resulted in the trialsharp but needfulwhich was permitted for their
correction。 Though the disciples had mistaken the meaning of their message；
and had failed to realize their expectations； yet they had preached the
warning given them of God； and the Lord would reward their faith and honor
their obedience。 To them was to be entrusted the work of heralding to all
nations the glorious gospel of their risen Lord。 It was to prepare them for
this work that the experience which seemed to them so bitter had been
permitted。
After His resurrection Jesus appeared to His disciples on the way to Emmaus；
and； 〃beginning at Moses and all the prophets； He expounded unto them in all
the Scriptures the things concerning Himself。〃 Luke 24：27。 The hearts of the
disciples were stirred。 Faith was kindled。 They were 〃begotten again into a
lively hope〃 even before Jesus revealed Himself to them。 It was His purpose
to enlighten their understanding and to fasten their faith upon the 〃sure
word of prophecy。〃 He wished the truth to take firm root in their minds； not
merely because it was supported by His personal testimony； but because of
the unquestionable evidence presented by the symbols and shadows of the
typical law； and by the prophecies of the Old Testament。 It was needful for
the followers of Christ to have an intelligent faith； not only in their own
behalf； but that they might carry the knowledge of Christ to the world。 And
as the very first step in imparting this knowledge； Jesus directed the
disciples to 〃Moses and all the prophets。〃 Such was the testimony given by
the risen Saviour to the value and importance of the Old Testament
Scriptures。
What a change was wrought in the hearts of the disciples as they looked once
more on the loved countenance of their
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Master！ Luke 24：32。 In a more complete and perfect sense than ever before
they had 〃found Him； of whom Moses in the law； and the prophets； did write。〃
The uncertainty； the anguish； the despair； gave place to perfect assurance；
to unclouded faith。 What marvel that after His ascension they 〃were
continually in the temple； praising and blessing God。〃 The people； knowing
only of the Saviour's ignominious death； looked to see in their faces the
expression of sorrow； confusion； and defeat； but they saw there gladness and
triumph。 What a preparation these disciples had received for the work before
them！ They had passed through the deepest trial which it was possible for
them to experience； and had seen how； when to human vision all was lost； the
word of God had been triumphantly accomplished。 Henceforward what could
daunt their faith or chill the ardor of their love？ In the keenest sorrow
they had 〃strong consolation；〃 a hope which was as 〃an anchor of the soul；
both sure and steadfast。〃 Hebrews 6：18； 19。 They had been witness to the
wisdom and power of God； and they were 〃persuaded； that neither death； nor
life； nor angels； nor principalities； nor powers； nor things present； nor
things to come； nor height； nor depth； nor any other creature；〃 would be
able to separate them from 〃the love of God； which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord。〃 〃In all these things；〃 they said； 〃we are more than conquerors
through Him that loved us。〃 Romans 8：38； 39； 37。 〃The word of the Lord
endureth forever。〃 1 Peter 1：25。 And 〃who is he that condemneth？ It is
Christ that died； yea rather； that is risen again； who is even at the right
hand of God； who also maketh intercession for us。〃 Romans 8：34。
Saith the Lord： 〃My people shall never be ashamed。〃 Joel 2：26。 〃Weeping may
endure for a night； but joy cometh in the morning。〃 Psalm 30：5。 When on His
resurrection day these disciples met the Saviour； and their hearts burned
within them as they listened to His words； when they looked upon the head
and hands and feet that had been bruised for them； when； before His
ascension； Jesus led them out as
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far as Bethany； and lifting up His hands in blessing； bade them； 〃Go ye into
all the world； and preach the gospel；〃 adding； 〃Lo； I am with you alway〃
（Mark 16：15； Matthew 28：20）； when on the Day of Pentecost the promised
Comforter descended and the power from on high was given and the souls of
the believers thrilled with the conscious presence of their ascended
Lordthen； even though； like His； their pathway led through sacrifice and
martyrdom； would they have exchanged the ministry of the gospel of His
grace； with the 〃crown of righteousness〃 to be received at His coming； for
the glory of an earthly throne； which had been the hope of their earlier
discipleship？ He who is 〃able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we
ask or think；〃 had granted them； with the fellowship of His sufferings； the
communion of His joythe joy of 〃bringing many sons unto glory；〃 joy
unspeakable； an 〃eternal weight of glory；〃 to which； says Paul； 〃our light
affliction； which is but for a moment；〃 is 〃not worthy to be compared。〃
The experience of the disciples who preached the 〃gospel of the kingdom〃 at
the first advent of Christ； had its counterpart in the experience of those
who proclaimed the message of His second advent。 As the disciples went out
preaching； 〃The time is fulfilled； the kingdom of God is at hand；〃 so Miller
and his associates proclaimed that the longest and last prophetic period
brought to view in the Bible was about to expire； that the judgment was at
hand； and the everlasting kingdom was to be ushered in。 The preaching of the
disciples in regard to time was based on the seventy weeks of Daniel 9。 The
message given by Miller and his associates announced the termination of the
2300 days of Daniel 8：14； of which the seventy weeks form a part。 The
preaching of each was based upon the fulfillment of a different portion of
the same great prophetic period。
Like the first disciples； William Miller and his associates did not；
themselves； fully comprehend the import of the message which they bore。
Errors that had been long established
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in the church prevented them from arriving at a correct interpretation of an
important point in the prophecy。 Therefore； though they proclaimed the
message which God had committed to them to be given to the world； yet
through a misapprehension of its meaning they suffered disappointment。
In explaining Daniel 8：14； 〃Unto two thousand and three hundred days； then
shall the sanctuary be cleansed；〃 Miller； as has been stated； adopted the
generally received view that the earth is the sanctuary； and he believed
that the cleansing of the sanctuary represented the purification of the
earth by fire at the coming of the Lord。 When； therefore； he found that the
close of the 2300 days was definitely foretold； he concluded that this
revealed the time of the second advent。 His error resulted from accepting
the popular view as to what constitute