按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
370
explained the reasons of their faith。 Sometimes the instrument was feeble；
but the Spirit of God gave power to His truth。 The presence of holy angels
was felt in these assemblies； and many were daily added to the believers。 As
the evidences of Christ's soon coming were repeated； vast crowds listened in
breathless silence to the solemn words。 Heaven and earth seemed to approach
each other。 The power of God was felt upon old and young and middle…aged。
Men sought their homes with praises upon their lips； and the glad sound rang
out upon the still night air。 None who attended those meetings can ever
forget those scenes of deepest interest。
The proclamation of a definite time for Christ's coming called forth great
opposition from many of all classes； from the minister in the pulpit down to
the most reckless； Heaven…daring sinner。 The words of prophecy were
fulfilled： 〃There shall come in the last days scoffers； walking after their
own lusts； and saying； Where is the promise of His coming？ for since the
fathers fell asleep； all things continue as they were from the beginning of
the creation。〃 2 Peter 3：3； 4。 Many who professed to love the Saviour；
declared that they had no opposition to the doctrine of the second advent；
they merely objected to the definite time。 But God's all…seeing eye read
their hearts。 They did not wish to hear of Christ's coming to judge the
world in righteousness。 They had been unfaithful servants； their works would
not bear the inspection of the heart…searching God； and they feared to meet
their Lord。 Like the Jews at the time of Christ's first advent they were not
prepared to welcome Jesus。 They not only refused to listen to the plain
arguments from the Bible； but ridiculed those who were looking for the Lord。
Satan and his angels exulted； and flung the taunt in the face of Christ and
holy angels that His professed people had so little love for Him that they
did not desire His appearing。
〃No man knoweth the day nor the hour〃 was the argument most often brought
forward by rejecters of the advent faith。 The scripture is： 〃Of that day and
hour knoweth no
371
man； no not the angels of heaven； but My Father only。〃 Matthew 24：36。 A
clear and harmonious explanation of this text was given by those who were
looking for the Lord； and the wrong use made of it by their opponents was
clearly shown。 The words were spoken by Christ in that memorable
conversation with His disciples upon Olivet after He had for the last time
departed from the temple。 The disciples had asked the question： 〃What shall
be the sign of Thy coming； and of the end of the world？〃 Jesus gave them
signs； and said： 〃When ye shall see all these things； know that it is near；
even at the doors。〃 Verses 3； 33。 One saying of the Saviour must not be made
to destroy another。 Though no man knoweth the day nor the hour of His
coming； we are instructed and required to know when it is near。 We are
further taught that to disregard His warning； and refuse or neglect to know
when His advent is near； will be as fatal for us as it was for those who
lived in the days of Noah not to know when the flood was coming。 And the
parable in the same chapter； contrasting the faithful and the unfaithful
servant； and giving the doom of him who said in his heart； 〃My Lord delayeth
His coming；〃 shows in what light Christ will regard and reward those whom He
finds watching； and teaching His coming； and those denying it。 〃Watch
therefore；〃 He says。 〃Blessed is that servant； whom his Lord when He cometh
shall find so doing。〃 Verses 42； 46。 〃If therefore thou shalt not watch； I
will come on thee as a thief； and thou shalt not know what hour I will come
upon thee。〃 Revelation 3：3。
Paul speaks of a class to whom the Lord's appearing will come unawares。 〃The
day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night。 For when they shall say；
Peace and safety； then sudden destruction cometh upon them； 。 。 。 and they
shall not escape。〃 But he adds； to those who have given heed to the
Saviour's warning： 〃Ye； brethren； are not in darkness； that that day should
overtake you as a thief。 Ye are all the children of light； and the children
of the day： we are not of the night； nor of darkness。〃 1 Thessalonians
5：2…5。
372
Thus it was shown that Scripture gives no warrant for men to remain in
ignorance concerning the nearness of Christ's coming。 But those who desired
only an excuse to reject the truth closed their ears to this explanation；
and the words 〃No man knoweth the day nor the hour〃 continued to be echoed
by the bold scoffer and even by the professed minister of Christ。 As the
people were roused； and began to inquire the way of salvation； religious
teachers stepped in between them and the truth； seeking to quiet their fears
by falsely interpreting the word of God。 Unfaithful watchmen united in the
work of the great deceiver； crying； Peace； peace； when God had not spoken
peace。 Like the Pharisees in Christ's day； many refused to enter the kingdom
of heaven themselves； and those who were entering in they hindered。 The
blood of these souls will be required at their hand。
The most humble and devoted in the churches were usually the first to
receive the message。 Those who studied the Bible for themselves could not
but see the unscriptural character of the popular views of prophecy； and
wherever the people were not controlled by the influence of the clergy；
wherever they would search the word of God for themselves； the advent
doctrine needed only to be compared with the Scriptures to establish its
divine authority。
Many were persecuted by their unbelieving brethren。 In order to retain their
position in the church； some consented to be silent in regard to their hope；
but others felt that loyalty to God forbade them thus to hide the truths
which He had committed to their trust。 Not a few were cut off from the
fellowship of the church for no other reason than expressing their belief in
the coming of Christ。 Very precious to those who bore this trial of their
faith were the words of the prophet： 〃Your brethren that hated you； that
cast you out for My name's sake； said； Let the Lord be glorified： but He
shall appear to your joy； and they shall be ashamed。〃 Isaiah 66：5。
Angels of God were watching with the deepest interest
373
the result of the warning。 When there was a general rejection of the message
by the churches； angels turned away in sadness。 But there were many who had
not yet been tested in regard to the advent truth。 Many were misled by
husbands； wives； parents； or children； and were made to believe it a sin
even to listen to such heresies as were taught by the Adventists。 Angels
were bidden to keep faithful watch over these souls； for another light was
yet to shine upon them from the throne of God。
With unspeakable desire those who had received the message watched for the
coming of their Saviour。 The time when they expected to meet Him was at
hand。 They approached this hour with a calm solemnity。 They rested in sweet
communion with God； and earnest of the peace that was to be theirs in the
bright hereafter。 None who experienced this hope and trust can forget those
precious hours of waiting。 For some weeks preceding the time； worldly
business was for the most part laid aside。 The sincere believers carefully
examined every thought and emotion of their hearts as if upon their
deathbeds and in a few hours to close their eyes upon earthly scenes。 There
was no making of 〃ascension robes〃 （see Appendix）； but all felt the need of
internal evidence that they were prepared to meet the Saviour； their white
robes were purity of soulcharacters cleansed from sin by the atoning blood
of Christ。 Would that there were still with the professed people of God the
same spirit of heart searching； the same earnest； determined faith。 Had they
continued thus to humble themselves before the Lord and press their
petitions at the mercy seat they would be in possession of a far richer
experience than they now have。 There is too little prayer； too little real
conviction of sin； and the lack of living faith leaves many destitute of the
grace so richly provided by our Redeemer。
God designed to prove His people。 His hand covered a mistake in the
reckoning of the prophetic periods。 Adventists
374
did not discover the error； nor was it discovered by the most learned of
their opponents。 The latter said： 〃Your reckoning of the prophetic periods
is correct。 Some great event is about to take place； but it is not what Mr。
Miller predicts； it is the conversion of the world； and not the second
advent of Christ。〃 （See Appendix。）
The time of expectation passed； and Christ did not appear for the
deliverance of His people。 Those who with sincere faith and love had looked
for their Saviour； experienced a bitter disappointment。 Yet the purposes of
God were being accomplished； He was testing the hearts of those professed to
be waiting for His appearing。 There were among them many who had been
actuated by no higher motive than fear。 Their profession of f