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22 - Prophecies Fulfilled - The Great Controversy · Sacred Texts Archive

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Chapter twenty two prophecies fulfilled. When the time passed at which the Lord's coming
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was first expected in the spring of eighteen forty four, those who had looked
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in faith for his appearing were for a season involved in doubt and uncertainty.
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While the world regarded them as having been utterly defeated and proved to have been
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cherishing a delusion, their source of consolation was still the Word of God.
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Many continued to search the scriptures, examining anew the evidences of their faith and
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carefully studying the prophecies to obtain further light the Bible testimony in support of their
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position seemed clear and conclusive. Signs which could not be mistaken pointed to the
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coming of Christ as near. The special blessing of the Lord, both in
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the conversion of sinners and the revival of spiritual life among Christians had testified that
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the message was of heaven, and though the believers could not explain their disappointment,
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they felt assured that God had led them in their past experience. Interwoven
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with prophecies which they had regarded as applying to the time of the Second Advent,
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was instruction specially adapted to their state of uncertainty in suspense, and encouraging
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them to wait patiently in the faith that what was now dark to their understanding
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would in due time be made plain. Among these prophecies was that of Habacchic
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two one to four. I will stand upon my watch and set me upon
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the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me,
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and what I shall answer when I am reproved. And the Lord answered me
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and said, write the vision and make it plain upon tables, that he
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may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time.
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But at the end it shall speak, and not lie. Though it
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terry, wait for it, because it will surely come. It will not
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terry. Behold, his soul, which is lifted up, is not upright
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in him. But the just shall live by his faith. As early as
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a teen forty two, the direction given in this prophecy to write the vision
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and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it had
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suggested to Charles Fitch the preparation of a prophetic chart to illustrate the visions of
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Daniel on the revelation. The publication of this chart was regarded as a fulfillment
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of the command given by habakk. No One, however, then noticed that
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an apparent delay in the accomplishment of the vision a terrying time, is presented
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in the same prophecy. After the disappointment, this scripture appeared very significant.
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The vision is yet for an appointed time. But at the end it shall
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speak and not lie. Though at terry wait for it, because it will
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surely come. It will not terry that just shall live by his faith.
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A portion of Ezekiel's prophecy also was a source of strength and comfort to believers.
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The word of the Lord came unto me, saying, son of Man,
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what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying,
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the days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? Tell them? Therefore,
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thus saith the Lord God. The days are at hand, and the
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effect of every vision I will speak, and the word that I shall speak
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shall come to pass. It shall be no more prolonged. They of the
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House of Israel say, the vision that he seeth is for many days to
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come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off. Therefore say
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unto them, thus saith the Lord God, there shall none of my words
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be prolonged any more, But the word which I have spoken shall be done.
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The waiting ones rejoiced, believing that he who knows the end from the
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beginning, had looked down through the ages, and foreseeing their disappointment, had
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given them words of courage and hope. Had it not been for such portions
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of scripture admonishing them to wait with patience and to hold fast their confidence in
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God's word, their faith would have failed in that trying hour. The Parable
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of the Ten Virgins of Matthew twenty five also ill straits the experience of the
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Adventist people. In Matthew twenty four, in answer to the question of his
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disciples concerning the sign of his coming and of the end of the world,
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Christ had pointed out some of the most important events in the history of the
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world and of the Church from his verse to his Second Advent, namely the
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destruction of Jerusalem, the great tribulation of the Church under the pagan and papal
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persecutions, the darkening of the sun and moon, and the falling of the
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stars. After this, he spoke of his coming in his kingdom and related
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the parable describing the two classes of servants who look for his appearing. Chapter
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twenty five opens with the words, then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened
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unto ten virgins? Here is brought to view the church living in the last
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days, the same that is pointed out in the close of chapter twenty four.
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In this parable, their experience is illustrated by the incidents of an eastern
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marriage. Then shall the Kingdom of heaven be liked and unto ten virgins,
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which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of
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them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their
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lamps and took no oil with them. But the wives took oil in their
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vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried. They all slumbered and slept,
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And at midnight there was a cry maid, behold the bridegroom cometh,
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go ye out to meet him. The coming of Christ, as announced by
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the first Angel's message, was understood to be represented by the coming of the
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bridegroom. The widespread reformation, under the proclamation of his soon coming, answered
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to the going forth of the virgins. In this parable, as in that
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of Matthew twenty four, two classes are represented. All had taken their lamps
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the Bible, and by its light had gone forth to meet the bridegroom.
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But while they that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
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the wives took oil in their vessels with their lamps. The latter class
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had received the grace of God, the regenerating and enlightening power of the Holy
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Spirit, which renders his word a lamp to the feet and a light to
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the path. In the fear of God, they had studied the scriptures to
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learn the truth, and had earnestly sought for purity of heart and life.
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These had a personal experience, a faith in God and in his word which
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could not be overthrown by disappointment and delay. Others took their lamps and took
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no oil with them. They had moved from impulse. Their fears had been
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excited by the solemn message. But they had depended upon the faith of their
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brethren, satisfied with the flickering light of good emotions, without a thorough understanding
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of the truth or a genuine work of grace in the heart, these had
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gone forth to meet the Lord, full of hope and the prospect of immediate
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reward, but they were not prepared for delay and disappointment. When trials came,
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their faith failed and their lights burned dim. While the bridegroom tarried,
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they all slumbered and slept. By the tarrying of the bridegroom as represented the
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passing of the time when the Lord was expected, the disappointment and the seeming
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delay in this time of uncertainty. The interest of the superficial and half hearted
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soon began to waver and their efforts to relax. But those whose faith was
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based on a personal knowledge of the Bible had a rock beneath their feet which
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the waves of disappointment could not wash away. They all slumbered and slept,
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one class in unconcern and abandonment of their faith, the other class patiently waiting
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till clearer light should be given. Yet in the night of trial, the
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latter seemed to lose to some extent their zeal and devotion. The half hearted
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and superficial could no longer lean upon the faith of their brethren. Each must
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stand or fall for himself. About this time fanaticism began to appear. Some
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who had professed to be zealous believers in the message rejected the word of God
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as the one infallible guide, and claiming to be led by the spirit,
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gave themselves up to the control of their own feelings, impressions, and imaginations.
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There were some who manifested a blind and bigoted zeal, denouncing all who
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would not sanction their course. Their fanatical ideas and exercises met with no sympathy
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from the great body of Adventists. Yet they served to bring reproach upon the
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cause of truth. Satan was seeking by this means to oppose and destroy the
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work of God. The people had been greatly stirred by the advent movement.
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Thousands of sinners had been converted, and faithful men were giving themselves to the
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work of proclaiming the truth. Even in the tarrying time, the prince of
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Evil was losing his subjects, and in order to bring reproach upon the cause
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of God, he sought to deceive some who professed the faith and to drive
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them to extremes. Then his agents stood ready to seize upon every error,
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every failure, every unbecoming act, and hold it up before the people in
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the most exaggerated light, to render Adventists and their faith odious. Thus the
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greater the number whom he could crowd in to make a profession of faith in
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the Second Advent, while his power controlled their hearts. The greater advantage would
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he gain by calling attention to them as representatives of the whole body of believers.
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Satan is the accuser of the brethren, and it is his spirit that
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inspires men to watch for the errors and defects of the Lord's people, and
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to hold them up to notice, while their good deeds are passed by without
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a mention. He is always active when God is at work for the salvation
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of souls. When the sons of God come to present themselves before the Lord,
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Satan comes also among them. In every revival, he is ready to
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bring in those who are unsanctified in heart and unbalanced in mind. When these
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have accepted some points of truth and gained a place with believers, he works
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through them to introduce theories that will deceive the unware. No man is proved
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to be a true Christian because he is found in company with the children of
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God, even in the house of worship and around the table of the Lord.
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Satan is frequently there upon the most solemn occasions, in the form of
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those whom he can use as his agents. The prince of Evil contests every
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inch of ground over which God's people advance in their journey toward the heavenly City.
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In all the history of the Church, no reformation has been carried forward
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without encountering serious obstacles. Thus it was in Paul's day, wherever the apostle
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raised up a church, there were some who profess to receive the faith,
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but who brought in heresies that, if received, would eventually crowd out the
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love of the truth. Luther also suffered great perplexity and distress from the course
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of fanatical persons who claimed that God had spoken directly through them, and who
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therefore set their own ideas and opinions above the testimony of the scriptures. Many
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who were lacking in faith and experience, but who had considerable self sufficiency,
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and who loved to hear and tell some new thing, were beguiled by the
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pretensions of the new teachers, and they joined the agents of Satan in their
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work of tearing down what God had moved Luther to build up. And the
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Wesleys and others who blessed the world by their influence and their faith, encountered
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at every step the wiles of Satan in pushing over zealous, unbalanced, and
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unsanctified ones into fanaticism of every grade. William Miller had no sympathy with those
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influences that led to fanaticism. He declared with Luther that every spirit should be
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tested by the word of God. The devil, said Miller, has great
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power over the minds of some at the present day. And how shall we
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know what manner of spirit they are? Of the Bible answers by their fruits,
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he shall know them. There are many spirits gone out into the world,
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and we are commanded to try the spirits. The spirit that does not
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cause us to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world is not
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the spirit of Christ. I am more and more convinced that Satan has much
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to do in these wild movements. Many among us who pretend to be wholly
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sanctified, are following the traditions of men, and apparently are as ignorant of
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truth as others who make no such pretensions. The spirit of error will lead
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us from the truth, and the spirit of God will lead us into truth.
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But say you, a man may be in an error and think he
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has the truth? What then we answer? The Spirit and word agree.
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If a man judges himself by the Word of God and finds a perfect harmony
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through the whole word, then he must believe he has the truth. But
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if he finds the spirit by which he is led does not harmonize with the
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whole tenor of God's law or book, then let him walk carefully lest he
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be caught in the snare of the devil. I have often obtained more evidence
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of inward piety from a kindling eye, a wet cheek, and a choked
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terance than from all the noise in Christendom. In the days of the Reformation,
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its enemies charged all the evils of fanaticism upon the very ones who were
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laboring most earnestly against it. A similar course was pursued by the opposers of
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the movement. And, not content with misrepresenting and exaggerating the errors of extremists
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and fanatics, they circulated unfavorable reports that had not the slightest semblance of truth.
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These persons were actuated by prejudice and hatred. Their peace was disturbed by
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the proclamation of Christ at the door. They feared it might be true yet
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hoped it was not, and this was the secret of their warfare against Adventists
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and their faith. The fact that a few fanatics worked their way into the
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ranks of Adventists is no more a reason to decide that the movement was not
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of God than was the presence of fanatics and deceivers in the church in Paul's
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or Luther's day a sufficient excuse for condemning their work. Let the people of
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God arouse out of sleep and begin in earnest the work of repentance and reformation.
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Let them search the scriptures to learn the truth as it is in Jesus.
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Let them make an entire consecration to God, and evidence will not be
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wanting that Satan is still active and vigilant with all possible deception. He will
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manifest his power, calling to his aid all the fallen angels of his realm.
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It was not the proclamation of the Second Advent that created fanaticism and division.
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These appeared in the summer of eighteen forty four, when Adventists were in
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a state of doubt and perplexity concerning their real position. The preaching of the
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First Angel's Message and of the Midnight Cry tended directly to repress fanaticism and dissension.
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Those who participated in these solemn movements were in harmony. Their hearts were
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filled with love for one another and for Jesus, whom they expected soon to
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see. The one faith, the one blessed Hope, lifted the above the
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control of any human influence, and proved a shield against the assaults of Satan.
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While the bridegroom terried, they all slumbered and slept, And at midnight
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there was a cry made, Behold the bridegroom cometh, Go ye out to
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meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. In the
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summer of eighteen forty four, midway between the time when it had been first
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thought that the twenty three hundred days would end, and the autumn of the
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same year, to which it was afterward found that they extended the message was
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proclaimed in the very words of scripture, Behold the bridegroom cometh. That which
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led to this movement was the discovery that the decree of our Dexerxes for the
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restoration of Jerusalem, which formed the starting point for the period of the twenty
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three hundred days, went into effect in the autumn of the year b c.
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Four fifty seven, and not at the beginning of the year as had
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been formerly believed, reckoning from the autumn of four fifty seven. The twenty
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three hundred years terminate in the Afeto of eighteen forty four. Arguments drawn from
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the Old Testament types also pointed to the autumn as the time when the event
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represented by the cleansing of the sanctuary must take place. This was made very
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clear as attention was given to the manner in which the types relating to the
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first Advent of Christ had been fulfilled. The slaying of the passover Lamb was
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a shadow of the death of Christ, says Paul. Christ our passover is
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sacrificed for us. The sheaf of first fruits, which at the time of
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the Passover was waved before the Lord, was typical of the resurrection of Christ,
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Paul says, in speaking of the resurrection of the Lord and of all
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his people Christ. The first fruits afterward, they that are Christ's at his
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coming, like the wave sheaf which was the first ripe grain gathered before the
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harvest Christ, as the first fruits of that immortal harvest of redeemed ones that
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at the future resurrection shall be gathered into the garner of God. These types
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were fulfilled not only as to the event, but as to the time.
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On the fourteenth day of the first Jewish month, the very day and month
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on which for fifteen long centuries the Passover Lamb had been slain, Christ,
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having eaten the Passover with his disciples, instituted that feast, which was to
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commemorate his own death as the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of
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the world. That same night he was taken by wicked hands to be crucified
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and slain, and as the anti type of the wave sheaf our Lord was
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raised from the dead on the third day, the first fruits of them that
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slept a sample of all the resurrected, just whose vile body shall be changed
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and fashioned like unto his glorious body. In like manner, the types which
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relate to the Second Advent must be fulfilled at the time pointed out in the
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symbolic service. Under the mosaic system, the cleansing of the Sanctuary, or
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the Great Day of Atonement, occurred on the tenth day of the seventh Jewish
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Month, when the high priest, having made an Atonement for all Israel,
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and thus removed their sins from the sanctuary, came forth and blessed the people.
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So it was believed that Christ, our Great High Priest, would appear
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to purify the earth by the destruction of sin and sinners, and to bless
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his waiting people with immortality. The tenth day of the seventh month, the
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Great Day of Atonement, the time of the cleansing of the Sanctuary, which
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in the year eighteen forty four fell upon the twenty second of October, was
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regarded as the time of the Lord's coming. This was in harmony with the
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proofs already presented that the twenty three hundred days would terminate in the autumn,
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and the conclusion seemed irresistible. In the parable of Matthew twenty five, the
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time of waiting in slumber is followed by the coming of the bridegroom. This
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was in accordance with the arguments just presented, both from prophecy and from the
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types. They carried strong conviction of their truthfulness, and the midnight cry was
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heralded by thousands of believers. Like a tidal wave of the movement swept over
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the land from city to city, from village to village, and into remote
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country places. It went until the waiting people of God were fully aroused.
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Fanaticism disappeared before this proclamation, like early frost before the rising sun. Believers
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saw their doubt and perplexity removed, and hope and courage animated their hearts.
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The work was free from those extremes which are ever manifested when there is human
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excitement, without the controlling influence of the word and spirit of God. It
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was similar in character to those seasons of humiliation and returning unto the Lord,
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which among ancient Israel followed messages of reproof from his servants. It bore the
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characteristics that mark the work of God in every age. There was little ecstatic
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joy, but rather deep searching of heart, confession of sin, and forsaking
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of the world a preparation to meet the Lord was the burden of agonizing spirits.
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There was persevering prayer and unreserved consecration to God, said Miller in describing
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that work. There is no great expression of joy, that is, as
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it were suppressed for a future occasion when all heaven and earth will rejoice together
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with joy unspeakable and full of glory. There is no shouting, That too
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is reserved for the shout from Heaven. The singers are silent. They are
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waiting to join the angelic hosts, the choir from Heaven. There is no
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clashing of sentiments. All are of one heart and of one mind. Another
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who participated in the movement testified it produced everywhere the most deep searching of heart
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and humiliation of soul before the God of High Heaven. It caused a weaning
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of affections from the things of this world, a healing of controversies and animosities,
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a confession of wrongs, a breaking down before God and penitent broken hearted
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supplications to him, pardon and acceptance. It caused self abasement and prostration of
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soul such as we never before witnessed, As God by Joel commanded when the
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great day of God should be at hand. It produced a rending of hearts
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and not of garments, and a turning unto the Lord, with fasting and
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weeping and mourning. As God said by Zechariah, a spirit of grace and
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supplication was poured out upon his children. They looked to him whom they had
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pierced. There was a great mourning in the land and those who were looking
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for the Lord afflicted their souls before him. Of all the great religious movements
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since the days of the Apostles, none have been more free from human imperfection
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and the wiles of Satan than was that of the Autumn of eighteen forty four.
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Even now, after the lapse of many years, all who shared in
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that movement, and who have stood firm upon the platform of truth, still
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feel the holy influence of that blessed work, and bear witness that it was
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of God. At the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him.
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The waiting ones arose and trimmed their lamps. They studied the word of God
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with an intensity of interest. Before unknown angels were sent from heaven to arouse
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those who had become discouraged and prepare them to receive the message. The work
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did not stand in the wisdom and learning of men, but in the power
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of God. It was not the most talented, but the most humble and
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devoted who were the first to hear and obey the call. Farmers left their
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crops standing in the fields. Mechanics laid down their tools, and, with
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tears and rejoicing, went out to give the warning those who had formerly led
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in the cause were among the last to join in this movement. The churches
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in general closed their doors against this message, and a large company of those
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who received it withdrew from their connection in the providence of God. This proclamation
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united with the Second Angel's message and gave power to that work. The message
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Hold the Bridegroom Cometh was not so much a matter of argument, though the
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scripture proof was clear and conclusive. There went with it an impelling power that
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moved the soul. There was no doubt, no questioning. Upon the occasion
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of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the people who were assembled from all parts
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of the land to keep the feast flocked to the Mount of Olives, And
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as they joined the throng that were escorting Jesus, they caught the inspiration of
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the hour and helped to swell the shout, Blessed is he that cometh in
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the name of the Lord. In like manner did unbelievers who flocked to the
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Adventist meetings, some from curiosity, some merely to ridicule, feel the convincing
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power attending the message Behold the Bridegroom Cometh. At that time there was faith
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that brought answers to prayer, faith that had respect to the recompensive reward.
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Like showers of rain upon the thirsty earth, the spirit of grace descended upon
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the earnest seekers. Those who expected soon to stand face to face with their
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Redeemer felt a solemn joy that was unutterable. The softening, subduing power of
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the Holy Spirit melted the heart as his blessing was bestowed in rich measure upon
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the faithful, believing ones. Carefully and solemnly. Those who received the message
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came up to the time when they hoped to meet their Lord every morning.
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They felt that it was their first duty to secure the evidence of their acceptance
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with God. Their hearts were closely united, and they prayed much with and
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for one another. They often met together in secluded places to commune with God,
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and the voice of intercession ascended to Heaven from the fields and groves.
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The assurance of the Saviour's approval was more necessary to them than their daily food,
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and if a cloud darkened their minds, they did not rest until it
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was swept away. As they felt the witness of pardoning grace. They longed
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to behold Him whom their souls loved, but again they were destined to disappointment.
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The time of expectation passed and their savior did not appear. With unwavering
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confidence, they had looked forward to his coming, and now they felt as
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did Mary, when coming to the Saviour's tomb and finding it empty, she
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exclaimed with weeping, they have taken away my Lord, and I know not
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where they have laid him. A feeling of awe, a fear that the
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message might be true, had for a time served as a restraint upon the
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unbelieving world. After the passing of the time, this did not at once
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disappear. At first, they dared not triumph over the disappointed ones. But
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as no tokens of God's wrath were seen, they recovered from their fears and
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resumed their reproach and ridicule. A large class who had professed to believe in
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the Lord's soon coming renounced their faith. Some who had been very confident were
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so deeply wounded in their pride that they felt like fleeing from the world.
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Like Jonah, they complained of God and chose death rather than life. Those
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who had based their faith upon the opinions of others and not upon the word
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of God, were now as ready again to change their views. The scoffers
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won the week, and cowardly to their ranks, and all these united in
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declaring that there could be no more fears or expectations. Now the time had
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passed, the Lord had not come, and the world might remain the same
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for thousands of years. The earnest sincere believers had given up all for Christ
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and had shared his presence as never before. They had, as they believed,
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given their last warning to the world, and expecting soon to be received
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into the society of their divine Master and the heavenly angels, they had to
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a great extent withdrawn from the society of those who did not receive the message.
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With intense desire, they had prayed, come Lord Jesus, and come
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quickly, But he had not come. And now to take up again the
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heavy burden of life's cares and perplexities, and to endure the taunts and sneers
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of a scoffing world was a terrible trial of faith and patience. Yet this
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disappointment was not so great as was that experienced by the disciples at the time
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of Christ's first Advent, when Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem. His followers believed
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that he was about to ascend the throne of David and deliver Israel from her
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oppressors. With high hopes and joyful anticipations, they vied with one another in
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showing honor to their king. Many spread their outer garments as a carpet in
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his path, or strode before him the leafy branches of the palm. In
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their enthusiastic joy, they united in the glad a claim Hosanna to the son
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of David. When the Pharisees, disturbed and angered by the southburst of rejoicing,
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wished Jesus to rebuke his disciples, he replied, if these should hold
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their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. Prophecy must be fulfilled.
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The disciples were accomplishing the per of God, yet they were doomed to a
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bitter disappointment. But a few days had passed ere they witnessed the Saviour's agonizing
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death and laid him in the tomb. Their expectations had not been realized in
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a single particular, and their hopes died with Jesus. Not till their lord
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had come forth triumphant from the grave, could they perceive that all had been
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foretold by prophecy, and that Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from
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the dead. Five hundred years before, the Lord had declared by the prophet
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Zechariah, rejoice greatly, O, daughter of Zion, Shout, O,
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daughter of Jerusalem. Behold thy King cometh unto thee. He is just and
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having salvation lowly and riding upon an ass and upon a cult the fall of
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an ass Had the disciples realized that Christ was going to judgment and to death,
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they could not have fulfilled this prophecy. In like manner, Miller and
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his associates fulfilled prophecy and gave a message which Inspiration had foretold should be given
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to the world, but which they could not have given had they fully understood
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the prophecies, pointing out their disappointment and presenting another message to be preached to
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all nations before the Lord should come. The First and Second Angel's messages were
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given at the right time and accomplished the work which God designed to accomplish.
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By them, the world had been looking on, expecting that if the time
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passed and Christ did not appear, the whole system of adventism would be given
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up. But while many, under strong temptation yielded their faith, there were
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some who stood firm. The fruits of the Advent movement, the spirit of
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humility and heart searching, of renouncing of the world and reformation of life,
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which had attended the work, testified that it was of God. They dared
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not deny that the power of the Holy Spirit had witnessed to the preaching of
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the Second Advent, and they could detect no error in their reckoning of the
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prophetic periods. The ablest of their opponents had not succeeded in overthrowing their system
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of prophetic interpretation. They could not consent without Bible evidence to renounce positions which
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had been reached through earnest, prayerful study of the scriptures by minds enlightened by
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the Spirit of God and hearts burning with its living power, positions which had
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withstood the most searching criticisms and the most bitter opposition of popular religious teachers and
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worldly wise men, and which had stood firm against the combined forces of learning
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and eloquence, and the taunts and revilings alike of the honorable and the base
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true. There had been a failure as to the expected event, but even
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this could not shake their faith in the word of God. When Jonah proclaimed
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in the streets of Nineve that within forty days the city would be overthrown,
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the Lord accepted the humiliation of the Ninavites and extended their period of probation.
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Yet the message of Jonah was sent of God, and Nineve was tested according
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to his will. Adventists believed that in like manner, God had led them
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to give the warning of the judgment. It has, they declared, tested
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the hearts of all who heard it, and awakened a love for the Lord's
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appearing. Or it has called for the hatred more or less perceivable, but
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known to God of his coming. It has drawn a line, so that
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those who will examine their own hearts may know on which side of it they
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would have been found had the Lord then come. Whether they would have exclaimed,
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Lo, this is our God. We have waited for him, and
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he will save us. Or whether they would have called to the rocks and
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mountains to fall on them, to hide them from the face of Him that
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sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the lamb. God. Thus,
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as we believe, has tested his people, has tried their faith has
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proved them and seen whether they would shrink in the hour of trial from the
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position in which He might see fit to place them, and whether they would
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relinquish this world and rely with implicit confidence in the word of God. The
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feelings of those who still believed that God had led them in their past experience
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are expressed in the words of William Miller. Were I to live my life
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over again with the same evidence that I then had to be honest with God
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and man, I should have to do as I have done, I hope
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that I have cleansed my garments from the blood of souls. I feel that,
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as far as it was in my power, I have freed myself from
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all guilt in their condemnation. Although I have been twice disappointed, wrote this
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Man of God, I am not yet cast down or discouraged. My hope
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in the coming of Christ is as strong as ever. I have done only
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what after years of solemn consideration, I felt it my solemn duty to do.
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If I have erred, it has been on the side of charity,
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love to my fellow men, and conviction of duty to God. One thing
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I do know, I have preached nothing but what I believed, and God
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has been with me. His power has been manifested in the work, and
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much good has been affected. Many thousands, to all human appearance, have
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been made to study the scriptures by the preaching of the time, and by
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that means, through faith and the sprinkling of the blood of Christ, have
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been reconciled to God. I have never courted the smiles of the proud,
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nor quailed when the world frowned. I shall not now purchase their favor,
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nor shall I go beyond duty to tempt their hate. I shall never seek
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my life at their hands, nor shrink I hope from losing it. If
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God, in his good providence so orders, God did not forsake his people,
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his spirits still abode with those who did not rashly deny the light which
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they had received and denounce the Advent movement. In the Epistle to the Hebrews
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are words of encouragement and warning for the tried waiting ones at this crisis.
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Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward, for
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ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God,
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ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while and he that
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shall come, will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall
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live by faith. But if any man draw back, my soul shall have
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no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto
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perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. That
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this admonition is addressed to the church in the last days is evident from the
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words pointing to the nearness of the Lord's coming for yet a little while,
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and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. And it
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is plainly implied that there would be a seeming delay, and that the Lord
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would appear to terry. The instruction here given is especially adapted to the experience
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of adventists. At this time. The people here addressed were in danger of
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making shipwreck of faith. They had done the will of God in following the
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guidance of his spirit and his word. Yet they could not understand His purpose
34:52
in their past experience, nor could they desern the pathway before them, and
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they were tempted to doubt whether God had indeed been leading them at this time
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the words were applicable. Now the just shall live by faith as the bright
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light of the midnight cry had shone upon their pathway, and they had seen
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the prophecies unsealed, and the rapidly fulfilling signs telling that the coming of Christ
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was near. They had walked, as it were, by sight, but
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now bowed down by disappointed hopes, they could stand only by faith in God
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and in his word. The scoffing world were saying, you have been deceived.
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Give up your faith and say that the Advent movement was of Satan.
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But God's word declared, if any man draw back, my soul shall have
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no pleasure in him. To renounce their faith now and deny the power of
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the Holy Spirit which had attended the message, would be drawing back toward perdition.
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They were encouraged to steadfastness by the words of Paul. Cast not away,
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therefore your confidence, Ye have need of patience for yet a little while,
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And he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Their
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only safe course was to cherish the light which they had already received of God,
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hold fast to his promises, and continue to search the scriptures, and
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patiently wait and watch to receive further light. End of Chapter twenty two.