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19 - Light Through Darkness - The Great Controversy · Sacred Texts Archive

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Chapter nineteen. Light through darkness. The work of God in the earth presents,
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from age to age a striking similarity. In every great reformation or religious
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movement, the principles of God's dealing with men are ever the same. The
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important movements of the present have their parallel in those of the past, and
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the experience of the Church in former ages has lessons of great value for our
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own time. No truth is more clearly taught in the Bible than that God,
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by his Holy Spirit especially directs his servants on Earth in the great movements
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for the carrying forward of the work of salvation. Men are instruments in the
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hand of God, employed by Him to accomplish his purposes of grace and mercy.
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Each has his part to act to Each has granted a measure of light,
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adapted to the necessities of his time, and sufficient to enable him to
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perform the work which God has given him to do. But no man,
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however honored of Heaven, has ever attained to a full understanding of the great
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plan of redemption, or even to a perfect appreciation of the Divine purpose in
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the work for his own time. Men do not fully understand what God would
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accomplish by the work which He gives un to do. They do not comprehend
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in all its bearings the message which they utter in His name. Canst thou
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by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
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My thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are your ways my ways, saith
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the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are
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my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. I
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am God, and there is none like Me declaring the end from the beginning,
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and from ancient times the things that are not yet done. Even the
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prophets, who were favored with the special illumination of the Spirit, did not
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fully comprehend the import of the revelations committed to them. The meaning was to
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unfolded from age to age, as the people of God should need. The
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instruction therein contained Peter writing of the salvation brought to light through the Gospel,
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says of this salvation. The prophets have inquired and searched diligently. Who prophesied
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of the grace that should come unto you, searching what or what manner of
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time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify when it testified beforehand
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the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was
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revealed that not unto themselves but unto us did they minister. Yet, while
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it was not given to the prophets to understand fully the things revealed to them,
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they earnestly sought to obtain all the light which God had been pleased to
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make manifest. They inquired and searched, diligently, searching what or what manner
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of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify. What a
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lesson to the people of God and the Christian age, for whose benefit these
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prophecies were given to His servants, unto whom it was revealed that not unto
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themselves, but unto us, they did minister. Witness these holy men of
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God as they inquired and searched diligently concerning revelations given them for generations that were
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yet unborn. Contrast their holy zeal with the listless unconcern with which the favored
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ones of later ages treat this gift of heaven. What a rebuke to the
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ease, loving world, loving indifference, which is content to declare that the
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prophecies cannot be understood. Though the finite minds of men are inadequate to enter
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into the councils of the infinite One or to understand fully the working out of
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His purposes. Yet often it is because of some error or neglect on their
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own part that they so dimly comprehend the messages of Heaven. Not infrequently the
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minds of the people, and even of God's servants, are so blinded by
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human opinions, the traditions, and false teaching of men, that they are
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able only partially to grasp the great things which He has revealed in his word.
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Thus it was with the disciples of Christ, even when the Savior was
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with them in person. Their minds had become imbued with the popular conception of
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the Messiah as a temporal prince who was to exalt Israel to the throne of
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universal empire, and they could not understand the meaning of his words for telling
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his sufferings and death. Christ himself had sent them forth with the message the
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time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent ye and
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believe the Gospel. That message was based on the prophecy of Daniel nine.
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The sixty nine weeks were declared by the Angel to extend to the Messiah the
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Prince, and with high hopes and joyful anticipations, the disciples looked forward to
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the establishment of Messiah's kingdom at Jerusalem, to rule over the whole earth.
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They preached the message which Christ had committed to them, though they themselves misapprehended
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its meaning. While their announcement was founded on Daniel nine twenty five, they
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did not see in the next verse of the same chapter that Messiah was to
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be cut off from their very birth. Their hearts had been set upon the
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anticipated glory of an earthly empire, and this blinded their understanding, alike to
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the specifications of the prophecy and to the words of Christ. They performed their
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duty in presenting to the Jewish nation the invitation of mercy. And then at
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the very time when they expected to see their Lord ascend the throne of David,
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they beheld him seized as a malefactor, scourged, derided, and condemned,
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and lifted up on the cross of Calvary. What despair and anguish wrung
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the hearts of those disciples during the days while their Lord was sleeping in the
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tomb. Christ had come at the exact time and in the manner foretold by
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prophecy. The testimony of scripture had been fulfilled in every detail of his ministry.
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He had preached the message of salvation, and his word was with power.
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The hearts of his hearers had witnessed that it was of heaven. The
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word, and the spirit of God attested the divine commission of his son.
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The disciples still clung with undying affection to their beloved Master, and yet their
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minds were shrouded in uncertainty and doubt. In their anguish, they did not
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then recall the words of Christ pointing forward to his suffering and death. If
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Jesus of Nazareth had been the true Messiah, would they have been thus plunged
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in grief and disappointment? This was the question that tortured their souls while the
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Savior lay in his sepulcher during the hopeless hours of that Sabbath which intervened between
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his death and his resurrection. Though the knight of sorrow gathered dark about these
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followers of Jesus, Yet were they not forsaken? Sayeth the prophet. When
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I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. He
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will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold His righteousness.
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Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee, but the night shineth as the
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day. The darkness and the light are both alike to THEE. God hath
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spoke unto the upright. There ariseth light in the darkness. I will bring
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the blind by a way that they knew not. I will lead them in
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paths that they have not known. I will make darkness light before them,
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and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not
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forsake them. The announcement which had been made by the disciples in the name
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of the Lord was in every particular correct, and the events to which appointed
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were even then taking place. The time is fulfilled. The Kingdom of God
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as at hand had been their message at the expiration of the time the sixty
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nine weeks of Daniel Lyne, which were to extend to the Messiah. The
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anointed one Christ had received the anointing of the Spirit after his baptism by John
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and Jordan, and the Kingdom of God which they had declared to be at
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hand was established by the death of Christ. This kingdom was not, as
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they had been taught to believe, an earthly empire. Nor was it that
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future immortal kingdom which shall be set up, when the kingdom and dominion and
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the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people
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of the Saints of the Most High, that everlasting kingdom in which all dominions
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shall serve and obey Him. As used in the Bible, the expression Kingdom
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of God is employed to designate both the Kingdom of Grace and the Kingdom of
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glory. The Kingdom of Grace is brought to view by Paul in the Epistle
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to the Hebrews. After pointing to Christ, the compassionate intercessor, who is
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touched with the feeling of our infirmities, the apostle says, let us therefore
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come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy and find
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grace. The Throne of Grace represents the Kingdom of Grace, for the existence
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of a throne implies the existence of a kingdom. In many of his parables,
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Christ uses the expression the Kingdom of Heaven to designate the work of divine
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grace upon the hearts of men. So the Throne of Glory represents the Kingdom
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of Glory, and this kingdom is referred to in the Saviour's words. When
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the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the Holy Angels
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with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his Glory, and
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before him shall be gathered all nations. This kingdom is yet future. It
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is not to be set up until the Second Advent of Christ. The Kingdom
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of Grace was instituted immediately after the fall of man, when a plan was
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devised for the redemption of the guilty race. It then existed in the purpose
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and by the promise of God, and through faith men could become its subjects.
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Yet it was not actually established until the death of Christ. Even after
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entering upon his earthly mission, the Savior, wearied with the stubbornness and ingratitude
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of men, might have drawn back from the sacrifice of Calvary in Gssemone,
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the cup of woe trembled in his hand. He might even then have wiped
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the blood sweat from his brow and have left the guilty race to perish in
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their iniquity. Had he done this, their would have been no redemption for
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fallen men. But when the Savior yielded up his life, and with his
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expiring breath cried out it is finished. Then the fulfillment of the plan of
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redemption was assured. The promise of salvation made to the sinful pair in Eden
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was ratified. The kingdom of grace, which had before existed by the promise
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of God, was then established. Thus the death of Christ, the very
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event which the disciples had looked upon as the final destruction of their hope,
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was that which made it forever sure. While it had brought them a cruel
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disappointment, it was the climax of proof that their belief had been correct.
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The event that had filled them with mourning and despair was that which opened the
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door of hope to every child of Adam, and in which centered the future
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life and eternal happiness of all God's faithful ones in all the ages. Purposes
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of infinite mercy were reaching their fulfillment. Even through the disappointment of the disciples,
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while their hearts had been won by the divine grace and power of His
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teaching, who spake as never man spake. Yet intermingled with the pure gold
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of their love for Jesus was the base alloy of worldly pride and selfish ambitions.
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Even in the passover chamber at that solemn hour, when their master was
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already entering the shadow of Gassemone, there was a strife among them, which
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of them should be accounted the greatest. Their vision was filled with the throne,
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the crown, and the glory, while just before them lay the shame
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and agony of the Garden, the judgment hall, the Cross of Calvary.
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It was their pride of heart, their thirst for worldly glory, that had
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led them to cling so tenaciously to the false teaching of their time, and
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to pass unheeded the Saviour's words showing the true nature of his kingdom and pointing
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forward to his agony and death. And these errors resulted in the trial,
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sharp but needful, which was permitted for their correction. Though the disciples had
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mistaken the meaning of their message and had failed to realize their expectations, yet
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they had preached the warning given them of God, and the Lord would reward
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their faith and honor. Their obedience to them was to be entrusted the work
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of heralding to all nations the glorious gospel of their risen Lord. It was
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to prepare them for this work, that the experience which seemed to them so
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bitter, had been permitted. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples
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on the way to Ammaeus, and beginning at Moses and all the prophets,
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he expounded unto them and all the scriptures the things concerning himself. The hearts
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of the disciples were stirred. Faith was kindled, They were begotten again unto
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a lively hope. Even before Jesus revealed himself to them, it was his
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purpose to enlighten their understanding and to fasten their faith upon the sure word of
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prophecy. He wished the truth to take firm root in their minds, not
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merely because it was supported by his personal testimony, but because of the unquestionable
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evidence presented by the symbols and shadows of the typical law and by the prophecies
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of the Old Testament. It was needful for the followers of Christ to have
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an intelligent faith, not only in their own behalf, but that they might
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carry the knowledge of Christ to the world. And as the very first step
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in imparting this knowledge, Jesus directed the disciples to Moses and the prophets.
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Such was the testimony given by the risen Savior to the value and importance of
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the Old Testament scriptures. What a change was wrought in the hearts of the
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disciples as they looked once more on the loved countenance of their Master in a
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more complete and perfect sense than ever before they had found him, of whom
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Moses and the Law and the prophets did right. The uncertainty, the anguish,
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the despair gave place to perfect assurance, to unclouded faith. What marvel
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that, after his ascension they were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.
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The people, knowing only of the Saviour's ignominious death, looked to see
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in their faces the expression of sorrow, confusion, and defeat. But they
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saw their gladness and triumph. What a preparation these disciples had received for the
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work before them. They had passed through the deepest trial which it was possible
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for them to experience, and had seen how, when to human vision all
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was lost, the word of God had been triumphantly accomplished. Henceforward, what
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could daunt their faith or chill the ardor of their love? In the keenest
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sorrow they had strong consolation, a hope which was as an anger of the
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soul, both sure and steadfast. They had been witnessed to the wisdom and
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power of God, and they were persuaded that neither death, nor life,
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nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to
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come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature would be able to
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separate them from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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In all these things, they said, we are more than conquerors.
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Through Him, the Thane loved us. The word of the Lord endureth forever.
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And who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea
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rather that has risen again, who was even at the right hand of God,
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who also maketh intercession for us. Saith the Lord, my people shall
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never be ashamed. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in
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the morning. When on his resurrection day, these disciples met the Savior,
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and their hearts burned within them as they listened to his words, when they
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looked upon the head and hands and feet that had been bruised for them.
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When before his ascension Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting
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up his hands in blessing, bade them go ye into all the world and
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preach the Gospel, adding lo, I am with you alway. When on
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the day of Pentecost, the promised comforter descended and the power from on high
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was given, and the souls of the believers thrilled with the conscious presence of
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their ascended Lord. Then, even though, like his their pathway led to
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sacrifice in martyrdom, would they have exchanged the ministry of the Gospel of His
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grace with the crown of righteousness to be received at his coming, for the
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glory of an earthly throne, which had been the hope of their earlier discipleship.
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He who was able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or
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think, had granted them with the fellowship of his sufferings, the communion of
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his joy, the joy of bringing many sons unto glory, joy unspeakable and
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eternal weight of glory, to which says Paul, our light affliction, which
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is but for a moment, is not worthy to be compared. The experience
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of the disciples who preached the Gospel of the Kingdom at the First Advent of
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Christ had its counterpart in the experience of those who proclaimed the message of his
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second Advent. As the disciples went out preaching the time is fulfilled, the
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Kingdom of God is at hand. So Miller and his associates proclaimed that the
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longest and last prophetic period brought to view and the Bible was about to expire,
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that the judgment was at hand, the everlasting Kingdom was to be ushered
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in the preaching of the disciples in regard to time was based on the seventy
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Weeks of Daniel Mine. The message given by Miller and his associates announced the
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termination of the twenty three hundred days of Daniel eight fourteen, of which the
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seventy weeks form a part. The preaching of each was based upon the fulfillment
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of a different portion of the same great prophetic period. Like the first Disciples,
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William Miller and his associates did not themselves fully comprehend the import of the
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message which they bore. Errors that had been long established in the Church prevented
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them from arriving at a correct interpretation of an important point in the prophecy.
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Therefore, though they proclaimed the message which God had committed to them, to
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be given to the world. Yet through a misapprehension of its meaning, they
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suffered disappointment in explaining Daniel eight fourteen, unto two thousand and three hundred days,
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then shall the sanctuary be cleansed, as has been stated, adopted the
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generally received view that the earth is a sanctuary, and he believed that the
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cleansing of the sanctuary represented the purification of the earth by fire at the coming
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of the Lord. When therefore he found that the close of the twenty three
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hundred days was definitely foretold, he concluded that this revealed the time of the
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Second Advent. His error resulted from accepting the popular view as to what constitutes
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the sanctuary in the typical system, which was a shadow of the sacrifice and
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priesthood of Christ. The cleansing of the sanctuary was the last service performed by
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the High Priest in the yearly round administration. It was the closing work of
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the atonement, a removal or putting away of sin from Israel. It prefigured
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the closing work in the ministration of our High Priest in Heaven, in the
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removal or blotting out of the sins of his people which are registered in the
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heavenly records. This service involves a work of investigation, a work of judgment,
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and it immediately precedes the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven with
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power and great glory. For when he comes, every case has been decided,
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says Jesus. My reward is with me to give every man according as
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his work shall be. It is this work of judgment, immediately preceding the
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second Advent that is announced in the First Angel's message of Revelation fourteen seven.
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Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is
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come. Those who proclaimed this warning gave the right message at the right time.
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But as the early disciples declared, the time is fulfilled in the Kingdom
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of God is at hand based on the prophecy of Daniel Mine, while they
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failed to perceive that the death of the Messiah was foretold in the same scripture.
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So Miller and his associates preached the message based on Daniel eight fourteen in
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Revelation fourteen seven, and failed to see that there were still other messages brought
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to view in Revelation fourteen which were also to be given before the advent of
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the Lord. As the disciples were mistaken in regard to the kingdom to be
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set up at the end of the seventy weeks, so adventists were mistaken in
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regard to the event to take place at the expiration of the twenty three hundred
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days. In both cases there was an acceptance of, or rather in adherence
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to, popular errors that blinded the mind to the truth. Both classes fulfilled
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the will of God in delivering the message which he desired to be given,
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and both, through their own misapprehension of their message, suffered disappointment. Yet
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God accomplished his own beneficent purpose in permitting the warning of the judgment to be
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given just as it was. The great day was at hand, and in
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his providence, the people were brought to the test of a definite time in
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order to reveal to them what was in their hearts. The message was designed
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for the testing and purification of the Church. They were to be led to
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see whether their affections were set upon this world or upon Christ and Heaven.
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They professed to love the Savior, Now they to prove their love. Were
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they ready to renounce their worldly hopes and ambitions and welcome with joy the advent
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of their Lord? The message was designed to enable them to discern their true
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spiritual state. It was sent in mercy to arouse them to seek the Lord
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with repentance and humiliation. The disappointment, also, though the result of their
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own misapprehension of the message which they gave, was to be overruled for good,
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it would test the hearts of those who had professed to receive the warning.
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In the face of their disappointment. Would they rashly give up their experience
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and cast away their confidence in God's word? Or would they, in prayer
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and humility, seek to discern where they had failed to comprehend the significance of
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the prophecy. How many had moved from fear or from impulse and excitement.
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How many were half hearted and unbelieving. Multitudes professed to love the appearing of
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the Lord. When called to endure the scoffs and reproach of the world and
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the test of delay and disappointment, would they renounce the faith because they did
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not immediately understand the dealings of God with them? Would they cast aside truths
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sustained by the clearest testimony of His word. This test would reveal the strength
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of those who, with real faith had obeyed what they believed to be the
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teaching of the Word and the Spirit of God. It would teach them,
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as only such an experience could the danger of accepting the theories and interpretations of
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men, instead of making the Bible its own interpreter. To the children of
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faith, the perplexity and sorrow resulting from their error would work the needed correction.
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They would be led to a closer study of the prophetic Word. They
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would be taught to examine more carefully the foundation of their faith, and to
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reject everything, however widely accepted by the Christian world, that was not founded
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upon the scriptures of truth. With these believers, as with the first Disciples,
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that which in the hour of trials seem dark to their understanding, would
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afterward be made plain. When they should see the end of the Lord,
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they would know that, notwithstanding the trial resulting from their errors, his purpose
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of love toward them had been steadily fulfilling. They would learn by a blessed
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experience that He is very pitiful and of tender mercy, that all his paths
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are mercy and truth, unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
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End of Chapter nineteen