In the Advent Herald of Feb. 14, 1844, a brief statement concerning prophetic time concludes thus: “We must, therefore, if we read the Bible aright, be near the termination of all the prophetic periods. Reader, is it not worthy of your prayerful consideration?” The Bible was read aright on this point in 1844, by those who, illuminated by the Spirit of truth, were led out to herald to the world the near approach of the Son of man. The prophetic periods were then about to terminate: and that fact was worthy the prayerful consideration of every reader. But we have now to present to the reader another fact more worthy still of his prayerful consideration, and that is, that the prophetic periods all have terminated. So near are we now to the final consummation, that we are down this side of all the great measuring lines given in the word of God to mark the course of events. An indefinite “little while” only now intervenes before the coming of Him who is soon to come and not to tarry. The great fact that the prophetic periods have all terminated, is worthy of special consideration, as it brings the coming of the Lord very near. Many are deceiving themselves with the idea that the prophetic periods were given to mark the time of the advent, and hence that there can be no consistent movement on this question without a proclamation of definite time. They have, therefore, as time after time has passed by, resorted to every conceivable species of assumption and guess-work to fix new points in the future. In this they are only virtually saying, “My Lord delayeth his coming;” for there is no prophetic period which reaches to the coming of the Lord. These periods are not given to mark that event. Important movements are to be made, and important works accomplished, between their termination and the actual appearing of Christ; and if they have not yet terminated, it only follows that the coming of Christ is farther off than every other indication would lead us to suppose. It is a false position which thus puts off the coming of Christ, and one which is full of danger. But there is no occasion for it; for the voice of history and the testimony of the word of God rightly read together, shew, not that we are to look to the future, for the termination of the periods, and then to wait for all the events that are to follow, before we can hope to see the Lord, but that we are even now in the very midst, perhaps near the conclusion, of those events which were to follow the close of all prophetic time, alarm the wicked, and bring joy to the saints, as the King of the earth draws near. Viewing thus the prophetic periods all in the past, for which there is abundant proof, we are not led to put off the coming of the Lord, but are brought, as it were, face to face with the great day. Let the reader consider well this solemn truth. That we are past the prophetic periods is again worthy of consideration, because we are thus brought into the time of the cleansing of the sanctuary. This, in the type, was the solemn day of the year for all Israel, who reverently gathered around the sanctuary and afflicted their souls lest they should be cut off from the people of God. And the period of the cleansing of the new-covenant sanctuary, Heb. viii, ix, is the most solemn period of this dispensation for the Christian church. In this service, performed once for all, the plan of salvation is now drawing to a conclusion. And as Israel of old intently listened to hear the sound of their priest as he came out from making an atonement for them before the Lord, so we are to understand the position of our great High Priest, and watch that we may be ready for him when he shall come forth to pronounce the everlasting covenant of peace with his people. If the prophetic periods have ended, the angel of Rev. x, has fulfilled his mission, and we are having the last message of mercy; for there is to be only one more message to the people, after the proclamation of that angel is uttered. Verse 11. If the prophetic periods have ended, the temple of God has been opened in Heaven, and there is seen the ark of his testament. Special attention is drawn to the law of God, and men are called upon to carefully examine, that their lives may correspond to its every precept. If the prophetic periods have ended, the seventh angel has commenced to sound. Then the anger of the nations has come; and the wrath of God, the reward of the righteous, and the destruction of the wicked, transpire in quick succession. These are some of the events that follow this portion of prophetic fulfillment. Is not the inquiry, then, whether these periods have terminated, worthy the serious attention of the reader? The prophetic periods, terminated! Startling fact! Oh, that we could realize its full import! Those long lines of years which from the prophets’ days struck forward almost to the border of the eternal kingdom, are all completed. A little period, indefinite in duration, but full of commotion, calamity, and peril, now remains to seal the probation of a rebellious race. The termination of the periods shows that we have reached this point. Given to guide the church through the labyrinth of time, they bring us to this fearful final hour, and here leave us. And as they are borne away from us into the past on the rapid tide, and we loose our grasp of them, we are to stretch every nerve to gain the immortal shore before us. An indifferent mariner, as he drew near some dangerous, rock-bound coast, sleepy, careless, or drunken, would be the execration of mankind. A careless professor in these closing days of peril, is the grief of angels and the joy of devils. Reader, awake to the times in which we live; for these things are worthy of your prayerful consideration.