VALEDICTORY by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 8, 1869

VALEDICTORY.

By Editor

According to the action of the Publishing Association, at its last meeting, our relation to the readers of the Review, as editor of this paper, ceases with this number.

For the past sixteen years we have had constant employment in the Office, most of the time in the discharge of editorial duties; and as the time comes for a change in the field of labor, the mind naturally turns to a brief retrospect of these years.

Little was it thought by us, when we first entered the Office, or by any connected with the cause at that time, that the year 1869 would find us still subjected to the toils and trials of our earthly pilgrimage. But though time has continued longer than expected, we find no cause for giving over the struggle; for no people are better fortified against the trials of delay than Seventh-day Adventists. We are not dependent on set times. We are not subjected to the shame and mortification of continually fixing new dates, and re-adjusting the prophetic periods, under a disheartening and accumulating weight of repeated disappointments. When the prophetic periods ended in 1844, it was well understood that we then entered upon an indefinite period of waiting, and though the patience of believers has been called into exercise, and delays are hard to bear, yet the lapse of years is no evidence of error in our position, nor cause for distrust in reference to any of the great truths we hold. Our danger here lies in the strange anomaly of the human mind, that the longer an event is delayed, the further off a person is inclined to put it. And whereas sixteen years ago we scarcely dared to calculate for two or three years in the future, a delay of the coming of the Lord for sixteen years, may incline some to put that event off as many years more, so that although we are really sixteen years nearer the great consummation, it is, to their minds, five or six times as distant as it was then. And each year of delay adds another year still to the time which they put between themselves and the coming of the Lord. And thus the evil increases in arithmetical progression. Such are making a fatal mistake. Why should the lessening of the distance between us and the end, by a year or more, lead any one to increase it by just that length of time?

And meanwhile the signs of the great approaching day, are increasing in frequency and intensity. The prophetic outlines are filling up to repletion. Society is growing more and more corrupt. Professed ministers of Christ in high places, are pandering to the vices and follies of the ungodly. Evil men and seducers, mockers and scoffers, great men and mighty, warriors and kings of the earth, are swiftly marshaling themselves into the position in which according to the prophetic word, the coming day is to find them. And shall we be idle in reference to events before us? Shall we say in our hearts, My Lord delayeth his coming? Shall we put far off the evil day? No, let us keep it ever before us; for it is right at hand; lest it come and find us unprepared.

During the years in which we have been connected with the Office, we have had occasion to have in almost constant review the doctrines and theories which go to make up the great and harmonious system of present truth. With the beauty and consistency of these things, we have been year by year more and more deeply impressed. Whatever makes harmony and consistency in the word of God is truth, and will stand; for that word is harmonious and consistent. We have seen these truths subjected to every species of opposition, and stand unshaken through it all. No argument can overthrow them. The false logic of error cannot touch them. The present truth is no refuge of lies, nor a wall daubed with untempered mortar. It is a Gibraltar of strength, against which the hosts of unbelief cannot prevail. It is that which will prove a shield and buckler to all true believers in the time of trouble, and stand the searching test of the last day.

The inherent vitality of the cause of the third message is also what no one could fail to mark, who has had such an acquaintance with its history and workings. During all these years its progress has been onward—onward alike in storm and calm, through evil report as well as through good report. It has not been without its obstacles and drawbacks, dangers and perils, secret enemies and open foes. Traitors within have tried to overthrow it; enemies without have made their fiercest onslaughts upon it. Strong appeals have been made to prejudice, and untiring efforts have been put forth, to stir up the worst passions of the human heart against it. But like a cause which the providence of God had especially engaged to preserve, it has scarcely felt the shock; and it has passed unharmed through every attack. And we have seen the opposition melt away, especially that which has arisen from its own ranks, till scarcely a vestige remained except a few shattered apostates. If the work had been of man, it has met enough, time and again, to overthrow it. That it has not been overthrown, becomes, under these circumstances, good evidence that it is of God, and that those who have opposed it have been fighting against him.

But while all that has been accomplished is due ultimately to the kind favor and providence of God, it is but proper that mention be made of the important place which the faithful labors of Bro. and Sr. White have held in this cause. They were called to take hold of the work from the commencement, not only when the friends of the cause were few, but when almost its first friends were yet to be found. Without means or supporters, they gave themselves wholly to the work of elucidating and spreading abroad the precious truths which belong to the third message. No burdens, no crosses, no labors, no sacrifices, were shunned in their efforts to carry on the work. Whatever measure of health, strength, means, or influence, they possessed, it was devoted to the one object of advancing the cause of truth. Enterprise after enterprise, calculated to accelerate the progress of the message, they have inaugurated and established, putting their shoulders under the burden of carrying them forward. And experience has proved the timeliness and wisdom of these enterprises. And thus they have labored on, in weariness and feebleness often, setting an example for all to imitate; and the present time finds them still engaged, heart and soul, in the work, laboring earnestly and devotedly to the one end of advancing the truth, and arousing the people to seek a preparation for the coming of the Son of Man. Their noble, self-sacrificing, unselfish course in this cause, demands the confidence, support, and co-operation of all the lovers of the truth. They are worn with their manifold cares and labors; but we trust the good providence of the Lord will enable them still to stand at their post till the battle is over.

When we first came to the Office, the property belonging to this cause was a hand press, and a small quantity of type. The paper was published in a hired room. It struggled along with small support; and every little while it was found necessary to omit a number for want of means. On removal to Michigan a new impetus was given to the message. The friends of the cause came up nobly to the work. The paper has been abundantly sustained; and the Association has a fine building, with power presses, and other necessary Office fixtures, amounting, with other property, to the sum of $32,000.00, unencumbered, all of which the liberality of the friends of the truth, has thrown together here. In financial and numerical strength a great advance has been made. Would that we could say that all were in as good a spiritual condition as in the earlier and weaker stages of the work.

Our Office labors have been confining and wearing. The position is in some respects a pleasant one; but like all others it has its disagreeable sides and unpleasant features. We have ever felt poorly qualified to fill it, and inadequate to its weighty responsibilities. And we retire from it with a sense of relief, fully co-inciding with the brethren that a change of labor will be for both our physical and spiritual good.

Our interest shall still be in this cause. We shall feel no less interest in the Office. We shall rejoice to hear of its prosperity, and the growth in grace of all who labor there. Sixteen years of our life we have spent in this work, and have tried to do the best we could; but we claim no credit for services rendered. We have been painfully conscious of many failures; and while we ask the brethren to pass charitably over our many faults and errors, we implore the forgiveness of God, for the many more things he must have seen to grieve his Holy Spirit.

The many correspondents who have so patiently borne with all our imperfections, and extended us their sympathy and co-operation, have our thanks. We shall labor on just as cheerfully in whatever field it may be our lot to work; and we trust through the mercy of God to have at last some humble place with the overcomers in the kingdom of Heaven.

It will appear from the testimony of chapter viii, 14, that this solemn work is even now transpiring in the sanctuary above.

VERSE 11. I beheld then, because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake; I beheld, even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. 12. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

There are persons who believe in a thousand years’ triumph of the gospel and reign of righteousness over all the world before the Lord comes; and there are others who believe in probation after the Lord comes, and a mixed millennium, the immortal righteous still proclaiming the gospel to mortal sinners, and turning them into the way of salvation. But both of these systems of error are completely demolished by the verses before us.

1. The fourth terrible beast continues without change of character, and the little horn continues to utter its blasphemies, and hold its millions of votaries in the bonds of a blind superstition, till the beast is given to the burning flame; and this is not its conversion but its destruction. See 2 Thess. ii, 8.

2. The life of the fourth beast is not prolonged after its dominion is gone, as were the lives of the preceding beasts. Their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season. The territory and subjects of the Babylonish kingdom still existed, though subjected to the Persians. So of the Persian kingdom in respect to Grecia, and of Grecia in respect to Rome. But what succeeds the fourth kingdom? No government or state in which mortals have any part. Its career ends in the lake of fire, and it has no existence beyond. The lion was merged into the bear; the bear into the leopard, the leopard into the fourth beast; and the fourth beast into what? Not into another beast, but into the lake of fire, which is its final destruction till the second death. Then let no one talk of probation or a mixed millennium after the Lord comes.

VERSE 13. I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. 14. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

The scene here described is not the second advent of Christ to this earth, unless the Ancient of Days is on this earth; for it is a coming to the Ancient of Days. There in the presence of the Ancient of Days, a kingdom, dominion and glory are given him. The Son of Man receives his kingdom before his return to this earth. See Luke xix, 10–12, and onward. This is a scene, therefore, which transpires in the heavenly temple, and is closely connected with that brought to view in verses 9 and 10. He receives the kingdom at the close of his priestly work in the sanctuary. The people, nations, and languages, that shall serve him are the nations of the saved, Rev. xxi, 24, not the wicked nations of the earth; for these are dashed in pieces at the second advent. Some out of all the nations, tribes and kindreds of the earth will find themselves at last in the kingdom of God, to serve him there with joy and gladness forever and ever.

VERSE 15. I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. 17. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. 18. But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even for ever and ever.

No less anxious should we be than was Daniel, to understand the truth of all this. And whenever we inquire with equal sincerity of heart, we shall find the Lord no less ready now, than in the days of the prophet, to lead to a correct knowledge of these important truths. The beasts, and the kingdoms which they represent, have already been explained. We have followed the prophet down through the course of events even to the complete destruction of the fourth and last beast, the final subversion of all earthly governments. What next? Verse 18 tells us: “The saints shall take the kingdom.” The saints! those of all others held in low esteem in this world, despised, reproached, persecuted, cast out; those who were considered the least likely of all men ever to realize their hopes; these shall take the kingdom, and possess it forever. The usurpation and misrule of the wicked shall come to an end. The forfeited inheritance shall be redeemed. Peace shall be restored to its distracted borders, and righteousness shall reign o’er all the fair expanse of the renovated earth.