Nearing the End by R. D. QUINN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 28, 1909

Nearing the End

By R. D. QUINN

R. D. QUINN

As far back as the time of Christ, men were living in the latter days, as compared to the whole period of this world's history. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was interpreted by the apostles as being in fulfilment of a last-day prophecy. Later, Peter declared, “The end of all things is at hand.” Four thousand years were already in the past, and he was nearing the end. Martin Luther was persuaded that the day of judgment was not distant more than three hundred years in his day, and that the end of all things was near.

At the close of the great papal persecution occurred the darkening of the sun, the first of those remarkable signs that Christ foretold would just precede his second coming. The year 1798 marked the beginning of the end, and the angel of Revelation 10 declared that there should be delay no longer. The great advent movement under the first and second angels’ messages, threw a flood of light upon the world; but the end was not yet. We are now seventy-five years this side of the falling of the stars, the last of those signs by which we were to know that he is near, “even at the door.” When we consider the whole period of human probation of nearly six thousand years, and compare it with the few brief years that still remain of the last generation, how forcible is the conviction that the end is very near!

But still, while it is true that the coming of Christ and the end of this world are very near, in the development of all God's work there is something still nearer than the end, and that is the close of probation; for Christ will not come until after probation closes. The preaching of the third angel's message to all the world for a witness precedes the close of probation; and in the very nature of things it can be seen that nothing less than the outpouring of the Spirit in pentecostal power will ever prepare the church of God to finish the gospel work in the few years we have left of this generation. Therefore the outpouring of the Holy Spirit without measure upon the people of God is nearer than the actual completion of the preaching of the message to all the world. But when we consider that the promise of the Spirit, the greatest of New Testament blessings, is given on condition that we keep his commandments, and that “none can share the refreshing unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action,” we find that the thing that is nearest to every one who expects to share in the last great work is Christian perfection. When that condition is reached, and we have become laborers together with him, God will pour out his Spirit upon us for service. This will enable us to carry the gospel quickly to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

Soon every one will have decided his eternal destiny. The work of the judgment will close, Christ will come, and the righteous will be taken home.

I do not see how any of us can face this situation, without being deeply impressed with the call that is in the very situation itself. The question is, How much longer can we delay the message, and still see its close in this generation? There must be a new experience. There must be a vitalizing power of the Spirit of God upon the Lord's servants, or the situation is hopeless.

In view of the responsibility that rests upon every one who knows the truth, to make it known to others, every one must say that nothing less than the absolute and unqualified surrender of our lives and our means to God in loving service will meet the demands of the hour.

Bozeman, Mont.