p. 1 | The Sermon by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 1, 1867

The Sermon.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Preach the Word. 2 Tim. iv, 2.

THE THREE MESSAGES OF REV. XIV, 6-13.

BY ELD. D. M. CANRIGHT.

TEXT. “Because He hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” Acts xvii, 31.

By this we are assured that God has set a day for the final judgment of this world. Things will not always remain as they now are. The last day will come, the wrath of God will be poured upon the wicked, sinners will be punished, and the righteous will be rewarded. This fearful day is thus described by the prophet: “And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works.” Rev. xx, 11-13.

All who believe the Bible, agree that this fearful day will come. But will the world have no warning of it before it does come? Will neither saint nor sinner know anything about its coming till it bursts upon them in a moment? When God purposed to destroy the world by a flood, he revealed it to Noah and sent him to warn the world many years before it came. When it did come, the righteous were ready and the wicked were without excuse. He likewise warned the people of Sodom and Gomorrah of the destruction which was coming upon them. He warned the city of Nineveh, and gave them a chance to repent of their sins. The Jews were warned by John the Baptist of Christ’s first advent. Jesus also warned them of the overthrow of their city, and told them how they might escape.

The judgment day will be greater by far, more terrible in its consequences to the world, than all other days have ever been. Will God bring that awful day upon the world without giving either the righteous or wicked a chance to prepare them for it? No; he has never done so in the past, and the Bible assures us that that day shall not come without a solemn warning being first given. “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; (why? because, or) for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” Joel ii, 1. Here is a command by the God of Heaven to blow the trumpet and give an alarm to all the world, when the day of the Lord is nigh at hand. Will this command be obeyed? Will this prophecy be fulfilled? Yes, though God has to raise up men from the very stones of the earth to do it. The same thing is more clearly pointed out in Rev. xiv, 6, 7. “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell upon the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come,” &c.

Here is a message recorded by inspiration that must be given to all the world at some time. What is this message? It proclaims to the world that the hour of God’s judgment, so long delayed, has at last come. It sets the very day when it will begin. When this message is fulfilled, God will raise up a man, or set of men, who will proclaim to the world—what? Ans. That the very day for the final judgment of the world has come. They will set the time. All nations will hear it. This cannot reasonably be denied by those who believe that this prophecy is of God and will be fulfilled. Now has it been fulfilled? has the world heard such a message? Scarcely a school boy in North America is ignorant of the fact that between 1840 and 1845, a class of people, called the Adventists, with Wm. Miller at their head, did proclaim just such a message as this. They proclaimed that the last generation had come, that the judgment would take place on the tenth day of the seventh month, 1844.

This message was with power. It was exciting and soul-stirring. The people of God were aroused; sinners trembled; and the mass of the people were alarmed. Scores and hundreds left their homes to herald to the world the awful event. Thousands freely gave their property to send the warning to the world. Farms were left, and shops closed. This shows, at least, that they firmly believed it. Loud and far it sounded from hundreds of pulpits, “The hour of his judgment is come.” It was not done in a corner. Messengers, papers, books, tracts, &c., went to all parts of the world. All nations heard the cry.

Now was this all a failure, and of Satan? Yes, says the unbeliever, for Christ did not come. Stop! the message does not say that the hour has arrived for Christ to come. It says the hour of judgment has come, and this is in the past when Jesus comes. But if that proclamation was a failure, then the time must come when a precisely similar message will go to the world, or this prophecy will fail!

I will call your attention to Dan. vii, 9-14. “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head as pure wool; his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him; thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the judgment was set, and the books were opened. . . . 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. And there was given him dominion,” &c.

Here the Son of man comes with the clouds of heaven. But where does he come to? Mark it is not to the earth, but “to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him.” God does not dwell on the earth, but in the most holy place, or temple, in the heavenly sanctuary. When was this? At the time when the judgment set. So we see that when the judgment sets, Christ goes into the second apartment, or temple of God in the heavenly sanctuary. Then the books are opened and the judgment begins. I cannot stop to give a discourse on the sanctuary. But there is one in Heaven of which the earthly was a type. Heb. ix, 1-5; 22-25; viii, 1-5. In the earthly sanctuary, the high priest, at the end of each year, left the first apartment where the service had been performed during the year, and entered the second apartment to perform the work of atonement or judgment. Lev. xvi. So Christ, our high priest, at the day of judgment, leaves the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary and enters the second, to perform the work of the judgment just before he comes the second time.

Thus it is evident that the judgment does take place before Jesus comes. The first angel in Rev. xiv, 7, announces the fact that this hour of God’s judgment has come. But the Adventists were disappointed in 1844. They thought Jesus would come; but he did not come. Hence some suppose it all a failure. Well, believing as they did, and as most people still believe, that the judgment and the coming of Christ are the same thing, they thought that Christ would come in 1844, as they could prove conclusively that the judgment would begin

then. But the prophecy of the first angel does not say so, nor does the Bible warrant their believing it. Hence, immediately following the first message, is language showing that they would be disappointed, and two other messages were yet to go to the world after the judgment has begun.

In Rev. x, there is a message which corresponds to the first message in chap. xiv. “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven clothed with a cloud; and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire; and he had in his hand a little book open.” Verse 1, 2. A little book open. This indicates that it was once closed. We read of a book that was closed by this same angel. Dan. xii, 4. “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book even to the time of the end.” Hence we are led to think that the “little book” is the book of Daniel, which was to be opened at the time of the end.

“And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer.” Verses 6, 7. This is equivalent to the message of Rev. xiv, 6, 7, “The hour of his judgment is come.” When the angel proclaims that time shall be no longer, does Christ come to the earth and probation cease? No! This we see from what follows. “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God shall be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go, and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey, and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.”

To eat a book, is to read and understand what it teaches. Eze. ii, 8; iii, 1-3. This was sweet to the people of God when they understood by the book of Daniel that the saints would soon be delivered. In 1844 the people of God were glad and rejoiced at the prospect of soon having immortality. This is represented by the sweetness of the book while eating it. Afterward it was bitter. They were disappointed. The Lord did not come to the earth, but went in to begin the judgment. Then they were sad. The wicked scoffed and mocked. This was the bitter. Thus we see that our disappointment in 1844 was in the providence of God.

But how could it be true that time should be no longer, if Christ did not come, and men were still to live on the earth as before? It is prophetic time of which the angel speaks, not literal time. The 2300 days ended in 1844. There are no prophetic periods reaching this side of that. Hence prophetic time there closed; and there the judgment began. But this does not close the history of the world, nor man’s probation; for there are other messages of warning to be given after the judgment has come and time is no longer.

In Rev. xiv, 7, the angel says, “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” The angel does not lie; hence the judgment does come just as he proclaims. Does that close up all things? No; for the next verse says, “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen,” &c. Mark; after the hour of judgment has come, another angel follows with another message of warning to the world. Even that does not close the history of the world, for the next verse says, “And the third angel followed them, saying, with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive the mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God,” &c. The closing verse of this message says, “Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Then John sees Jesus come in the clouds to reap the harvest of the earth. “And I

looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.” Verse 14. Here we see that while the judgment is going on in Heaven, there is another warning to be given to the world. Does it follow the same in chap. x? Yes. In verse 6, the angel says that time shall be no longer. In verse 11, he said to John, “Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” He must go to the world with another message after he had proclaimed that time should be no longer. But what shall he say now? What shall his next message be? The angel does not leave him in the dark, but tells him what to do. “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod; and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not, for it is given unto the Gentiles; and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.” Chap. xi, 1, 2. His commission has something to do with the temple of God. The angel gives him a rod with instructions to measure them that worship in the temple. Evidently it is not their literal stature that he is to measure, but their character as professed worshipers of God. Now what rule, or rod, has the Bible given us by which to measure man’s character? Ans. The law of God, the ten commandments. “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” James ii, 12. Then the prophet’s commission is, to take the law of God and measure men by that. Remember that he was to begin this work immediately after the angel had declared that time should be no longer, or that the hour of judgment had come, the time when Jesus went into the temple of God to begin the judgment. Then he opened the door into the temple and, by faith, the saints followed him there and now “worship in the temple.” Rev. iii, 7, 8. “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth; I know thy works; behold I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” This is at the time when Jesus says, “Behold, I come quickly.” Verse 11. Here is a plain reference to his leaving the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary and going into the second. Then he set before the people of God an open door by opening the door into the temple of God. John says that when the time came for the judgment to begin (1844) the temple of God was opened. “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldst give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldst destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.” Chap. xi, 18, 19. This is the time that Jesus set before his people an open door; the time that they began to worship in the temple; and the time when John received his commission to measure them by the law of God. This law, or measuring rod, they found in the temple. Verse 19.

Hence, since the hour of judgment came and the first message closed, it has been the particular work of the true messengers of God to measure men by the law of God, the ten commandments. Hence, since that time, wherever you find the people who are doing the work of God, you will find those who have a great deal to say about the law of God.

Again we turn to Rev. xiv. In verse 7 the first angel proclaims the hour of judgment come; and it did come, or he proclaimed a falsehood. In verse 8, after the judgment has come, the second angel proclaims that, “Babylon has fallen.” Then, in verses 9-12, the third angel, with a loud voice, proclaims to the world his message. This message is the same as the one in which John is commanded to measure men with the law of God. Does it also contain the commandments of God? Let us read it and see. The first message had a particular burden, and that was time, the hour of judgment come. The second message had a particular

burden, viz.: the fall of Babylon. The third message, also, must have a particular burden, a definite work to do. What is it? “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

Yes, here, again, the commandments are introduced. It is then the mission of the third angel to proclaim the commandments of God. After this has been done, then, and not till then, Jesus comes to reap the harvest of the earth. Verses 13-16. Now, dear friends, has the world heard the first message? It has, over twenty years ago. Has it heard the second? Yes, that too the Adventists proclaimed years ago. Did the work stop there? Has there been no one found to proclaim the third message? Yes, such a people have been at work for over seventeen years. No sooner were the other messages closed, than the third began to be proclaimed. Slowly, but surely, the work has gone forward. As soon as the standard of God’s law had been raised, little companies here and there began to rally around it. While scoffers have been scoffing, and opposers have been fighting, the work has moved forward. Papers have been published, books and tracts have been scattered by hundreds and thousands in all parts, and men have traveled in every direction, proclaiming “the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” To-day, scores of men are proclaiming this message with the zeal and energy of those who are conscious that they have the truth. Every week thousands of copies of a living paper are carrying this message to as many homes of reading people; and, finally, the hearts and prayers of fifteen thousand souls are united to carry forward this last message of warning.

Now if this is all chance and a delusion, it is exceeding strange that the first, second, and third messages should have been given in just the order and manner that God has declared they shall be given, sometime! These messages are in the book of God and must be fulfilled, sometime. If they have not been fulfilled before our eyes within a few past years, then how can they ever be fulfilled?

Is not the third message just what the world needs to-day? Look a moment. The profession of Christianity is a mere form at the present time—a cloak to cover sins. All know and confess that the majority of professors lack the love of God in their hearts. They are worldly, proud, and popular. Yet there are many honest ones who mourn at this sad state of religion. It is manifest, therefore, that it needs some close, testing truth that will bring out these honest ones and discern between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. Would not every child of God rejoice if this could be done? Again, the people of God should be united as one heart. Instead of this, the followers of Christ are all divided and split up into hundreds of sects and creeds. Hence it needs something to bring out and unite together Christ’s torn and scattered flock. Will Christ come and find his people thus divided and mixed up with the world? We cannot think he will. We should look for a “gathering call” to sound preparatory to the coming of Christ. The prophet has foretold this gathering message. “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger come upon you.” Zeph. ii, 1, 2.

Such a gathering call is the third angel’s message. It contains a test in the commandments of God—the Sabbath. It plainly requires men to keep the seventh day; but they are keeping the first day. To keep the seventh day, severs all our former associations, disarranges our business, and brings upon us reproach and derision. Will a proud, popular, formal professor ever take such a step? No, never. There is no worldly inducement to do it. Nothing but the fear of God and the love of truth will induce a person to take this step. It is a test, and a close one too. Hundreds believe it to be right who have not enough love of God in their hearts to embrace it. It also accomplishes the other important object of uniting the people of God. It brings them together in the strongest bonds of love and union. Hence it is just what the world needs to-day to prepare a people for the coming of Christ.

But there are many professed Adventists who say that the work of 1840-44 was all a failure. Hence, from that day till this, they have been setting new time. This they have done, times without number, and each time they are positive that they have the true time now! Each time they have failed. Again and again they have spliced out the prophetic periods, re-adjusted them, started them from new dates, coupled them together in every conceivable shape, discarded and denied all that they had so positively proved before;—all this they call the work of God to prepare a people for translation! If they are giving the true time and warning now, then, of course, all the past movements have been counterfeit; false fulfillments of prophecy. They have first, many false warnings of the coming of Christ, then, last of all, the true one. But I notice that the Bible order is right the reverse of this. God does not suffer sham fulfillments of his word to be made first, then give the true fulfillment afterward. This he has carefully guarded his word against. Thus, although it had been prophesied for ages that Christ should come, and just how he should come, yet no one ever came claiming to be the Messiah till after the true Messiah had come and fulfilled his mission. Then numerous false christs immediately appeared. So it has always been in the fulfillment of prophecy—the true fulfillment first, the false afterward. Men do not get up counterfeit money till the genuine has first been circulated. So with the fulfillment of the first angel’s message. In 1840-44 God mightily wrought upon the minds of men; a great and powerful work was accomplished, and the world was truly warned that the hour of judgment had come. Since then the false warnings have come thick and fast. What have they accomplished? Nothing but to disgust the world, dishearten the people of God, divide, distract, and weaken them. Adventists who believe in the three messages are united. How is it with the others? They are divided and subdivided; very few of them agreeing upon anything. As one of their preachers said of their leading paper, “It speaks seven different languages.” If there ever was a people who show by their course that God is not leading them, it is the Adventists who have rejected the messages. One says, “This is the way,” “I have found the true time.” Another says, “No, come this way,” “I am the happy man who has at last found the right way.” A third says, “Follow me,” &c., &c. This they call the work of God! My brethren, God is not the author of confusion. Behold, we show you a more excellent way. The first great Advent movement was of God. His people were united then. They took the second step and gave the second message. Then they took another step and moved on to the third message. Every year they have advanced in this work, pressing nearer together and becoming more consolidated. While others have been setting the time for the Lord to come, as though this was all they had to do, these have been trying to fit themselves for that event. Pestilence, famine, trouble, and the seven last plagues, are coming upon the world, and this people are preparing themselves to stand through these. This is the object of the Health Reform which those in the third angel’s message are carrying forward so rapidly to-day. This movement itself is a striking sign that we are now very near the end.

Then where are we to-day? The first angel closed his work long years ago; the second followed, did his work, and closed his mission years in the past; the third immediately followed, and his solemn cry has been ringing in our ears for seventeen years. A few moments and his voice, too, will be hushed in silence; his work will be done; the last warning note will be given; God’s people will be saved; the wicked will be lost; and the end of all things will at last have come. Amen.