p. 320 | Untitled article by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, November 5, 1867

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 21

THE HOUR OF EXPECTATION.

By Editor

We publish this week in our News Department, a number of articles from different papers, on the great event which is just now attracting the attention of the world, above all others, namely, the destiny of the Papacy, the fate of Rome, and the international relations of France and Italy. Garibaldi is determined to gain possession of Rome, and, before this paper is in the hands of its readers, may have accomplished his object. The king of Italy is bound by treaties which compel him to oppose the movements of Garibaldi. But the Italians refuse to comply with the requirements of their government, and fight against the insurgents. Garibaldi everywhere receives accessions from the sympathizing population in his march for Rome. Meanwhile France has dispatched a fleet to the aid of the Papal troops, and to secure the Pope in his temporal dominion. This carries the controversy outside of Italy and threatens to involve all the leading powers of Europe in a general and momentous struggle.

These events are looked upon with intense interest by the people of the world, though they look only from a political stand-point. They possess far more interest for the student of prophecy, as he beholds in them the fulfillment of the prophetic word, and sees with joy the indications of a speedy consummation of his blessed hope.

But we inquire, What is the significance of events which it seems must inevitably, and perhaps immediately, transpire? Suppose Garibaldi, is able to carry his point, and maintain it against the powerful opposition of the French, and the Pope is deprived of his temporal dominion? What then? To what declaration of prophecy would this answer? Some, who have no better light than to suppose the Lord is coming in 1867, or 1868, say that it denotes the close of the period of 1260 years, and consequently the time for the coming of the Lord. We answer, It denotes neither the one nor the other. The 1260 years ended with the overthrow of the Papacy in 1798, and moreover, no prophetic period is given reaching to the coming of Christ. The calamity with which the Papacy is now threatened, is not so great as that which befell it in 1798, which so clearly marked the termination of the 1260 years. Now the temporal power is in jeopardy; but we have no evidence that any of the parties concerned would be unwilling that the Pope should, in any suitable place, and in a manner that would not interfere with their temporal governments, exercise his spiritual dominion, the same as at the present time. But in 1798, the Papacy was abolished; spiritual as well as temporal power was taken away from it; and the Pope, a prisoner, died in exile. On this point copious extracts were given from Bower's History of the Popes, in the first three numbers of the present volume. Here was a humiliation inflicted upon the Papacy, such as does not seem to be involved in its present dangers. Here was a deadly wound which, had it not been healed, or the powers which it had formerly possessed been partially restored to it, had made a full end of him who pretends to sit in the temple of God, and exercise all the prerogatives of the Deity.

What, then, is the significance of present events connected with the Papacy? They are a fulfillment of prophecy in two respects: First, general, as helping to produce those wars and rumors of war, that political turmoil and perplexity of nations, which were to be manifested in the last days; secondly, specific, as fulfilling the prediction of Daniel respecting the little horn, “But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion to consume and to destroy it unto the end.” Dan. vii, 26.

In 1798 the great blow which marked the termination of the 1260 years of Papal supremacy, was struck. And though that deadly wound was healed, so that the life of the iniquitous system has been prolonged, the “consuming” and “destroying” process has been going on till the present time. One after another, its powerful supporters have drawn away, its enemies have multiplied on every hand, disaster after disaster has befallen it in its once strongholds, till now the impotent Pope sends forth to his faithful bishops, his encyclical wails from his beleaguered city.

They shall “consume and destroy it unto the end.” The end of what? Some think, which may be the true idea, that it means the end of his dominion; that is, so consume it as to make an utter end of it, leaving nothing remaining. Understanding this of the temporal power, which, if now taken away, will probably never be revived, this seems to be upon the very eve of accomplishment. And what follows in quick succession as the next event in the order of this prophecy? We read it in these cheering words: “And the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.” Thank God for the consolation!

Taking advantage of these commotions, the emperor of Russia, according to foreign advices, is disposed to make a move toward the settlement of the ever-vexed and vexing Eastern Question. In this, the fate of Turkey, the great mystic river Euphrates, is involved. It cannot long survive the threatened commotion. Yet between this and its entire extinction, as we read the prophecy, five of the seven last plagues are to be poured upon the heads of the wicked! How near are these things? Dare we put them a great way into the future?

Thus it is, with the world, the hour of expectation. Great events are looked for. All eyes are now turned toward those two great false systems of religion, the Papacy and Mahometanism. Their speedy overthrow is anticipated on all sides. The world wait to see the result. They wait for they know not what. We know for what we wait; for the overthrow of these powers is immediately connected with the setting up of God’s everlasting kingdom.

To the true child of God, the aspects of these times are hopeful. The signs are cheering. Courage, all hearts! Strengthen the weak hands, confirm the feeble knees. The patient toilers will soon reap the reward of their labor. The weary watchers will soon be greeted with the dawn of an eternal day. Redemption is near.