Untitled article by Mrs. Hattie L. Drew

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, March 3, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. XXXI, No. 12

THE VALLEY OF DECISION.

By Mrs. Hattie L. Drew

“Multitude, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” Joel iii, 14. We cannot apply this to the time in which the prophet lived, from the fact that the great day of the Lord was to be near, at the time of its fulfillment, and he evidently was looking far down the stream of time, through the dark mist of ages, and saw just what would be the state and condition of the world at, or near, the closing up of all things; for, alas! says he, the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come; a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of cloud and thick darkness; the earth shall quake before them, the heavens shall tremble, the sun, moon, and stars shall withdraw their shining; for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible, and who shall abide it.

Multitudes there are in this great valley of decision, and do they realize the solemn moments in which we are living? Ah, no! Darkness covers the land, and gross darkness the people. Eyes have they, but they see not. They have ears, but they hear not, neither do they understand. A little sleep, and a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. Prov. xxiv, 33, 34.

God has a few watchmen who are faithfully proclaiming these great truths among the Gentiles. They stand upon the walls of Zion, warning the world of its approaching doom, and that there is a sword hanging over the inhabitants of the land. Eze. xxxiii. Yet notwithstanding all these warnings, the multitude rush blindly on in the broad road to destruction, hardening their hearts as they did in the days before the flood, rejecting the truth, for which they will stand condemned, as in the antediluvian world. But so says the sure word of prophecy it shall be done here in the days of the Son of man. The false prophets will continue to cry, Peace and safety, preach smooth things to please the people, and daub with untempered mortar, having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof, lulling the world to sleep on the very brink of destruction. These are some of the characteristics of the preaching of these last days. And so they will continue to cry, Peace, when there is no peace, when sudden destruction shall come upon them and they shall not escape, and Jesus shall be seen coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory to all those who are watching for, and loving his appearing. Unto such, he says, I will appear without sin the second time unto salvation. Ye brethren are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief. Why? Because they are the children of the day, and not of the night.

The ministers of the Lord, are duly warning the world of the Saviour’s coming, and their work is nearly done. The message is fast closing up. The scoffing multitude will soon cry for rocks and mountains to fall upon them and hide them from the presence of Him that sitteth upon the throne, and from the glory of his majesty. The angel is about to thrust in his sickle to reap, for the harvest of the earth is nearly ripe, and their wickedness is very great.

Here they stand, multitudes in the great valley of decision, and they are deciding every day, for or against the truth. The mass scoffed in Noah’s day, laughed and made sport, until the thunder-bolts of heaven were discharged, and the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the rains began to descend upon their guilty heads. Why? Simply because they loved darkness rather than light, and would not believe No. 1. So it is now. Warning after warning is being given; line upon line, and precept upon precept; but they will not obey. Oh! sinner, and worldly professor, haste thee, haste thee! Tarry not in all the plain, lest thou be consumed. Oh! let us who profess to be looking for Jesus’ coming, adorn our profession by well ordered lives and godly conversations, keeping before our eyes the Judgment of the great day. And may we cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, that we may be able to stand in the great day of trouble which is fast approaching, a holy people before the Lord at his coming.

Mrs. Hattie L. Drew. South Poultney, N. Y.