p. 3 | The Advent Message

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 3, 1908

The Advent Message

THIS advent movement has its place in history. Although it did not have its origin in any of the great seats of theological learning, and has not been recommended to the world by the leaders of theological thought, yet it has steadily made its way, in the face of ridicule and opposition, until it is now recognized as a factor which must be reckoned with in the religious world.

There is only one explanation for these facts. A divine message was to be proclaimed, and a divine providence raised up the messengers. This was not done in any arbitrary way, or in violation of the freedom of choice, but by directing the attention of sincere students of the Scriptures to those portions of God’s Word which declared the purpose of God for this time. William Miller, J. V. Himes, Charles Fitch, Josiah Litch, Joseph Bates, James White, J. N. Andrews, J. H. Waggoner, Uriah Smith, and their associates — men of no mean intellectual ability and of deep piety — were rewarded in their prayerful search of the Scriptures with such an understanding of the prophecies relating to the last days as enabled them to declare with assurance that the great prophetic periods were fulfilled, that the last-day conditions both of the church and of the world were fully met, and that a waiting church would soon behold her divine Lord.

Although this message has been rejected by the many, and has been scoffed at by infidels and nominal believers, yet it has been gladly received by many thousands who are persuaded that the work of preparing the way for the coming King is now being done, and that the long-deferred hope of the church will soon be realized.

Among all the religious denominations there is only one professing to be carrying forward the complete work of reform necessary to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. The name adopted by this people—the Seventh-day Adventists—suggests the leading features of this movement,— a return to the observance of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and the proclamation of the impending advent. This movement also stands for the restoration of every neglected or perverted gospel truth, and a return to the simplicity of apostolic faith and practise.

Let the doubting Thomases consider this fact: The Sabbath reform and the announcement of the second advent, when united in one message, have commanded the attention of the people as no proclamation of either truth by itself has been able to do. Although it demands a positive conviction of truth, and a courage based upon an intelligent faith, to respond to the call to observe the seventh-day Sabbath, contrary to the custom of the world and the example of the churches, and although the disappointment of 1844 has led many to regard the advent movement as a lost cause, yet the growth of this denomination and the extension of this message during the last forty years, furnish convincing evidence that this work is not of men. In almost every land on the face of the earth, the Sabbath and the advent have been proclaimed, and witnesses to these truths have been raised up; and this has all been done during the present generation. Some of the earliest advocates of these truths are still bearing their testimony in favor of them.

These considerations may serve to renew the courage of those who have already identified themselves with this advent movement, and ought to be suggestive to those who have attempted to proclaim the Sabbath truth apart from the advent doctrine. Both the Scriptures and providence testify that these truths go together, and neither of them can now be successfully proclaimed without the other.