J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH by John Norton Loughborough

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 6, 1914

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

By John Norton Loughborough

The Second Advent Movement — No. 5

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

In our last article we were brought to the disappointment of the Adventists in the spring of 1844. They very soon discovered that even their disappointment was predicted. The discourse of Christ in Matthew 24, in reply to the question, “What shall be the sign of thy coming?” extended into the twenty-fifth chapter. And after the teaching of the parable of the fig tree, a tarrying time is mentioned. So in their first paper, within a week from their disappointment, they said, “We are in the tarrying time of Matt. 25:5.” They could say, in the language of Peter, “We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In following the sure word of prophecy, they found the pathway as effectually lighted, step by step, as the lamp lights the pathway of the traveler in the darkness. With David, they could say, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Ps. 119:105. Their message had gone world-wide, as the sound “when the lion roareth.” As expressed by the prophet Amos, they could say, “The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?” Amos 3:8. As they reviewed their experience and the manner in which they had taught, they saw in it prophecy fulfilled at every step.

1. Light concerning the 2300 days was to be “sealed till the time of the end”—1798. Then “many” were to discover the light. The light then received was that the 2300 days would end in the year 1844. So they had taught.

2. Just after the fulfillment of the three signs of Matt. 24:23-33—particularly after the falling of the stars, Nov. 13, 1833—the Lord was to raise up teachers to teach the parable of the fig tree. From that time such teachers had been raised up all over the world, and had taught the parable. So the spring of 1844 had been to them “the door” of the parable, which would open to usher them into eternal bliss and glory.

3. After proclaiming the parable, they would be in the tarrying time. They did not know how long the vision would tarry; but they would patiently wait, believing light would soon come.

4. While they thus traced fulfilled prophecy, other predictions were fulfilling right before their eyes. After the tarrying of the parable comes the question, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom the Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? . . . But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken.” Matt. 24:45-49. This is just what did come after April, 1844. Even some ministers who had joined in the movement turned to “accuse and condemn those who were still faithful to their Master.” We find a Bible definition of smiting in the case of Jeremiah. His opposers said, “Let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.” Jer. 18:18. What was my surprise, in May, 1844, to hear our church pastor “beg the pardon of the church for having invited the advent ministers into the church building.” That movement, however, resulted in the conversion of five hundred sinners, and many of them were among the very ones he was asking to pardon him. He said, “Our theologians have decided that there is to be a thousand years, a millennium, yet before the Lord will come.” A few weeks later he said, “Our best theologians are questioning whether that thousand years is not prophetic. If so, it will be 365,000 years yet before the Lord will come.” Delaying the coming, surely!

5. The Saviour said the evil servants would then begin “to eat and drink with the drunken.” Matt. 24:49. This very thing began in Rochester, N. Y., a few blocks from where the great public interest was aroused, in 1840, in Brother William’s mammoth tent. While Brother Miller was speaking to hundreds of Adventists in a hired hall in the city, reviewing their experience and exhorting to earnest prayer for light, a minister in one of the largest churches in the city called the people together for a feast in the church building, serving oysters, cake, ice cream, and sweets. He ridiculed “Elder Miller and his dupes,” as he called them, and sold for twenty-five cents a little pamphlet he had prepared, entitled “Millerism Exposed.” Before Brother Miller left the city the pastor of another church appointed a feast in a public hall, inviting “everybody to come who wanted a good time.” He had tickets of admission for twenty-five cents to his feast of cakes, oysters, ice cream, and sweets. He thought it too bad to have such a feast in a church building. Of such work Brother Miller said: “I am happy to learn that some of the churches of the different sects did not approve such Babylonian feasts, and I do hope in my soul that not all of these sectarian churches will be found eating and drinking with the drunken when Christ appears.” What was thus begun when the Lord said it would begin has developed into grab bags, crazy socials, kissing bees, etc. Finally, a modern church is not considered complete unless it has its social parlor, dining room, kitchen, and pantry. In my travels in the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa, I have asked my audiences this question: “Did any of you ever hear of a festival in a Protestant church before May, 1844? If so, raise your hand.” During the sixty-one years that I have asked this question, the first hand has not yet been raised. The very thing began just where the Lord said it would begin. So this fulfillment of prophecy, coming right in connection with the tarrying time, further convinced the Adventists that they were on the right track, and that all would be made plain in the Lord’s own good time.

Lodi, Cal.