J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH by John Norton Loughborough

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 17, 1914

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

By John Norton Loughborough

The Second Advent Movement — No. 10

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

“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.” Rev. 10:10. This figure illustrates the result to those receiving the time message of that chapter. The message proclaimed from the once sealed but now open book, was the close of prophetic time. They enjoyed the sweetness of the message until the time was up. Then, as represented in Whiting’s translation, “When I had eaten it, in my second stomach it was picra.” Picra is a preparation of alcohol, gum myrrh, and aloes.

This well illustrates the condition of those earnest believers who, on the twenty-third of October, found themselves not only still on earth, sadly disappointed, but subject to the taunting and ridicule of their opponents. Brother Whipple, of Vermont, a brother-in-law of Geo. I. Butler, told me of his experience on that morning. He and his family had earnestly believed the Lord would come on the tenth day, and had provided no food for another day. They had a little money left, but to go to the town and buy food was a trying thing to do, as he must go to those to whom he had bidden adieu for this world the day before. As he neared the provision store, he saw a young man of his acquaintance spring out from behind the building and stare at him, and then dodge back again. This he did three times. Finally, standing in front of Brother Whipple, he said: “Whipple, is that you? I thought you went up yesterday.” Brother Whipple said: “The Lord gave me an immediate answer. I said to the young man in a solemn manner, ‘John, if I had gone up yesterday, where do you suppose you would have gone?’” The young man never troubled him again.

The world around supposed, no doubt, as the masses did after Christ’s crucifixion, that the believers would now renounce their faith, and join in scoffing at their supposed folly. They very soon learned, to their astonishment, that the love of the Lord’s appearing was not easily eradicated from the affections of those who had truly consecrated themselves to God. As to the situation, we read, in the words of one who passed through the disappointment: “The peculiar, trying position of those who on the eleventh day of the seventh month found themselves in this world of trial and temptation, finds a fitting illustration in the case of Mary as she ‘stood without the sepulcher weeping,’ and when accosted by the angels with the question, ‘Woman, why weepest thou?’ said to them, ‘Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.’”

As the believers again diligently searched the Scriptures, they saw more fully why those waiting for the second advent were compared by Paul to the disappointed disciples of Christ. Each had been sadly disappointed in their expectations, and “made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions.” Heb. 10: 33–39. This the Adventists keenly felt when, if not said to their faces, they would hear from behind, “There he goes, one of the regular every-day go-upers.” It needed patience; but there was the consolation, “Ye have done the will of God.” Like Jeremiah, they could say, “Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart. . . . I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor

rejoiced: I sat alone because of thy hand.” Jer. 15: 16, 17. To them came the word of the Lord by the prophet Habakkuk, “At the end it shall speak, and not lie.” Hab. 2: 3. As they were at the end of the predicted time, the question was, “How does the vision speak?” Turning again to the discourse of Christ, they read, “They that were ready went in with him to the marriage.” This could not be his coming to this earth, for “afterward” came the other virgins knocking, and he tells them to “watch,” because they do not know the hour of his appearing.

Now came the question, “What and when is the marriage?” Turning to Luke, they read: “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.” Luke 12: 35, 36. They said: “This shows that the wedding is just previous to Christ’s coming. So the coming of the Bridegroom to the wedding takes place before his coming to the earth.”

In Revelation they found that the New Jerusalem was “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” Rev. 21: 9. As shown to the prophet Daniel, there was to be a time when “one like the Son of man” was to come to the “Ancient of days,” the Father, to receive his kingdom. Dan. 7: 13, 14. They said: “In ancient times, when a province was conquered and the ruler came to his capital city to take possession, they had a marriage ceremony, uniting him to his capital and his kingdom. So Christ will be married to his kingdom.” On the matter of the Lord’s marrying the land, see Isa. 62: 4. They read also in Heb. 10: 19, 20, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest.” So, by faith, we enter in with him to the marriage. Of this we read in “Great Controversy,” edition of 1911, page 427, “These saw the truth concerning the sanctuary in heaven and the Saviour’s change of ministration, and by faith they followed him in his work in the sanctuary above.”

That they had moved in the order of the Lord in giving the messages is further confirmed by the Testimony: “The first and second angels’ messages . . . were given at the right time, and accomplished the work which God designed to accomplish by them.”—Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. IV, page 254.

1. It was God’s purpose that the world should be notified that the coming of Christ was “at the door.”

2. It was his purpose that a people should be brought together untrammeled by church creeds, who could proclaim to the whole world his truth for these last days. So it was with the apostles. They could not give the gospel to all the world, bound by Jewish hatred of Gentiles. The situation was well expressed by Paul and Silas at Athens. They said to the Jews: “It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” Acts 13: 46. So the call to the marriage supper was first made “to them that were bidden.” Luke 14: 17. When they, the Sardis church, let go of what they had “received and heard,” the Lord brought out the Philadelphia church, that his message might advance to its completion. Rev. 3: 1–11. Lodi, Cal.