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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Apr 20, 1905

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 16.

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Present Tokens

By Stephen N. Haskell

S. N. HASKELL
“WATCHMAN, what of the night?” is the question asked by the Lord. “The Lord himself gave the answer, “The morning cometh, and also the night.” It is well for the church to ask the same question to-day. There is light for the church that would not be appreciated by those who are not governed by the principles that govern the church. It is a fact that for more than fifty years we have stood before the world as a separate people, looking for the second coming of Christ. There are certain events that cluster around his second coming that to us are tokens of that event, which others do not appreciate.
About forty-five years ago, at a tent-meeting held in Lancaster, Mass., before any organization had been effected in the East, the Spirit of the Lord gave us light respecting certain things that would take place near the end. I was present at the meeting. The brethren were in trial because certain ones felt it duty to move West. So the matter was talked over. And the light given was that the Lord was moving on certain ones to move West. After the truth had gone West in the closing work, God would move on the minds of the brethren to come East, and at that time the work would go with power. It would be after organization was effected; for at that time we were unorganized. Now what have we seen? The truth has gone West, even to the islands of the sea and Australia. It has returned to the eastern portion of the United States, even at the head of the government. Shall we say it has not come with power? The judgment alone will reveal what has been accomplished recently in the city of Washington, in staying the making of an image to the beast. The States have Sunday laws, and all that is necessary to give them force is for the nation to make a law, and then the dragon will speak with authority. Who can not see the providence of the Lord in this? and also see that we are in the closing work of the message?
Again: we have looked forward to the time when nearly entire churches would embrace the truth, when the sick would be healed, when God would work wonders in behalf of present truth, when his providence would be over his work in a wonderful manner. Could our eyes be opened to all parts of the world at one glance, and see as God sees, there is not a phase of present truth that we have expected to see in the closing work, but in some portions of the world it is being fulfilled at the present hour. Simply because we do not see in our immediate neighborhood all these evidences is no sign that they do not exist. God has not said that everything he has spoken in regard to the closing of the gospel would be fulfilled in every particular in each locality. The Lord has a larger work on hand than to prepare some single township for the coming of the Son of man. The world is to be prepared, and surely we are in the day of his preparation, even in the time when the nations are angry, for his wrath is come; and soon, very soon, we shall see there has not a word failed of all he has spoken concerning his work. The loud cry will come and pass, and probation will end, while the world is going on the same as in the past. And I fear that many, yes, very many, of our people will be dreaming over what they expect to see in the loud cry, and will not awaken until probation has closed.
The openings and methods of labor have so increased that none can say, There is no opportunity for me. There is a place for every one, there are openings of various kinds, and it is only the narrow mind that thinks, because everything is not done in some one particular way, it can not be of the Lord. The Lord has set his hand to the work, and it will be accomplished. To every man the Lord has given his work. The important question with us is, Are we doing the work the Lord has appointed to us? The old ship Zion will enter harbor on time. Everything is working toward this one grand end. God will raise up laborers, and devise agencies that we little dream of to accomplish his purpose in the world. Nothing can be done against the truth, but for its advancement. It is the overruling providence of God that is so shaping matters that before we are aware of it, the work will be finished. May the Lord help us to realize the time in which we live, and to prepare for that glad day; for the morning cometh, and also the night of death and darkness to a sinful world.
South Lancaster, Mass.