The Message Closed by T. E. Bowen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Mar 23, 1905

The Message Closed

By T. E. Bowen

T. E. BOWEN

A DAY is coming when the third angel's message will be finished. That angel sent out of heaven to warn earth's inhabitants of the coming destruction from the Almighty, foretold by the prophets in the Old and New Testaments, will have completed his work, and winged his way back to heaven to announce his mission accomplished. That will be the most important day for this earth—with perhaps the exception of those of the death and resurrection of the Son of God—ever experienced. The doom of every living soul will that day be sealed either for life or for death.

The mad strife among nations will no longer be held in check. The servants of God will have no further words of warning and comfort from heaven to impart. There will be no further calls for men or means for the cause of God. All the presses turning out the printed pages of truth will come to a standstill. God's work is done. This day is surely coming.

“I was pointed down to the time when the third angel's message was closing. The power of God had rested upon his people; they had accomplished their work, and were prepared for the trying hour before them. They had received the latter rain, or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and the living testimony had been revived. The last

great warning had sounded everywhere, and it had stirred up and enraged the inhabitants of earth, who would not receive the message.”—“Early Writings,” page 140.

Notice the use of the little word “had.” The power of God had rested upon his chosen ones; because of this, they had accomplished their work; the latter rain had fallen as promised, and the living testimony had been revived among the remnant; the great warning had sounded everywhere, and had stirred the world.

Some tell us the work is so mighty, the people so feeble and financially poor, that it is a question whether it will be accomplished within the limits of “this generation.” But this language contains promises that the message will not only not fail, but that it will triumph most gloriously. It will accomplish its work. Had it been born on earth among men, then we might question its ultimate success.

But it will mean something to triumph with it. It is no path of luxury. It is a way of self-denial; therefore but few find it.

Some may be clinging to their earthly treasures in the hope of having them devoted to the message before it shall close. There were such persons back in 1844, even with an announced, definite date fixed for that great message to close.

Upon this point the testimony of one who saw it is given in “Rise and Progress,” page 57, as follows: “There were, however, men who held onto their means, struggling all the while under the conviction that they would use it to advance the work, until it was too late to invest it. Such came to those engaged in printing the message, urging them with tears to accept their money, but the reply was, ‘You are too late! We have paid for all the printing matter we can possibly circulate before the end. We have hired several power-presses to run night and day; we do not want any more money.’ An eye-witness testified to me that he saw men lay thousands of dollars on the desk before the publisher of the Voice of Truth, and in anguish of spirit beg of him to take it and use it. The reply was, ‘You are too late! We don’t want your money now! We can’t use it!’ Then they asked, ‘Can it not be given to the poor?’ The answer was the same, ‘We have made provision for the immediate wants of all such that we can reach.’ In distress of mind the men took away their money, declaring that the frown of God was upon them for their lack of faith and for the covetousness which led them to withhold means from the cause of God when it was needed and would have been gladly used.”

This experience should be a warning to us now. There will be no future work in which to invest our talents of intellect or means when this message is done. To be too late when it shall close, will be a terrible thing. While it is yet going, let us consider no sacrifice too great, no task set by the Master too hard; for surely there is nothing more important in all the world than this grand, searching message of the truth of God going to the inhabitants of our world.

May the glad day hasten when the latter rain truly will fall, the living testimony indeed be revived, and God's “little flock” complete their earth work, and enter upon their heavenly reward.