The Spirit of the 1844 Movement as a Lesson for the Closing Hour
By E. W. Farnsworth
(Reading for Wednesday, December 16)
The Spirit of the 1844 Movement as a Lesson for the Closing Hour
E. W. FARNSWORTH
Seventy years ago people lived who expected to see Jesus come in the clouds of heaven. They testified to the world that the day of the Lord was “nigh at hand.” Their message was given “with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth.”
Sinners trembled and hypocrites were afraid. Those who loved Jesus rejoiced and awaited with glad anticipation the day of his coming. Throughout the earth the thrilling cry was sounded, “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” It was as a voice from heaven saying to all upon the earth, “Hear ye! hear ye! hear ye! The investigative judgment and the blotting out of sins has begun in heaven. Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.”
The Spirit of the Movement
No such message had ever been given. Deep solemnity attended the proclamation. Those who gave the warning were humble, men who sought not honor from their fellow men. With an overwhelming sense that the blood of souls would be required of them if they did not warn the people, they traced down the prophecies showing their connection with the present, and implored sinners to flee from the wrath to come. They reproved sin, rebuked worldliness and backsliding, and the Spirit of God sent deep conviction to the hearts of those who heard.
The belief that Jesus would soon come led to diligent searching of the Scriptures. Bibles long neglected were studied with new interest. There must be no uncertainty in the hope they cherished. The people studied for themselves, that they might be able to join in giving the warning to others.
The thought, “The great day of the Lord is at hand! who shall be able to stand when he appeareth?” led the believers to devote much time to prayer.
HONOLULU CHURCH SCHOOL, WITH SOME MISSION WORKERS AND CHURCH MEMBERS IN THE REAR
Entire nights were spent pleading with God, with strong crying and tears. The groves and fields, the church and closet, witnessed the outpouring of hearts while men, women, and children sought God with all the soul, obtaining forgiveness for their sins, and communing with him as a man talks to his friend.
In this movement the believers forsook not the assembling of themselves together. They met to counsel, encourage, and help one another. Country folk flocked to cities and villages where discourses on the second advent were delivered, and the places of meeting were crowded day and night.
The message that Jesus was soon coming led to personal effort for the salvation of others. Young people labored and prayed with and for their companions. One of them relates this experience:—
“I arranged meetings with my young friends, some of whom were considerably older than myself, and a few were married persons. . . . I determined that my efforts should never cease till these dear souls, for whom I had so great an interest, yielded to God. Several entire nights were spent by me in earnest prayer for those whom I had sought out and brought together for the purpose of laboring and praying with them. . . . Every one was converted to God.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. I, pages 33, 34.
There was manifested a kind thoughtfulness for others. Of William Miller it is said that while lecturing, when every seat in the house was filled, and the platform and even the pulpit seemed crowded, he would walk down the aisle, take some feeble old man or woman by the hand, find a seat for him, and then resume his discourse. The Spirit of Christ makes men tender-hearted, courteous, and affectionate.
“We carefully examined every thought and emotion of our hearts, as if upon our deathbeds,” says one who participated in that experience. There was searching of heart and confession of sin, that no impurity should be found to stain the life and separate from their Lord.
There was self-denial, and the giving of all their possessions, that the message might be proclaimed to those who had not heard it. They were looking for a better country, and this world had lost its attraction for them. They had no disposition to hoard treasures on earth.
The true believers were willing to endure persecution for Christ’s sake. They were ridiculed for their faith, and cast out of the churches, but still they held fast their confidence without wavering.
Those who really expected Jesus to come were plain in their dress, and had no desire to look or act like the world. They found no pleasure in its amusements. To them the manifestation of pride and worldliness seemed contrary to the teachings of the Scriptures, and that it was not in harmony with the spirit of the gospel to devote God-given time and means to decorate the body. Self-denial and humility seemed far more fitting for those whose sins cost the infinite sacrifice of the Son of God.
The coming of Jesus and the preparation necessary to meet him were the themes of conversation in the home and when brethren and sisters met together. That preparation was the business of their lives, and anything else was of little worth.16
The Lesson for Us
“The advent movement of 1840-44 was a glorious manifestation of the power of God; the first angel’s message was carried to every missionary station in the world, and in some countries there was the greatest religious interest which has been witnessed in any land since the Reformation of the sixteenth century; but these are to be far exceeded by the mighty movement under the last warning of the third angel.”—“Great Controversy,” page 611.
The people who lived seventy years ago believed they would see Jesus come, but they were mistaken in the event which took place at the end of the prophetic period. We who live in 1914 stand face to face with the overwhelming glory they expected to see. To us is granted the privilege of going out to give the last warning the world will hear, and of being caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
“We are living in the most solemn period of this world’s history. The destiny of earth’s teeming multitudes is about to be decided. Our own future well-being, and also the salvation of other souls, depends upon the course which we now pursue. . . . We have not a moment to lose. Events of vital importance are taking place around us; we are on Satan’s enchanted ground. Sleep not, sentinels of God; the foe is lurking near, ready at any moment, should you become lax and drowsy, to spring upon you and make you his prey.”—“Great Controversy,” page 601.
The events of the past few months indicate that we are indeed entering the last phase of the final conflict. This view was presented to the servant of God: “I saw greater distress in the land than we have yet witnessed. I heard groans and cries of distress, and saw large companies in active battle. I heard the booming of the cannon, the clash of arms, the hand-to-hand fight, and the groans and prayers of the dying. The ground was covered with the wounded and the dead. I saw desolate, despairing families, and pinching want in many dwellings. Even now many families are suffering want, but this will increase. The faces of many looked haggard, pale, and pinched with hunger. . . .
“The signs of Christ’s coming are too plain to be doubted; and in view of these things every one who professes the truth should be a living preacher. God calls upon all, both preachers and people, to awake. All heaven is astir. . . . Greater perils are before us, and yet we are not awake. This lack of activity and earnestness in the cause of God is dreadful. This death stupor is from Satan.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. I, pages 260, 261.
The example of earnest, persevering, prevailing prayer found in God’s people under the first advent message should be followed now. It surely will be before the end comes. “Those who are unwilling to deny self, to agonize before God, to pray long and earnestly for his blessing, will not obtain it.”
The readiness to confess and forsake sin found among the first advent believers should be a lesson to us. “All who endeavor to excuse or conceal their sins, and permit them to remain upon the books of heaven, unconfessed and unforgiven, will be overcome by Satan. . . . Those who delay a preparation for the day of God cannot obtain it in the time of trouble, or at any subsequent time. The case of all such is hopeless.”
The tendency to copy the world and follow its fashions manifested among Seventh-day Adventists is heart-rending. The wide gap between the Christian and the worldling of seventy years ago is fast closing up. Many speak of their coldness and lack of spiritual power, while at the same time they are indulging pride and sensuality. They are not willing to pay the price for a better Christian experience. They cannot have the approval of God while dressing and acting like the world. The decision must be made for or against him.
Some are waiting for the refreshing from the Lord, the outpouring of the Spirit, to give them the needed preparation, but such will be sadly disappointed. “Not one of us will receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost. . . . Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be without spot before God—candidates for heaven.”
“The day of God’s vengeance is just upon us. The seal of God will be placed upon the foreheads of those only who sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land. Those who link in sympathy with the world are eating and drinking with the drunken, and will surely be destroyed with the workers of iniquity.”
“I was shown God’s people waiting for some change to take place—a compelling power to take hold of them. But they will be disappointed, for they are wrong. They must act, they must take hold of the work themselves, and earnestly cry to God for a true knowledge of themselves. The scenes which are passing before us are of sufficient magnitude to cause us to arouse, and urge the truth home to the hearts of all who will listen. The harvest of the earth is nearly ripe.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. I, page 261.
Truly the zeal, earnestness, prayerfulness, and diligence exercised in 1844 were none too great for us to imitate just before the close of time. “Hath
God cast away his people? God forbid.” But because of their great need he mercifully sends warnings calculated to stir the very soul. Now, just now, even TODAY, is the time to turn to the Lord with all the heart, and with fasting and weeping and mourning.
“No one need say that his case is hopeless, that he cannot live the life of the Christian. Ample provision is made by the death of Christ for every soul. Jesus is our present help in time of need. Only call upon him in faith, and he has promised to hear and answer your petitions.”
