R. F. COTTRELL by Roswell F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 14, 1869

R. F. COTTRELL

By Roswell F. Cottrell

THE CLOSING MESSAGES.—NO. 5.

The 2300 days do not reach to the advent of Christ. We think they ended in 1844. None can show that they reach to the present time. But the work of the cleansing of the sanctuary must commence at their termination. The sanctuary of God is not on the earth in this dispensation; it is where our High Priest is, at the “right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the Heavens.” See Heb. viii, 1, 2. Its cleansing is to be accomplished with the atoning blood of Christ; it is the blotting out of the sins of his people. Consequently he should not come to earth to cleanse the sanctuary. He should do this work before he leaves his priesthood and comes a king. The blotting out of sins is a work of judgment for the people of God. It is their acquittal—a decision that they are to have part in the first resurrection, and are exempt from the second death. How fitting, then, that when this final work of the atonement is to commence, at the appointed time at the end of the days, it should be proclaimed in the earth, “Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his Judgment is come.” But with the view that no judgment takes place before the second advent, such a proclamation must lead to a disappointment whenever it shall come. The sanctuary subject has led us to correct this error by the plain teaching of the word of the Lord, and the example of the types in the former dispensation—the sanctuary of the first covenant, and its cleansing once a year. See Heb. ix; Lev. xvi.

Besides this, the connection of the judgment-hour message in the prophecy proves that it is not the last message; for “there followed” the second and the third angels, with their messages of warning, and consequently of probation, after this message is given. The Advent people, believing as you do now, how natural for them to be disappointed then, as you would be now, should the hour of God’s Judgment be heralded in the world, and you should believe it. We have, since our disappointment, corrected our false view of the Judgment hour; you may, if you will give us a hearing, correct yourself without such a disappointment. You may learn from the experience of others, and share in the happy result of increase of wisdom and understanding in the word of the Lord.

The disappointment, then, is nothing against the fulfillment of this message in 1844, but rather in its favor, since it shows the overruling hand of the Lord. He fulfilled his word in his own appointed time and way. We were disappointed, and knew not the cause until we had investigated the word anew and found it.

The chosen apostles of Jesus would not believe when they heard that he was risen from the dead. But this, their unbelief, gives to the fact of his resurrection additional weight of proof. He was not stolen from the sepulcher by them, but rose, contrary to their expectation, and in spite of their unbelief. But the wound of their disappointment in his crucifixion was healed, and their unbelief in his resurrection was corrected when they were convinced of his resurrection, and they could say, in the language of Peter, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath begotten us again to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” We also can give thanks to God for the increasing light we have received since our disappointment, and which the study of the cause of that disappointment was a means of leading us into.

God has led in the Advent movement, notwithstanding our error, and we only believe it with greater assurance. The first angel’s message has been fulfilled. The strongest evidence is, that it has been announced in the right time and manner.