The Last Hour

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Dec 11, 1916

“Little children, it is the last hour.” 1 John 2: 18, R. V. Now is the gathering time. Throughout all Scripture the last days are described as a time of world-wide evangelization. The last hour is the harvest hour in the closing gospel work. And that hour has come.

“The sunset burns across the sky; Upon the air its warning cry The curfew tolls from tower to tower, O children, ’tis the last, last hour!” “The work that centuries might have done Must crowd the hour of setting sun; And through all lands the saving Name Ye must, in fervent haste, proclaim.”

A World-wide Movement

Isaiah saw this time in vision—the gospel of Christ’s peace being proclaimed to all the world, the Lord making bare the arm of his might to save:—

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation. . . . The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Isa. 52: 7-10.

As Jesus, from the mount of Olives, looked down through the centuries to the last things in the gospel history, he saw the world-wide missionary movement closing the harvest hour:—

“The gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt. 24: 14.

In the last views of historic prophecy—given to the prophet John on the isle of Patmos—he saw the nations gathering for the day of wrath. He heard the voices cry:—

“The nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldst give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldst destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.” Rev. 11: 18, 19.

A Time of Judgment

The picture is clear. While on earth the nations war and prepare for war, in heaven above the time of the judgment is come, that is to decide the eternal destiny of every son and daughter of Adam’s race. When Christ comes, the righteous are given immortality, the wicked are consumed by the glory of his presence. It is to be all “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.” No time then for an investigation and decision. This investigative judgment is the closing work of Christ, our High Priest, in the heavenly temple, just before he comes in power and glory. The work begins with the dead of ages past, and when at last the record of the living is passed upon, the Lord will come. This is what the prophet saw: The opening of the judgment hour in the heavenly temple, the law of God the standard of the judgment, enshrined in “the ark of his testament”—the same perfect law of righteousness which was spoken from Sinai and written “with the finger of God” himself.

The Closing Gospel Message

While the prophet saw this judgment hour passing in heaven, he saw on earth the last message of the “everlasting gospel” speeding on to all mankind,—

“To every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” Rev. 14: 6, 7.

And as the law of God, the ten commandments, is the standard of the judgment, so the prophecy shows that the special message of the everlasting gospel in this generation is an appeal to prepare to meet Christ at his coming, and a call to the keeping of the commandments of God, by faith in Jesus Christ, the divine author of the holy law. Of those who give heed to the gospel call in this time the prophecy says:—

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Verse 12.

It is among this company, when Christ comes, and we shall long to stand. This generation has been the hour of world-wide missions. The great missionary movement has carried the light of God’s Holy Word to the uttermost parts of the earth. And along with the general work of foreign missions, there has sprung up in this generation of the judgment hour, the very movement described by this prophecy of Revelation 14—a movement that is spreading rapidly through every continent, crying the warning message of the prophecy, “The hour of his judgment is come,” and bringing forth, wherever it goes, a people standing for the New Testament standard and the platform of the Reformation, “The Bible as the rule of faith and practice”—“the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

When the gospel message shall have reached every nation and people “then shall the end come.” Then our Saviour will come in power and glory to reap the harvest of the earth.

Truly “it is the last hour.” The Lord Jesus, our coming Saviour, pleads with every soul to watch and be ready. He is coming for you, reader. “I will come again,” he promises, “and receive you.” His loving heart pleads with you to be ready to receive him. Again, he speaks: “Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matt. 24: 44.