W. S. CHAPMAN by W. S. Chapman

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 19, 1916

W. S. CHAPMAN

By W. S. Chapman

The Laodicean Message—No. 3

W. S. CHAPMAN

The people who are to have a part in the closing work of the third angel's message will be a truly converted people having a deep sense not only of the importance, but of the vast scope of the message.

“The remnant people of God must be a converted people. The presentation of this message is to result in the conversion and sanctification of souls. We are to feel the power of the Spirit of God in this movement. This is a wonderful, definite message; it means everything to the receiver, and it is to be proclaimed with a loud cry. We must have a true, abiding faith that this message will go forth with increasing importance till the close of time.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. IX, p. 154.

They will be a people with an eye single to God's service, having an over-mastering burden for souls, and an intense longing for a convincing power to attend their work. We read:—

“A deeper and wider experience in religious things is to come to God's people. Christ is our example. If through living faith and sanctified obedience to God's word, we reveal the love and grace of Christ, if we show that we have a true conception of God's guiding providences in the work, we shall carry to the world a convincing power. . . . Through the faith that his people exercise in him, God will make known to the world that he is the true God, the God of Israel.”—Id., p. 274.

To perfect such a people he tests them over and over again, “until his servants are so humbled, so dead to self, that, when called into active service, their eye will be single to his glory.”—Id., Vol. IV, p. 86. For this people the Laodicean message is to accomplish four things: Bring them to a realization of their backslidings, lead them to a zealous repentance, bring Jesus into their hearts, and enable the latter rain to fit them for giving the loud cry.

Much misconception exists as to when and why the latter rain is to descend upon God's people. The impression seems to be quite general that the latter rain is the power which is to cleanse the people from sin, in preparation for giving the loud cry.

Cleansing from sin is an individual work, and under the gospel God has but one method through which it is to be accomplished,—by repentance and confession,—bringing pardon and acceptance, changing the position of the sinner into that of a child of God. This is a work to precede the bestowal of the latter rain. The former rain fell upon the disciples after they had so cleansed themselves that they stood before the Lord blameless in his sight. The former rain was the power of God given to enable them to accomplish the work they had to do. So it will be in the bestowal of the latter rain. God will thus strengthen his saints after their conversion, for their final work, then seal them for eternity.

In the conversion of this people the putting away of sin comes first. To this end the servant of the Lord said, “Every church needs a clear, sharp testimony, giving the trumpet a certain sound.”—Id., Vol. VI, p. 375.

“I was shown that if God's people make no efforts on their part, but wait for the refreshing to come upon them and remove their wrongs and correct their errors; if they depend upon that to cleanse them from filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and fit them to engage in the loud cry of the third angel, they will be found wanting. The refreshing, or power of God, comes only on those who have prepared themselves for it by doing the work which God bids them; namely, cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”—Id., Vol. I, p. 619.

“The people of God must see their wrongs, and arouse to zealous repentance, and a putting away of those sins which have brought them into such a deplorable condition of poverty, blindness, wretchedness, and fearful deception. I was shown that the pointed testimony must live in the church. This alone will answer to the message to the Laodiceans. Wrongs must be reproved, sin must be called sin, and iniquity must be met promptly and decidedly, and put away from us as a people.”—Id., Vol. III, p. 260.

“As a people professing to be reformers, treasuring the most solemn, purifying truths of God's Word, we must elevate the standard far higher than it is at the present time. Sin and sinners in the church must be promptly dealt with, that others may not be contaminated. Truth and purity require that we make more thorough work to cleanse the camp from Achans. Let those in responsible positions not suffer sin in a brother. Show him that he must either put away his sins or be separated from the church.”—Id., Vol. V, p. 147.

This testing work is for eternity. None will be left in the ranks but those who are going through to the kingdom. In 1870 the servant of the Lord made this statement:—

“I have tried in the fear of God to set before his people their danger and their sins, and have endeavored, to the best of my feeble powers, to arouse them. I have stated startling things, which, if they had believed, would have caused them distress and terror, and led them to zeal in repenting of their sins and iniquities. I have stated before them that, from what was shown me, but a small number of those now professing to believe the truth would eventually be saved,—not because they could not be saved, but because they would not be saved in God's own appointed way.”—Id., Vol. II, p. 445.

Few stood the test in Christ's day. “Christ sifted his followers again and again, until, at one time, there remained only eleven and a few faithful women to lay the foundation of the Christian church.”—Id., Vol. V, p. 130. It will be a “remnant” who finish the work. Rev. 12:17.

However, few as they will be comparatively, their work will rouse the world. The day is quickly coming, indeed has begun, when the public estimation concerning Seventh-day Adventists will undergo a decided change:—

“Our people have been regarded as too insignificant to be worthy of notice; but a change will come. The Christian world is now making movements which will necessarily bring commandment-keeping people into prominence. . . . The lawmaking powers will be against God's people. Every soul will be tested.”—Id., p. 546. “A storm is arising that will wrench and test the spiritual foundation of every one to the utmost. Therefore avoid the sand bed; hunt for the rock. Dig deep; lay your foundation sure. Build, oh, build for eternity! Build with tears, with heartfelt prayers. Let every one of you, from henceforth, make your life beautiful by good works.”—Id., pp. 129, 130.

“The crisis will be reached when the nations shall unite in making void God's law. The days will come when the righteous will be stirred to zeal for God because of the abounding iniquity.”—Id., p. 524. In vision the servant of the Lord saw this uprising:—

“Hundreds and thousands were seen visiting families and opening before them the word of God. Hearts were convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, and a spirit of genuine conversion was manifest. On every side doors were thrown open to the proclamation of the truth. The world seemed to be lightened with the heavenly influence.”—Id., Vol. IX, p. 126.

In another vision the servant of the Lord saw the saints of God laboring in the closing work of the message. In describing the scene, she says: “The people of God are sighing and crying for the abominations done in the land. With tears they warn the wicked of their danger in trampling upon the divine law, and with unutterable sorrow they humble themselves before the Lord on account of their own transgressions. . . . The faithful, praying ones are, as it were, shut in with God. They themselves know not how securely they are shielded. . . . While Satan was urging his accusations, and seeking to destroy this company, holy angels, unseen, were passing to and fro, placing upon them the seal of the living God.”—Id., Vol. V, pp. 474-476.

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