T. E. BOWEN by T. E. Bowen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 13, 1910

T. E. BOWEN

By T. E. Bowen

Events Between the Close of the Gospel and the Second Coming of Jesus—No. 2

T. E. BOWEN

DURING this time of trouble, referred to in the former article, God’s people live upon the earth. While Satan and all his agents are plotting their destruction, and the plagues are falling, and other calamities are filling the earth with desolation, those whose names are “written in the book” must also be tried. The personal coming of Jesus to deliver his waiting people is not at the beginning of this time of trouble such as never was, but at its close. Thus through it all the saints must pass, their experience during this time being described as “the time of Jacob’s trouble.” As Jacob, when he neared his old home, and learned that Esau was coming out against him with an army to avenge himself of the wrong done him years before in stealing the birthright, was driven to God, and pleaded with him until he obtained the assurance of deliverance from his brother, so God’s people are made to realize their own utter unworthiness, and are driven to seek God in agonizing prayer for protection and final deliverance from their enemies.

The prophet Isaiah was no doubt describing this time when he wrote: “Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: and they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another.” Isa. 13: 6-8.

In “Early Writings,” pages 283, 284, of this time of trial it is written: “Soon I saw the saints suffering great mental anguish. They seemed to be surrounded by the wicked inhabitants of the earth. Every appearance was against them. Some began to fear that God had at last left them to perish by the hand of the wicked. But if their eyes could have been opened, they would have seen themselves surrounded by angels of God. Next came the multitude of the angry wicked, and next a mass of evil angels, hurrying on the wicked to slay the saints. But before they could approach God’s people, the wicked must first pass this company of mighty, holy angels. This was impossible. . . . It was an hour of fearful, terrible agony to the saints. Day and night they cried unto God for deliverance. To outward appearance, there was no possibility of their escape. . . . Like Jacob, they were wrestling with God. The angels longed to deliver them, but they must wait a little longer; the people of God must drink of the cup, and be baptized with the baptism. . . . God would not suffer his name to be reproached among the heathen. The time had nearly come when he was to manifest his mighty power, and gloriously deliver his saints. For his name’s glory he would deliver every one of those who had patiently waited for him, and whose names were written in the book.”

Let it be noted that here is a time when the saints are pleading for Jesus to come and deliver them, when the angels also are anxious to deliver them, showing that no sin is standing against their names, but still the actual coming of Jesus in the cloud has not yet taken place.

God’s Everlasting Covenant

God is about to declare his covenant with his people. He desires to pronounce upon those who have patiently waited for him a never-ending blessing. But some who have been faithful unto death in giving the third angel’s message, are in their graves. Then there are Christ’s words that those who pierced him and those who plotted his death, should see him coming in power and great glory. These, also, are in their graves. It is a small thing with God to awaken them. And while upon this point there may be some diversity of opinion as to the time when God brings them forth, may we not quite safely conclude that at some time during this time of “Jacob’s trouble” for the living saints, and just prior to his pronouncing the never-ending blessing upon those who have kept his law, God calls a number from their graves? “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

In the description given of this event in “Great Controversy,” it will be noticed that it is mentioned in connection with the seventh plague. Whether this should be taken as evidence of the time when it occurs, we have nothing to urge, but it would seem that logically this would be the approximate time for this event to take place. We read: “Great hail-stones, every one ‘about the weight of a talent,’ are doing their work of destruction. The proudest cities of the earth are laid low. The lordly palaces, upon which the world’s great men have lavished their wealth in order to glorify themselves, are crumbling to ruin before their eyes. Prison walls are rent asunder, and God’s people, who have been held in bondage for their faith, are set free. Graves are opened, and ‘many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth’ ‘awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.’ All who have died in the faith of the third angel’s message come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear the God’s covenant of peace with those who have kept his law. [Italics ours.] ‘They also which pierced him,’ those that mocked and derided Christ’s dying agonies, and the most violent opposers of his truth and his people, are raised to behold him in his glory, and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and obedient.”—Page 637.

God Honors His Own

God proposes to vindicate his own law and honor his faithful, obedient people before the wicked, who have scorned and hated them. Long have they waited. Amid the crowning deceptions of Satan, even when he assumes to be Christ, and in dazzling glory goes about performing miracles to deceive those who have not the word of God abiding in them, the saints have been loyal to the law of God, honoring the Sabbath of Jehovah before an opposing world.

“Their faces, so lately pale, anxious, and haggard, are now aglow with wonder, faith, and love. Their voices rise in triumphant song: ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.’ While these words of holy trust ascend to God, the clouds sweep back, and the starry heavens are seen, unspeakably glorious in contrast with the black and angry firmament on either side. The glory of the celestial city streams from the gates ajar. Then there appears against the sky a hand holding two tables of stone folded together. Says the prophet, ‘The heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself.’ Ps. 50:6. That holy law, God’s righteousness, that amid thunder and flame was proclaimed from Sinai as the guide of life, is now revealed to men as the rule of judgment. The hand opens the tables, and there is seen the precepts of the decalogue, traced as with a pen of fire. The words are so plain that all can read them. . . . God’s ten words, brief, comprehensive, and authoritative, are presented to the view of all the inhabitants of the earth. . . . The voice of God is heard from heaven, declaring the day and hour of Jesus’ coming, and delivering the everlasting covenant to his people. . . . The Israel of God stand listening, with their eyes fixed upward. . . . And when the blessing is pronounced upon those who have honored God by keeping his Sabbath holy, there is a mighty shout of victory.”—“Great Controversy,” pages 639, 640.

Takoma Park, D. C.