The Pillars of the Message
By G. B. THOMPSON
For nearly threescore years the threefold message of Revelation 14 has been heralded to the world, bearing upon its banner “the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Beginning in weakness and obscurity, having neither wealth nor earthly influence, it has marched steadily onward, until to-day it has girded the globe, and some of its faithful soldiers lie buried in far-off climes. It has been ridiculed, scorned, and hated. Foes within and without have arrayed themselves against it, seeking to arrest its progress, but in vain. That which has given our work its invincible power, and made us a separate and distinct people, is the clear outline of truth. The fundamental pillars of the message have stood the combined assaults of the enemy, and have been as immovable as the Alps, whose thunder-splintered peaks are reared into the region of perpetual snow. Grounded in the word, they prove a bulwark of strength which the prowess of the enemy has not been able to overthrow. That master mind, which through the centuries has been trained in cunning deception and seductive arts, well knows that, so long as the fundamental and eternal pillars of the message stand, it will be an invincible power, and that the only way he can hope to measure strength with it and stop its progress, is to enter as an angel of light within the sacred precincts of this citadel of truth, and corrupt its pure doctrine. If he can substitute scientific research and human philosophy in place of the herculean pillars of the message, this artful foe well knows that the structure will then be weak, and that which has stood as a beacon light to bewildered and lost humanity will lose its radiance and become an opaque body. If through sophistry he can so veil in mystery the simple though solemn truths of the message that they will not be clearly seen, it suits his purpose well. Years ago this solemn warning was given: “I saw a company who stood well guarded and firm, giving no countenance to those who would unsettle the established faith of the body. God looked upon them with approbation. I was shown three steps,—the first, second, and third angels’ messages. Said my accompanying angel, ‘Woe to him who shall move a block or stir a pin of these messages. The true understanding of these messages is of vital importance. The destiny of souls hangs upon the manner in which they are received.’ I was again brought down through these messages, and saw how dearly the people of God had purchased their experience. It had been obtained through much suffering and severe conflict. God had led them along step by step until he had placed them upon a solid, immovable platform.”—“Early Writings,” page 121. This shows that the body will have an “established faith;” and that the message will not change; and to undertake to change it is a sin of sufficient turpitude to bring a woe upon the one who tries it. This does not mean that we are not to search for light. Far from it! It simply shows that God has established in the earth a message so heaven born in its character that every ray of light which will come from the Word till the end of time will only illuminate more clearly the message, and cause its eternal pillars to be seen more clearly. That an effort would be made to “unsettle the established faith,” and that it would not be countenanced by those “who stood well guarded and firm,” is clearly stated. That we have reached a crisis in the prolonged struggle is certain. The shaking time is here, and many will lose their bearings, and be left without chart or compass. But the message will triumph. Now as never before, we should plant our feet on the platform, and lay hold of the message with a firm grasp. It is a solemn hour. Loyalty is needed,—a fixed, determined, unalterable purpose in the heart to be as true to God as the needle to the pole. All compromise with sin must end. It is a dangerous time, and now, as in the days of the Reformation, men as brave as Luther are needed, who in the face of every opposing element will take an unyielding stand. Then “men forsook the precious perfume of faith, and bowed down before the empty vessel that had contained it,” and the living church had retired “within the lonely sanctuary of a few solitary hearts.” “That vital doctrines of Christianity had almost entirely disappeared, and with them the life and light that constitute the essence of the religion of God. The material strength of the church was gone. It lay an exhausted, enfeebled, and almost lifeless body, extended over that part of the world which the Roman empire had occupied.” But God lived in a few loyal hearts, and he started a movement, which, in a short time, jostled the crown of kings, and kindled a torch of truth which is shining still. Because of his unflinching stand for the Word of God, Luther was summoned before an imperial assembly at Worms, and bidden to retract. The critical hour of the Reformation had come. Would he in the presence of this titled and imposing assembly waver in his determination to maintain the purity of the gospel? “As the time for his appearance drew near, Luther approached a table on which lay the Holy Scriptures; placing his left hand upon the sacred volume, and raising his right hand to heaven, he vowed to adhere constantly to the gospel, and to confess his faith freely, even though he should be called to seal his testimony with his blood.” When ushered into the presence of the Diet and asked to recant, he calmly replied, “I can not but adhere to the Word of God, which has possession of my conscience. Nor can I possibly, nor will I ever, make any recantation, since it is neither safe nor honest to act contrary to conscience. Here I take my stand; I can not do otherwise. God be my help. Amen.” We are told in “Great Controversy” that “had the Reformer yielded a single point, Satan and his hosts would have gained the victory. But his unwavering firmness was the means of emancipating the church, and beginning a new and better era.” So now, God wants faithful hearts who will stand by the pillars of the message at the risk of everything. O that God would inspire our hearts with a love for the truth which would enable us to cleave unto him! When a ship is reaching port, the danger from hidden rocks or shoals increases. So now, when the voyage is nearly over, our danger is great. But our God loves us still. His church is the one object on which he bestows his supreme regard. He has spoken good concerning Israel, and will deliver those who are faithful.