A Prophetic People

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Apr 8, 1902

A Prophetic People

A PEOPLE connected with prophecy has hold of the citadel of strength. A movement connected with prophecy, the triumph of which the prophecy foretells, holds within its hand the hiding of power. Such is the movement called the third angel's message, to which, as it is a current message, allusion cannot be too often made. When the time for the conclusion of the first stage of the first message was drawing to a close, and confusion and discouragement encompassed believers in the blessed hope of the soon coming of Christ, the breaking forth of new light on the subject of the sanctuary marked the opening of a new era in the progress of the advent cause. By this light, advent believers were begotten to a new hope and courage in their work. One of the first facilities brought to the attention of those who were called to this work, and of which they availed themselves, was the press, for the purpose of scattering the printed page in the furtherance of their work. We need not go into the particulars of the first limited sheet issued, called The Present Truth, nor the earnestness and devotion with which it was dedicated to its work. The old believers in the cause are acquainted with this, either by personal experience or by the records that have been so long and freely scattered among us on this point; nor need we dwell upon its later enlargement into THE ADVENT REVIEW, nor its subsequent publication in Topsham, Me., Saratoga and Rochester, N. Y., and finally its removal to its present location, Battle Creek, Mich., in the autumn of 1855.

This branch of the work has encountered almost every phase of opposition that ordinarily falls to the lot of an unpopular doctrine, including many of those mentioned by Paul, in his experience in 2 Cor. 11: 26: “In journeyings often, . . . in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, . . . in perils among false brethren.” To these may be added the schemes of ambitious and designing men arrayed in opposition against it; financial difficulties; besides the opposition to be encountered by opposers to an unpopular truth, in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation. But through all these the good hand of the Lord has been upon us, and has brought us through, in every instance with advancement and prosperity. A varied experience has attended the work thus far all the journey through. If any would like to read further concerning these experiences, we would refer them to the “Rise and Progress of Seventh-day Adventists,” by Elder J. N. Loughborough.

So we might trace the work outside of the periodicals, from the small beginnings of tracts and pamphlets, till the volume of the book business from the central office alone, to say nothing of the branch offices, and associated sources of publications, sometimes has been more than half a million dollars' worth a year. In every enterprise, placing a new heading upon the paper, opening a new department, and enlarging the scope of the paper, there has been advancement all along the line. We believe it will be so still, till the work is brought to its conclusion in its foretold triumph. But much as has been done, the greatest advancement is to be made in the future. For this movement is to ripen the harvest of the earth for the sickle of the reaper in the great day; and the earth is, before the end, to be lightened with God's glory. “And this 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. But it will take a great movement, a great effort, to do this for all the world. The world is a large place; and can it be done? and that, too, in this generation? The prophecy, if we understand it, says it is to be done; and if we are right in our application, it must surely come to pass. Great and extensive as the heaven and the earth are, they shall pass away before the word of the Lord shall fail. The word of the Lord cannot fail. We, as a prophetic people, may come short, and suffer some of the work in our hands, so far as we are concerned, to be delayed.

It was natural for the ten spies in the days of Joshua to stand aghast at the cities walled up to heaven, and before the giants in whose eyes they were but as grasshoppers. But they failed in not letting their faith grasp the fact that there is a God in heaven as much stronger than the cities they had to meet as the heavens are higher than the earth,—a God so much more mighty than the giants that the giants were in his eyes more like grasshoppers than the Israelites seemed to be in the comparison which they conjured up for themselves. So with us. Where is our faith? We can go up, and possess the land. We are able, because God is able; and he has promised his strength to his people. Paul means something when he says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. . . . Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Eph. 6: 10–13.

But we must expel the darkness from our minds before we can see, and bask in the rays of the great white throne. We must pay the price before we can possess the pearl of eternal riches. And it is not a losing game we are given the opportunity to invest in. For—

“The harvest brings us joy for pain; And they shall reap, who sow in tears, Rich gladness through eternal years.” U. S.