p. 9 | Our Prophetic Responsibility by J. L. McElhany

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 8, 1906

Our Prophetic Responsibility

By J. L. McElhany

J. L. MCELHANY

“He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.” Isa. 42: 4.

In the days of Isaiah the knowledge of geography, as compared with the present time, was small indeed, but in prophetic vision he looked down the stream of time and saw the great island fields, and in prophesying of the work of Christ, makes the statement given above.

The prophecy, “The isles shall wait for his law,” calls for a definite fulfilment. In direct response to this there must be some movement having as one of its chief aims the proclamation of the law of God. There is one, and only one, direct answer to this prophecy, and that is found in the threefold message of Revelation 14. In these three messages we have combined every phase of the everlasting gospel, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

These messages must be proclaimed to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. Verse 6. This, of course, includes every island, as foreseen by Isaiah. The third angel’s message (verses 9-12) is that part of the everlasting gospel which deals with God’s law, and the result of preaching this message to every nation is the development of a people who “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” This is the only message given in prophecy, applicable to the last days, that is to work a reform in obedience to God’s law. The context shows that this is the very last message of warning that will be given to the world, and as soon as the message has accomplished its work, Christ will come to reap the harvest of the earth. Isaiah saw the isles waiting for this last message; he saw the repairing of the breach (Isa. 58: 12, 13), and beheld the redeemed in the new earth, coming up from one Sabbath to another to worship the Lord. Isa. 66: 22, 23.

Let us notice the nature of the third angel’s message. It is a positive warning against a certain power, the beast. This beast, we are told, has power given to him “over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Rev. 13: 7, 8.

Can the message warning against this power be less extensive in its proclamation than the power and influence exercised by the beast?—Certainly not; therefore it follows that the third angel’s message must be proclaimed to “all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” The revelator saw, in vision, a company who had gotten the victory over the beast (Rev. 15: 2), in which all nations were represented. As there is no other warning given against this power, it is evident that this company will “stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God,” because they have obtained the victory through the third angel’s message.

Our responsibility in giving the message becomes a matter of the utmost importance. To do the work the Lord has given us to do, we can not stop short of giving the message to every kindred, tongue, and nation. Whether we, as individuals, have a place finally among that victorious company depends on the attitude we sustain to the work of proclaiming this definite message to all nations.

There is a special commandment to which we desire to call attention, in connection with our responsibility in giving the message: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28: 19, 20. In obeying this commandment, Isaiah’s prophecy will be fulfilled, and the waiting isles will receive his law. How many have considered that to be commandment-keepers they must obey this commandment? The responsibility rests equally upon every believer. But is it possible for all to go?—Yes, it is possible, to the extent of fulfilling the obligation of this commandment. Age and other reasons keep some from crossing the seas to distant waiting lands, but their prayers and their means can go to sustain the work, and thus they have a part. Many, more than have thought it possible, can actually go. How much longer must millions of perishing souls be kept waiting? How many are ready to keep this commandment? “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” The answer to your prayer may be a call to go yourself. Are you ready if the Lord should say, “Go work to-day in my vineyard”? Jesus was a commandment-keeper, and if we would see him as he is, we must be like him, in order to share in the commandment-keeper’s reward. Rev. 22: 14. “Here am I, Lord, send me.”

“Far and near the fields are teeming With the sheaves of ripened grain; Far and near their gold is gleaming O’er the sunny slope and plain. “O thou whom thy Lord is sending, Gather now the sheaves of gold! Heavenward then at evening wending Thou shalt come with joy untold.”

Manila, Philippine Islands.