A Forward Movement by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 26, 1906

A Forward Movement

By Editor

THERE are times when those who are able to discern the leadings of the providence of God recognize the divine command, “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.” No audible voice rings in the ears. The careless observer may perceive no special indications that a critical moment has arrived. He who is busily occupied in adding house to house and farm to farm may think that things are continuing as they were from the beginning, and may be utterly oblivious of the fact that events are shaping for a new order of things. But those whose hearts are longing for a revival of God’s work in the earth preparatory to the coming of the Saviour, and who are watching the signs of the times with earnest expectation, may recognize a combination of circumstances which encourages them to believe that the Lord is about to reveal himself in a special manner in behalf of his truth and his people.

The history of this work has been

marked by just such experiences. At last such times great progress has been made in a short time, although it might be . . . after years of preparation. These opportunities are like the time of harvest after a season of seed sowing and cultivating. They are times of ingathering. To fail to recognize them is to miss much, and to cause further delay in the great work of preparing the way for the coming of the Lord.

It is our profound conviction that the providence of God is now calling us to a great forward movement in the proclamation of the third angel’s message. Some of the reasons for this conviction may be stated as follows:—

1. The assurance which came to this people five years ago that “there shall be delay no longer” was followed almost immediately by a most trying experience, as a result of which doctrines and theories of administration which would be fatal to the success of this advent movement have been developed from within, and have been repudiated. These hindrances must needs be removed before the loud cry of this message could be given.

2. In this experience the instruction given through the spirit of prophecy has been the guide and the stay of true believers; and while there have been apostasy and defection, yet disintegration has been prevented through this instrumentality. And during these troublous times the Lord’s messenger has constantly written and spoken words of encouragement to those who held the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end.

3. In some of the latest communications given through the spirit of prophecy there have been many such significant statements and exhortations as these: “To my brethren I say, Go forward. Be of good courage. . . . A great work is to be done in convicting souls. . . . A message similar to that borne by John the Baptist is to be heard. . . . Carry on the work now for those who need the truth, and who have not resisted evidences of the truth for fallacies and scientific imaginations. The time is at hand when Satan will work miracles to confirm minds in the belief that he is God. All the people of God are now to stand on the platform of truth as it has been given in the third angel’s message. . . . The perils of the last days are upon us. Devote not precious time in trying to convince those who would change the truth of God into a lie. Proclaim the third angel’s message. Bear a straightforward, clear-cut message. . . . Take the banner of truth, and hold it aloft, higher and still higher. The Lord calls for faithful minutemen. Go into the cities that need the message of a soon-coming Saviour. Thousands of unbelievers in our cities need to hear the last message of warning. . . . Proclaim to the world that Christ is soon coming. . . . God now calls for all who choose to serve him, to stand firmly on the platform of eternal truth. Let those who have brought about the present state of confusion by making the division that exists, stop to consider seriously before going any farther. ‘Choose you this day whom ye will serve.’ ‘If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.’” When God calls to his people in this way, it is plain that he is marshaling his forces for decided action. We are not to linger on the battle-field where the conflict has been raging for several years. We are to go to the people who need and who will receive our message.

4. During the past four years, and notably during the last year, there has been a new departure in the attitude of local conferences to the great fields which are still waiting for the third angel’s message. The tradition that the funds of a local conference must be spent within the territory of that conference has been set aside, and funds have been freely donated for the support of the work in far-off lands. In addition to all that has been brought into the mission treasury through the various general and special offerings, nearly one hundred and fifty thousand dollars has been made available during the past year for use in extending this truth in outside fields. This is helping to solve the problem of the financial support of a great missionary campaign.

5. Many hearts have been drawn out after God, and there has been on the part of many an earnest seeking for the outpouring of his Holy Spirit. As a natural consequence of this there have been greater results seen both at home and abroad. In this we recognize the sign which was given to David: ‘Let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.’ We should now, in a special sense, bestir ourselves, that the Lord may not lack instrumentalities through which he may accomplish his work.

6. Not the least among the indications that the providence of God is preparing the way for a rapid advance is the attitude which the recent educational convention assumed toward the great missionary problem. At this meeting there was a spontaneous uprising in behalf of missions on the part of the educators present, and there was a renewed consecration of the resources of all the schools to the work of preparing and sending to the field trained workers. We regard this as the beginning of a movement to finish the work speedily. The leaders in our educational work have pledged themselves to be leaders in our missionary work. The results of this missionary enthusiasm will be seen in the increased numbers of our young people who will devote themselves heartily to some form of effort in spreading the warning message. Every school will now be a recruiting station. Both the home and foreign fields will thus be supplied with fresh companies of workers. The banner of truth will thus be uplifted in many new places.

In addition to the reasons which may be stated in formal propositions, there is the impression made by the direct working of the Holy Spirit upon mind and heart,—a distinct sense of the fact that we have reached another turning-point in the history of the Lord’s work when the heavenly agencies are commissioned to unite with human effort to achieve great things for God and his truth. This experience can not be cited as proof to the unbelieving, but with those who know the voice of God it has great weight. The still, small voice is one of authority.

We urge all our people to take note of the time, and to study the movings of God’s providence. Disaster came upon Jerusalem because she knew not the time of her visitation. We do not wish to follow in the track of Jerusalem. The time can not be far distant when workers and means in abundance will be consecrated to God for the finishing of his work. It is possible that the only thing which defers this gracious movement is the unwillingness of God’s people to risk all for a final campaign.

By the great love which a merciful Father has bestowed upon us; by the great sacrifice of a compassionate Redeemer; by the worth of souls that are perishing in darkness for lack of the light of the gospel; by our Lord’s assurance that the end should come when this gospel of the kingdom shall have been preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; by the hope already established in our hearts that “this generation” shall not pass until the work shall be finished, and our Lord shall come,—we appeal to all believers in this message to listen to counsel, warning, and instruction, to be quick to discern the opportunities of the hour, and to repent and do their first works. Remember that lost opportunities never return. It may be now or never with many. ‘To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.’