In your dealing with this message have you personally asked yourself the question, What difference does it make, practically, whether we know that in this generation our High Priest ministers in the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary4or whether we still hold to the idea that he is a minister of the sanctuary in the general sense, without any specific reference to a special apartment or a special work? There are many who teach the work of Christ as our High Priest, and the ministry of Christ in heaven. But do they teach any difference as between the ministry in the holy place and in the most holy place? And do they see that it makes any difference to the people of this generation, to you and to me, whether we know the definite place of his ministry? Now it seems to me that right here is a very fundamental principle in this message. The time will not permit us to take up that question in our study at this time, but I would like to emphasize it enough for you to remember it, and ask yourselves about it. You understand the practical question, What difference does it make to you as an individual Christian? what difference does it make to you as a teacher of this gospel message for this generation, whether you know clearly, and whether you present clearly to the people, the definite work of our High Priest in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary? What difference does it make in the experience of this generation whether that truth is known and taught? And if it does make a difference, how should it be taught, so that it should have its effect upon those who hear?
The question of the sanctuary and its services, and the change of ministry from the holy to the most holy place, and our relation to it in this generation, constitute the true test in regard to this third angel’s message. And it is my candid belief that any one who has the personal experience of that truth, and what belongs necessarily with it, will keep anchored firmly in this third angel’s message.
We agree to that; we say that is true. Then is it not clear that we ought to make that truth very clear and prominent and strong in our teaching? Do you not think it would have saved Seventh-day Adventists from some confusion in recent years if that teaching had been before the people with its old-time power and clearness? I believe that we have been brought into much trial, difficulty, and confusion because we have not followed our old-time message. It has been spiritualized away, until with some there is no practical difference between substance and shadow.
There is a teaching, a kind of application of Scripture, that may be true, and may be valuable, entirely apart from what we may term the literal application to the actual facts of the gospel. I mean that you can take a scripture which refers to the sanctuary, and perhaps, without any reference whatever to the sanctuary and its ministry, apply it in a way to teach a valuable truth; but when you put that application in the forefront, and dispense with the literal application, you have lost the truth. There is the difficulty.
Now so long as this message is anchored firmly to the actual facts of this gospel, not simply to indefinite generalities, but to the actual, historical facts of this gospel in heaven and on earth, so long we can keep in the clear, straight line concerning this message. But when we disregard the actual, historical facts of the gospel, both in heaven and on earth, we are at sea, and we do not know whither we shall drift.
We must keep our feet on solid ground; and although we can see very many beautiful spiritual truths and lessons which may be drawn from all these facts, without specifically connecting them with the facts, yet to make these lessons prominent and valuable, without losing our bearings altogether, and having no landmarks by which to steer, we must deal with the actual facts of this gospel message.
But this message is not a thing which is always to be cast in the same mold, and which is always to be preached in just the same way. The gospel message, and above all things, the gospel message for this generation, is a living thing; if you attempt to put it into a set form, you will kill it. It must have room to live and to grow like any living thing. And when you have seen a truth, and have presented that truth to-day, that truth to-morrow in divine light may shine with an altogether different light and in a different setting; and when to-morrow we take that truth, and endeavor to put it into the same mold as before, it becomes lifeless. It is to flow out as the very river of the water of life. “If any man thirst,” said Christ, “let him come to me and drink.” That is the receiving of the truth.
Now with reference to the fourteenth chapter of the book of Revelation. There is the setting of the threefold message. What is there in that setting of the threefold message that will be any help to us in our ministry, in teaching the people, that they may see with clearness that these isms which pervade the world to-day are errors and not truth? What is there in the threefold setting of that message that will enable one to deal clearly from the standpoint of this message with such an outbreak as New York has seen recently, in that so-called religious crusade? What is there that will deal with Christian Science? or with all these other great errors that are in the land? Is this message properly dealing with these things, and answering these things as it should? How can any one view the facts that are before us in this generation, and see such a multitude of people embracing these false views, and not feel in his soul that there ought to be a voice that will call the people to the truth?
The very things we have assented to testify that if there are people in error, it is our duty to present to them a truth that, being received, will save them from that error, and present it in a way that will help them to see what is error. In this message is found that which will save the people of this generation from all the delusions of this generation. And will these delusions decrease as the time of the coming of our Lord comes nearer? — They will rather increase. And we have not seen the last of the efforts to turn aside this message right within our own denomination.
Now let me plainly remark upon the difference between warning our people against errors that have sprung up, and that will spring up in this denomination, and personal attacks upon any one. Every Seventh-day Adventist minister should be free to warn the people concerning the perils of these days that are coming upon this denomination. Of course you grant, with me, that that is, as it were, the very test of the minister’s fitness for his work; that he can do that in a way to help the people, and not to the injury of anybody; but he who rushes into it for the sake of condemning anybody or putting himself in the forefront, is not called to do that work.
And let me add further, apart—and let it be forever apart—from any idea of personal reference to any one, we have not seen the last of the effort to pervert this movement among this people; and let us be warned, and let us know that we ourselves have only one platform of safety, and that not any of us are beyond the power to be deceived, provided the true light does not shine from this message. Therefore “let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
But the truth must be made very clear, — the vital, fundamental truth of this message, with the second coming of Christ as near at hand for the keynote throughout. And these truths of the sanctuary, and this truth to which we have been referring, the work of our High Priest for this generation, should stand out with clearness, that every one who will see the light may see, as it were, right into the heavenly sanctuary, and may see with eyes anointed the very work that our High Priest is doing for us now.
In this setting of this message, which is given to us in this fourteenth chapter of Revelation, there are expressions which reach out to and involve all these truths of which we have spoken, and they should be studied from that standpoint, and taught from that standpoint; and when that experience comes to this people, which we are encouraged to believe may come soon, in the special outpouring of God’s Spirit upon his servants5and upon his people,—when that experience comes, and finds a people clear and strong concerning the fundamental principles of this heaven-sent message for this generation, we shall see such a work accomplished in a short time as we do not dream of now. This message is the greatest thing in this world at this time; despised as it is, not appreciated even by us ourselves, not having been given its place and power in our lives, yet for all that, this message is the greatest thing there is in the world to-day. There is not a worldly project that can compare with it; there is nothing so worthy of the power that God gives us, as to give ourselves to this message and its work. I earnestly ask every one,—preacher, brother, sister, young or old,—every one to bear in mind that there ought to be a clearer understanding of this message at this time, and that there is nothing that will repay prayerful, earnest study as will this third angel’s message now; and there can come into our lives and into our teaching a new light and a new power that will bring new results to this message.
May God hasten the day that shall bring that experience among this people, and that will hasten the time of our blessed Lord’s return.