Your ShelfYour Projects

The Last Generation

2%

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 7, 1874

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 44, No. 4.

Read the full edition

The Last Generation.

By G. W. Amadon

A HIGH RECORD.

THE generation of the righteous who are alive on earth when Christ comes, have a very high record. They have an experience that no others have had. The Scriptures speak of their character, trials, and final exaltation, as of no other people. The following are a part of the declarations of the Bible in regard to them:—
They are the generation who take warning of the approaching end by the signs in the sun, moon, and stars. Luke 21:21.
They give the third angel’s message, Rev. 14:9–12—the last warning before probation ends and Christ comes.
They are the “little flock” of Luke 12:32, who are “waiting for their Lord when he will return from the wedding.” Verse 36.
Paul mentions them: “And unto them that look for Him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Heb. 9:28.
They fulfill the prophecy respecting the restoration of God’s ancient Sabbath. Isa. 58:12–14.
They must fully realize the import of Christ’s words, “If ye will enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matt. 19:17.
They live through the “perils of the last days,” when Paul points out a long catalogue of sins as abounding in the popular church. 2 Tim. 3:1–5.
They contend with the peace-and-safety cry of a good time coming, when distress and anguish are drawing on the land. 1 Thess. 5:3.
In their experience is fulfilled the parable of the ten virgins. Matt. 25:1–13.
They give the three calls to come to the “great supper,” foretold in Luke 14:17–23.
They “contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,” Jude 3, and encounter the “mockers” and “scoffers” of the last days. 2 Pet. 2:3; Jude 18.
They pass through the time of the “distress of nations,” the “sea and waves roaring,” and “men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” Luke 21:26.
They see the fulfillment of Paul’s words, when “men will not endure sound doctrine,” and when they shall turn from the truth and be turned unto fables. 2 Tim. 4:3, 4.
They contend face to face with “familiar spirits” that “peep and that mutter,” Isa. 8:19, and with those who depart from the faith, giving heed to “seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.” 1 Tim. 4:1.
They witness the fulfillment of the “parable of the fig-tree,” which notifies the world of the approach of Christ. Matt. 24:32, 33.
They are cautioned by Christ: “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” Luke 21:34.
Paul admonishes them: “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we [first] believed.” Rom. 13:11.
They are exhorted in Zeph. 2:3, to seek meekness and righteousness, that they may be “hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.”
To them is addressed the inquiry of the prophet: “But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap.” Mal. 3:2.
Paul refers to them in Heb. 10:25, as not forsaking the assembling of themselves together as many do, but as exhorting one another the more fervently as they see the day approaching.
They pass through the long, trying period of the patient waiting for Christ. James 5:7, 8.
They are the ones who “speak often one to another,” and who are written in God’s “book of remembrance,” and who will be his when he makes up his jewels. Mal. 4:16, 17.
They live at the solemn time of the “investigative Judgment.” See Mal. 3:5; and Matt. 22:11.
They are commanded to “watch and pray,” Mark 13:33, lest coming suddenly Christ should “find them sleeping.” Vs. 36.
They are the ones who buy the “gold,” “white raiment,” and “eyesalve,” in Rev. 3:18.
They are not defiled with women—i. e., separated themselves from all bodies of corrupted Christianity. Rev. 14:4.
Hosea 6:3, refers to them: “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord; his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”
They share in the “times of refreshing,” promised in Acts 3:19.
They behold the people of God finally all “come to the unity of the faith,” and the watchmen all seeing “eye to eye,” when the Lord brings again Zion. Isa. 52:8.
Having overcome and kept Christ’s works unto the end, he gives them “power over the nations.” Rev. 2:26.
They witness the dawn of the eternal day, and the Day-star arises in their hearts. 2 Pet. 1:19.
They behold the terrible anguish of the lost as they realize that probation has ended and they are not saved. Prov. 1:26, 27; Amos 8:12; Luke 13:25.
They pass through the awful period of the pouring out of the seven last plagues, when “the fear, and the pit, and the snare,” are upon the guilty inhabitants of the earth. See Isa. 24:18.
During this time, they are signally protected of God: “Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked; between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not.” Mal. 3:18.
They are mentioned by the prophet as the people who “enter into their chambers,” and “hide for a little moment until the indignation be overpast.” Isa. 26:20.
During the time of trouble they raise “the day and night cry” of Luke 18:7. See also Rev. 14:15.
They are delivered over unto death. Rev. 13:15.
But they get the victory over the beast, and his image, the mark, and the number of his name. Rev. 15:2.
They are on earth when Ezekiel says, “Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls.” Chap. 14:14–20.
They are mentioned in Rev. 3:10: “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”
They are witnesses of “the great whirlwind which the Lord will raise up to sweep the coasts of the earth. Jer. 25:32.”
They are on earth when eternal victory turns upon Zion’s side, when her warfare is accomplished, and God says, “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.” Isa. 40:1, 2.
To them is fulfilled the glorious prediction of Zechariah: “And I will bring the THIRD PART through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried. . . . I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, The Lord is my God.” Zech. 13:9.
Their condition in the time of trouble is thus contrasted with that of the wicked: “Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed; behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.” Isa. 65:13, 14.
The prophet sees them at the time of their final deliverance and says: “THEY shall lift up their voice, THEY shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, THEY shall cry aloud from the sea. Isa. 24:14.”
God gives them this promise for the time of trouble: “Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” Ps. 91:9, 10.
Every verse of the eighth psalm is a precious promise to the remnant during the terrible scenes of the pouring out of the vials of God’s wrath.
Isa. 25:8, presents them as saying, “Lo! this is our God, we have WAITED for him, and he will save us.”
They are redeemed from the earth—from among men. Rev. 14:3, 4.
They are called the 144,000. Rev. 14:1. They are sealed with the seal of the living God in their foreheads. Rev. 7:2, 3; Eze. 9:4.
In their mouth is found no guile. Rev. 14:5.
They have the Father’s name written in their foreheads. Rev. 14:1.
They stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion. Rev. 14:1.
They are without fault before the throne of God. Rev. 14:5.
They sing the new song—the song of Moses and the Lamb—before the throne, the four living creatures, and the four and twenty elders. Rev. 14:3; 15:3.
No man can learn that song but the 144,000. Rev. 14:3.
And they stand on the sea of glass and have the harps of God. Rev. 15:2.
They follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. Rev. 14:4.
G. W. AMADON.