The First Angel’s Message in Sweden.
By P. Palmblad
As opportunity is given me, being less learned, to impart to my American friends and others some knowledge of this message in my native country, I write to Bro. Carlstedt in Swedish, who will translate into English what I have seen and experienced. As near as I can remember, it commenced in the fall of 1842 and continued through the winter of 1843. The first I heard of it was in the parish of Falseryd, where a little girl commenced to preach. In Sweden there was not liberty as in this country to preach, for all must belong to the Lutheran church; and if any one saw otherwise, he did not dare to reveal it, much less to try to teach others, or he would be fined or put in prison. Wherefore the Lord was pleased to use preaching through small children under age, whom the law of the State could not restrain, but who were permitted to speak freely and unmolested. This continued about nine months. After that, it was declared by the authorities to be a disease, and they were compelled to take medicine. Some children were brought to the hospitals to be cured; but they could not stop their mouths, for they preached as long as God chose to use them as witnesses. God permitted also the weather to be uncommonly favorable that winter. We used to have very much snow other winters, but this was only cold enough to freeze up the different marshes, lakes, and rivers, so that they could be traveled over as a highroad. And the people went in masses on sleighs and afoot, when this message was much spoken of, to the places where these preachers were, who mostly were poor cottagers, as I myself also was. After this had continued a short time, and the wonderful preaching was noised around, my wife said to me that we must go and hear what this is and means. I answered that I could not well afford to lose my time, as we would not then have enough to live on. “I know that well,” was the answer, “but what if we now stay here at home and the Judgment comes over us, when the Lord has been pleased to declare it beforehand?” I answered, “the Judgment has God declared to us in the Bible, but about the time he has said, ‘that hour and day knoweth no one.’ I think it is hidden, but if you will go, I will go along.” This time it was a girl about six or eight years old, speaking in a cottage. We had only about three miles and a half (English) to go. I said to my wife that I could soon find out whether it was in accordance with the Bible or not. When we came to the cottage, it was filled with people. The little girl went around among the people, who asked her questions, which she answered as a child usually does. More people were flocking in, till the house was surrounded by a great number. When the last had arrived, her behavior was changed entirely, both in boldness and motions, which clearly indicated that she was moved by an invisible power, and not her own natural gifts. She commenced to speak with a voice quite different from her usual sound, and said, “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” After that, she continued to reprove sins, as drinking, theft, adultery, swearing, backbiting, and church-goers for visiting church with worldly business in view, instead of listening to God’s word and conforming their lives according to it. Her voice and words while speaking were so impressive that I thought the hair on my head was standing on end. Many were weeping and sighing. They were told time was given them to repent, but they must do it directly and not postpone. Many drunkards became sober men; thieves returned their stolen goods, and confessed; forgiveness was asked for wrong done, and a great awakening commenced among the people, which no preacher with learning and great gifts could have occasioned. We went home with stricken and trembling hearts. I must take to the Bible, said I, which I thought I had studied so much, but which I had now to search a little deeper. I could hardly work the following week. I was a cabinet-maker by trade, and I stood at my bench, having the Bible on it, and as I worked, my thoughts were running on God’s word, and on the sharp reproofs and expositions of God’s word from a young and unlearned girl, who probably had not learned to read. I used some time in studying and searching the Scriptures, and afterward another girl, in another cottage only one mile off, commenced preaching. I heard her several times. Her behavior and voice were just like the first one’s; but I soon got used to them and was not so much moved as at first. The reading of the Bible, and my desire for more wisdom to understand its teachings and what this meant, gave me quiet and power to rule my feelings. I Thess. 5:16-24, were especially good for me. The words, “Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good,” were for me a settled foundation to build on, and which has supported me ever since and given me more light in the hidden things of the Bible, until the light of the third angel’s message, which is now being preached to the inhabitants of the earth, has enlightened many, among whom I, by God’s grace, am one.