THE FIRST ANGEL'S MESSAGE.
By G. W. Mitchell
It appears that not many Adventists are aware of the extent of this message. Bro. Wm. Miller told me, in a private conversation I had with him at McConnelsville, Ohio, in September, 1844, that he had counted fifteen hundred ministers, in various parts of the globe, who were proclaiming, “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his Judgment is come.” The great mass of those were in North America and Great Britain. Among those of England were Bickersteth, Birks, Brooks, Brock, Habershon, Plym, Freemantle, Nathan Lord, McNeil, Winters, Cummings, etc. These gentlemen were among the most talented men of England. Mr. Wolf, missionary from England to Palestine, preached this message very extensively. It was proclaimed at every missionary station on the globe. It was taught by a sect on the shores of the Baltic. It was proclaimed by Hentepeter, the ablest minister of Holland. It was defended by Hengstenburg, the most talented theologian of Germany. A young Russian, seeing the words “Second Advent,” over a door in New York city, went in to learn its meaning. He became a convert, and declared his intention to preach it in his own country; and after informing himself as to the doctrine, he set sail for Russia. This young man's name was Rusch. And lately we learn that it was proclaimed in Sweden in 1844. I became acquainted with a number of men and women living in obscurity, who solemnly believed this truth, without hearing anything upon the subject. Truly, the great and mighty God is with us.