p. 188 | A Sign Fulfilled by Uriah Smith

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 14, 1877

A Sign Fulfilled.

By Uriah Smith

WITH what startling distinctness prophetic features are developed in the age in which we live. As an illustration look at Heb. 10: 29: “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace.”

From a hasty reading, this passage might appear to be only a terrible denunciation against a Heaven-daring crime; but we believe it is also a prophecy, which is to be fulfilled at a certain and specified time. Let us consider first what acts will answer to the crimes described in this passage, then notice the time of its fulfillment.

To tread under foot the Son of God, is evidently to occupy a position of hostility to him; to deny his divine nature and divine mission; to regard him as only a man, and his works as only those of human agency. It is no mitigation of such a sin to say, as some do who deny his divinity, that he was a very good man, the best that ever lived; for he claimed to be the Son of God; and if he was not, he was an impostor; and to say that the best man that ever lived was a deceiver and an impostor, is not speaking very well for the race.

To count the blood of the covenant an unholy thing, is to count it a common thing, as the word unholy might properly here be rendered; that is, of no more value or efficacy than any other blood. Millions are to-day doing this by asserting that the blood of Christ is no more than the blood of any man, or, even, than the blood of an ox.

To do despite to the Spirit of grace, is to grieve the Spirit of God, to deny its existence, its operation and its power; or to make its holy work the same as that of the prince of evil.

We see, then, the characters described in the text. They are such as war upon Christianity, reject Christ, ridicule the idea of atonement through the blood of the Redeemer, and sin against the Holy Ghost. Now when are we to look for the development of such a class of persons?

Verse 25 exhorts us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, and to exhort one another, and so much the more as we see the day approaching. In other words it plainly points out the Advent people; and the time to which we are introduced is the time of, or the time immediately following, the great Advent movement.

Then we have the verses concerning those who sin willfully, and the punishment of which they are worthy for committing the sins described in verse 29; and following this we are again introduced to the Advent movement, Paul illustrating the spirit that would characterize it by the spirit of noble self-sacrifice with which he was treated by his Hebrew brethren; and with an exhortation to hold fast in view of the coming of Christ, the chapter closes.

We now inquire, Why these verses concerning a class of willful and Heaven-daring sinners are thrown in between the introduction of the great Advent movement in verse 25, and the testimony on the same subject at the close of the chapter? Inspiration does not speak at random, and this has its meaning. It is, evidently, to show that during the progress of the Advent movement, after its commencement, but before its close, while the people of God are patiently waiting for Him that shall come, there will be a wonderful development of a great infidel and anti-Christian class, concerning whom the apostle warns those who have received a knowledge of the truth, and against whom he utters the threatening of verses 25–31.

But, it may be said, there have always been infidels; and how, then, can this mark a certain time? It cannot, unless there is at the time a more than ordinary development of infidel and anti-Christian principles. Has there been any such manifestation within the time specified? There has. Not only have we had infidelity in the usual sense and form, but there has arisen a gigantic organization, or association, spreading with unprecedented rapidity, counting its disciples within a few years by millions, and attacking Christ and Christianity with unwonted virulence and malignity. This outburst from the realms of darkness, the name of which is Spiritualism, comes in at the exact time to answer to the prophecy; nor does the date of its advent answer more fitly than does its character. Spiritualists above all others, make it their business to scout the idea of the divinity and sacrificial work of Christ. Against this they utter their bitterest spite. It is apparently the supreme object of their hate. They pre-eminently tread under foot the Son of God, count the blood of the covenant an unholy or common thing, asserting that it is no better than the blood of an ox, and do despite to the Spirit of grace, denying in toto its existence and office as described in the word of God.

How plain the prophecy! How clear the fulfillment! How eventful does it make the times appear in which we live! And what is the duty of the people of God in these days? The apostle tells us: Cast not away your confidence. Have patience. Let faith grow strong; for that is your life. Now the just live by faith. Draw not back; for that will result in perdition. Believe; for that will be to the saving of the soul. “For yet a little while, and He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry.” U. S.