Are We Understood? by R. F. Cottrell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 29, 1885

Are We Understood?

By R. F. Cottrell

We hold that there is a descriptive prophecy of a final warning to be given to mankind, which will be immediately followed by the day of wrath. Rev. 14:6-12. It is a message of the gospel, and it will be given through chosen servants of God, as it has ever pleased him to communicate instruction and warning, as well as the promises of the gospel. We believe that the prophecies in general have been so far fulfilled that the time has come when this warning should be given, and, further, that it is actually being preached and published to the world.

If we are right in our view in this respect, it is a matter of the greatest possible importance to all to know it; to hear and heed the warning. If we are wrong in this particular, we are deluded, and no one should receive our preaching, but prove its falsity and lead us out of the delusion, and so save our souls.

Conversing with a kind neighbor, I was stating our faith in the fact that the time had come for the final message, that of the third angel, to be given, reasoning as above on the importance of it, our position being true, as we believe it is; and his reply was, that he did not doubt that we believe we are right, as all other denominations do.

That is not the point. The question is not whether we are "righter" in things in general than other denominations are. The question is, Are we right in this particular thing? has the time come for the predicted and described warning to be given? and is it actually being given? Can it be shown from the successive fulfillment of prophecy, in the order given in the book of God, that the time has come, and that the proclamation of this solemn warning is an existing fact, and a sign of our times?

If this is so—and no one can prove that it is not—then we are doing, as instruments, the work of God, the special work for our times, as designed and foretold in his word. If we are right in this, God is in the work. Therefore, if there is a bare possibility of our being right, all should have the deepest interest to know it. And if we are not right in this particular point, those who are right should show, by sound reasons from the word of God, that we are wrong.

The position is absolutely either right or wrong. There is no middle ground. And we have no rivals in this matter in other denominations. None but Seventh-day Adventists profess to preach the message of the third angel. None explain it, defining its terms. No one convicts us of error in regard to its meaning. Those who are most friendly to us only look on with doubt, taking no position on these messages. Our work stands by itself; it is like no other; and the only question is, Is it right? It is of God, or of men. If it shall prove to be of God, it must be heeded. When God speaks, men should hear. To oppose it, would be to fight against God. But if we are in a delusion, it is a fearful delusion, and we would be exceeding glad to be undeceived. We would not be found false witnesses of God. But we are shut up to the conclusion to which we have come, till some one can explain the prophecies of Daniel and John, show us what they mean, and tell us what our mistake is. Till then, we must preach to the world what we believe to be the truth for our times; for if our position is in harmony with the word of God, a fearful responsibility rests upon us to proclaim it to the world. R. F. COTTRELL.