A Special Message

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Oct 8, 1903

A Special Message

THE prophecies make it clear that a special gospel message is to be given to the world in the last days, just before the coming of the Son of man on the white cloud. This is the last call to the gospel feast. This is the final offer of salvation before the close of probation. Amid the strife and commotion which indicate the full development of evil in the earth, there is a power which will control these adverse forces until the purpose of God can be accomplished in sending the warning message to all the world. Through the giving of this message, the body of people known as Seventh-day Adventists has been called out from the churches and the world, and to this message it owes its existence. This people has been raised up by this message, and to them has been accorded the privilege of heralding this message among the nations of the earth. We shall throw away our opportunity and forfeit our privilege if we allow ourselves to be turned aside from this distinctive work.

There are many charitable and philanthropic movements in the world which are seeking to ameliorate the terrible results of sin, and with whose aims we ought to have a hearty sympathy; but in his providence the Lord has raised up leaders and provided means for carrying forward these movements. It would be a mistake for us to attempt to take their work off their hands, or to compete with them in the same line of effort. The Lord has called us to another work.

Jonah was not sent to Nineveh to establish a philanthropic enterprise for the benefit of its inhabitants, although there was doubtless a splendid opening for such a work. He was instructed to proclaim, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” His message saved the city, and nothing else would have saved it.

The apostle Paul did not go from city to city to organize charitable associations among the people, and to affiliate with them in such a work. His distinctive message separated those who received it from all their former associations, and his route through the different countries was marked by churches which he had raised up.

Martin Luther was not called to reform the methods employed by the papacy in doing its extensive charitable work, but to give a message which would overthrow the papacy itself. Neither papal diplomacy nor the power of the state could turn him aside from his divinely appointed task, and the Reformation of the sixteenth century was the result.

William Miller was led of God to teach the prophecies to the world, and to preach the immediate second coming of Christ. He gave himself wholly to this work, and laid the foundation of this advent movement. After the passing of the time in 1844, additional light was given to the faithful believers, especially upon the Sabbath and the law, and the sanctuary question; and these truths, together with the great doctrine of the near personal advent of our Lord, have constituted the pillars of our faith since that time. And these are the truths which need now to be proclaimed with a loud voice in all parts of the earth. In them are included all the truths which constitute a complete gospel of salvation for body, soul, and spirit.

The literature which sets forth these distinctive truths in a simple and forcible way should be scattered everywhere in all languages. Preachers whose souls are on fire with these truths, and who feel a burden to save souls from the impending ruin, ought to go forth in all lands to speak with authority. The world should feel the power of this message. This people should arise with a heaven-inspired determination that nothing shall turn them aside from the purpose to lighten the earth with the glory of this final message. There is not a day to lose. We are already years behind the purpose of God.

Our forces have been much scattered, and our efforts have been to a large degree fruitless for years, because we have been persuaded to smother this message in gospel generalities, and to adopt worldly methods and policies of reform instead of striking directly at the root of the evil. Our present situation ought to stir us mightily, and with genuine repentance for our unfaithfulness we ought to devote all that we have and are to the one purpose of giving our special message to the world in the quickest possible time. This is the only hope of this movement. To this work God is now calling us. Who will respond?