THE JUDGMENT ANNOUNCED by R. C. P.

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 15, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 24.

THE JUDGMENT ANNOUNCED

By R. C. P.

The Prophets Foretell a World-Wide Proclamation — Has Such a Message Been Sounded in the Past? — Is It Due for To-Day?

In two articles, Mr. Porter will present some interesting thoughts on the messages from God that announce the Judgment. This week, he presents the Bible text of these messages, tells the story of the “sealed book” that was opened, and states a few facts in regard to the world-wide character of the movement.

Next week, he will give more data on the universal extent of this Judgment message; will tell of the disappointment that was foretold, and the work that by divine decree was to follow the disappointment. Editor.

The proclamation of the Judgment message is one of a series of three messages brought to view in Revelation, chapter 14. They are to have their application just prior to the second advent of Christ. This is made clear by the statement of verses 14-16: “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sat like unto the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in Thy sickle, and reap; for the time is come for Thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.”

The Judgment message reads: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His Judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14: 6, 7.

SERIES OF MESSAGES PROCLAIMS THE END

In Matt. 13: 39, Christ defines the word “harvest” thus: “The harvest is the end of the world.” This series of messages must therefore go to all nations just before the end of the world. This is emphasized by the statement of the revelator, verse 7, “The hour of His Judgment is come.”

A message announcing the Judgment at hand, could not have applied to apostolic times; for Paul “reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and Judgment to come.” Acts 24: 25. He did not declare that the Judgment was then proceeding, but that it was still in the future.

JUDGMENT SET AND BOOKS OPENED

Daniel presents the Judgment as the last act before Christ receives His kingdom, and returns in majesty and glory to gather the saints: “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him: the Judgment was set, and the books were opened. . . . I saw in the night visions, and, behold, One like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Dan. 7: 9, 10, 13, 14.

This statement that the Judgment precedes the second coming of Christ is confirmed by Rev. 22: 11, 12: “He that is

unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

THE JUDGMENT PRECEDES HIS COMING

The second coming of Christ is here placed immediately after the close of the Judgment. Much other evidence might be adduced in proof that these messages apply just before the second coming of Christ; but the above is sufficient for this brief study, since the statements are plain and positive.

The parable of Matt. 22: 1-4 and Luke 14: 16-24 refers to the same three messages, and fixes the time at the close of the day in the three calls to supper. The dinner call to the Jews, given at midday by Christ and His apostles, had been refused. The three calls at the close of the gospel day complete the history, and bring the second coming of Christ.

MIGHTY MESSAGES OF WARNING

Having considered the time when these messages are to have their application, let us study the messages themselves: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His Judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14: 6-12.

“This series of messages must therefore go to all nations just before the end of the world.”

Since John had previously spoken of an angel with the woe trumpets flying in the midst of heaven (Rev. 8: 13), he calls this “another angel.” We sometimes call it the first angel, because it is the first of a series of three brought to view in Rev. 14: 6-12. No ordinary preaching of the gospel could fulfill this prophecy, for here is a movement that must go speedily “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His Judgment is come.”

When this message is fulfilled, the world must hear such an announcement given in good faith.

This message is evidently identical with that of Revelation, chapter 10. Chapter 9 proclaims the first and the second woe. In the study of the Eastern question, we learn that the prophetic period connected with the second woe terminated with the overthrow of the political power of the Ottoman empire, in August 11, 1840. Upon the authority of the prophecy of Revelation, this had been predicted by those who in 1843-44 were proclaiming the hour of God’s Judgment come. When the day came to which all were directed as the day specified in the prophecy for the fall of the Ottoman empire, many learned with amazement that upon that very day the powers of Europe had compelled the Ottoman ruler to sign papers surrendering his government to the control of the great nations of Europe. This gave a great impetus to the advent proclamation of A. D. 1840-44. Chapter 10 gives an account of the great advent movement.

A PROPHETIC TIME MESSAGE

“And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: and he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.” Rev. 10: 1-3.

Here a mighty angel, with his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot upon the land, makes a proclamation based upon a little book open.

The statement that he has in his hand a little book open, indicates that the little book which he used as the basis of his proclamation, had been once closed, or sealed, but was now open. This is true of the little book of Daniel’s prophecy, to which reference is here evidently made. The statement reads: “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. . . . And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” Dan. 12: 4, 9.

THE SEALED BOOK IS OPENED

The book open in the hand of the angel deals with time. “And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by Him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer.” Rev. 10: 5, 6. The book of Daniel likewise deals with periods of prophetic time. “And they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” Dan. 7: 25, last part. “And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Dan. 8: 14.

The proclamation of the angel of Rev. 10: 6, “that there should be time no longer,” refers to the kind of time that he found in the little book of Daniel, which he held in his hand open; namely, prophetic time. The longest prophetic period given in that book is the 2,300-day period, beginning in 457 B. C., and closing in 1844 A. D. When the prophecy of chapter 10 is fulfilled, the world must hear the announcement that there shall “be time no longer.” Nothing less than this will fulfill the prophecy. Based upon this prophetic time period, it must be decidedly announced that “the hour of His Judgment is come,” in fulfillment of Rev. 14: 7.

Both these announcements were definitely made by the proclamation of the great advent movement of 1840-44. This movement was to be world-wide. It was to go to land and sea, as represented in chapter 10, by the angel standing with one foot on the sea, and the other foot on the land. It was to bear a message “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,” as predicted in Rev. 14: 6, 7.

A WORLD-WIDE MOVEMENT

The fact that both these announcements were made, and that the proclamation was world-wide, in the advent movement of 1840-44, is well known.

John the Baptist had a special mission, announced in prophecy. He knew that he was the forerunner of Christ at the time of His first advent. He said: “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.” John 1: 23. If, then, as is here suggested in the prophecy, the great advent movement of 1840-44 fulfilled the prediction, the men who carried the message, like John the Baptist, should have known that they were commissioned by these prophecies to make the proclamation which they gave to the world at that time. Let Sylvester Bliss, an ardent believer in that movement, inform us on this point:

“As an indication of the approach of the end, there was, however, to be seen another angel flying through ‘the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.’ Rev. 14: 6. The burden of this angel was to be the same gospel that had before been proclaimed; but connected with it, was the additional impetus of the proximity of the kingdom—‘saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His Judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.’ Verse 7. No mere preaching of the gospel, without announcing its proximity, could fulfill this message.”—Advent Herald, December 14, 1850.

“We firmly believe that this proclamation has been made, and that the preaching of the immediate advent of our Lord has been in fulfillment of this prophecy. Prior to the fall of the Ottoman empire in 1840, it had been shown by those who were preaching the immediate advent of Christ, that the hour, day, month, and year of the Ottoman supremacy would expire on the eleventh of August, 1840. When the event verified the truth of this calculation, the way was prepared for the great advent message to go with mighty power. The prophecies were not only unsealed, but, in the providence of God, a demonstration of the truthfulness of the mode of calculation respecting the prophetic times was given to the world. Thus, at the very time when the mighty angel of God was to come down with the little book open in his hand, and to cry with a loud voice, the advent message began to be proclaimed with great power. It was the good news of the everlasting kingdom, and of the advent of our glorious King.”

Hence it is evident that the advent proclamation comes in at the right time in this prophecy. R. C. P.