Religious Scoffers

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Sep 6, 1883

Religious Scoffers.

THE Occident makes note of the fact that the descendents of Rebekah Nurse, who was hanged at Salem, Mass., in 1692, recently held a reunion, and that quite a sum was raised toward the erection of a suitable monument to her memory. Commenting on this fact, the Occident says:—

“What would the Pilgrim fathers have thought could they have foreseen all this? They would have all readily taken up with the doctrine of the Second Adventists, that the world is constantly getting worse and worse.”

What stronger proof that the world is growing worse is needed, than the fact that a religious journal can turn aside a Bible truth with a sneer? It certainly cannot be that our worthy contemporary is ignorant of the author of that doctrine, but it will do no harm to recall the name. These are Paul’s words: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 2 Tim. 3: 12, 13. And our Lord himself, speaking of the last days, declares that “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Matt. 24: 12. This page might be filled with testimonies to the same effect.

We do not deny, however, that the doctrine in question is an Adventist doctrine. Paul was a Second Adventist. He said of Christ: “And unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Heb. 9: 28. Again, “For our citizenship is in Heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Phil. 3: 21. His exhortation to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world, was based upon the fact that he was “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:” Titus 2: 13; and his words of comfort to mourning Christians were drawn from the fact that “the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven to awake those that sleep in Jesus. This doctrine he received of the Lord, who, while on earth, had said to his disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also.” John 14: 1-3.

It is the custom, even in the church, to sneer at even the name Adventist; and those who do so seem blind to the fact that they are thus throwing discredit on the Scriptures, which at the same time they are fulfilling. See 2 Peter 3: 3, 4. This blindness naturally follows the rejection of any truth, and, if persisted in, will lead to results most disastrous. See 2 Thess. 2: 9-12. It is our most earnest desire to be instrumental in preventing some from falling into this blindness, and suffering the consequences.