Time of the End by M. Wood

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 30, 1874

Time of the End.

By M. Wood

“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.” Dan. 12: 4. There never has been a time in this world's history when the Advent doctrine has been so profusely scattered abroad as at the present time. And never since the '43 and '44 movement, have men's minds been so thoroughly stirred by the Advent message as at the present time.

Those who a few years ago deemed the Advent publications unworthy of their time and attention, now give them their closest scrutiny. Our publications, which go forth bearing a world-wide message are perused by men occupying some of the highest positions. Public sentiment runs strongly in favor of prophetical study. Our books, periodicals, and tracts, are in very many cases eagerly sought after.

Lectures on the prophecies and the second advent of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to this earth, are listened to with marked attention, and the honest-hearted souls are being gathered from every nation under heaven. The leaven is working. God's people are being sealed with the seal of the living God.

People are getting their eyes open to these solemn, serious truths. They begin to believe that there is a reality in the truths we profess to believe. Professors of Christianity are becoming alarmed. They fear that the third angel's message preached by S. D. Adventists is impelled forward by the spirit of the faithful and true Witness. Men's hearts are failing them for fear of those things that are coming upon the earth. The truth-seekers read our publications with joy and thanksgiving. They pursue the course adopted by the Bereans, and examine the Scriptures, to see whether these things are really so, while the murmuring, doubting unbelievers, are content to seek counsel, not from God, but from their minister. And these perishing souls are deceived into the belief that Christ's second coming is at death. One minister in particular, living not a thousand miles from Boston, told his congregation that the second personal appearing of Christ was nowhere taught in the New Testament—that Adventism was the work of the devil; and, if there were any Adventists within his church, he would very respectfully invite them to leave. He also informed his congregation that if they tolerated Adventism in the least degree, he should deem it his duty as a Christian and as a minister of the gospel, to hand in his resignation. Thank the Lord that there are a few people, even in Boston, who read the Bible for themselves. And as some of this minister's congregation are constant readers of the REVIEW AND HERALD, we would call their attention to the sayings of Jesus, found in John 5:39. “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

M. Wood.