p. 132 | A Request, and What Came of It

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 20, 1874

A Request, and What Came of It.

By Joseph Harvey Waggoner

The following request appeared in the Advent Christian Times of Sept. 23, 1874:—

“Bro. Burr: It has been stated several times in my hearing of late by a prominent Seventh-day Advent minister, that first-day Adventists cannot give from their standpoint, any consistent exposition of the angels’ messages as brought to view in Rev. 14: 6-14 inclusive. You probably are familiar with their view of them. You will greatly oblige a number of your readers by giving a brief or extended exposition, as you may deem best, at your earliest convenience. Your brother in Christ. Geo. W. Wright.”

If ever the “first-day Adventists” could be induced to make a strong effort to give an exposition of the third angel’s message, it would seem that this request would call it forth. With great interest we read the reply of the editor and were not disappointed in it, and certainly not disheartened by it.

The first paragraph contains some rather ill-natured remarks about the Seventh-day Adventists, but nothing looking toward a reply. The second is as follows:—

“The Seventh-day Adventists claim that the fulfillment of Rev. 14: 6, 7, took place during the proclamation of the time of the second advent in 1843. The belief of this depends entirely upon assertion, and there are many who do not believe it. Many believe it to be in the future. We do not propose to sit in the judgment seat to decide who is right or who is wrong, for doubtless we should be considered inconsistent by some, and it would be but man’s judgment at best.”

The conclusion here is direct that he has no position on this part of the question, stating, however, that some think it is in the future.

Yet in the third paragraph he expresses the opinion that “the Judgment” is the same as that of Dan. 7: 9-11, 26, and that it refers to the taking away of the civil power of the papacy, about the beginning of the present century. If so, the reference to those who think it future is of no consequence. And, if it were located there, it would fix the work of the two-horned beast and the third angel’s message in the present century; just where we think it belongs.

He further says: “The proclamation is not necessarily that of the general judgment yet to come.” We think it is a present judgment, now in progress, and several facts confirm this view. 1. The expression “is come” cannot refer to the future. 2. Two messages follow it, both of which are given before the second advent, therefore this judgment must precede the advent. 3. Rev. 22: 11, 12, shows that every case will be decided, and every character will be formed and fixed before the Lord comes. This judgment is especially in behalf of the Lord’s people, and while the priesthood of the Son of God continues; for his advocacy will certainly continue until he procures a final and favorable decision for his saints. 4. This is further confirmed by the fact that the saints get their reward, eternal life, in the resurrection, when the Lord comes. They are raised incorruptible, immortal, showing that the decision has been made, the judgment has set, before the advent and the resurrection.

Daniel, after introducing the judgment, says: “I beheld THEN because of the great words which the horn spake,” etc. Locating the hour of his judgment at the end of the 2300 days, in 1844, just where the proclamation placed it, and following down a few years, we find one of the most important of all the Roman Catholic councils in session, and it speaks “great words,” such as were never equaled by the words of any preceding council, even declaring the pope of the great Antichristian church infallible! All other great words which it has spoken are really included in this, and this excels all others. And speedily following this “his dominion,” as to civil authority, was entirely taken away. So literally is the prophecy fulfilled. The position taken by the Times is not at all opposed to our view of the location of the third angel’s message.

The fourth and fifth paragraphs have no special point, except that an effort is made to fix the name Babylon exclusively to the Roman Catholic church. On this, a few words.

“The woman” of Rev. 17, called Babylon, is doubtless the Romish church. The scarlet-colored beast upon which she sits, having ten horns, is the civil power which she controls. But these two symbols are combined in the beast of Rev. 13: 1-10, as the characteristics of both are ascribed to that. In Rev. 17 there is a change of symbols, or a double symbol; “the woman” is declared to be “that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” This city, or woman, or church, is also declared to be “the mother,” a title which even Catholics have claimed for the church of Rome. In the second message of Rev. 14, which succeeds the proclamation that the hour of “judgment is come,” Babylon is called “that great city,” and it is said she “is fallen.” Before the fulfillment of this message, and before these prophecies were carefully studied in their connection, it was supposed that the fall of Babylon was her destruction, but that is now seen to be an error. For, in Rev. 18, it is shown that several events transpire between her fall and her destruction. She is certainly not destroyed before the coming of Christ. Compare 2 Thess. 2: 1-10; but the announcement of her fall is before the third message, which is also before the advent. Therefore we are shut up to the conclusion that her fall, instead of being a destruction, is a moral fall, and must therefore relate, not to “the mother,” but to her daughters, which, of course, in the symbol, must take the name of their mother. This fall is the consequence of their rejection of “the everlasting gospel” of the “judgment is come.” Let all take warning. They who wrest these messages from their connection and locate them somewhere else than where the Scriptures locate them, whether in the future, or far in the past, occupy a dangerous position.

That the churches of the United States have rejected the advent doctrine, as brought to view in the messages of Rev. 14, is a well-known fact. And that a great moral change has taken place in them in the last thirty years, is beyond dispute. The point needs no argument. And it is true that these messages, preceding the appearing of the Son of man to reap the harvest of the earth, are, by the events of Rev. 13: 11-17, connected with the chain of prophecy which reaches from Dan. 2 and 7 to the second advent. And it is truth that this is the only chain of consecutive prophecy, reaching to the advent, and having a given starting point, which the Bible contains. Therefore they who remove the messages of Rev. 14 remove the most notable second-advent landmark which is given to us by Revelation. And it is a fact, worthy of serious contemplation, that every branch of the people known as Adventists, do now either evade these messages, or remove them from their scriptural location, the Seventh-day Adventists only excepted. If they think this statement does them any injustice, we will withdraw it when they will take a well-defined position on these messages.

The sixth and seventh paragraphs contain only a brief notice of the views of the Seventh-day Adventists on the subject of the beast, image, and mark, assuming no position in regard to them except to object to our view of the commandments.

The gist of the whole matter is found in the eighth, the closing paragraph, which we copy entire as follows:—

“There are many theories extant in regard to the ‘beast and his image,’ and the fact that there are so many leads us to question closely the application of any. We say plainly, we are in doubt, in regard to the minute application of the symbols of the beast and image, but at the same time we are assured that the whole contrast in the message of the third angel consists in worshiping God instead of an earthly government. And also that this earthly government called the two-horned beast, is closely connected with the ‘first beast,’ and the ‘image’ is Babylonish in its character. Hence we do not look in the least for its fulfillment on this continent, but rather in the old Roman territory. If the fulfillment is in the future, any attempt to tell the government beforehand would be perfect folly, unless God should make a direct revelation for that purpose. No man can minutely define unfulfilled prophecy to a certainty. With these remarks we leave the subject, trusting the brethren will beware of those influences that would draw them into legal bondage, or those religious observances which ‘have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.’ Col. 2: 23.”

It may be that the Advent Christian Times thinks it has complied with the “request,” but we fail to see it. Instead of giving “an exposition” of the beast, image, and mark, without which its suggestions on other points are mere conjecture, it acknowledges that it does not accept

any position which has been taken in regard to them! That the contrast is between the worship of God and of an earthly government is our belief also. But in this we differ: we have a definite position as to what that government is—they have not. That it is in some respect “connected” with the first beast, we admit, and that it is “Babylonish in its character,” is plain to all. But that it is to be looked for in the Roman territory, we cannot admit. Reason, analogy, and facts, all forbid it.

It is conceded that Christianity has flourished in the United States, say for a century or more past, in a purer form than in any other considerable part of the world. In fact, this has been the only considerable part of the world where it has had freedom to flourish untrammeled by civil bands and alliances.

Man was first placed in Asia; there were the wondrous works of God displayed; there the Saviour taught and suffered; there the gospel won its first great victories. Rejected there, its light went out gradually, in that locality, and removed westward. Europe enjoyed its blessings in a special manner. But there also it was oppressed, perverted, and obscured. Closely allied to the civil authorities, for centuries it was more caricatured than represented in Europe. In the providence of God, a new continent was opened to man, and the oppressed in conscience soon availed themselves of its privileges. It was a new land, where the foot of superstition and oppression had not trod. A free government could here be erected, without the necessity of subverting any other government, or coming in contact with established usages and customs. The wildness and great extent of territory not only offered a favorable opportunity to form such a government, but were calculated to inspire and foster the feelings of independence and personal freedom which soon took permanent form in both church and State.

With a growth unparalleled in the history of nations, it has silently extended the conquests of civilization and religion to the shores of the Pacific. The Pacific Coast is now to America very much what America was to the other nations a century and a half ago. Pride and custom, or fashion, have usurped the place of spirituality and power in the eastern part of the continent, and laborers in the gospel now find the most favorable and promising field of labor in the comparative freedom of the Pacific Coast. But no further move westward can be made. The tide of emigration and the march of civilization have girded the earth. “The sway of empire” has reached the utmost bound on “its way.” The mission of the gospel to “all the world” is near its close. And on this continent it is destined to finish up its great work.

It is to be noticed that a nation or government comes into prominent notice in the prophecies when it becomes prominently connected with the people and the work of God. Why should the United States be an exception? But it is an exception unless it is symbolized by the two-horned beast of Rev. 13. In this land, the doctrine of the second advent has received the most attention; here the prophecies are most studied, and here they must have their most marked fulfillment in the last days. And the two-horned beast, in every particular, finds a correct application here, while our opponents are not able to apply it to any other government! Why should we doubt its application here, when to doubt is to disarrange and mar the whole chain of prophecy, from Dan. 7 to the advent, and put out the light of the third angel’s message? Faith in this application sheds light on the messages, and gives a clear solution to the wonders of these last days.

Again, “the first beast,” having the body of the leopard, Greece, the feet of the bear, Persia, and the mouth of the lion, Babylon, and the ten horns of the dreadful and terrible beast, Rome, occupies in the symbol all the power or dominion of the beasts of Daniel’s prophecy. No reason can be given why the two-horned beast must be looked for in Europe, as the Times says, while many reasons can be given why it cannot be found in Europe. The ten horns being on the first beast shut it out of that field altogether.

In regard to the image to the first beast, which cannot be the first beast nor any part of the first beast, we now view a most formidable party rising up in the United States, having for its object a religious amendment to the Constitution, by means of which they intend to place all the usages and laws of Christianity on a legal basis in this land—that is, to make them subjects of legal enforcement. This would be an image to the beast, as that was a church and State power. To this we have looked for years as a fulfillment of Rev. 13: 14-17, and we are not disappointed either in its progress or its avowed intention, which is, as well expressed by the Times, “Sunday-keeping vs. Sabbath-keeping.”

The Times starts off with this declaration: “Undoubtedly, any exposition we might undertake to give of the passage referred to would be considered inconsistent by the Seventh-day Adventists.” Is this the reason why it offers no exposition? or is the reason found in its statement that it is undecided, dissatisfied with any position that has yet been taken? Why not give its exposition, if it has any to give, without regard to what S. D. Adventists may think? Perhaps there is force in the declaration made to me by “a prominent first-day Adventist minister” on this subject, namely, that the Times spoke as if it was afraid to give its position! Certainly there is force in his further remark that so far as the Times is concerned, it has only confirmed the statement referred to in the request.

The difficulty, we think, is not that it cannot give an exposition which the S. D. Adventists would think is consistent, but it cannot give an exposition which is consistent with itself! There can be but one consistent exposition of so marked a prophecy as that of Rev. 13: 11-17 and 14: 9-12, and, unfortunately for the position of the first-day Adventists, the Seventh-day Adventists have already developed that, and are extensively preaching it to the world. They have an exposition which is beautifully consistent, and which they are not afraid to present to all the world. It is emphatically “present truth,” and as such, we hail with pleasure every providence which enables us to extend the knowledge of it.

But the Times says: “If the fulfillment is in the future, any attempt to tell the government beforehand would be perfect folly.” Well, if the government symbolized by the two-horned beast is in the future, then as Adventists we are all mistaken; for this beast does all the work described in the prophecy prior to the advent. Hence, if it is future, the advent is not near at hand. This only seems to prove that the Advent Christian Times is deeply in the fog, either about the advent or the two-horned beast. And its emphasized remark about minutely defining unfulfilled prophecy does not offer relief to, but rather increases, its dilemma, as it has already located part of the prophecy in the past; and if the two-horned beast is indeed in the future, the word “Advent” can be dropped from the name of that paper, without danger of their being accused of inconsistency even by Seventh-day Adventists! We ask not for “a minute application;” we will be satisfied with general outlines, if they will only give a consistent exposition of Rev. 14: 6-14.

We feel no inclination to retort on the Times for its unkind misapplication of Col. 2:23. We have no hard words to utter, for we have no spirit of unkindness toward first-day Adventists. Among them we have many valued acquaintances, and we believe among them are many sincere worshippers of God, who are walking up to the light which they have thus far received. And we trust that many of them will take steps in advance of their present position when they see the light of fulfilling prophecy more clearly. We invite them to examine well their position; to mark the relation of the messages of Rev. 14 to the coming of the Son of man upon the white cloud to reap the harvest of the earth, and to mark, in Rev. 16, the relation of the seven last plagues both to the third angel’s message and to the second advent. And viewing this relation, seeing that this third angel’s message is the last message of warning to the world before the advent, can you trust to be led by those who, while professing to be Adventists, confess that they have no light on this message? Will you suffer your prejudices to be aroused by insinuations about “legal bondage,” when the message clearly unites the commandments of God AND the faith of Jesus? With Paul, we “delight in the law of God after the inward man,” and with him affirm that we do not make void the law through faith. Rom. 3:31. We have learned that the carnal mind is not and cannot be subject to the law of God; but we have also found that being justified by faith, the carnal mind of enmity against God is removed, and we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we love the law and consent that it is holy, and just, and good; through him we are led to obey, and clothed with ability to walk in the divine precepts. To him be all the glory for our present obedience and our hope of future salvation.

Brethren, the Lord is coming, and the earth will soon be reaped. The fruit of our lives will soon be made manifest. This advent truth of Rev. 14: 9-14 will soon meet you, if you put it away from you now. It will be honored, either now or when the wrath of God falls upon the world. We beseech you to heed the warning to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, that you may be accounted worthy to escape those things which are coming upon the earth, and to stand before the Son of man. This is a solemn time, and we have a solemn message. When Jesus closes the work of his priesthood, there will be no further room for preparation. He will say, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still,” at the same time that he says, “Behold, I come quickly.” And that time is near—fearfully near to all who will not heed the warning in mercy given; but gloriously near to all who get the victory over the beast and his image, and his mark, and the number of his name.

J. H. Waggoner.

Armada, Mich., Oct. 10, 1874.