The Past and the Present.
By S. N. Haskell
SOME more than a quarter of a century ago, light shone upon the prophecy of Rev. 14:6–12, especially that portion of it which relates to the third angel’s message, verses 9–12, as the two preceding messages had previously been given. The three taken together constitute a most solemn warning to this world of its approaching doom, and the second appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The proclamation of the first angel’s message commenced in seeming obscurity, but increased in power and extent until there was not a civilized nation, or a missionary station, to which the warning: “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his Judgment is come,” did not go. As these messages stand related to each other, and the third introduces us to the period when God’s wrath will be poured out “without mixture into the cup of his indignation,” and the Son of man take his seat on the white cloud, we could not expect that this work would wind up in obscurity. The nature of the message and the language of Scripture alike forbid it. “The third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,” &c. If it be the last message of mercy to a dying world, it must necessarily be as extensive in its proclamation as the danger which is threatened by it. As the ending of probation and the second coming of Christ are events which follow the closing work of this message, it does relate to the whole human family. The expression in the sixth verse of this chapter, “unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,” applies with equal force to the last message in this series. When the prophet Joel speaks of the warning preceding the day of the Lord he uses language very similar in its meaning: “Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh; for it is nigh at hand.” Joel 2:1. The prophet Zephaniah, after announcing: “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly,” gives the following instruction to the people of God throughout the earth: “Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgments,” &c. Zeph. 2:3. John, on the isle of Patmos, when describing the closing work of the gospel of Jesus Christ, uses the following117words: “I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.” Rev. 18:1. This cannot mean the world’s conversion; for the fourth verse speaks of separation: “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” This position was taken in reference to the extent and nature of the prophecy of Rev. 14, at the commencement of this work. The Sabbath reform was believed to be embraced in the third angel’s message. And how could we, as honest men, believe otherwise, when it is expressly stated: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,” and the Sabbath lies in the very bosom of the decalogue, forming a connecting link between man’s duty to his Maker and his duty to his fellow-men? In one of the first publications ever issued upon the Sabbath, as especially connected with the warning concerning the day of God, a brief exposition was given of Rev. 7, in which the writer stated his belief that the 144,000 there referred to, applied to those who should embrace the truths of the third angel’s message. But for years after this view was taken, their numbers were so few that every known believer in these truths could be written to in one evening by one individual. In those days, when any one embraced the Sabbath as connected with prophecy, East or West, his case was discussed, over and over, by the few who had already taken their stand for the truth. Thus slowly but surely did the work move on for the first few years. But what has one-quarter of a century wrought in this work? Instead of a slow hand press in rented rooms, this people find themselves in possession of three power-presses with three large printing houses east of the plains; while another on the Pacific Coast is in process of erection with a cylinder power-press ready to be placed in it as soon as completed. And instead of a carpet-bag edition of a semi-monthly paper, three weekly periodicals and four monthlies are published, including one in the Danish language and one in the Swedish, with an aggregate circulation of about 50,000. Besides, tons of books, pamphlets, and tracts, are shipped to various parts of this country, and to different parts of Europe. Then the various Tract Societies are not only operating in their own respective Conferences, but are sending reading matter to every State and Territory in this country, and to Europe, Asia, and Africa. Letters are continually being received by those interested in the Sabbath reform, which show that the seeds of truth thus sown are already yielding an abundant harvest, and that souls are embracing these truths and rejoicing in them in every part of the civilized world. We hail with joy every omen of the progress of this work. The publishing of the paper on the Pacific Coast marks a new era in this cause. Like our other periodicals, it is designed for missionary work, and should find its way to all parts of this world. Our brethren, East and West, should feel that it is our paper; and while they should become paying subscribers themselves, so that it may be self-sustaining, and that they may be informed relative to the local news of the work on the Pacific Coast, they should also take an active interest in its general circulation. The cause is one. The work is the same throughout the world. It is a single message of warning to the inhabitants of the earth. We should unite our interests to support every branch of this work. Our hearts should be enlarged to take in this cause in its every department, and feel for its interest as we would for our own offspring. More of a personal interest should be taken in the Signs, published on the Pacific Coast. We here insert some extracts from letters, that our brethren may form some idea of the present developments of this work, and the utility of judicious missionary labor. The first is from a letter which appeared in the Sabbath Recorder, and was written to Bro. William M. Jones, of London, who is especially interested in the Sabbath cause. The writer lives in Great Grimsby, Eng. The extract is as follows:— “I am glad to tell you that I am now keeping the true Sabbath, and, having put my hand to the plow, shall, with God’s help, remain true to the end. I must tell you that some kind friend [Adventist] has sent me two copies of the ADVENT REVIEW, containing a most powerful article on the Sabbath question, entitled, ‘Who Changed the Sabbath?’ which has so convinced me that I have not only adopted the Sabbath myself, but have ordered a printer to copy the article on one sheet for distribution. Two thousand copies will be ready in a few days. I have come across another doubter as to the Sabbath, a gentleman in our neighborhood to whom I have given some papers.” Thus the publications on the Sabbath question fall into the hands of some who so far partake of the missionary spirit and work that they reprint and distribute by thousands. A man in Belfast, Ireland, who received the Sabbath without reading any publications, save the Bible, and without the aid of a teacher, save the Spirit of God, writes to me:— “Less than nine months ago I thought I was alone among Christians in keeping the Sabbath. Now every day is adding to my joy by the news that others knew of the Sabbath of the Lord before I was born, and some even here where it seemed to be thoroughly stamped out.” In conversation with his companion at sea, he says, “I was asked if I could tell the reason for the differences of opinion among those worshiping the same God, as the Mahometans keep Friday, the Jews, Saturday, and the Christians, Sunday. I told him that I had been taught in the Presbyterian church, that we had the example of the apostles and the early fathers, and that the work of redemption was greater than the work of creation. Whether he was satisfied with this explanation or not, I cannot tell; but I was not. As soon as I had time I went to my Bible to look for proof, but I looked in vain. I examined the confession of faith I had with me for its proofs. The change was there. But the proof was no proof at all. I searched every book I could lay my hands on, but to no purpose, as they were all by first-day writers. All this time I was silent. None but God knew what I was searching for, not even the one who made the remark which caused me to examine this subject.” “After a time, I came home to Glasgow, and told my mind to a missionary, expecting him to help me in the search, but met with a poor reception. Thereupon I told all I came in contact with that Sunday was not the Lord’s Sabbath, but never met any one who fell in with my views, except my wife, until I saw an advertisement for Sabbath-keepers in the Belfast Weekly News. Please send one of your papers to ——. He has been searching for the change of the Sabbath for some time. Have given him some tracts, but he is still anxious for more information.” “I have read many of your tracts and books, supplied me by Rev. W. M. Jones, of London, and like all I have read. Have read the ‘History of the Sabbath,’ by Andrews, and like it all, especially the last two chapters. I admire your church government as recorded on page 506 of that work. I received two copies of one of your publications, ‘Scripture References.’ I gave one of them to my brother and kept the other. The one my brother had, has been read by one and another so much that he says it is now so soiled that it is difficult to read it; yet they come for it, one as soon as another gets done with it. He tells those who want it where it is, but rather than wait for it, it would be better to write for another. My brother and I could give away many more tracts, but we do not give them unless we think they will be read.” “I cannot close without saying that I am conscious of the great work you are engaged in. Go where we will on the seventh day, we see that the commandment is broken. We hear of idolaters worshiping images of wood and stone. This is only breaking one of the commandments. What are we better than they? Surely more will be required of us.” But to come back to this country where the missionary work is more systematized, and the friends are more numerous. Wherever there is steady, persevering, sacrificing labor put forth for the advancement of the cause of truth, God is blessing these labors. I make one more extract from a letter recently received from the president of the Minnesota Conference:— “At our quarterly meeting at Medford, two weeks ago, six new Sabbath-keepers were present that I never saw before. They live about twelve miles away in the timbered land, and they report two or three others keeping the Sabbath in their neighborhood. We appointed two of our church as a committee to visit them at their homes, help them start prayer-meetings, and labor as duty demands, until we can send other help. “Last Sabbath at Hutchinson more new Sabbath-keepers attended the meeting for the first time. Twelve or fifteen others came in and appeared to be interested. A man that lives twelve miles from Hutchinson has had the Voice for a few weeks. He reports that his neighbors are very much interested to read his paper. He says it is stirring the whole neighborhood. One of his neighbors, who is an infidel, comes to his house and reads it. He often throws the paper down because of things it teaches, yet he does not leave until he reads it through. “I hear of men and families in all directions who are becoming very much interested by reading the Reformer and the Voice.” Add to the above items the facts which are continually coming to light—such as a company of forty-six in Prussia not only keeping the Sabbath of the Lord, but believing in the soon coming of Christ; a small company in Italy; another in Hungary; another in Austria; and still another in Holland, places where human agencies have never called their attention to these doctrines, yet the Bible, accompanied by the Spirit of God, is leading them into these truths, which are to prepare a people for the revelation of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven—and we can but exclaim, “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” We look with wonder and astonishment at the progress of this work within the last few years, and especially at its present magnitude. Not only in the Western Conferences do we see evidences that God is blessing this truth as never before in its history, but there are some tokens of good in the Eastern States, where there are more influences detrimental to the progress of this work than in some other portions of the field. We have been made to rejoice since coming to the New England Conference to learn that nearly seventy-five are known to have embraced the Sabbath during the past year. Quite a goodly number of these have never heard a sermon. Let us pray to God to inspire our hearts with courage and understanding zeal in his cause. S. N. HASKELL.