HOW LONG? by Smith Sharp

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 7, 1876

HOW LONG?

By Smith Sharp

How natural the inquiry, How much longer will it be before the Lord shall come? Many that embraced the truth years in the past thought he would have come before this; and some reason that as he has tarried longer than was expected, it may be much longer yet before he will come. I think this is a very illogical conclusion. If he ever comes, his coming is nearer now than it ever was before. All Adventists believe that the fulfillment of prophecy shows that his coming is near.

But how much longer will it be? We admit that we seek in vain for a definite answer in the Bible, and still it is our privilege to know all that it is best for us to know concerning it.

We know that this generation shall not pass away before he comes. Matt. 24:34. We know that very soon after the “horn” speaks the great words of infallibility, the “beast” is to be slain and his body given to the burning flames. Dan. 7:11. And we know that this will be accomplished by the brightness of Christ’s coming. 2 Thess. 2:8. And every important event transpiring among the different nations teaches the careful student of prophecy that “it will be but little longer.”

But this does not satisfy the weary pilgrim. As he roams in this dark world mourning the absence of loved ones whom death has called away, the language of his heart is, How much longer before Jesus will come and raise the sleeping saints? Oh! it cannot be long. But how definite can the answer be? For years, and especially for the past year, I have watched for evidence on this point, striving to labor on, hoping to be prepared, “still looking for that happy morrow.” The progress of the last message affords the greatest reason for hope in this respect. Without a doubt we are in the sealing time. The angels are holding the winds. Rev. 7:2. God has miraculously opened the way in the Old World, and the message is going. Seventh-day Adventists are now known throughout the world. The loud cry can be raised, the number made up and sealed, the work be done, and the third angel’s message be closed, in a very short time now, even before some of us realize that it is being done. The preparatory work for such a move is in the past.

With intense anxiety I have watched the evidence of the formation of the image in our own land and the movements among the nations in the Old World. The work for the erection of the image is steadily moving forward, and in a few years at most it will be complete. Then will come the enforcement of the law requiring the reception of the mark of the beast. Then the mighty struggle of the people of God, ending in the day and night cry in response to which our Lord comes for the deliverance of his people. Equally significant are the commotions among the nations of Europe, but no general outbreak can come while the angels are holding the winds. The nations are restrained, and the Lord tarries for the last message to complete its work. It will close soon, and the people who have seen and heard these things which prophets predicted and holy men in the past hoped and prayed for, will also see the sealing work completed and hear the faithful ones cry, “Lo, this is our God.”

May God greatly speed the day.

SMITH SHARP.