A LETTER FROM MISSOURI.
By Julia Lamb
Esteeming your excellent paper for the high tone of piety it inculcates, I wish to contribute my mite to its columns. We at Denver are enjoying the labors of our esteemed Bro. Geo. I. Butler, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Since Bro. Canright was here in Nov., many of the people are deeply interested in the great advent truths that have been laid before them so clearly by our beloved brother. It seems they cannot be misunderstood. The beauty and harmony there is in the Scriptures as taught by the S. D. A. Church lead us to exclaim, God has indeed shown us light on disputed points; viz., on the 2300 days, the sanctuary in Heaven, the two-horned beast, the three angels’ messages, especially the third angel’s message as belonging to the last times and bringing to view a people that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, or his teachings. It is true that truth exalts. The sanctuary is a theme that we as Christians would do well to dwell upon—the sanctuary in Heaven, where our great High Priest is pleading the merits of his own blood, by which our sins must be blotted out, as there is no other name in Heaven or among men whereby we can be saved. And seeing we have such a High Priest which is entered into the heavens, let us hold fast our profession. Another glorious doctrine (that is, to me) is the restoring of the visions to the church in these last days, showing clearly that we are living in close proximity to the time when we may expect the return of the nobleman, the Lord Jesus Christ, from Heaven. What harmony there is in the word of God when it is studied as it ought to be! Is it any wonder that there are so many in the churches sickly and ready to die, when the study of the prophetic word is even made a jest? They forget what Peter says in his second epistle, chap. 1: 20. We read that all Scripture is given by inspiration, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, and correction in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto every good word and work. How can we expect to be furnished unto every good word and work if we take the New Testament alone? Of course it teaches repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; but how could we understand its teachings if we did not go to the Old Testament? There is beauty and harmony in the Scriptures. They present a chain of truth that links us to the throne of God. The first link is found in Gen. 1: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” The second is the creation of man in the image of God, showing the relation we bear to him as our Creator, and the right we have to call him Father. The third link is that recorded in Gen. 2: 1–3, the institution of the Sabbath. But man fell; yet God in his love and pity for him made him the promise that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head. This promise to the church is another glorious link in the grand chain. The shedding of the blood of Christ upon Mt. Calvary, and his resurrection from the dead, is the fifth link. By virtue of this blood, we may obtain the remission of our sins, and through him be reconciled to God. The last binding link is the resurrection from among the dead of all that are accounted worthy of eternal life. Truly we can say, “Firm as a rock his promise stands.” His children may stand secure though the heavens depart as a scroll. God will ever be a refuge for his people; and the events that are to occur on the earth will be made known to the righteous, that the coming of the Lord in the clouds of heaven may ever be before our minds. In the resurrection is the hope of his church, for blessed and holy are they that have part in the first resurrection; for on such, the second death hath no power.