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DO WE REALIZE IT?

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 18, 1879

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 54, No. 13.

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DO WE REALIZE IT?

By J. E. Swift

We are living in a grand and awful time. God is about to arise to shake terribly the earth. The signs of his advent are in the past. The very last prophecies are rapidly fulfilling. All that remains for human power to do is to make an image to the beast, and pass a decree to compel its worship. This generation is soon to witness the closing scenes of probation. God's last message of mercy is being proclaimed to a world lying in wickedness. Soon the final fiat will go forth, “He which is filthy, let him be filthy still; . . .; and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” What is done must be done quickly; and there is a great work to do. Crime is increasing on every hand. The gross errors that are being taught from the popular pulpits all over our land are constantly blinding the eyes and hardening the hearts of the people.
Dear reader, what are you willing to do in the vineyard of the Master? I pray you in the light of eternity, and in the light of the destiny of souls, to think on these things. Do not think that you will be saved because you keep the Sabbath and believe other Bible doctrines. We as a people have more light than any other people, and for this reason greater responsibilities rest upon us than upon others. We have also stronger incentives to holy living. What we need is to humble ourselves before God, confessing and forsaking our sins. We need also a genuine consecration to the service of the Lord,—a consecration that not only presents our bodies a living sacrifice, but one that also takes in our time, our talents, our reputation, and our property. There should be no idlers in this cause. Every one can do something to rescue the perishing. If you cannot stand on the walls of Zion and preach Jesus to the people, you can, with the means God has given you, send a substitute into the field.
The cause needs means. Multitudes are starving for the want of spiritual food. Dear reader, if you have money, put it into the cause while it is needed. In a little while the work will be done, and our property can save no one. May the Lord help us to understand our true position before him. May we have our lamps trimmed and burning, and be found ready when the Bridegroom returns. “In such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” J. E. Swift.