Untitled article by R. F. Cottrell

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 7, 1875

The Closing Message of the Gospel.—No. 4.

By R. F. Cottrell

We are now ready to say that the third and last message of the series, the closing message of the gospel, has been announced and is doing its most solemn and fearful work. It was kindly promised and clearly described in the prophecy, Rev. 14:9-12, so that, when it should have its fulfillment, it might be received with full assurance of faith. The beast, the papacy, has arisen, and has done his work of blasphemy against God and persecution of the saints, and has had his full time of forty-two prophetic months, that is, twelve hundred and sixty years. His power is taken away, and he is about to be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming. Daniel says, 'They shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.' Dan. 7:26. And Paul says of him; 'Whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.' 2 Thess. 2:8.

But the part of the blasphemous work of the beast, by which he has led the people away from God and his truth most effectually, making the nations drunk with false doctrines, is his change and perversion of the law of God. By comparing the prophecy of the beast of Rev. 13:1-10 with that of the little horn of Dan. 7, it will be seen that the subject of the two is the same. And of this power it is said, 'And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change times and laws.' It is not the least of the blasphemous acts of the papacy to change the law of God, putting the first day of the week in the place of the seventh day which is the Sabbath of the Lord. Hence the last message is intended to restore to the people of God the commandments as given by God himself. Therefore the warning against the worship of the beast and his image is followed by the assertion, 'Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.'

It is not my design at present to give a full explanation of this message. Those who would have a full explanation are referred to our published works. But I wish to call especial attention to the fact that a warning precisely like the one foretold in the prophecy is now being heralded over the earth. And it is having its effect. There is a general agitation of questions respecting the Sabbath, and many are turning to the observance of the original day found in the law of God, that law which was spoken by the voice of God and written with his finger in tables of stone.

The present movement on the subject of God's commandments is not a matter of chance. Step by step the great chain of prophecy has been fulfilled till we have come to the last warning message. This message is the last message of the gospel. It warns of the day of wrath which will immediately follow its proclamation; and obedience to it will prepare the people of God for the second advent of Christ which is at hand. It is testing the people whether they will keep the commandments of God, or still follow the traditions of men. The true hearted will hear the good Shepherd's voice in this message and prepare for the close of their probation, and for the glorious appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This work began in a small and humble way, soon after the close of the 2300 days in 1844, and has slowly and steadily advanced to the present time. Now offices of publication are established with power presses and all the facilities for doing a large work. And the message is encompassing the earth. There are believers, not only in our own country from Maine to California and Oregon, but in several countries of Europe, in Africa and Australia and the islands of the Pacific.

The part that our own country is to act in the closing scenes of earth, is described under the symbol of a beast with two horns like a lamb, in Rev. 13:11-18. The persecution there described is the last persecution of the people of God, the people described in the last message as those 'who keep the commandments of God.' An attempt will be made to compel them to keep the commandment of the papacy, by keeping the day which the Roman church has put in the place of the Lord's Sabbath. And already there has been organized an association, called the National Reform Association, the object of which is to secure a religious amendment of the Constitution, an important item of which is to procure a national Sunday law, so as to compel people to keep that heathen festival of the sun, put by the beast power, the Roman church, in the place of the Sabbath of the Lord. A great crisis is coming. While God warns us to keep his commandments, and not submit to the dictation of the beast and his image, on pain of the fierceness of his unmixed wrath, the way is preparing for the image of the beast to demand submission to the opposing power on pain of death.

Which shall we choose? Shall we obey the laws of men which contravene the law of God, and brave the wrath of God? or shall we obey God at the risk of persecution from earthly powers? Dear reader, let us be found on the Lord's side, putting our trust in him and keeping his commandments. He is able, and he has promised to shield and deliver us. Those who are truly and wholly his will soon stand upon Mount Zion with the Lamb. Rev. 14:1-5.

R. F. COTTRELL.