WHY THIS AGITATION? by R. F. Cottrell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 16, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 23.

WHY THIS AGITATION?

By R. F. Cottrell

It is undoubtedly true that there has never been a time when the agitation on the Sabbath question at all compared with the present. But why is it so? Why should the public mind become unsettled on a subject which is supposed to have been settled by divine authority for more than eighteen hundred years? The answer is simply this: Since the beginning of the Christian age, there has been a great apostasy from the truth, and in consequence the mass of Christians have been in darkness on the subject of the Sabbath since the dawn of the Reformation; but the time has come when in the providence of God light is shining upon this important subject.

The hand of God is in this work. The Lord foresaw that the great apostasy would come; and it was plainly foretold by prophets and apostles. Dan. 7:25; Rev. 13:1-10; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Thess. 2:3-8. And the restoration of the truth to the people of God in the last days is also clearly predicted in the word of God. Isa. 8:16; 56:1, 2; 58:1; Rev. 14:9-12. The time has come when the promised messages of Rev. 14:6-12 are having their fulfillment. The work of the great Papal apostasy, the power that should "think to change" the times and laws of God, is being exposed; and the light on the "commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" is shining forth all over the world. The Spirit of God is applying his word to the hearts and consciences of believers; the last predicted warning is on its way; and the living are soon to be judged by the law of the Father and the testimony of the Son.

The hour of Judgment is come; the time message (Rev. 14:7; 10:6) has been announced; Babylon is fallen, and is fast becoming the habitation of devils, the hold of foul spirits, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird; and the prophesying again "before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings" is heard in many of the nations of the earth. The progress of the proclamation of this last message all over the earth constitutes one of the present signs of the nearness of the end of this age; for when the last message of probation has done its appointed work, the end will come.

It is meet that in this Judgment hour the living should be tested upon the law of God. Now, since God has given the open Bible to all the people, it is fitting that they should be admonished by the solemn and fearful warning of the last message to "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." And it is because the time is come for this message to be given, and it is being done, that the minds and consciences of the pious are everywhere being called to the investigation of the Sabbath question. "The Sabbath question"? The subject is so plain that there need be no question about it; and there is none to those who take only the testimony of the Bible and the facts of history as their guide.

This agitation will not cease until the work of God in behalf of fallen humanity is completed. The spirit of God and holy angels are urging it forward. The work cannot be arrested in its course till men have been enlightened, faithfully warned, and the truly pious have heeded the warning, have forsaken the traditions of men, which make void the commandments of God, and have turned their feet unto the testimonies of God. O Lord, speed on the work! R. F. COTTRELL.