Mistaken in the Time

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 20, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 44.

"Mistaken in the Time."

"W. S." is the oracle of the World's Crisis on time. In a recent number of that paper he said:—

"To compute time incorrectly, and after it passes to insist that the time was right, but that the event was wrong, is a shocking error. Better a thousand times be mistaken in the time than in the event."

We might safely admit the first part of this quotation, as it relates only to computing time "incorrectly." But he insists that whenever there is a mistake in regard to the event, the time is necessarily computed incorrectly. To this we do not assent. Nor can we agree that it is better to be mistaken in the time than in the event. Both may be fatal; the first certainly is.

In the days of Noah, if the people had admitted that there was some great calamity impending, there might have been hope that they would learn the whole truth, inasmuch as they expected it at the right time. But if they had admitted that there was a flood coming some time—right in the event—but had not believed it was coming in the day of that generation, their case would have been quite hopeless. But this is only a supposed case. We have an actual case which is much stronger.

The Saviour commenced his ministry when the appointed time was fulfilled. Mark 1:14, 15. And step by step in his life were the prophecies fulfilled by him and in reference to him, until the time came to fulfill Zech. 9:9. The disciples fulfilled this prophecy to the very letter; they saw Zion's king riding into Jerusalem on a colt, and they cried out in the very words of the prophecy. But "they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear." Luke 19:11. They gave the proclamation in the right time, but they were utterly mistaken in the event! Was their proclamation therefore "a shocking error"? It seems strange that, with this scripture before him, W. S. could write such a paragraph. Yet not so strange when we consider that he is so wedded to a theory that he utterly refuses to see the most evident truth, if it is not in harmony with his theory. The reader will remember our examination of his declaration that the application of blood in the Old Testament was for dedication, and not for cleansing; a declaration for which there is not the slightest warrant. His object was to disprove our faith in the cleansing of the sanctuary. He could find it clearly proved by reading Lev. 16.

His assertion in regard to the time, as herein noticed, was made to discredit our faith on the message of "the hour of his judgment," in Rev. 14:6, 7. This is parallel to the case of the disciples in Luke 19. There is nothing in Zech. 9 to show that he would not set up his kingdom when the "shout" was given. They were entirely shut up to the fulfillment for the correction of their error. In 1844 people did not see anything to indicate that the event was not the Lord's coming, as they gave this message. But after the time passed it was easy to see—easy to all who are willing to see—that other proclamations were to be made after that of the hour of his judgment is come, and that, therefore, that message was not intended to usher in his advent, as they supposed it was. And so also with the early disciples. It was only after their sad disappointment "in the event," that they learned that "Christ must needs suffer" before he came in his kingdom.

Truth is harmonious. It will always agree with itself. The word of God is not yea and nay. They who have the truth of the word need not deny any scripture to maintain their positions. It has been the rejoicing of our heart for years that the light of the Third Angel's Message, Rev. 14:9-12, sheds so great light on all the Scriptures, and tends to unity of faith. It is because the foundation is laid upon the commandments of God—the foundation of everything in the Government of the Most High.

It is the rule of true morality—of holiness. Ex. 19:5, 6; Ps. 19:7; Eccl. 12:13, 14. And they who work by the same rule—and that the rule of Heaven—will build together in union, and the superstructure will be symmetrical and right.

Let us all strive to build on the true foundation, and by the same rule, in unity of faith and spirit, and we shall be found workmen that need not be ashamed; 2 Tim. 2:15; for the Master will establish the work of our hands. Ps. 90:17.

Battle Creek, Mich.