The Missionary by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 23, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 37.

The Missionary.

By Editor

"THE THIRD ANGEL'S MESSAGE."

THE above term is used by the people whom this journal represents to denote the last warning message which the Lord in mercy sends to a dying world. The expression comes from the symbol of "the third angel" in Rev. 14:9. In that verse and the two following verses is the message borne by this angel. It is a world-wide warning against the worship of the beast or his image, and the reception of the mark of the beast.

But the expression "the third angel's message," as used by this journal, means much more than the third angel's warning as given in the above verses. It includes the message of the two angels which precede the third. The first bears the everlasting gospel, with all that gospel implies, and warns men to "fear God, and give glory to him," "and worship him," with all that this implies, in view of the proximate judgment, where all shall be judged by the law of God. All practical, remedial, saving, and important truth for this time is embraced in the term, "the third angel's message" as used in these columns. The proclamation of this message, which not only enjoins all truth, but forbids all error, develops a class of people who "keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Verse 12. They are, therefore, converted Christian commandment-keepers. They will not only keep by the obedience of faith nine of the commandments, but all of them, the Sabbath or fourth precept as well. Ex. 20: 8-11. This enjoins the seventh day; therefore those who heed this great threefold message will be seventh-day Christians.

This message is therefore an unpopular one, yet God has given it for the world, for the good of the world, and the salvation of souls. Some must bear it to the thousands in darkness, and the people represented by this journal, the Seventh-day Adventists, are laboring to do this. They have come from almost every sect of Christians and from the world, not to make another sect, but because the claims of this last message were so clear and paramount to every earthly consideration that they could not conscientiously do otherwise than obey. Faith in Christ which would not do this is a dead faith.

Those who have accepted of these important truths, have found them indeed precious. Acknowledging the claims of God's law, they have found that the entrance to God's word giveth light, it giveth understanding to the simple, a lamp to the feet, and a light to the path. Ps. 119: 130, 105. They have found the gospel of the Redeemer glad tidings indeed, not only in the pardon for sin, and the keeping from sin through his mighty power, but that he is coming again to gather his people to himself, and blot forever from the universe sin and the effects of sin. They have found the prophetic word a light in a dark place, revealing the fact that what causes such fear and uncertainty in the world, are indications

that the end draweth nigh, that the Redeemer is soon to come to receive home his children to the mansions prepared for them. At the same time they do not believe that the day or hour of Christ's coming is revealed, and have never "set times" nor have they had, nor do they have, any sympathy with those who do "set times."

This people became a fully organized body in 1862. Branch organizations to meet their rapidly developing and extending work have been organized later on. Their missionary operations are carried on by evangelists, or preachers, who are constantly opening new fields, by Bible-workers, and by the tract societies existing among them. We purpose to give a fuller report than we have heretofore of the general work of this people, the various organizations connected with them, the extension of their work, the systems for its support, etc., etc.

Next week we will give a brief account of the tract and missionary work among them.