TWO LAST MESSAGES OF MERCY.
By H. A. St. John
Two LAST messages of mercy to the last generation of people on the earth! How can there be two last messages of mercy to the same generation of people?—On this wise: One is a last message of mercy to the remnant church as a church; and the other is to all the world. Not only can this be, but it will be, for the Word of the Lord declares it. Yea, more: Both these messages are already being given, the Third Angel's Message of Revelation fourteen, combined with the two messages preceding, constitute the last message of mercy to a sinful world. It is already well under way. It must yet go, however, with mighty power and glory, to all nations, kindreds, peoples, and tongues. All who reject it will receive the unmingled wrath of the last judgments of God upon incorrigible sinners. The other message is to the remnant, or Laodicean church, upon whom the Lord depends to carry the last message of mercy to a perishing world. They have begun the proclamation, but a lukewarm and drowsy spirit has come over them, and the message is delayed. Abounding iniquity in the world has encroached upon His people—yea, it has permeated the church to whom has been committed the everlasting Gospel, and this iniquity in their very midst has caused the love of many to wax cold. This condition of things makes it necessary for the Lord to send to the remnant church a last message of mercy, while they themselves have committed to them the last message of mercy to the world. For years that last message has been coming to that people; but as yet it has never been half heeded. It is now being renewed and revived, and this may be the very last opportunity. No marvel that the world is not stirred, not half heeding the last message to them, when the bearers of that message are so heedless of the last message the same Lord is sending to them. The faithful and true Witness says to this remnant church, who are called to be the forerunners of the second glorious appearing of Jesus: "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth." This will be the fearful fate of all those who do not heed this last message of mercy to the church. All such will then be numbered with the rejectors of the last message to the world, and share their destiny. The message to the remnant church further says: "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3:17-20. Sometimes we sing—
"O, how I long to see that day
When the redeemed shall come
To Zion, clad in white array—
Their blissful, happy home!"—
but, dear reader, just now we want to be longing to see that day when we shall all come up "to the help of the Lord against the mighty,"—when we shall fully heed the last message of mercy to us individually and collectively,—when we shall, by a strong grasp of faith, believe all the faithful and true Witness says about our condition, and thus believing, zealously repent. Reader, do you not hear Jesus, standing at the door of your heart, uttering this solemn message of revelation, warning, counsel, love, mercy, and promise? If you will hear and heed by zealous repentance, you will thus open the door of the heart to Jesus, and then you may constrain Him to come in, and sup with you, and you with Him. Wonderful Guest; glorious feast! O, let the dear Saviour come in! When Jesus shall have thus entered, and taken up His abode in the hearts of His children, He will quickly subdue all things in that living temple unto Himself, that all its members will be members of righteousness unto holiness, and every thought be brought into captivity to Christ. Then, and not till then, will that soul and that church be in condition to receive the refreshing from on high—the latter rain. Then will come the mighty outpouring of the Spirit of God—the pentecostal baptism of power. Then will begin, in very truth, the loud cry of the Third Angel's Message, which will be quickly consummated in all the world; for the mighty angel, having great power, whose coming lightens the earth with his glory, will thus and then have joined the third angel. The Lord will at that time rain righteousness upon His children and church, and thus will He cut short His work in righteousness. For a short work will the Lord make on the earth. Then we will see the redeemed of the Lord come to Zion clad in white array, and, praise be to His holy name, we may not simply see them, but be numbered with them in glory.