Preparing for the Final Conflict — God's Eternal Plan to Be Carried Out
In our issue of May 16, Professor Hall began a series of articles bearing upon the great Protestant Reformation period and its underlying causes. A general view of the entire Christian era was presented, that we might grasp with greater clearness the events of the sixteenth century. In this, the concluding article, a résumé will be given of the age-long controversy between the hosts of evil and the legions of righteousness, which controversy will soon end in the eternal triumph of truth.
WE read, in the first chapter of the Bible, that as each day of creation was over, God beheld, and said that its work "was very good." When He decided to create man — the crowning work of creation — the record says, "Let Us make man in Our image." Concerning the creation of the world, the prophet Isaiah says, "He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited." Isa. 45: 18. With reference to this plan, the prophet further declares, "It [My word] shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please." Isa. 55: 11.
These texts show that there was a plan thought out long ago, even before the creation of man, and that that plan will be carried out in God's good time and way. But sin entered; and for a time, the plan was delayed. We read that in Noah's day, men became so wicked that a flood of waters was sent to destroy them. Then the earth was repeopled by the descendants of Noah. But they soon gathered and built the Tower of Babel — "the gateway to God." This scheme of salvation by works was set at naught by the Lord, and the dispersion of the people to different parts of the earth resulted. Nations were founded, and centers developed.
A Continued Series of Apostasies
ONE lone man in Ur of the Chaldees was found by the Lord. He was called to leave his home and go to an unknown land. "And he went out, not knowing whither he went." A land was promised to his seed, but at that time he had not one child. This promise was fulfilled; and in a few centuries, Israel had become a great people. But they were in bondage in the land of Egypt until the Exodus.
The land of Palestine, the center of the civilized world, was chosen by the Lord as a home for His people. Here the light could shine to all the nations around them. But the record is a series of apostasies. When in bondage or trouble, the people returned to the Lord, asking forgiveness. Leaders were raised up, and the Lord delivered them from bondage and from their enemies. Finally, in 721 B. C., Sargon II, king of Assyria, captured Samaria, and scattered the ten tribes throughout his kingdom. Between 606 and 586 B. C., Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, did likewise with the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. By the decrees of the Persian monarch, all who so wished, could return, and repair the walls of the city and the temple. This was done, and the descendants of these faithful ones formed the Jewish nation at the time of Christ.
The Jews were determined to learn the lesson which God had been trying to teach them in captivities and other reverses. They resolved to keep all the commandments, especially the fourth. No more would they be taken into bondage for the nonobservance of the Sabbath. But as is often the case, the other extreme was soon reached. The rabbis attached to the religious services and teachings hundreds of rules and traditions, which Christ Himself said were burdens "grievous to be borne." The Jews were dead in formalism — a condition most gratifying to the enemy of all righteousness.
A "Man of Sin" Revealed
THE work of Christ and the apostles soon resulted in the establishment of the Christian church. One of these apostles was especially prominent on the day of Pentecost. Soon after the stoning of Stephen, occurred the conversion of Saul, the persecutor, who afterwards became Paul, the apostle to the gentiles.
We wish here to call attention to some statements by this New Testament writer. In speaking to the elders of the church of Ephesus, he says: "I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." Acts 20: 29, 30.
Also in his letter to the Thessalonians, he told them that Christ would not come until after a "falling away." A "man of sin" was to be revealed. In short, an apostate power or institution would arise, and a conflict with the true church was to result. See 2 Thess. 2: 3, 4. Two very definite prophecies of this event are thus given. This apostate power was to arise from within the true church; and in time it would persecute those who remained faithful to the plain teachings of the Scriptures.
By the letter of Justinian, the Roman emperor in 533, the bishop of Rome received authority in all ecclesiastical matters in the East and the West. By the uprooting of the Ostrogoths five years later, this letter could become effective. In 756, by the donation of Pepin, the Frankish king, the foundation was laid for supremacy in secular matters. A definite papal policy was drawn up and promulgated in the eleventh century. The history of the Waldenses, the Albigenses, the Lollards, and the Hussites, the inhuman treatment of the Protestants in the Netherlands and of the Huguenots in France, and the Inquisition in other places, is an ineffaceable blot on this persecuting power, that system spoken of by Daniel, Paul, and the Revelator.
Discontinued the Search for Truth
A FORMER article has told of Wycliffe and other early Reformers. They prepared the way for the one event of history after the establishment of the papacy — the Reformation of the sixteenth century. Luther, Melanchthon, Zwingli, Calvin, Knox, Farel, Lefevre, and a host of others, dispelled the gloom in at least the larger part of Europe. But as we have already seen, the Romance nations would not accept the "new faith."
Truths and principles long forgotten were brought to light. The Bible was issued in the language of the people. The printing press made it possible for even the poorest to possess a copy of this Book, heretofore something for the few. In a word, the Protestant denominations of our day have their origin in this century.
The sad thing, however, about these churches is that the search for truth was not continued. The Lutheran is satisfied to remain where Luther stopped. The same is true with reference to the Methodists following Wesley, and the Presbyterians with their founder, John Calvin. To a large ex6tent, they are all "creed-bound." The words of Peter concerning "present truth" are not understood and consequently not preached much by them.
The eighteenth century was a time of indifference and infidelity. Two great political events of that century stand out in bold relief — the establishment of the United States of America in 1789, and the French Revolution in the same year. The latter is the result of ages of tyranny and of rejection of truth; the former is based on safe, sane principles of government as enunciated in the Declaration of Independence and the national constitution.
Rocking the "Cradle of Missions"
Two events of another kind also must be noted. It seemed that the eighteenth century would "rock the cradle of infidelity," instead of the "cradle of missions." This word "missions" brings to our minds more than a century of glorious deeds and most gratifying results. A cobbler preached his famous sermon based on Isa. 54: 2, 3,—"Lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes,"—from which has come the motto, "Attempt great things for God; expect great things from God."
Following this, May 31, 1792, the Baptist Missionary Society was organized; and William Carey, the father and founder of modern missions, was on his way to India, to which country he gave forty-one years of untiring labor, never returning once to the native land for a rest.
The other event was the close of the twelve hundred sixty years of papal supremacy. The signs of Matthew 24 (the darkening of the sun on May 19, 1780, and the great meteoric shower on November 13, 1833) also appeared in this same time. The pope was taken prisoner in 1798; and the papal system has not yet enjoyed the privileges and prerogatives which were hers before that time. But the wound is being healed. Some events during this present war clearly show this. The signs mentioned were to come at the close of the days of tribulation, the studying of which had a part in directing attention to the messages of Revelation 14.
Advent Movement Begins
THE parable of the ten virgins, in Matthew 25, is closely connected with the chapter preceding. The stars fell in 1833; and it was at this time that the second advent movement began. Godly men were persuaded, from Bible study, that these signs proved that the coming of Christ was near, "even at the doors." The book of Daniel told of a period of twenty-three hundred days until the cleansing of the sanctuary. In the book of Revelation was found a message which spoke of a Judgment that had come, and that was391to have a world-wide proclamation. Thus by comparing Daniel 8 and 9 with Revelation 10 and 14, the conclusion was inevitable that they meant that Christ was to come at the close of the twenty-three hundred days, or in 1844. The fulfilled prophecy concerning the fall of the Ottoman empire in 1840 greatly added to the interest in the preaching of this message.
The body of believers thought that Christ would come in the spring of 1844. But the event did not occur. A careful investigation revealed the fact that the full time would not expire until the fall. So October 22 was set as the time. After the month of July, there came what is called "the midnight cry," corresponding to the parable of the virgins. But the second disappointment was much more serious and disheartening than the first. Again the faithful studied and prayed over the matter. Soon light came. The sanctuary was not the earth; and Christ entered the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary to begin the Investigative Judgment.
Organized a New Body
IN the meantime, the second message of Revelation 14 was begun,—a call to come out of Babylon, a call to the earnest to leave the popular churches and receive new light, present truth for that time and generation. Soon the next and last one was understood and preached, which resulted in the organization of a new body.
This people are to be found keeping the commandments of God, and having the faith or testimony of Jesus. In the same book, we learn that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. This people are not only to give the first two messages; but the third, a solemn warning against the worship of the beast and his image, is to be heralded "to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." This is also indicated in the tenth chapter, where the angel stands with one foot on the sea, and one on the land.
It is certain that these messages are being given. A people have united in the acceptance of the "advent message." Much new light has been given to the world since 1844, which is the result of Bible study and of this gift of gifts—the spirit of prophecy. A warning is being given about the "beast" and his "image."
The churches raised up in Reformation times have not kept pace with God's opening providences. Their teachings are not stirring themes and sound doctrine which will prepare a people for Christ's coming. The prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation hardly receive any attention from the ministers of to-day. Of one of these books, Christ says that we are to understand it; and on those who even read the other, a blessing is pronounced. These books are to be studied and understood.
Some Solemn Questions
THE original plan of God will be eventually carried out. This earth will be peopled with "the ransomed of the Lord." "The first dominion" will be restored to the redeemed race. "Affliction shall not rise up the second time." This awful reign of sin is almost over. Satan has had a fair trial. The whole universe has looked on for millenniums, and is satisfied that he is wrong, and that God is right. The forces of good and evil are nearly ready for the last great conflict. The end is right upon us.
Can you not see this age-long strife as it is enacted in your own life? Do you know the truth as found in the Book of books? Is your own conscience clear in this most solemn and important matter, the salvation of your soul? What does it mean to you that the prophecies are nearly all fulfilled? Are you studying, as did the noble Bereans of old, to see if "those things were so"? Are you following the word of God or tradition? These are questions which each one must answer for himself. Decide that you will always be found on the Lord's side.
A Sacred Tree Under Which Are Placed Votive Offerings of Pottery Horses
