The Present Truth and the Judgment
By Lebbeus Drew
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—The cause of truth, together with the interest I have at stake, and the saving truths and messages that have been the means under God, to cut us loose from the world, and bring us together from the different portions of the earth, and unite us in love and peace; these with the present aspect of the world, prompt me to speak at this time. My brethren, I have been with you for the last ten years, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. In seasons of rejoicing, I have been with you; in persecutions, trials and disappointments, I have been with you; and those who believe that the 2300 days of Dan. viii, 14, ended in the Fall of 1844, and that the Sanctuary to be cleansed at the ending of those days, is in heaven, where our Great High Priest has entered—my brethren, those of you who take this position, I am with you surely. I also believe that the three angels' messages of Rev. xiv, 6-13, will prove a savor of life unto life or of death unto death, to those who have heard, when the day of God's wrath commences. My dear brethren, I am truly thankful to God, that I am permitted and enabled to confess the saving truths by which God has been leading us out from the world. With the light of these present truths, we are able to account for the state of things around us, and the awful condition the world is now in. Those who deny the past, and take the position that the judgment-hour cry of Rev. xiv, 6, 7, has not been proclaimed, and that it belongs in the future, would do me a favor if they would show why it is that God is sending strong delusions, [2 Thess. ii, 10-12,] at this time upon the great mass of our fellow-beings. Why is it, that all the nations of the earth are getting angry? Ah! whether men believe it or not, these saving truths which have been proclaimed for the last few years have been the means of ripening the tares for the sickle. Now if you will turn with me to a few of the prophecies, you may see why it is that the nations are preparing for war. Read Ps. lxxv, 8; Jer. xxv, 15, and onward; Isa. xiii, 4-14; Joel iii, 9-17. Now I would say to all who have ears, to hear, and if they have a desire to escape the things that are coming on the earth, and be able to stand when the Son of man shall appear, hear the last warning message! Rev. xiv, 9-12. Cease from the worship of that beast. Get rid of his mark, and the number of his name, which is 666; for I assure you that the battle that is now commenced, is between23this beast or Antichristian power, and the Lamb of God. Rev. xvii, 14. This satanic power which has been made manifest in putting God's saints to death for some 1800 years, is now about to come to his end with none to help him. Dan. xi, 45; 2 Thess. ii, 2-8. Here let us remember one important truth; that for the rejection of saving truth we become subjects of strong delusion. For proof of this, I need only to refer you to the first advent of our Lord. The first angel's message, and the sayings of our Saviour, [John viii, 24,] "For if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins;"—these truths were once saving truths to those who heard and received the love of them. We are now having what we understand to be the last saving message or truth that ever will be heard while probation shall last. We will here repeat the message. Rev. xiv, 9-12. "And the third angel followed them, (the two former angels,) saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." The message before us, my brethren, is an interesting one; but I shall, at this time, only notice a few facts: We find in this message, the mention of a certain beast; and that no one can escape the awful penalties therein laid down, who shall be found worshiping him and his image, or receiving his mark in their hands or in their foreheads. The character of this beast is given by Daniel and the Revelator. He is the same character that I have already referred to, who is to come to his end with none to help him. I understand his image to be his laws, his statutes and decrees; now, inasmuch as I understand him to be Antichrist, and a counterfeit, his image or laws will resemble him, and will be spurious, clashing with the laws of God. His mark will also be a counterfeit; and those who receive it will be recognized by it in the day of God's fierce anger. It will be a sign or a mark that will differ from that by which the Israel of God are known. Israel is one that has prevailed with God; [Gen. xxxii, 28;] and the name may justly be applied to all God's children. We see that the sign or mark between such is the Sabbath. Ex. xxxi, 13-17; Eze. xx, 12-20. This Sabbath or sign was instituted at creation, and is called the seventh day. Now in order to carry out the true character of this beast, we must look for some other day aside from the seventh, as a mark or sign imposed upon those who are his worshipers. Which day is observed as the Sabbath by the greater portion of the world? All must admit, The first day, God says remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy; [Ex. xx, 8;] and he says, The seventh day is the Sabbath. Verse 10. Antichrist, or the beast, says, The first day is the Sabbath. All must see that here is a plain contradiction between God and Antichrist. Now it is a fact that God is about to put an end to sin, and to bring in everlasting righteousness: and this beast that we have been speaking about, together with the false prophet, is destined soon to be cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone; [Rev. xix, 20;] and his worshipers, without any exception will soon drink of the wine of the wrath of God. Rev. xiv, 10. With the light of these truths before us, we can see the propriety, justice and mercy of God in sending this awfully solemn message of warning at these closing up moments of probation. The question is asked by many, In what sense do you consider me a worshiper of the beast and his image? I answer, Because you regard his laws and institutions as sacred; you pay divine honor to him in that you reverence him by treading under foot the fourth commandment of God; and you regard as sacred a day of his substitution instead of the Bible Sabbath, which you have no authority from the Word of God to do. But says another class, You have not touched our case yet; for I am taking rather neutral ground, I observe all days alike. Well, my friends, you cannot occupy that position but a little while longer. Remember that while you are observing all days alike, you are a transgressor of the law of God; and furthermore remember that the last note of warning is now sounding, and that the last gathering into the valley of decision is going on; and if you have not decided for or against the truth, you soon will. All those who reject these saving truths, will soon be compelled to drink of the wine of the wrath of God. They will then be moved and be mad. This will soon be the character of all the wicked. We will now for one moment notice those who get the victory over the beast and over his image and over his mark. We find them in Chap. xv, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. In the closing up of the third angel's message, I think their true character, faith and practice, are made known; we find them possessing the patience of the saints; and it is said, Here are they that keep the commandments of God: no account of any here who teach that the commandments of God are abolished: we think such would not be very likely to be found observing them. It is also stated that they keep the faith of Jesus. If we would learn what the faith of Jesus is, or what he taught, let us read his sermon on the mount. Matt. v. The blessed Jesus was honest: he preached what he believed, and he preached his faith; and those who get the victory, will be in possession of it. Amen. Your brother, desiring to be found in this company.
LEBBEUS DREW. So. Pultney, N. Y., Jan. 26th, 1854.