LETTERS by Joseph Bates

Publishing Committee · Saratoga Springs, N. Y. · Aug 19, 1851

LETTERS.

By Joseph Bates

[From Bro. Bales.]

DEAR BRO. WHITE: I returned home last evening from a tour of ten days among the scattered and torn flock of the house of Israel, in Boston and vicinity. We believe there is hope of some ten precious souls coming into the "present truth," besides others who are favorably impressed with this last message of mercy. We received the names of ten who want the paper.

We spent the Sabbath and first-day, July 26 and 27, in meeting with about twenty believers, at No. 67 Warren Place, Boston, where meetings are to be held every Sabbath. It was truly encouraging to meet with so many true believers in the third angel’s message where but a few months ago there was no gathering on God’s Holy Day. Here two, that had formerly believed the advent doctrine, embraced the last message. Others were strengthened and encouraged. During the week we visited Lynn, Salem and Marblehead, and held meetings at the places where we found hearers.

August 1st, returned to Boston, and held another Sabbath meeting with the brethren. Then visited Randolph and Bridgewater. In all of these places we found some ready to receive the message, read the books, and give their names for the paper. We know that God is gathering his people for the last time, and that the messenger started out with his message after he saw the Master of the house open the Temple of God in heaven, and enter in to the wedding, to warn the little flock of the pending danger of the worship of the beast and his image, and having his mark. And also to heed the admonition previously given.

“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.” Luke xii. 35, 36.

Now the wedding is imperative, and clearly involves a shut-door, and an open-door, in the heavenly Sanctuary, [Heb. viii, 1, 2,] where Jesus our great High Priest is. Rev. xi, 19; iii, 7, 8; Matt. xxiv, 10; Luke xiii, 25. It is said that the scriptures cannot be broken. How can these then, with Dan. vii, 13, 14, be fulfilled, unless Jesus does actually come from the above described place, to which this class of scriptures refer?

Then there must positively be a space of time for a proclamation of this wedding, and shut-door, and another door opened, before the second coming of Jesus. Paul and Jesus show us clearly that it cannot be proclaimed by the church at the time of his second advent, Thess. iv, 16, 17; Matt. xxiv, 27. Those who are proclaiming the second advent of Jesus as the next great event, do not show any scriptural time, or place, for this event. Then may we not ask, where the man is that can point us to time or space for a fulfillment of this important event, if it did not transpire in the seventh month, 1844. JOSEPH BATES. Fairhaven, August 5, 1851.