Probation after the Second Advent.
By E. R. Seaman
THE doctrine, as taught by a portion of professed Adventists, that there is to be a glorious period of probation after the personal coming of the Saviour, appears to conflict very much with the plain teachings of Christ, and the apostles. It is evidently another gospel beside that which they preached, or were commanded to preach; for the disciples never received a commission to preach baptism, repentance, or glad tidings in a future age. Neither has any one, unless the words of Jesus, which are recorded in the last chapter of Matthew and Mark, have been changed.—This no one will dare to assert. The language of this commission is plain and pointed, and affords abundant proof for every honest inquirer after truth, of its object, and length of duration. Then come to the fountain and hear that Prophet whom we are now commanded to hear, or we shall be destroyed from among the people. He spake as never man spake. Hear ye him: "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel (glad tidings of the kingdom to come) to every creature, and lo I am with you (while the gospel is being preached) always even to the end of the world," (or age, or dispensation, as all Greek scholars admit the word, world, to signify, which world, or age, or dispensation ends at the coming of the Just One; when will open the millennial age or new dispensation, or world to come.) Then the understanding of the commission is clear. Its length is limited, when Christ will no more be with those that preach this gospel, in the sense referred to. And it is nowhere said, lo I am with you one thousand years after this world shall end, as it should to sustain the Future-Age Theory. This commission, as given by our Lord, is not to be thus wrested from its true meaning, given as it was under such solemn circumstances, just prior to the ascension. It should be considered equally binding upon all God's ministers. The time of its close is specified in Matt. xxiv, 14. After it has been preached as a witness to all nations, the next event is the end of this age or the coming of the Saviour. Our beloved apostle Paul, attaches much importance to the preaching of the true gospel. Gal. i, 9. "As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel than that ye have received, let him be accursed." There is therefore a gospel which is imperative to preach, if we preach any, on pain of the curse of Jehovah at the appearing of Jesus Christ. And it must be apparent to every mind that any gospel which does not terminate with this age, or dispensation, must be another gospel not authorized in scripture. In this annunciation is a solemn warning to those who are engaged in advocating future probation, or any that may aid or abet therein. There are other points in this strange, delusive theory that as much conflict with the teachings of the New Testament as light and darkness. God in his providence has allowed the holy apostle Paul, to state the condition of all the living wicked at the Second Advent; that none need be blinded but those who will not see. The light of a burning lamp dispels the surrounding darkness; so the light of truth and inspiration, dispels all darkness and cunningly devised fables. Then let us look at 2 Thess. ii. Here we shall learn something with regard to the destiny of a portion of the then living wicked. Verse 8. "Then shall the wicked be revealed (Papacy) whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and destroy by the brightness of his coming." Also see the first chapter of the same epistle, verses 7, 8.—"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, (that is, the heathen,) and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished (with probation for a thousand years? not so, but) with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe in that day." Here we have three classes which comprise all the living wicked on the earth at the Second Advent, or the close of the gospel age, viz: Catholics, Heathen, and those that have lived under the sound of the gospel, but have not obeyed its righteous requirements; for all the promises of God are in Christ Jesus, yea and amen, to every one that believeth. We cannot fail to see that then the time will have arrived, when "he that is unjust let him be unjust still; and he that is filthy let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. xxii, 11, 12. I thank the Lord for such plain testimony, and I would say to any honest brother or sister, who has been deceived by this siren song of peace and safety, be deceived no longer. No better opportunity to prepare for the coming of the Lord can ever be given; for it is plainly stated that the destinies of all men are forever sealed, for life or death, prior to the coming of the Lord Jesus. Then I beseech you, let not the blind infatuations of this cunningly devised fable draw your soul down to despair, by causing you, unwittingly, to neglect the needful preparation.—Nothing but a full consecration of all we have and are to God, together with obedience to all the commandments of God, and walking in all the ordinances of his house, blameless, will give us a safe and final passport to the opening glories of the new dispensation, which is just before us. Then instead of being troubled about a preparation for Old Jerusalem, which is in bondage with her children, let your minds be dwelling on the New Jerusalem, which is above, which is pure, and the mother of us all. A passport to which, you may read in Rev. xxii, 14. I know that a great many are telling you to go to Old Jerusalem, to meet the Lord, and that it is necessary for you so to do. But I say to you with the authority of Jesus, believe them not. For wherever Jesus is there will his saints be gathered together; for he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Well, says one, won't they be caught away to Old Jerusalem, after all. Many think so. I think not; for the following scripture is in the way: St. Paul says: we that are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (or go before) them that sleep; (or are dead;) but shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and be caught up together with them in the air. Now let us see what farther light we have, in addition to this. Please examine Isa. xxvi, 20, and we shall learn where the saints go. "Come my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself as it were for a little moment (until the heathen are converted?—Ah! no, it don't read so; but) until the indignation be overpast." I understand that we are here plainly taught that the saints have nothing to do in this sin-cursed earth, after being caught up, until sin and sinners are rooted out of it. Jesus has said, that in his Father's house are many mansions, which is without doubt a parallel to Isaiah's chambers. (Plural.) In the New Jerusalem, the saints, immortal, will be content to reign for one thousand years, while the wicked dead are shut up in the pit, as recorded in Isa. xxiv, 22, to await the final execution of the judgment written, which is the second death. The day of the Lord hasteth greatly, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. O, God prepare thy people for the closing scenes of time and probation, while the last notes of mercy are being heard, and grant that an abundant entrance may be administered unto us into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, is my prayer. Rochester, N. Y., June, 1853.