DEAR BRO. WHITE:—Since I wrote you last from Arkwright Chautauque Co., N. Y., the way has opened for me to visit some of the destitute parts of the harvest-field further west. The last week I have been laboring in the State of Ohio. At the close of a series of meetings in this place on First-day evening, the Lord was pleased to graciously deepen the work of his last message upon our hearts, by the manifestation of his divine Spirit; which gave edge to his truth, and caused a deep feeling to rest upon the congregation, of the great importance of keeping all the commandments of God, and all the testimony of Jesus Christ, and making speedy preparation "against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war."
Who that reads their Bibles, and watches the signs of the times, will fail to know that the nations are angry. Rev. xi, 18. "And the nations were angry." What is the next event? Ans. "And thy wrath is come." What is that? Ans. Rev. xv, 7, says that it is the seven last plagues. What effect will the seven last plagues have? Ans. Destroy all the wicked. Rev. xvi, and xix, 19-21. What is the next event? Ans. "And the time of the dead, that they should be judged." By whom? Ans. "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?" When? Ans. "When the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also(the twelve apostles when called forth at the resurrection of the just) shall sit48upon twelve thrones, judging, &c.Matt. xix, 28; Rev. xx, 4.
Then the consecutive order of Rev. xi, 18 is, 1. The angry nations. 2. The seven last plagues. 3. The resurrection of the just, and the commencement of the judgment of the wicked dead.
Dear reader, if you are satisfied that the first event is upon us, viz., "And the nations are angry;" and that the second is coming in quick succession, to destroy all that violate the commandments of God; is it not time to flee the wrath to come. Shall we not begin, with earnest supplication as Daniel the prophet did, in his distress and fasting, and cry, "O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;" [Dan. ix, 4;] beseeching him to arouse us from stupor and supineness, and clothe his people with more than mortal energy, to sound with trumpet tone the third angel's message; the last call of mercy; that honest souls may flee from the snares of Satan, and disentangle themselves from the amalgamated mass of religious error, and superstition that is now sweeping over this guilty world. Satan will soon fix his fatal grasp upon the finally impenitent, whose distressing cries will then rise above the roaring of the winds, and raging of the seas, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved."
JOSEPH BATES.
Oxford, Erie Co., Ohio, Sept. 12th, 1854.