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The "Age to Come."

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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 11, 1855

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 7, No. 11.

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The "Age to Come."

By James White

Most of the readers of the REVIEW have doubtless heard of the "Age to Come" in some form or other, as it has been discussed by various bodies of professed Advent believers for a few years past. The main fact in the case seems to be the name, as its general features, even, do not seem to be much understood. The following are a few of the points maintained by different persons or classes:
1. Christ will come and begin the work of restoring and subduing the earth, which will be a work of 1000 years.
2. He will bring the New Jerusalem at his coming, and cleanse a place for its location at Palestine.
3. He will come and superintend the building of Old Jerusalem which will be the capital of his kingdom during the 1000 years.
4. He will sit on David's throne and act as both King and Priest during the period of 1000 years.
5. The immortal saints will be the Priests during that period or age.
6. The sacrifice of Christ on Calvary will be the basis of offered mercy in that age.
7. The blood of animals will be offered, or the types re-instituted in that age.
8. Nations will be put on probation under circumstances calculated to insure their salvation in that age.
9. There will be no probation, but the nations will worship Christ, as King, by compulsion.
10. The new covenant (Jer. xxxi; Heb. viii) will be made with Judah and Israel in that age.
11. The three messages of Rev. xiv, 6-12, will be given in that age.
Of those who believe that there will be probation in that age, very few pretend to offer any revealed plan whereby sinners or the nations may secure salvation; and the majority have no definite views on the point.
This theory has been advocated for many years by Dr. John Thomas, of Richmond, Va., and more recently by the Editor of the Harbinger, and many of its correspondents. The Editor of the Harbinger published his views of the Age to Come in a pamphlet of 132 pages, by which they are quite extensively known, and accepted by many who have embraced that theory. Those who remain with the Advent Herald, of Boston, have always rejected it in every form.
In the West, (Wisconsin and Northern Illinois,) it is generally believed, though not exactly as taught by Eld. Marsh. At conferences held in Fond du Lac and Jefferson counties, Wis., in Oct. last, it was decided to publish their version; and J. M. Stephenson, D. P. Hall, W. Phelps, E. S. Sheffield, W. Wilsie, and T. M. Steward, were appointed a committee to prepare it for the press. By the members of that committee, as well as by the body of believers, different opinions are held concerning it. Indeed, I consider it next to impossible to get a committee of six whose views of the Age to Come are uniform; and this is but what might be expected where so much is to be believed on points on which so little is revealed. It is to be hoped, however, that the committee will come to some understanding by which an authorized version for the West may be published for the satisfaction of both its adherents and opponents.
The REVIEW has hitherto aimed to be silent on this subject, as it was deemed by the Editor and Publishing Committee, (and I may add, the body of the brethren,) unprofitable to discuss it. They had noticed that a spirit of controversy was generated whenever it was discussed, calculated to destroy vital piety and brotherly love. They did not deem it "present truth," or "meat in due season;" but as it was held by some highly esteemed in the church, it was not considered best to oppose it, but to let the light of the present truth spread, hoping that it would supersede any future truth in the minds of brethren, however important they might consider it as a future truth. In this they were encouraged by the avowed position of some of its advocates. The following expression from Eld. J. M. Stephenson, given soon after he embraced the Third Angel's Message, is to the point, and we could have no hesitation in co-operating with any of similar sentiments and feelings:—
"By it (the Third Angel's Message) the present churches, or Babylon, will be judged. It is the great test question. I can see no hope for any person who willfully rejects the last message, nor for any who may hear and will not. This seems hard, but it must be so.
"Each distinctive message, in every age, has been present truth, or meat in due season, and nothing else.
"Each message having been present truth, has always been present duty, present test, exclusive of all other tests; and as such must be paramount to all other duties or doctrines, however important in their places: the future are not excepted.
"Each message has had its distinctive messengers to proclaim it. God never confounds his messages or messengers. These messengers have always been the cotemporaries of the people for whom their messages were designed. Hence, it must be our paramount duty to faithfully proclaim the message with which God has entrusted us, and leave all future messages for those messengers whom God shall raise up, and who will be personally interested in the truth they proclaim.
"Each message has been essential to salvation. . . . Present truth has always been essential to salvation. A belief in the future age is not essential to salvation; therefore the future age is not present truth nor an essential part of it: hence we may honestly differ on that subject, and both enjoy the approbation of our heavenly Father."
Like expressions were made in 1854 by Eld. D. P. Hall to the Editor of the REVIEW, in consequence of which a compromise was made, in which it was agreed that both parties should refrain from preaching, writing; publishing, or teaching, either for or against the Age to Come, but let the present truth engross all their attention, and engage all their energies. This compromise was strictly adhered to by the REVIEW; but information deemed reliable was given that the other parties had broken their covenant, by advocating the doctrine contrary to their express agreement, and their acknowledged convictions of duty. During the past season the "Wisconsin Tent" has been made the medium for the extensive proclamation of this doctrine, much to the detriment of the cause of present truth, and disappointment of many who assisted in procuring the Tent. The consequences have been what might have been expected from the preaching of an untimely, and of course, lifeless message. A general declension of piety, and disaffection towards the great truths of our present message, has been the result. So nearly is it allied to the cry of "Peace and safety," that the minds of the churches where it has been taught have been diverted from the perils of the times in which we live, and consequently they are not progressing in that preparation which is necessary to meet the soon-coming Judge. I do not speak of all, but in general terms; for some have seen, acknowledged, and deplored this state of things in my hearing.
Though the course pursued in the REVIEW may not have been the most judicious, or beneficial for the cause of truth, yet it was pursued from convictions of right, and feelings of respect and love for those who differed with them on that doctrine. It is always well to oppose error, and never safe to compromise the truth; and we think that time has demonstrated that a different course would have been attended with better results. At all events, the state of things is such, that we can be at no loss as to what our duty is at the present time. The wants and perils of the scattered flock demand that we promptly meet and expose the fallacies of the theory of the Age to Come; not from a desire for, and love of controversy; (for this we have avoided;) but from a desire to uphold the truth of God, and with a firm reliance on the power of truth, and trust in divine aid to vindicate and sustain it. J. H. W.