Watchman, What of the Night?
By James White
THE inquiry is beginning to come up afresh, "Watchman, What of the night?" At present there is space for only a few questions, asked to call attention to the subject to which they relate. A full answer, we trust, will soon be given. 1. Do the seven churches, (Rev. ii, 11,) represent seven conditions of the true Church, in seven periods of time? 2. If so, then is the view erroneous that the Philadelphia and Laodicean states both exist at the same time? 3. Does "the church in Sardis" represent the nominal churches to whom the Advent Message was first given? 4. And does "the church in Philadelphia," represent the church of God in her state of consecration and "brotherly love," looking for the coming of Jesus in 1844? 5. If so, is not the present time the period for the Laodicean condition of the church? 6. Does not the state of the Laodiceans (lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot) fitly illustrate the condition of the body of those who profess the Third Angel's Message? 7. Are not the nominal churches, and the nominal Adventist, (as bodies,) to all intents and purposes, "Cold?" 8. Then where is the "lukewarm" church, unless it be those who profess the Third Message? 9. And is not this our real condition as people? 10. Does not the prophecy answer perfectly to the facts? 11. If this be our condition as a people, have we any real grounds to hope for the favor of God unless we heed the "counsel" of the True Witness, "as follows?" "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Rev. iii, 18-21. J. W."