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Probation and the Second Advent

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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 12, 1856

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 8, No. 7.

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Probation and the Second Advent

By Wm. A. Pierce; S. M. Pierce

From Bro. and Sr. Pierce.
BRO. SMITH:—It has been about fourteen months since we embraced the present truth, and we feel to thank God that the scales have fallen from our eyes, and we can see the great truths which shine out from the Word of God. We find it to teach a very different doctrine from what the 666 counterfeit sects would be glad to make it teach; and our prayer is that many more shall enjoy the same blessing, and see the awful calamities that are soon to come upon the earth, when Christ shall rise from the mercy-seat and clothe himself with the garments of vengeance, and the decree goes forth, He that is unjust let him be unjust still, and he that is holy let him be holy still, [Rev. xxii, 11.] and the seven last plagues are poured out upon the wicked and ungodly. [Rev. xvi, 6.] O that the careless sinner could see this and be prepared to stand in that great and notable day of the Lord.
We have looked at the Age-to-come subject and cannot understand that the day of probation will last after Christ makes his second advent to earth. Paul tells us in 1 Cor. xv, 51-57, when the righteous will put on immortality, and he tells in verse 22, that all die with the exception of those that are changed; and Jeremiah tells us in chap. xxv, 33, that the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth; and John tells us in Rev. xx, 5, that they lived not again until the thousand years are finished. Then instead of the earth being inhabited during the thousand years between the first and second resurrections, and the inhabitants being on probation, we understand the earth to be desolate. We think Bro. White makes this all plain; for we think the Bible teaches one doctrine, and it does not contradict itself.
The Devil is at work with all power and signs and lying wonders. For this reason we must have on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to stand against his wiles. We believe that the Third Angel is sounding his last warning notes of mercy, and those that will not hearken to the warning will not be able to stand. They will be weighed in the balances and found wanting.
WM. A. PIERCE. S. M. PIERCE.