The Third Angel's Message.
By J. Clarke
WHEN I first commenced keeping the true Sabbath, I had never seen a person who kept the seventh day, nor any work advocating the true Sabbath, but the Bible. With this alone as my guide, I laid aside my infant baptism, and Papal Sunday, and was baptized by immersion, and adopted the true Sabbath at the same time. This was in 1852 I think. I had a varied experience of discouragements and backslidings for a year or more, when I got from a passing lecturer, a copy of the Review. I was rejoiced and strengthened because the Sabbath was advocated so ably and zealously by it; but I could not see the sense of the Sanctuary and Third Angel's Message at all; it was all blind to me, or I was blind to it. Even last Spring I told Bro. Dorcas that I could not give up the idea of the conversion of the world, at the second coming of Christ. A brother remarked, "Such a view takes off the edge of the message." Still I was blind. My early draughts of Babylonish wine, still benumbed my faculties. I told Bro. Holt, I could not see the force of the cleansing of the Sanctuary; but the moment he began to open the matter, the scales began to fall from my eyes. Since then, I have gained clearer and clearer ideas upon these subjects. 'Tis a thrilling thought, that we are now in the time of the end; that prophetic time is closed; but the idea that the 144000 are now getting ready, that Christ is now almost through with the priestly office; that the seven last plagues are just impending; that Satan is now tempting mankind in new and novel ways, thus fulfilling Scripture, and filling up the measure of iniquity; these are thoughts that take possession of the mind. These times, these truths, now proclaimed, the signs now taking place, the quick succession of great events, and fulfillments of prophecy, seen by the eye of faith and compared with God's word, are indeed startling. I think I can see the force, consistency and beauty of the cleansing of the Sanctuary at the end of the 2300 days, connected with the three messages and two-horned beast; I praise God, the view quickens my spirit. I see more clearly we must cut loose from the world, must make clean work for eternity. What is to be done, must be done quickly. Thank God for the Third Angel's Message! Let us each one, so far as God has granted ability, help to sound this message, by our prayers, our substance, our conversation, our example, our efforts, and by every wise and good means which is placed within our reach. J. CLARKE.