JOEL ii, 28--32 by B. F. Robbins

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 12, 1860

JOEL ii, 28--32.

By B. F. Robbins

(Concluded.) But another question arises here, Have the predicted signs of this prophecy and other portions of the word of God in harmony with it been fulfilled? The popular churches may and will answer in the negative; but Adventists of all shades of opinion will admit that they have. The unbelief of the churches in regard to our true position is beyond correction; for should the past signs be repeated it would produce no faith in them; for a repetition would but confirm their unbelief.

But another question, one which is important to all who believe that the signs to precede the final closing up of the dispensation have been given, and the last days have come, is, Are we now to look for the remnant people according to the prophecy, and how may we know them? What are their characteristics?

Rev. xii, 17. John saw the remnant mentioned in this prophecy, and he states their peculiar characteristics so that they need not be mistaken amid the multitude of nominal Christians. "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed which keep the commandments and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." The woman mentioned here by universal admission is the true church of Christ as distinguished from Rome, the Mother of harlots, the persecutor of the saints; and from the persecution of corrupt anti-christian Rome she had

fled into the wilderness for a time, and times, and half a time, or 1260 years, and the remnant of her seed is the last of the true church, which being the remnant or last must be in existence as a people when the dispensation closes, else it is not the remnant or last of the seed of the woman.

How is this remnant characterized? By keeping the commandments of God and having the testimony of Jesus Christ. In Rev. xix, 10, we read, "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Paul in 1 Cor. i, 6, 7, says, "Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." These passages harmonize with the third angel's message in its effect. Rev. xiv, 12. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Here it is evident that the remnant mentioned in Joel's prophecy are those who obey the third angel's message and refuse to worship the beast or his image (a corrupt nominal Christianity), or to receive his mark in their foreheads or in their hands. With them in due time will the testimony of Jesus be confirmed so that they will come behind in no gift; all the gifts of the first age of the dispensation will be among them while waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Sabbath command is the test of the age. Nothing except looking for Jesus is more unpopular. And while a popular Christianity dispenses and disregards the fourth command, it cannot claim to be keeping the commandments of God. Even the Seventh-day Baptists, both ministers and people, while nominally professing obedience to the Sabbath command, place so little value upon it that they neglect to urge its claims upon the people, because it would subject them to the penalty of becoming unpopular in the estimation of the popular church. At least it is so in the circle of my acquaintance.

The remnant, then, will be distinguished from all others by a conscientious regard for the fourth command, and by faithful labor and effort to urge the claims of a holy and perfect law to the obedience of all, though in the discharge of this high trust, like Paul, they may suffer the loss of all things.

But another characteristic of this remnant is, they keep the faith of Jesus. This is as distinguishing a characteristic as the other, and need not be mistaken. I am aware that the professed Christianity of this age claims to possess the faith of Jesus; but their claim will not bear investigation in the light of the written word. It looks more like the traditions of men.

Death by sin, life through Jesus, is certainly the faith of Jesus. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. vi, 23; John x, 28. "And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish," &c. Rom. ii, 7. "To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory, and honor, and immortality, eternal life." Col. iii, 3, 4. "For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory." 1 John ii, 25. "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life." But while life and immortality is the promised gift in the word of God to the faithful, is it the faith of Jesus to claim the possession of both as inherent in our nature?

The second coming of Christ, and life from the dead in the resurrection of the just, is a cardinal point in the faith of Jesus. John vi, 40. "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day." 1 Thess. iv, 14-16. "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first." 2 Tim. iv, 8. "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

Now is that the faith of Jesus which expects its reward when the immortal part leaves its temporary dwelling place here and enters immediately another in heaven, aside from a resurrection or the coming of the Life-giver? In such a faith both are of no consequence, and neither to be desired.

The faith of Jesus expects a glorious reality, a new heavens and a new earth, a city which hath foundations, the Jerusalem above which is the mother of us all. Can that faith be the faith of Jesus which is based only upon immateriality, a mere shadow, a mere nothing?

Thus unmistakably clear are the distinguishing characteristics of the remnant or last church brought to view in this prophecy, and reader, do you and I recognize a people bearing these distinguishing characteristics? Then have we found the remnant of Joel and John, the last church with whom is deliverance as the Lord hath said, and the last days are come and the end is near. Clear as a sunbeam shines the light of the sure word of prophecy upon us, enlightening our minds in regard to present duty. If at the sacrifice of everything, let us be ready for the coming of the Master, that with his remnant people who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus we may find deliverance when "there shall come out of Zion the Deliverer." B. F. ROBBINS. Friendship, N. Y.