A Remarkable Vision by John Norton Loughborough

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 19, 1863

A Remarkable Vision.

By John Norton Loughborough

[The following vision was published in Massachusetts nearly a century since, and is doubtless what it purports to be—a genuine vision. By request of many brethren I send it for publication. It speaks of trouble in this land which was to grow out of slavery, which we now see coming. It is an interesting document, to say the least. J. N. Loughborough.]

Swansey, in the province of Massachusetts Bay, the 21st day of the 11th month, in the year 1784. In the night season, as I was on my bed, whether sleeping or waking, whether in the body or out of the body, at that time I could not tell; but I thought I saw a proper man clothed in white, his garments very plain, and fair as alabaster, having the moon under his feet, and clothed with the sun. He said, Come with me, young men, and I will show thee wonderful things which shall come to pass, some in thy time. I drew near to him. He said he had many things to say, and bade me write what he said. Then he told me that God had raised up a people out of the See of Rome, and out of the midst of Babylon many of whom had sealed their testimony with their blood in the midst of the fiery flame, being chained to the stake. After this, God visited a people being their offspring whom he chose as his peculiar people, convincing them of his royal law; many of whom had suffered much for their testimony. But since all these great works have been done for the nation whom he hath brought out of darkness, those his peculiar people had for many years too much forgot God, for which a small number mourned and were bowed down. Yet the Lord would rein up these Protestant churches by them, in the old country and in North America.

He will, as he has shaken the earth, so shake it again; and wars and commotions shall cover the earth. Many shall be slain. Then, Oh! New England! will he threaten thee with the rod, aye, with an overthrow. But as his mercies continue to you ward, he will help when you shall be in pain on every side. Then will your deliverer deliver you from the hands of merciless men, not by an arm of flesh, but by his arm of mighty power. He will turn your enemies back again without so much as your striking one blow. Then shall the nation have quiet a small space.

Because of religious and crying sins of pride and oppression, and making slaves of the souls of men, will he arise and shake terribly the earth. Paleness shall be in the faces of the inhabitants thereof. Many shall be surprised in the cities. Then will he bring on wars and rumors of wars. Then shall not the sword prosper in your hands. Then shall you begin to fear and tremble. Then will he raise up a nation of nations against you, who were before your friends, and a despised nation, even the heathen in North America, who will slay and carry off your people, young and old, into captivity. Then shall the blood of the slain run like streams of water on the earth. And the earth shall be dunged with the bodies of men in many parts of North America. Then shall your mighty men fall back. Oh, North America! thy sins are great, thy punishment will be great likewise. Oh! the sword shall be sheathed in thy bowels till thou repent. Oh! New England! thy distress shall be great! Thou art full of oppression. Thy sons shall be oppressed and slain in battle. Thou who thinkest thyself strong shalt be made weak.

Oh, North America! Thy distresses shall come one upon another, until a suffering, strong tide shall come more and more upon you. Your young men and maidens shall be brought low and bow at God's footstool. Fathers and mothers shall mourn apart. Sons and daughters shall mourn apart. Many shall go into captivity and fare hardly. Many shall desire death and it will not be granted. Famine shall be in some places. Others shall be destroyed in the wilderness with a savage people. Many shall be slain in cold blood. The cries of the poor shall be heard in towns and cities. One continued trouble shall follow another until the inhabitants bow in reverence and true humility of heart and mind, with cries to their helper. Then shall your young men be bowed down and seek their God, and maidens cry for help. Then shall your inhabitants who know not God rise with that old spirit of persecution in which time many shall be gathered to the fold of Christ. Then shall your young men and maidens stand for the call of God. Then shall his chosen people and church stand in their primitive beauty and purity. Then shall your young men and maidens run to and fro as with the gospel in their hands preaching repentance to the dark corners of the earth, even to the seat of the great whore of Babylon.

Then shall many suffer great persecution. Then shall the old harlot have one more draught of the blood of the saints, but a short one. Then will the Lord rein up the powers of earth to help his children and his church, and deliver his servants, and then shall the gospel be declared unto the ends of the earth more fully than it has been before. Then will the God of mercies make his church shine more. Then will oppression cease from among his chosen people. So said, he took me by the hand and bade me farewell; and when I awoke I was sitting up in bed.