"Modern Adventism Unveiled."
By Editor
SUCH is the title of a fly-sheet of two small leaves which has been sent to this Office through the kindness of a friend. The author was evidently ashamed of his poor attack upon Adventism, as it comes forth without any signature, or the imprint of any publisher. We learn, however, that it was written by one "Eld. W. Wheeler." Some very false and foolish things are ascribed to Adventism, and then Adventism objected to on their account. Also eight or nine points of objection are raised to our views of the prophecies of Dan. ii, and vii, the great image and the four beasts. Of what church this Eld. Wheeler may be a member, we know not. But if his church has produced any eminent commentators upon the Scriptures, we would refer him to them in confirmation of all the principal features of our views of the above-named prophecies. In stating as the views of Adventism those views which have been advanced by the most eminent and critical expositors of both former and modern times, this Elder seems not to have discerned that, so far as human authority was concerned, he was paying Adventism the highest kind of compliment. If he has a controversy with the views of the expositors aforesaid, he had better settle it with them, before attempting to dazzle any body as an opponent of Adventism. He makes his attacks after the usual manner of skeptics and infidels; that is, throwing in an isolated objection here and there, or what he would fain have pass for an objection. He seems to prefer, for himself, darkness rather than light, carefully concealing his own views, and giving nothing to take the place of the theory which he attacks. Now if the said Wheeler has any belief on these important questions, if he has any views to which he is not ashamed to sign his name, or any system to maintain, let him present it, and it will be time enough then to hold it up by the side of Adventism, and discuss the relative merits of the two theories. We cannot close this brief allusion to this leaf, without giving the reader a specimen or two of its profound teaching. One of its objections to Adventism is stated as follows: "9. The Advent ten-kingdom interpretation is an uninspired and fanciful interpretation of an inspired one, and violates every principle of the symbol and interpretation already fully given in the Bible. How? Answer. It makes the stone destroy that which never had any existence in the image. The image was made of gold (the Chaldean empire,) silver (Medo-Persian,) brass (Gresian,) iron and clay (Roman.) Now it is a fact that the Roman empire was destroyed by the Ostrogoths, Vandals, Huns, &c., when the empire embraced the gold, silver, brass, iron and clay; hence the conclusion is irresistible that neither the gold, silver, brass, iron nor clay can be broken to pieces by the stone (Christ) in 1866. Hence Adventism is a bundle of gross absurdities, contradicting not only the facts but the inspired interpretation of the Bible." This is profound. Let the reader divine the meaning of this sentence, if he can: "It makes the stone destroy that which never had any existence in the image." The prophecy declares that the stone should break in pieces the gold, silver, brass, &c., of the image. This little sheet says this was done by the "Ostrogoths, Vandals, Huns, &c." Then these were the stone referred to! The interpretation of this symbolic representation was, "In the days of these kings," the kings (kingdoms) which arose when the Roman empire was "divided," Dan. ii, 41, "shall the God of Heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed." So, according to this new light, the setting up of God's everlasting kingdom, was the overrunning of the Roman empire by the hordes of northern barbarians! By the side of this, Adventism is a bundle of gross absurdities, is it not! The allusion to 1866, or any other definite time, has no application to us. Again we read: "10. Adventism says, 'The clay and iron feet, the iron legs, the brass thighs and sides, and the silver arms and breast of the image, are literal kingdoms, but the head of gold is a spiritual head or kingdom.' This is evidently a creature of man's own device!!" Yes, we think just so; and we would advise our friend for his own credit to keep all such imaginings to himself. This is the first time that Adventists, so far as we know, ever heard of it. A word or two should be said respecting the literary beauties of this attack on Adventism. The author uniformly spells the era of the Seleucidæ with an n—Selenicidæ. We never heard of such an era. He spells the word Israel with the e before the a—Isreal. That is a people we never heard of. Chaldean he spells Chaldeon. Bible is sometimes written with a small b, sometimes with a capital. He also introduces to us a strange king, namely, Antiochust. We have heard of a king of the name of Antiochus, and though he was an inferior and contemptible king, and not brought to view at all in Dan. ii, vii, or viii, still we do not know that he was deserving of the infliction that is expressed by adding a t to his name. Our author also speaks of an Adventist, "Mr. Barak." Does he mean the Barak of Old-Testament times? We used to hear of an Adventist by the name of Berrick, which is probably the name referred to. And certainly Eld. W. appears to know about as much concerning Adventists and their teachings, as he has evinced in writing "Barak" for Berrick. We would just say to such of our readers as have seen, or may see, the third-rate effort here referred to, to just let it pass into its merited oblivion.