Exhort One Another by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 7, 1865

Exhort One Another.

By Editor

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together," says the apostle, Heb. x, 25, "as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching."

A correspondent inquires whether this scripture has reference to meetings of worship on the Sabbath, and what is meant by exhorting one another. We think the assembling has reference to public worship either on the Sabbath or at any other time. The language has its application at a time when some notable day is approaching. What day is this? Verse 27 speaks of a time of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries; and verse 37, looking forward to the same time says, "For yet a little while, and he that shall come, will come and will not tarry." The "day" referred to, then, is the day when Christ shall come and recompense indignation to his adversaries. And when this day is approaching or is near to come, we are counseled to especial diligence in reference to our religious assemblies and our exhortations one to another.

From verse 19, onward, the burden of the apostle seems to be an exhortation to steadfastness in the truth. At this time when the day of the Lord is approaching, the apostle intimates that there would be great danger of letting go the profession of our faith; hence he says, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith." And his language in verse 25, "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is," amounts to a direct declaration that some would forsake the truth; some who were accustomed to meet with the true people of God, becoming weary in looking for the day of his coming, and tired of the exhortations of the brethren and sisters, would cease meeting with them; and this would perhaps be the first open step in their apostasy. We understand this passage to teach the same as 1 Tim. iv, 1. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith." By the expression "the faith," here, we can only understand the true faith; and inasmuch as the error they turn to is "doctrines about devils," or as Wakefield has it, "doctrines about dead men," we may understand that some who have once received all the truth in regard to the unconscious state of the dead will turn away from it. In view of these scriptures, it should not surprise, much less discourage us, if some, in these last days of temptation and peril, should give up the truth and make shipwreck of their faith. Rather let us meet often together to comfort and encourage each other to continue in the good way, till the Lord shall appear for the salvation of his people.

Having learned what day is referred to as the day that is approaching, we may judge of the nature of the exhortations mentioned; for they are given in view of that day; and the nearer its approach, and the more vivid its signs, the more we are to exhort one another. The exhortations, then, are in reference to the approaching day of the Lord. The persons whom Paul addresses are watching for the great day that is approaching; and they speak often to each other exhorting to endurance, faithfulness, watchfulness, prayer and the whole work of preparation for that momentous hour.

And mark the positiveness of the apostle's language. He does not say Exhort one another, &c. when ye believe the day approaching, but when ye see it. When we see anything approaching us, as a train of cars upon the track, or a tempest in the heavens, that sight makes our knowledge perfect, and there is scarcely room for faith. So the apostle would represent the coming of the day of God. Its signs are so numerous and the evidences of its approach so plain, that there is hardly room for faith; knowledge has taken its place. Paul will not permit us to say that we believe the great day is near and approaching, but we know it, we see it. So evident indeed is it that the great day of the Lord is at hand. Deep will be the guilt of those who shut their eyes to so great a light, and infinite their loss if they fail to prepare.