p. 12 | Definite Time

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 13, 1865

Definite Time.

THERE is an unfortunate class of Adventists who are dependent upon definite time for any interest comparatively, in the Advent doctrine. Without definite time they are like ships without wind or engines without steam. Unless they have some particular period to look forward to, when the Lord shall come, their interest lags, their zeal dies, and they are lost. We can easily imagine the dilemma such find themselves in as their calculations fail, and their times pass by. All is then gone, and the next thing with them, unless they give up the Advent faith altogether, is to tear up their former theory, re-arrange the prophetic periods, and set a new time. Thus years have passed away, and time after time has been set, each with less evidence than the former, and as a matter of course every one has passed by. And the matter has been growing continually worse for those engaged in this incessant prophetic re-adjustment. The world has become disgusted with everything almost, bearing the name of Advent, and in the late time movement, the strongest minds even among professed Adventists themselves have been called out in opposition, seeing the folly of this continual time-setting, and the weakness of the evidence which can be brought to sustain it.

But, says one, is not definite time in the Bible? and do you not believe in time? We answer, Time is in the Bible, and we believe in time. Among all those who are designated as "Timeists," none can be found who believe more firmly in time than we. There is just this difference between us: They have fallen into the fundamental error of supposing that some of the prophetic periods reach to the coming of the Son of man, and are given to mark that event; hence the necessity with them of definite time till the Lord shall come. On the other hand we believe that definite time is in the Bible, that it is given for a specified object, that all the periods have expired, and that we have reached the events which they were all given to mark. Now, while the passing of their times is to them a source of perplexity and confusion, to us, the expiration of the prophetic periods is but a fulfillment of prophecy, and the confirmation of our faith. As the pillar of fire was darkness to the Egyptians but light to Israel, so the prophetic periods become darkness to those who will have some of them extend to the coming of the Lord; but light to us who see their fulfillment in the past in the order of prophecy.

Is it necessary to have definite time? Seventh-day Adventists have it. We have all the advantage that can be derived from it. We give it its place, and acknowledge its fulfillment. But with us it does not stop here. We have more than this. Since the prophetic periods ended, we have all the glorious truths that have been developed since. There stand the prophetic periods, especially the great period of 2300 days, like a great monument in our past history, or like a lighthouse casting its luster over both the past and the present. It stands as the introduction to the great subject of the Sanctuary which sheds its luster over our present position, explains the past great disappointment of 1844, and lights up the future. It is the basis and foundation of the great truths of the third angel's message, the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus, in which stirring and important truths all who have been, and are now, driven about in perplexity, disappointment, and uncertainty, may find a resting-place for their feet.

To those, then, who must have time, we say, Come with us; for we have all that, just as revelation has given it to us, and we have vastly more, and that which is vastly better.