Watchfulness by J. N. Wilkinson

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 16, 1865

Watchfulness.

By J. N. Wilkinson

"And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch." Mark xiii, 37. In the first place, we wish to inquire for what purpose this admonition was given. We are told by some that we should watch to understand the definite time of the coming of the Lord. So it would appear that after the time was definitely understood, there would be no necessity of watching. But says Jesus, "Take ye heed, watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is." Mark xiii, 33.

And again, "But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up." Matt. xxiv, 43. Thus we see the importance of watching.

It is evident from the word of the Lord, that the time of Christ's coming will not be definitely understood this side of probation. And still we hear people say that they believe that time is in the Bible. This class of individuals are so used to hearing time advocated among them, that unless they can hear it preached, they lose all their energy and zeal. But while time is being promulgated, they seem all absorbed in the coming of the Lord. They are not satisfied with the first and second angels' messages, which they admit are in the past, but still think that we must yet have the midnight cry; and finally they come to the conclusion that the first angel which said, "Fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment is come," was mistaken, after all.

But, says one, does not the apostle say, "But ye brethren are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief?" 1 Thess. v, 4. Certainly; but why

is it that we are not in darkness? Because we have seen the signs of Christ's coming, and "know that it is nigh even at the door." Mark xiii, 29. Says the apostle Paul, "But of the times and seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you." Why? "For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them." 1 Thess. v, 1–3.

Here the apostle conveys to our mind the idea that the coming of the day of the Lord will occur like the coming of a thief in the night; and unless we are heeding the admonition of our Saviour, it will come upon us unawares.

But, says another, Paul says, "And that knowing the time, that now it is high time to wake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." Rom. xiii, 11. But what time does the apostle here refer to? I understand that it is the time of the judgment, or the time in which we now live, declared by the first angel, Rev. xiv, 7, which we believe has been going on since the ending of the 2300 days in 1844. "For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." What was it that we believed? Why, that the days would end, the judgment sit, and that Christ would come to gather his people to himself in 1844. But being disappointed by the passing of the time, we were led to investigate the subject of the sanctuary more closely, and found that the word of the Lord did not call the earth the sanctuary; consequently our attention was turned to the ministration of Christ in the temple in Heaven. But again, says Paul, "Cast not away your confidence which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promise." Heb. x, 35, 36. How have we done the will of God? Is it by embracing all the different times that have been agitated by different classes of Adventists, and denouncing the Advent move in 1844 as an error? Certainly not; but by acknowledging the hand of God in that move, and the truthfulness of the first and second angels' messages, and also of the third.

And now what must we do? We must exercise patience, this is what the apostle says we have need of. And the third angel declares that this is the time when it would be manifest among the saints. Why should we cultivate patience? "That we might receive the promise." When do we expect the promise? When Jesus comes. "For yet a little while and he that shall come, will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith." Heb. x, 37, 38. "Though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry. * But the just shall live by his faith." Hab. ii, 3, 4.

We understand that since the third angel's message began to be proclaimed, we have been living in "the patience of the saints," when we should live by faith, and exercise a spirit of watchfulness. We should watch the signs of the times and know thereby that the day of God's wrath is right upon us. And again, because we know the time in which we live, (not the definite time of Christ's coming), we should "watch unto prayer" that we may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of man." Luke xxi, 35, 36.

J. N. WILKINSON.

Peterborough, N. H.