For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
After yet a little while the coming one will come and will not tarry or delay beyond the appointed time. The coming is very near and certain, and the coming one is Jesus, who will very soon appear to bring deliverance and rest and give eternal life in His presence. After doing the will of God there is need of patience and unshaken confidence in order to receive the promise and great reward, without casting confidence away. The just live by faith and do not draw back to perdition but hold fast without wavering while patiently waiting and watching for further light, since apparent delay does not mean the promise has failed. Its nearness calls for getting ready without mistake or delay by being wide awake, fitted for the kingdom, with eyes fixed on Christ and lives cleansed from sin.
Meaning of the Promise
The promise is that after yet a little while the coming one will come and will not tarry or delay beyond the appointed time. His coming is very near and certain, only a short wait away. It calls those who have done the will of God to patient confidence while they wait to receive what is promised and the great reward, without slothfulness, holding their position without wavering and hastening the coming day. It comforts those tested by disappointment to keep faith in work rightly done rather than doubt it or turn back, holding fast confidence and promises and continuing to search Scripture and to work, pray and believe.
The coming will be very soon without delay, so the just must live by faith instead of drawing back to perdition, but believe to the saving of the soul. It requires patience and unshaken confidence after doing God's will in order to receive the promise, with faith guiding through trials toward future glory. When He appears present trials and sufferings will seem as nothing beside eternal life and the glory awaiting the redeemed.
The wait may feel like a delay that tests faith, but it is not abandonment and apparent delay does not mean the promise has failed. It is not delay from the Lord's perspective, for He knew the end from the beginning, though those expecting the work finished sooner felt it as delay. The waiting is prolonged through His patience and desire for repentance, yet it is brief when viewed against eternity. Therefore those facing disappointed hopes are to trust God and His word, hold fast light and promises already received, and patiently wait and watch for further light while continuing to seek it. Jesus will come after completing His work in the Most Holy Place, descending in kingly power to take those who have patiently awaited Him.
The coming one is Jesus who died for the sins of the world and opened Paradise and sonship with God to all who receive and believe. He will Himself come again very soon without delay to bring deliverance and rest, open wide the gates of Paradise to believers, end the battle in victory, and give eternal life in His presence where trials and sufferings of this life will seem as nothingness. Though still amid shadows and turmoil of earthly life, believers must by faith behold the blessed hereafter, be gladdened by hope, learn from affliction to press forward toward the prize of the high calling in Christ, hold fast confidence with its great recompense, do the will of God, wait with patience, and be found as watching servants at His arrival.
He will come with eyes as a flame of fire that penetrate fast-closed dungeons to hunt out His hidden ones, for their names are written in the Lamb's book of life. His eyes are above and around His people, noting every difficulty and discerning every danger, with no place they cannot penetrate and no sorrow or suffering beyond the reach of His sympathy. The same eyes as the great Heartsearcher detect every deed of darkness done by Satan united with wicked men, and every deed is noted and registered by Him.
After the Disappointment
The promise is that after yet a little while the coming one will come and will not tarry, and though His coming may appear to be delayed it is near and certain and the apparent delay does not mean the promise has failed or that He has abandoned His people. The seeming delay tests the faith of those waiting for Him, and at the crisis after disappointed hopes it calls them not to abandon the light already received but to trust God and His word, hold fast to confidence and promises, continue searching Scripture, and patiently wait and watch for further light. It applied with particular force to those disappointed and tested after the expected time passed in 1844, encouraging them to hold fast confidence, endure the trial with patience, and trust that they had done God's will.
It comforts believers who have done God's will but are being tested by disappointment to patiently keep faith in the work they did rightly, rather than doubt it or turn back. After doing the will of God they must establish their hearts and patiently wait and watch in full faith that God led in the 1844 work in order to receive the promised reward, since the coming of the Lord is very near and will surely happen without delay beyond the appointed time. During the seventh-month movement in 1844 believers used the promise to express confidence that He would come without further delay, and this expectation led them to turn from worldly concerns, search their hearts, confess sin, pray, and prepare to meet Him.
After the tenth day of the seventh month in 1844 they were to hold fast their confidence that God had led the movement, and wait and watch with faith and patience without wavering until the disappointment was explained by the sanctuary truth and the three messages of Revelation 14. Those who rashly cast away confidence drew back toward perdition, while steadfast confidence and unity were essential to carrying God's work forward, with the nearness of the coming supporting steadfast faith and urgent readiness. The waiting felt like a delay to those expecting the work to be finished sooner, but it was not a delay from the Lord's perspective, for He knew the end from the beginning, and it called them to keep working, praying, and believing through the years of waiting. Jesus will come after completing His work in the Most Holy Place, descending in kingly power to take those who have patiently awaited Him.
Patience Confidence and Faith
After doing the will of God there is need of patience and unshaken confidence in order to receive the promise and great reward, without casting confidence away. The coming one will come in yet a little while and will not delay, for His coming is very near and certain. This calls believers to hold fast confidence and patiently wait for what God has promised, including when afflicted or treated unjustly. One in great peril for whom Jesus died must not cast away confidence which has great recompense of reward but have patience that after doing the will of God he might receive the promise.
The just live by faith and do not draw back to perdition but keep believing to the saving of the soul. They are to hold their position without wavering while awaiting the Lord's coming, and to look for and hasten the coming day of God. Those who endure are to receive the promise, and their confidence and unity were essential to carrying God's work forward. Patience means cooperating with God, resisting temptation, drawing strength from God, and partaking of the divine nature having escaped worldly corruption. It follows the specified plan of adding virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity, and enduring as seeing Him who is invisible.
When He appears present trials and sufferings will seem as nothing beside eternal life and glory awaiting the redeemed. Jesus who died for the sins of the world will very soon appear to bring deliverance and rest, open wide the gates of Paradise to believers, end the battle in victory, and give eternal life in His presence where trials seem as nothingness. Though still amid shadows and turmoil, believers must by faith behold the blessed hereafter, do the will of God, and wait with patience to receive the promise because His coming is only a very little while away. This promised rest and reward sustains believers through persecution, for their trials bring them nearer to that reward, and faith, patience and hope help them endure without renouncing Christ.
The promise assures the most unworthy and afflicted to commit their case to God and keep crying to Him day and night, because God who gave Christ for every soul will fulfill His gracious word and avenge His elect speedily. It is given to those afflicted or unjustly used, robbed or oppressed, especially the widow and fatherless, to keep confidence, patience, faith and continual prayer after doing the will of God. God has promised to hear the prayer of faith, to test His people, to deal with the unfeeling and selfish, and to give great reward and promised deliverance at Christ's coming. This hope encourages believers amid earthly troubles and afflictions to persevere toward the prize of the high calling in Christ and to remain watchful for their Lord. Their faith is to guide them through trials toward future glory on the steady path to the kingdom, with constant readiness since the coming is nearer now than when they first believed, and servants are blessed when found watching at His arrival.
The promise gives hope to those who faithfully wait and continue in work for God, with instruction to hold fast and endure in faith. It encourages them to keep working, praying and believing through years of waiting, even when waiting felt like delay to those expecting the work finished sooner. That waiting was not delay from the Lord's perspective, for He knew the end from the beginning. Until the conflict ends believers are to keep working with Christ to advance His kingdom, and when faithful workers die those who remain must continue with renewed energy, upholding truth and Christ's honor.
Judgment and Second Coming
For yet a little while He that shall come will come and will not delay, and therefore stirring times are just ahead with terrible scenes lying just before the world. The wickedness of humanity and the judgments of God in the world are the signs of this nearness, and they give urgency to proclaim the message of truth and to warn others about salvation. Probation to prepare for eternity is almost ended, and time remaining to work freely is short.
It is fatal to be careless, indifferent and disobedient to God's requirements, for the impenitent are treasuring up wrath that will soon break upon them. Believers must awake to eternal interests and stop spending time in self-pleasing, which yields no real happiness and is lost for eternity. Every hour must be redeemed and used in the work God gives each person to do for Him, building a Christian character that glorifies God instead of wood, hay and stubble. Whom to serve must be chosen this day, now while it is called today, by hearing His voice and not hardening the heart, while mercy still pleads. If present invitations are refused and disobedience is persisted in there will be no second probation, lest the last invitation of mercy be rejected and the voice of mercy plead no longer for the sinner.
The day is coming when judgment shall sit and every case shall be judged according to the things written in the books of heaven. At His coming each blood-bought soul bought by the precious blood of the Son of God must render an account to God for the soul and for the time given to serve Him, and meet the record in the judgment. The end of all things is at hand and time is passing into eternity, when He that is to come will come soon to call each person individually to account for stewardship. Account must be given for what use was made of talents, of means, and of the great light revealed from God's Word, whether self or Jesus Christ was served, and whether there was hearty engagement in the work represented by the proclamation of the third angel's message. The record of every day's work is passing up to God and the heavenly books testify of each life, revealing how light and trifling many are.
Jesus has not forgotten His people, and believers must keep eternity in view and be prepared for eternal life that measures with the life of God. Affections must be set on heavenly things and probationary time used carefully, with the reward for faithfulness kept in view. Those prepared will see the King in His beauty and cast their crowns at His feet, trusting His unfailing love and His work preparing mansions in the kingdom of glory for everyone who believes and comes to Him.
He is coming now by His Holy Spirit, and the call is get ready, get ready, by being wide awake, improving sacred opportunities, and doing the work given to do. Those who recognize and receive Him now will recognize Him when He comes in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. They will then be ready to say Lo this is our God and to meet Him in peace. Unless His people improve their opportunities and do their work, Satan will come upon them with the stealthy tread of a thief to deceive and allure them.
Urgency to Prepare
For yet a little while means soon and without delay beyond the appointed time, so the call is get ready, get ready, get ready, now and without mistake. To get ready is to be wide awake, improving sacred opportunities and doing the work given to do, standing in right position before God and being fitted for the kingdom, for future eternal life and transfer to immortality. It is to keep the eye fixed on Christ, to have Christ within as hope revealed to others, to prepare self and family and children, and to do the missionary work lying around. It is to fill vessels with holy oil, to be cleansed from every selfish purpose, to confess sins before God, to cleanse hands as sinners and purify double-minded minds, to be converted, and to become laborers together with God while preparing in this life to unite with the redeemed and to stand the trials and test of the last days just ahead. He is coming now by His Holy Spirit, and those who recognize and receive Him now will recognize Him when He comes in the clouds with power and great glory, saying Lo this is our God and meeting Him in peace, while neglect leaves the way open for Satan to come with stealthy tread as a thief to deceive and allure.
Preparation means purity, because only the purified and refined can enter heaven. Those who cling to sin will perish, yet there is compassion for all who make thorough preparation for eternity and do not tolerate sin after receiving great light. Because the day of God is right upon them and the time is so short, no one is safe in levity and carelessness, and now is the time to work before it is too late. All need to drink deeper draughts from the fountain of living water and be molded after the elevated character of Christ and His perfect model, practicing true godliness in solemn seriousness as those weighted with truth. Characters must be kept pure and speech free from guile, with commonness and cheapness of speech, trifling, jesting and joking put away, for no one will stand in that day when everything that can be shaken is shaken unless Christ is formed within as the hope of glory, and those bearing His name must not misrepresent Him.
The nearness of the great day of the Lord makes it urgent to warn people and prepare them to stand in it, sounding the message that His coming is near. That is the message to be sounded to the world, that He will come without delay. Heavenly angels stand ready to work with believers to draw souls to Christ, but they cannot take the believers' place, and neglecting the work gives the enemy advantage and results in souls lost.
Time is short because He that shall come will come very soon and will not delay. There is therefore no time to mourn over the dead, who rest from their labors till the morning of the resurrection, but the living must be entreated to seek the Lord while He may be found and the work given by God must be done now. In the approaching conflict those defending truth must stand firm, cultivating faith and courage and remaining steadfast even at risk of liberty and life, following the example of Luther. Because that time is so short, now is the time to work before it is too late rather than remain in levity and carelessness.
Readiness requires immediate work, especially for the great cities and the eastern cities, to warn perishing souls, arouse people to meet God, and build up the work wherever possible, because all are unready, terrible scenes lie ahead, and freedom to work may soon be lost. The work is extensive and worldwide, to give the real message, gather souls to a knowledge of the truth, and use all strength of influence as God's instrumentalities and agents, and unless believers gain that experience of working together with God they cannot themselves be saved. Means must therefore not be laid out for unnecessary or foolish things but laid aside and spent wisely, denying self and letting light shine in good works that lead men to glorify the Father, while freely asking stewards of the Lord's money, including wealthy men, to help sustain missionary work and arousing backwardness in giving the message. Workers should take the instruction to themselves to go forward in faith doing their very best, and as they watch and work and pray God will hear and answer and they will obtain experience invaluable for after work. Believers must be united hand to hand and power to power in this advance while the short time remains.
Servants are blessed when the Lord on arrival finds them watching, so amid shadows and turmoil the hope of the blessed hereafter is to gladden the heart and press believers forward toward the prize of the high calling. Confidence and patience in doing God's will belong with steady faith on the path to the kingdom, since the coming is nearer now than when first believed. Until He comes believers must remain watchful, keep lamps burning, and maintain constant readiness, for the waiting is prolonged through patience toward repentance yet brief against eternity.
After yet a little while the coming one will come and will not tarry or delay beyond the appointed time. The coming is very near and certain, and the coming one is Jesus, who will very soon appear to bring deliverance and rest and give eternal life in His presence. After doing the will of God there is need of patience and unshaken confidence in order to receive the promise and great reward, without casting confidence away. The just live by faith and do not draw back to perdition but hold fast without wavering while patiently waiting and watching for further light, since apparent delay does not mean the promise has failed. Its nearness calls for getting ready without mistake or delay by being wide awake, fitted for the kingdom, with eyes fixed on Christ and lives cleansed from sin.
Meaning of the Promise
The promise is that after yet a little while the coming one will come and will not tarry or delay beyond the appointed time. His coming is very near and certain, only a short wait away. It calls those who have done the will of God to patient confidence while they wait to receive what is promised and the great reward, without slothfulness, holding their position without wavering and hastening the coming day. It comforts those tested by disappointment to keep faith in work rightly done rather than doubt it or turn back, holding fast confidence and promises and continuing to search Scripture and to work, pray and believe.
The coming will be very soon without delay, so the just must live by faith instead of drawing back to perdition, but believe to the saving of the soul. It requires patience and unshaken confidence after doing God's will in order to receive the promise, with faith guiding through trials toward future glory. When He appears present trials and sufferings will seem as nothing beside eternal life and the glory awaiting the redeemed.
The wait may feel like a delay that tests faith, but it is not abandonment and apparent delay does not mean the promise has failed. It is not delay from the Lord's perspective, for He knew the end from the beginning, though those expecting the work finished sooner felt it as delay. The waiting is prolonged through His patience and desire for repentance, yet it is brief when viewed against eternity. Therefore those facing disappointed hopes are to trust God and His word, hold fast light and promises already received, and patiently wait and watch for further light while continuing to seek it. Jesus will come after completing His work in the Most Holy Place, descending in kingly power to take those who have patiently awaited Him.
The coming one is Jesus who died for the sins of the world and opened Paradise and sonship with God to all who receive and believe. He will Himself come again very soon without delay to bring deliverance and rest, open wide the gates of Paradise to believers, end the battle in victory, and give eternal life in His presence where trials and sufferings of this life will seem as nothingness. Though still amid shadows and turmoil of earthly life, believers must by faith behold the blessed hereafter, be gladdened by hope, learn from affliction to press forward toward the prize of the high calling in Christ, hold fast confidence with its great recompense, do the will of God, wait with patience, and be found as watching servants at His arrival.
He will come with eyes as a flame of fire that penetrate fast-closed dungeons to hunt out His hidden ones, for their names are written in the Lamb's book of life. His eyes are above and around His people, noting every difficulty and discerning every danger, with no place they cannot penetrate and no sorrow or suffering beyond the reach of His sympathy. The same eyes as the great Heartsearcher detect every deed of darkness done by Satan united with wicked men, and every deed is noted and registered by Him.
After the Disappointment
The promise is that after yet a little while the coming one will come and will not tarry, and though His coming may appear to be delayed it is near and certain and the apparent delay does not mean the promise has failed or that He has abandoned His people. The seeming delay tests the faith of those waiting for Him, and at the crisis after disappointed hopes it calls them not to abandon the light already received but to trust God and His word, hold fast to confidence and promises, continue searching Scripture, and patiently wait and watch for further light. It applied with particular force to those disappointed and tested after the expected time passed in 1844, encouraging them to hold fast confidence, endure the trial with patience, and trust that they had done God's will.
It comforts believers who have done God's will but are being tested by disappointment to patiently keep faith in the work they did rightly, rather than doubt it or turn back. After doing the will of God they must establish their hearts and patiently wait and watch in full faith that God led in the 1844 work in order to receive the promised reward, since the coming of the Lord is very near and will surely happen without delay beyond the appointed time. During the seventh-month movement in 1844 believers used the promise to express confidence that He would come without further delay, and this expectation led them to turn from worldly concerns, search their hearts, confess sin, pray, and prepare to meet Him.
After the tenth day of the seventh month in 1844 they were to hold fast their confidence that God had led the movement, and wait and watch with faith and patience without wavering until the disappointment was explained by the sanctuary truth and the three messages of Revelation 14. Those who rashly cast away confidence drew back toward perdition, while steadfast confidence and unity were essential to carrying God's work forward, with the nearness of the coming supporting steadfast faith and urgent readiness. The waiting felt like a delay to those expecting the work to be finished sooner, but it was not a delay from the Lord's perspective, for He knew the end from the beginning, and it called them to keep working, praying, and believing through the years of waiting. Jesus will come after completing His work in the Most Holy Place, descending in kingly power to take those who have patiently awaited Him.
Patience Confidence and Faith
After doing the will of God there is need of patience and unshaken confidence in order to receive the promise and great reward, without casting confidence away. The coming one will come in yet a little while and will not delay, for His coming is very near and certain. This calls believers to hold fast confidence and patiently wait for what God has promised, including when afflicted or treated unjustly. One in great peril for whom Jesus died must not cast away confidence which has great recompense of reward but have patience that after doing the will of God he might receive the promise.
The just live by faith and do not draw back to perdition but keep believing to the saving of the soul. They are to hold their position without wavering while awaiting the Lord's coming, and to look for and hasten the coming day of God. Those who endure are to receive the promise, and their confidence and unity were essential to carrying God's work forward. Patience means cooperating with God, resisting temptation, drawing strength from God, and partaking of the divine nature having escaped worldly corruption. It follows the specified plan of adding virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity, and enduring as seeing Him who is invisible.
When He appears present trials and sufferings will seem as nothing beside eternal life and glory awaiting the redeemed. Jesus who died for the sins of the world will very soon appear to bring deliverance and rest, open wide the gates of Paradise to believers, end the battle in victory, and give eternal life in His presence where trials seem as nothingness. Though still amid shadows and turmoil, believers must by faith behold the blessed hereafter, do the will of God, and wait with patience to receive the promise because His coming is only a very little while away. This promised rest and reward sustains believers through persecution, for their trials bring them nearer to that reward, and faith, patience and hope help them endure without renouncing Christ.
The promise assures the most unworthy and afflicted to commit their case to God and keep crying to Him day and night, because God who gave Christ for every soul will fulfill His gracious word and avenge His elect speedily. It is given to those afflicted or unjustly used, robbed or oppressed, especially the widow and fatherless, to keep confidence, patience, faith and continual prayer after doing the will of God. God has promised to hear the prayer of faith, to test His people, to deal with the unfeeling and selfish, and to give great reward and promised deliverance at Christ's coming. This hope encourages believers amid earthly troubles and afflictions to persevere toward the prize of the high calling in Christ and to remain watchful for their Lord. Their faith is to guide them through trials toward future glory on the steady path to the kingdom, with constant readiness since the coming is nearer now than when they first believed, and servants are blessed when found watching at His arrival.
The promise gives hope to those who faithfully wait and continue in work for God, with instruction to hold fast and endure in faith. It encourages them to keep working, praying and believing through years of waiting, even when waiting felt like delay to those expecting the work finished sooner. That waiting was not delay from the Lord's perspective, for He knew the end from the beginning. Until the conflict ends believers are to keep working with Christ to advance His kingdom, and when faithful workers die those who remain must continue with renewed energy, upholding truth and Christ's honor.
Judgment and Second Coming
For yet a little while He that shall come will come and will not delay, and therefore stirring times are just ahead with terrible scenes lying just before the world. The wickedness of humanity and the judgments of God in the world are the signs of this nearness, and they give urgency to proclaim the message of truth and to warn others about salvation. Probation to prepare for eternity is almost ended, and time remaining to work freely is short.
It is fatal to be careless, indifferent and disobedient to God's requirements, for the impenitent are treasuring up wrath that will soon break upon them. Believers must awake to eternal interests and stop spending time in self-pleasing, which yields no real happiness and is lost for eternity. Every hour must be redeemed and used in the work God gives each person to do for Him, building a Christian character that glorifies God instead of wood, hay and stubble. Whom to serve must be chosen this day, now while it is called today, by hearing His voice and not hardening the heart, while mercy still pleads. If present invitations are refused and disobedience is persisted in there will be no second probation, lest the last invitation of mercy be rejected and the voice of mercy plead no longer for the sinner.
The day is coming when judgment shall sit and every case shall be judged according to the things written in the books of heaven. At His coming each blood-bought soul bought by the precious blood of the Son of God must render an account to God for the soul and for the time given to serve Him, and meet the record in the judgment. The end of all things is at hand and time is passing into eternity, when He that is to come will come soon to call each person individually to account for stewardship. Account must be given for what use was made of talents, of means, and of the great light revealed from God's Word, whether self or Jesus Christ was served, and whether there was hearty engagement in the work represented by the proclamation of the third angel's message. The record of every day's work is passing up to God and the heavenly books testify of each life, revealing how light and trifling many are.
Jesus has not forgotten His people, and believers must keep eternity in view and be prepared for eternal life that measures with the life of God. Affections must be set on heavenly things and probationary time used carefully, with the reward for faithfulness kept in view. Those prepared will see the King in His beauty and cast their crowns at His feet, trusting His unfailing love and His work preparing mansions in the kingdom of glory for everyone who believes and comes to Him.
He is coming now by His Holy Spirit, and the call is get ready, get ready, by being wide awake, improving sacred opportunities, and doing the work given to do. Those who recognize and receive Him now will recognize Him when He comes in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. They will then be ready to say Lo this is our God and to meet Him in peace. Unless His people improve their opportunities and do their work, Satan will come upon them with the stealthy tread of a thief to deceive and allure them.
Urgency to Prepare
For yet a little while means soon and without delay beyond the appointed time, so the call is get ready, get ready, get ready, now and without mistake. To get ready is to be wide awake, improving sacred opportunities and doing the work given to do, standing in right position before God and being fitted for the kingdom, for future eternal life and transfer to immortality. It is to keep the eye fixed on Christ, to have Christ within as hope revealed to others, to prepare self and family and children, and to do the missionary work lying around. It is to fill vessels with holy oil, to be cleansed from every selfish purpose, to confess sins before God, to cleanse hands as sinners and purify double-minded minds, to be converted, and to become laborers together with God while preparing in this life to unite with the redeemed and to stand the trials and test of the last days just ahead. He is coming now by His Holy Spirit, and those who recognize and receive Him now will recognize Him when He comes in the clouds with power and great glory, saying Lo this is our God and meeting Him in peace, while neglect leaves the way open for Satan to come with stealthy tread as a thief to deceive and allure.
Preparation means purity, because only the purified and refined can enter heaven. Those who cling to sin will perish, yet there is compassion for all who make thorough preparation for eternity and do not tolerate sin after receiving great light. Because the day of God is right upon them and the time is so short, no one is safe in levity and carelessness, and now is the time to work before it is too late. All need to drink deeper draughts from the fountain of living water and be molded after the elevated character of Christ and His perfect model, practicing true godliness in solemn seriousness as those weighted with truth. Characters must be kept pure and speech free from guile, with commonness and cheapness of speech, trifling, jesting and joking put away, for no one will stand in that day when everything that can be shaken is shaken unless Christ is formed within as the hope of glory, and those bearing His name must not misrepresent Him.
The nearness of the great day of the Lord makes it urgent to warn people and prepare them to stand in it, sounding the message that His coming is near. That is the message to be sounded to the world, that He will come without delay. Heavenly angels stand ready to work with believers to draw souls to Christ, but they cannot take the believers' place, and neglecting the work gives the enemy advantage and results in souls lost.
Time is short because He that shall come will come very soon and will not delay. There is therefore no time to mourn over the dead, who rest from their labors till the morning of the resurrection, but the living must be entreated to seek the Lord while He may be found and the work given by God must be done now. In the approaching conflict those defending truth must stand firm, cultivating faith and courage and remaining steadfast even at risk of liberty and life, following the example of Luther. Because that time is so short, now is the time to work before it is too late rather than remain in levity and carelessness.
Readiness requires immediate work, especially for the great cities and the eastern cities, to warn perishing souls, arouse people to meet God, and build up the work wherever possible, because all are unready, terrible scenes lie ahead, and freedom to work may soon be lost. The work is extensive and worldwide, to give the real message, gather souls to a knowledge of the truth, and use all strength of influence as God's instrumentalities and agents, and unless believers gain that experience of working together with God they cannot themselves be saved. Means must therefore not be laid out for unnecessary or foolish things but laid aside and spent wisely, denying self and letting light shine in good works that lead men to glorify the Father, while freely asking stewards of the Lord's money, including wealthy men, to help sustain missionary work and arousing backwardness in giving the message. Workers should take the instruction to themselves to go forward in faith doing their very best, and as they watch and work and pray God will hear and answer and they will obtain experience invaluable for after work. Believers must be united hand to hand and power to power in this advance while the short time remains.
Servants are blessed when the Lord on arrival finds them watching, so amid shadows and turmoil the hope of the blessed hereafter is to gladden the heart and press believers forward toward the prize of the high calling. Confidence and patience in doing God's will belong with steady faith on the path to the kingdom, since the coming is nearer now than when first believed. Until He comes believers must remain watchful, keep lamps burning, and maintain constant readiness, for the waiting is prolonged through patience toward repentance yet brief against eternity.