The following article was written in 1847, and published in a tract, entitled "A WORD TO THE LITTLE FLOCK." We think it contains much truth in few words.
THE JUDGMENT.
"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left." Mat. 25, 31-33. This scripture exactly points out some important events of the day of Judgment. That day will be 1000 years long. 2 Pet. iii, 7, 8. The event which will introduce the Judgment day, will be the coming of the Son of Man, to raise the sleeping saints, and to change those that are alive at that time.
The second event, will be the King's sitting "upon the throne of his glory." The King will not sit upon the throne of his glory until those who have followed him are raised, and sit upon the thrones of Judgment with him.—Mat. xix, 28. John saw in vision the length of time that Christ, and the saints would sit on the thrones of Judgment, and has written: "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a THOUSAND YEARS." Rev. xx, 4. The third event, will be the gathering of all nations before the King, in their separate places. All nations cannot be thus gathered, until the end of the 1000 years, when the wicked dead will be raised, and gathered up around the Holy City. The saints will then be in the City, and the wicked outside of it. All nations will then be before him.
The fourth event, will be the delivering of the sentence by the King. His sentence upon the whole host of Gog and Magog, will be, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Mat. xxv, 41. If this is not the final sentence of the judgment on the wicked, I think we shall not find it in the Bible. Therefore the wicked are not sentenced before Christ comes; but they will hear their sentence after they are raised, at the close of the 1000 years.
It is not necessary that the final sentence should be given before the first resurrection, as some have taught; for the name of the saints are written in heaven, and Jesus and the angels will certainly know who to raise, and gather to the New Jerusalem.
The fifth event, will be the execution of the final judgment. Some have taken the ground, that the 1000 years will be taken up, in executing the judgment on the wicked: but this cannot be; for the man of sin is to be destroyed with the brightness of Christ's second coming: therefore the wicked are to remain silent in the dust, all through the 1000 years. How can the judgment be executed on the wicked, before they are raised? It is certainly impossible. John saw the wicked, all raised and gathered up around "the camp of the saints," at the end of the 1000 years. He also saw fire come down "from God out of heaven," which devoured them. This will be the execution of the final judgment on all the wicked.
God executed his judgments on the wicked, in the days of Lot, and Noah, and at the destruction of Jerusalem, and will execute his judgments on the living wicked, at the pouring out of the seven last plagues; but the pouring out of all these judgments cannot be the final execution of the judgment. That will be at the second death. Then God will make all things new. "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Mat. xxv, 34. Then God will have a clear universe; for the devil, and his angels, and all the wicked, will be burnt up "root and branch."
A WARNING.
By Editor
We feel called upon to warn our brethren to beware of the influence of those who profess to be the lovers of truth and holiness, whose lives and teachings do not correspond. They profess enough of the truth to enable them to deceive some honest souls, and many are led to suppose that we are in fellowship with these characters, who hold some doctrines as corrupt, and as black as hell. This may seem to be harsh language; but we cannot conceive of language too pointed to express our views of that "damnable heresy," that leads to the violation of the seventh commandment. We mean the doctrine of spiritual union.
We feel to pity, and mourn over the condition of our honest brethren who have fallen into the mischievous error and bewitching snare of modern spiritualism, and we would do all in our power to help them. But those who are so abandoned of God as to advance and still urge the abominable heresy above mentioned, should not be allowed a place with the saints for one moment. Says the beloved John, "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, [pure doctrine of Christ,] receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed; for he that biddeth him God speed, is partaker of his evil deeds." 2 John, 10, 11.
Our dear Bro. Bellows, of New-York city, stated to us that the brethren there had refused to fellowship one man for the above named reason. We were rejoiced to hear that they had done so, and hope they will not in any way fellowship those holding such soul-damning heresies.
Thank God that the clear light of truth is shining, and that the precious are now being separated from the vile, and that the pure doctrines of the Bible are being appreciated and loved, as never before, by the remnant.
We are not the people that believe that God's holy, just and good law is abolished. No, no. Those who violate either of God's ten commandments will sink their souls in perdition. Those who violate the fourth, after having the true light upon it, are not guiltless.
The fact that Advent Sabbath-keepers are sometimes falsely charged with associating with wicked men has called out these broken remarks.
"Finally, my brethren," says Paul, "rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers." Phil. iii, 1, 2.
Funds Needed for Printing
By Editor
At the Camden and West Milton Conferences the friends handed us about $150. This amount we shall have to pay out in a few days for printing paper. Therefore those who intend to send us means will please to send a small amount soon, as we may be in want, to meet necessary expenses.
The Third Angel’s Message
By Ellen G. White
Dear Brethren: The Lord has shown me that the message of the third angel must go, and be proclaimed to the scattered children of the Lord, and that it should not be hung on time; for time never will be a test again. I saw that some were getting a false excitement arising from preaching time; that the third angel's message was stronger than time can be. I saw that this message can stand on its own foundation, and that it needs not time to strengthen it, and that it will go in mighty power, and do its work, and will be cut short in righteousness.
I saw that some were making every thing bend to the time of this next fall—that is, making their calculations in reference to that time. I saw that this was wrong, for this reason: Instead of going to God daily to know their PRESENT duty, they look ahead, and make their calculations as though they knew the work would end this fall, without inquiring their duty of God daily.
In hope. E. G. WHITE.
Publishing Visions Separately
By Editor
This sheet is the form of the paper that we hope to publish once in two weeks, only it will probably be some longer, and will contain eight pages. We do not design this extra for no general circulation as the regular paper, for the reason that strong prejudice exists in many minds against a portion of its contents. Those who judge of a matter before they hear are unwise. Says Paul, "Despise not prophesyings, prove all things, hold fast that which is good." 1 Thess. v, 20, 21.
We believe that God is unchangeable, that he is "the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." And that it is his will and purpose to teach his tried people, at this the most important period in the history of God's people, in the same manner as in past time. But as many are prejudiced against visions, we think best at present not to insert anything of the kind in the regular paper. We will therefore publish the visions by themselves for the benefit of those who believe that God can fulfill his word and give visions "in the last days."
Experience and Views Pamphlet
By Editor
We have concluded to publish the article entitled "Experience and Views," with other matter of the same nature, in a small, neat pamphlet, which will be ready as soon as possible. This we have been urged to do by a number of the brethren, who have offered to pay the expense.
We wish those who may be interested in such a work, to send in their orders soon for the quantity they need. And as it will not be best for a few to bear all the expense, those only who are especially interested in the work, are all invited to cast in a mite. Those who send means should be particular to state how much they design to be devoted to this object, and it shall be receipted accordingly. To those who may wish to pay for the amount they obtain, we would say that they will probably cost $6 a hundred. The friends will recollect that if they are sent by mail, we shall have to pay the postage.—This is according to the late postage law. This will be quite a tax on us unless those who send for books send enough to pay postage also. Large quantities should be sent by express.