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Signs of the Times, Vol. 4, No. 39.

General Articles

Signs of the Times

Oct 17, 1878

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 17, 1878

General Articles.

By J. G. Matteson

THE PEOPLE OF GOD

DURING THE CLOSING TRIBULATION.
THE prophet Isaiah has presented many remarkable things relating to the people of God in the last days. He paints their tribulation, warfare, and victory, in living colors. In Isa. 33:9–24, we find a very interesting picture of the last trials of the people of God, and some stirring exhortations to be faithful unto the end.
"The earth mourneth and fadeth away." Isa. 24:4. The curse devours the earth on account of the transgression of its inhabitants. Verses 5, 6. "Sharon is like a wilderness." Then the Lord arises to judgment. The imagined wisdom of man is likened unto conceiving chaff and bringing forth stubble. And the people shall be burned in the fire as thorns cut up. Chapter 33:10–12. But the warning voice of God shall be heard in the earth:—
"Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?" Verses 13, 14.
Sinners and hypocrites in Zion are those who profess to be disciples of Christ, but at the same time do not walk in uprightness and honesty before God. They have retained their place in the church, but they are under the control of sin. They have deceived their fellow-men, but they cannot deceive God. The devouring fire has come. The everlasting burnings rage around about them. The noisome pestilence walks through the terrible darkness, and death is mowing down men with his scythe, until "a thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand." Ps. 91:6, 7.
Up to this time, sinners have slept calmly in Zion. They were not disturbed by the warning voice of the watchman. He cried aloud of the great day that was near, but hypocrites smiled and would not be disturbed. They thought, There is no danger. These warnings have sounded a great many years. Yet all things continue as they were from the beginning.
But now the flames of hell have surrounded them. They neglected prayer. They forgot to watch. The inward man was not renewed or nourished. The gold was not purified in the fiery trials. They never made room in their souls for Jesus, the hope of glory. Now they do not know whither they shall flee from the devouring fire. Their painful cries sound terrifying through the air: "Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"
They did not turn at the reproof of the Lord, when he would have poured out his Spirit upon them, and would have made known his word unto them. Therefore, the word of the Lord is now addressed to them: "Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me. For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord." Prov. 1:24–29. Oh! how these words will pierce like pointed arrows through the hearts of thousands, when dark despair enshrouds them like a pall on the great day of the Lord.
It seems as though none could be preserved in that terrible hour, yet the Lord will preserve and save his children. The pestilence shall not come nigh to them. "Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked." Ps. 91:7, 8. There is a people who can dwell with the devouring fire, whom the Lord will hide for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. Isa. 26:20. Who, then, shall be numbered with this people?
"He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil. He shall dwell on high; his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks; bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure." Isa. 33:15, 16.
The religion that leads in this way is the religion of Christ. The grace that produces such fruits is the saving grace of God. Blessed is the man who thus receives Christ, and follows his footsteps, for this is to walk righteously; who bridles his tongue, and governs his temper; who would rather be poor than get gain by oppressing and deceiving his fellow-men; who would not change his judgment for money; who shuts his ears and eyes from the many evil things that are in this world. The angels of God will encamp round about him in the evil day. He shall find a habitation in the midst of the wilderness—a shelter with the Most High.
Ancient Israel waded through plagues and tribulations before they were delivered from the bondage of Egypt, and entered the promised land. So likewise must the Israel of God through much tribulation enter the heavenly Canaan. This will be the case in a special manner when the seven last plagues are poured out upon the earth. The sun scorches with great heat, until the seed is rotten under the clods; the pastures are desolate; the herds of cattle and flocks of sheep perish; while the food is cut off from the eyes of men. Joel 1:15–20; Rev. 16:8, 9. The sea, rivers, and fountains of waters turn to blood. The thirsty people cannot find one drop of water to cool their parched tongues, and the air is filled with poisonous substances from the multitude of decaying fish; for life has departed from every soul in the sea.
Then this promise of God will be very precious to his suffering people: "Bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure." Once more the Lord will open the heavens with manna for his waiting Israel. Once more their thirst shall be slaked with water from the flinty rock, called forth by the word of the Lord.
As the Lord appears unto his people to be tarrying, he comforts them in much mercy: "And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you; for the Lord is a God of judgment; blessed are all they that wait for him." Isa. 30:18.
The Lord points his waiting people to Jerusalem, where they soon shall dwell: "For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; thou shalt weep no more. He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee." Verse 19.
Their thirst shall be satisfied in affliction and their hunger supplied in the great distress. "And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction [Danish version: And the Lord will give you bread in adversity, and water in affliction], yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers. And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left [Danish: When ye would have turned to the right hand or to the left]." Verses 20, 21.
There were but few teachers among the people of God. They had to travel continually from place to place. The parting scene was often painful. But now (during the time of the plagues) there are no more warnings to be given to sinners. The time of grace is past. Preachers and hearers are together waiting for the solemn hour of deliverance.
The office of Jesus as high priest has then ceased. The ministration in the heavenly temple is finished when the seven last plagues begin. Rev. 15:8. Then the people of God must be free from sin, not only in deed, but also in word and thought.
This seems to them impossible; for they are still mortal creatures, and with the best intentions they can easily make mistakes. But the angels of God are round about them. They keep them in all their ways. When they would turn to the right or left, because their judgment is not sufficient for the emergencies, the good angels lead them gently in the straight and narrow way.
Dear reader, consider how gracious the Lord is, and how wisely he has arranged everything for our salvation. When the towers fall in the day of the great slaughter, there will be distress and anguish among the children of men. "And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall show the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones." Verse 30. Then the fire of Tophet shall burn, as the prophet declares, like a pile of much wood, like a stream of brimstone. Verse 33. But the Lord will save his people with a glorious salvation. "The light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound." Verse 26.
"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21:28. In the midst of their affliction, the Lord bids his people look up. "Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off." Isa. 33:17.
Jesus was a blessed child to look upon, even in his human weakness and poverty. It was a happy moment for old Simeon when he, after a long and weary time of waiting, could say: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Luke 2:29, 30. Yet it must be far more glorious to behold Jesus as a king when he comes in all his heavenly glory. What a blessed sight to those eyes which often were wet and tired from tears and sorrow! Then the tears of waiting and longing shall no more roll down the furrowed cheeks, when
the Lion of the tribe of Judah shall come from the paradise of God with the sweet morning glory of eternal bliss.
When Christ left this world, he "went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return." Luke 19:12. Now he is coming to take you home to this "far country"—the heavenly Canaan, the blessed paradise of God.
Human plans and offices perish. Your heart is terrified by unexpected events. The enemies of God speak scoffing words. Isa. 33:18, 19. But they shall soon perish. Then the King will give unto those who have kept the Father's commandments access to the tree of life, and they shall enter in through the gates into the city. Rev. 22:14. Rejoice, O daughter of Zion. Thy King cometh with the clouds of heaven. He comes with gentle words and heavenly comfort. Lift up your weary eyes from the valley of tears, from the great tribulation of the last days. "Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities; thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation." Isa. 33:20.
O weary soul, let not your courage fail. Look upon the city where God's people shall assemble. Here we often found but little room. Many doors were locked against us and against the truth of God. Often we were but few, and sometimes lonesome. Our fellow-men in the world counted us with fools and heretics. Yet God did show us the path of life, and he will give us fullness of joy in his presence, and happy mansions at his right hand forever (Danish translation). Ps. 16. There are many mansions in the Father's house. John 14. And the Master has prepared them very gloriously. You will be much astonished when Jesus leads you into your heavenly home; for the beautiful things he has prepared for you will excel all the glory you ever could imagine.
Zion is the city of our solemnities. All the children of God bring their honor and glory into the city of the great King. The glory of God shines in it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. Then mistakes and misunderstandings are past forever. Every soul that is washed in the blood of the Lamb shall shine like the sun in the eternal kingdom. All party spirit is gone. Every heart beats in heavenly harmony. Every tongue praises God and the Lamb. O blessed hour, draw nigh! Let mine eyes see Jerusalem. Let my soul rest in thy quiet habitations. There is rest for the weary.
The heavenly habitation is a strong tabernacle. Here the stakes are often pulled out when we pitch our tents, and the ropes are broken. Sometimes the storm tears down our tents; and when that is not the case, we have to pull the stakes ourselves and move; for we have no abiding city here. But there we shall never feel the power of the shifting winds. The howling storm is changed to a heavenly calm; the moving tents into a city that hath foundations, a kingdom that cannot be moved. There the Lord will be glorious unto us. He is our Judge, our Lawgiver, our King. He will save us. "And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick. The people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity." Isa. 33:24.
Dear reader, have you obtained the forgiveness of your iniquities? Have you found healing in the wounds of Jesus? Are you a sinner in Zion, who soon with trembling will endeavor in vain to flee from the devouring fire. Or have you turned from your idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven?
Are you making advancement in the way of life? or does lukewarmness hinder your spiritual growth? Do you learn from our Saviour, who was meek and lowly of heart? or do the world and the flesh still rule in your mind? Search yourself in the sight of God, who is acquainted with all your secret thoughts. Be not discouraged, neither presumptuous. Prepare to meet your God. Then you shall soon see the King in his beauty, and find an eternal home in Zion, the city of our solemnities. J. G. MATTESON.

The Coming Day.

By L. D. A.

ALL nature seems, in solemn tones, To warn the nations that the end is nigh. The very earth is shaken, rent, and torn, By frightful earthquakes; and the unheaving sod Buries whole cities in a single night! Though ghastly famine shows her hideous head, And “pestilence stalks forth” by night and day To visit judgment on the ungodly race, Still, heedless of his doom, the robber lies In wait for spoil! The murderer lifts his arm, To strike his unoffending victim down. The skeptic lifts his daring voice aloud, Denies the Bible, and makes void God’s law!
The idle scoffer joins the awful cry, And wages daring war against Jehovah! The hypocrite, with meek, averted eye, Is plotting evil in his bosom still; The “fawning publican,” the Pharisee, The midnight ruffian, and the ungodly mass, All, heedless of their fearful, hastening doom, Are rushing blindly on!
And thus it is, and thus ’twill be, until He comes again whose right it is to reign. Then will the earth be purified with fire, And made to be the fit abode of saints. Roll on, old earth, and bring the blessed day, That day when thou shalt be restored again To all the beauty which thou didst possess Six thousand years ago! —L. D. A.

Self-Control and Contentment

Who is powerful? He who can control his passions. Who is rich? He who is contented with what he has.

SUNDAY NOT THE SABBATH.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

THOSE who keep Sunday claim that the first day of the week should be kept to commemorate the resurrection of Christ on that day. But this is wholly without Bible authority. The first day is never called the Sabbath, the Christian Sabbath, the Lord's day, or a holy day of any kind. There is not even a reference to such a thing, nor an intimation of it in the Bible. Neither Jesus nor the apostles ever kept it. No command is given for any one to keep it. God never rested on it, nor blessed it, nor sanctified it. There is no penalty for its violation nor regulation for its observance.
Reader, think of these facts. What do they mean? Paul says, "Where no law is, there is no transgression," Rom. 4:15. As there is no law of God for keeping the first day, there can be no sin in working on it, for Paul says again, "Sin is not imputed when there is no law," Rom. 5:13. Why then keep Sunday? God does not leave men to guess at their duty, but he states plainly whatever he wishes done. Does he wish men to keep the seventh day? How plainly he has said so! Ex. 20:8-11. How plainly baptism and the Lord's supper are enjoined! Mark 16:15, 16; 1 Cor. 11:23-26. So if the Lord wished us to keep the first day, would he not have plainly said so? Certainly; but he has not. Let us examine every text in which the first day of the week is mentioned in the New Testament. Thus we shall learn all the Lord has said about it. There are but eight. Here is the first: "In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher." Matt. 28:1. This is all Matthew says about it. He relates how the angel opened the tomb, how the women saw him, ran to tell the apostles, and met Jesus on the way; but not a hint is given about any change of the Sabbath, not a word is said about keeping the first day to honor the resurrection. Think of this.
Next, Mark mentions the first day twice. "And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun." "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene." Chap. 16:2, 9. This is all the mention he makes of the day. He tells how the women saw the angel, how they went and told the apostles, how the apostles doubted, verse 11, how two of them went into the country, and met Jesus, and how Jesus came in while they were eating supper, and reproved them for their unbelief, verses 12-14. Here again there is a profound silence about any change of the Sabbath or any sacredness for the first day. There is not the slightest intimation of any such thing. Read the whole chapter and see for yourself.
Luke mentions the first day only once. "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them." Chapter 24:1. What does this say about the change of the Sabbath? Nothing. What intimation is there here that the first day then became a holy day? The candid reader will admit that there is not the slightest reference to such a thing. Yet these are the texts always relied upon by Sunday-keepers to sustain their position. Luke does state that two of the disciples went that day seven and a half miles afoot to Emmaus. Verse 13. What were they going out there for? Evidently on business. Jesus walked with them and made himself known to them. Verses 15-31. Then they ran back to Jerusalem to tell the others. Fifteen miles they walked that day. Not much of a Sabbath! It was nearly night when they got back, verse 29, yet as late as that, few of the apostles believed in the resurrection of Jesus. Mark 16:12, 13. While they were eating supper, and doubting, and disputing about the resurrection, Jesus came in, and upbraided them for their unbelief. He took fish and honey from the table, and ate before them, to convince them. Luke 24:38-43. Certainly, then, they were not keeping that day, to commemorate an event in which they did not yet believe! The absurdity of such a view is too evident to need farther notice.
John mentions the first day twice, stating substantially the same as the others. "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher. Chapter 20:1. She ran and told Peter and John. They then went to see if it were so. Later Jesus appeared to Mary, and sent her to tell the others. Verses 11-18. "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you." Verse 19. This is all that John says of the first day. Reader, how much do you find here about the change of the Sabbath. Like the others, John is as silent as the grave upon the subject. He makes no reference to it. He simply states the events which occurred at the resurrection of Jesus. There he leaves it.
But were not the apostles assembled together when Jesus met them? Yes, in their own house, eating supper. John 20:10; Mark 16:14. And where else should they be? Even then Thomas was off on business somewhere. John 20:24. So there is no evidence here of any religious meeting held on that day.
John mentions the first day twice, but does not call it the Sabbath, the Lord's day, nor by any other sacred title. He says nothing about the disciples keeping it, nor records any intimation from the Lord that they should. There is not even an inference to that effect in the four gospels, and the whole argument in favor of it is pure assumption.
Another Sabbath meeting is claimed from verse 26: "And after eight days again his disciples were within and Thomas with them; then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you." First, this meeting was not on Sunday, but was as late as Monday evening. It was "after eight days" from the previous Sunday evening, verse 19. After eight days is not on the eighth day. Count from Sunday evening. After one day would take us to Monday evening; after two days, to Tuesday evening; and so on, till "after eight days" bring us to the next Monday evening. Hence this meeting was on Monday evening. Just one week is "after seven days," as the reader will see by 1 Chron. 9:25, 32. Then "after eight days" is one day more than a week.
But suppose it had been on the first day of the week. It does not say it was the Sabbath, or that there was any sacredness to the day. They were not even holding a meeting. They were "within," that is at home. Verse 10. "Then the disciples went away again unto their own home." This is where they were in verse 26. See Acts 1:13. Jesus came because Thomas was there. But there is not a word or even a hint about any sacredness of the day.
The next time Jesus met them was on a fishing day, John 21:1-9. They all went fishing, and toiled all night, but caught nothing. In the morning Jesus stood on the shore, and told them where to cast the net to get a good draught. Was this on Sunday? Then it is a working day. If it was not on Sunday, then Jesus met with them on any day as it happened. So we see in Acts 1:1-4, that his farewell meeting with them was on Thursday. It was on the fortieth day after his resurrection. Verse 3. By a moments reckoning it will be seen that it fell on Thursday, as all agree. Thursday is ascension day the world over.
So the claim that Jesus always met with his disciples on the first day of the week is utterly false. As we have seen, the day of his resurrection was one of the greatest confusion among his apostles; the next time he met them was on Monday evening, the next time was a fishing day, and the last time was on Thursday. So much for the example of Christ.
A desperate endeavor is made to find evidence for Sunday keeping on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:1-4. But there is not the remotest hint of it here. "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind." Verses 1, 2. Then the Holy Spirit rested upon them. Well, what has that to do with Sunday keeping? It is not mentioned nor even referred too. It is not stated what day of the week it was, as that was a matter of no importance. It was the Pentecost which was so signalized, and not the day of the week. But did n't it come on the first day of the week? No. The best scholars, even among those who observe Sunday, admit that Pentecost fell that year upon the Sabbath or Saturday.
Next, Acts 20:7-11, is supposed to furnish some little proof for first day observance. "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow, and continued his speech until midnight. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together." Then a young man fell down, and was restored by Paul. And when he "had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed." We notice, 1. The first day is not called the Sabbath, the Lord's day, or by any sacred title. 2. This is the only religious meeting upon the first day recorded in the New Testament. This is remarkable if that was their common day of meeting. Against this we have a record of eighty-four Sabbaths which Paul kept, and on which he preached. See Acts 13:14, 44; 16:13; 17:2; 18:1-4. 3. Nothing is said about its being their custom to meet that day. 4. There is no record that they ever met on that day before or afterwards. 5. But what ends the whole matter is the simple fact that it was only an evening meeting. When they assembled, Paul began to speak to them, and "continued his speech till midnight." After breaking bread, he again talked "till break of day," and then went on his journey. Evening meetings are frequently held on all days of the week. No one thinks of calling them holy days for this reason. So in the above case; it does not furnish the slightest evidence that it was a holy day. Moreover, this was not an ordinary meeting, but a very uncommon one. It was Paul's farewell meeting. Verse 25. Hence it lasted all night. A dead man was raised. This is why it was mentioned, and not because of any sacredness of the day. Not a particle of evidence here, then, for Sunday observance. Only one more text mentions the first day; 1 Cor. 16:2: "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God has prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." From this a public meeting for Sabbath worship on the first day is inferred. But what is said here about keeping that day as a Sabbath, or even holding meetings that day? Not an intimation of such a thing is given. It is said when they come together meetings they should bring their gifts, nor that they should put them into the public collection box, nor any thing of that nature. "Let every one of you lay by him in store," is the direction. That is, at home, by himself. The original Greek term means by himself, at home, as the best critics say on this passage.
The "Lord's day" of Rev. 1:10 is the seventh day as may be seen by Ex. 20:8-11; Isa. 58:13; Mark 2:28.
Now, reader, you have before you every text that mentions the first day of the week in any manner. You must see that they are as silent as the grave as to any sacredness of that day, or any example for keeping it, or any commandment that any one should observe it. Nowhere in the Bible is it called Sabbath, Christian Sabbath, Lord's day, holy day, or sacred day. Neither Jesus nor his disciples observed it. No blessing is pronounced upon it, no law is given respecting it.
But should we meet, then, to celebrate the resurrection of Christ? Yes, but the Lord never told us to keep Sunday for that purpose. Paul says the gospel embraces the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, all of which we must "keep in memory." 1 Cor. 15:1-4. The broken bread and red wine in the Lord's supper commemorate his death. "As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come." 1 Cor. 11:26. Next Jesus was buried in the tomb, and then raised out of it. God has given us baptism, burial in water, as the fitting memorial of this. "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism." Rom. 6:4. We are buried in the water just as Jesus was in the earth. Then we are raised up out of the water "also in the likeness of his resurrection." Verse 5. Again, "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him." Col. 2:12. Baptism, then, is the divinely appointed memorial of the burial and resurrection of Jesus. It is appropriate. To be buried in the water and raised out of it, looks like the burial and resurrection of Christ, which it commemorates.
Then why keep the first day? It is simply because you have been brought up to keep it. It is a Catholic tradition without any foundation in the word of God. Be careful how you make void the law of God by your traditions. D. M. CANRIGHT.
Continue reading: THE REJECTED ORDINANCE