Part 35 (1/2)
But in the light of the Scripture prophecy and of events, we can see clearly the hand of G.o.d leading that little baud into the right pathway when the year of 1844 came; and the work there begun has grown into the world-wide movement of today.
Nearly two thousand years before, it had been written in the ”sure word of prophecy” that when the hour of G.o.d's judgment came, a people keeping G.o.d's commandments would arise and spread forth into all the world with the last gospel message. The long prophetic period of Daniel 8 had fixed the year 1844 as the time when the judgment hour would begin and when the people of the prophecy must appear.
When the year came, that people appeared, keeping ”the commandments of G.o.d, and the faith of Jesus.” When the hour struck, the work began. This advent movement was born of G.o.d in fulfilment of prophecy. And the mission of the movement is to lift up again the standard of truths obscured by tradition and trodden underfoot, and to call all men to the New Testament platform of the ”commandments of G.o.d, and the faith of Jesus,” where every believing soul may find safe refuge in these closing moments of the judgment hour in the courts above.
[Ill.u.s.tration: A CHRISTIAN MOTHER EXHORTING HER DAUGHTER TO MARTYRDOM
”Choose you this day whom ye will serve;... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15.]
THE JUDGMENT-HOUR MESSAGE
THE GOSPEL FOR OUR DAY
The gospel message for this time of the judgment hour is set forth in the vision of Revelation 14:
[Ill.u.s.tration: THE TWO BEASTS OF REVELATION 13
”Fear G.o.d, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come.”
Rev. 14:7.]
”I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear G.o.d, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and wors.h.i.+p Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
”And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
”And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man wors.h.i.+p the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of G.o.d, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who wors.h.i.+p the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
”Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of G.o.d, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:6-12.
When this message has been heralded to all nations, according to prophecy the end will come, for the next scene brought before the prophet's vision was the coming of Christ to reap the harvest of the earth:
”I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.” Verse 14.
The outline of the message given here reveals certain main features:
1. A Gospel Message
It is not a new or another gospel. There is but one gospel. This message is ”the everlasting gospel” in terms that meet the situation in the time of the judgment hour. The advent movement carries the blessed message of full salvation from sin by faith in Jesus Christ.
2. A Solemn Warning
The message is G.o.d's final answer to the age-long perversions of His truth. Even the warnings uttered vibrate with the saving grace and winning power of G.o.d's love in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In the vision of Daniel 8, the prophet was shown the working of apostasy in the latter times, as it ”cast down the truth to the ground” and ”practiced and prospered.” But in answer to the question, ”How long?”
the great prophetic period of the 2300 years was given, at the end of which (in 1844) the judgment work in heaven was to begin. When that work is finished, Christ's glorious appearing will end the reign of sin and error.