the great controversy-第93章

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worldlings　and　church　members；　to　flee　from　the　wrath　to　come。　Like　John　the
Baptist；　the　forerunner　of　Christ；　the　preachers　laid　the　ax　at　the　root　of
the　tree　and　urged　all　to　bring　forth　fruit　meet　for　repentance。　Their
stirring　appeals　were　in　marked　contrast　to　the　assurances　of　peace　and
safety　that　were　heard　from　popular　pulpits；　and　wherever　the　message　was
given；　it　moved　the　people。　The　simple；　direct　testimony　of　the　Scriptures；
set　home　by　the　power　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　brought　a　weight　of　conviction
which　few　were　able　wholly　to　resist。　Professors　of　religion　were　roused
from　their　false　security。　They　saw　their　backslidings；　their　worldliness
and　unbelief；　their　pride　and　selfishness。　Many　sought　the　Lord　with
repentance　and　humiliation。　The　affections　that　had　so　long　clung　to　earthly
things　they　now　fixed　upon　heaven。　The　Spirit　of　God　rested　upon　them；　and
with　hearts　softened　and　subdued　they　joined　to　sound　the　cry：　〃Fear　God；
and　give　glory　to　Him；　for　the　hour　of　His　judgment　is　come。〃

Sinners　inquired　with　weeping：　〃What　must　I　do　to　be　saved？〃　Those　whose
lives　had　been　marked　with　dishonesty　were　anxious　to　make　restitution。　All
who　found　peace　in　Christ　longed　to　see　others　share　the　blessing。　The
hearts　of　parents　were　turned　to　their　children；　and　the　hearts　of　children
to　their　parents。　The　barriers　of　pride　and　reserve　were　swept　away。
Heartfelt　confessions　were　made；　and　the　members　of　the　household　labored
for　the　salvation　of　those　who　were　nearest　and　dearest。　Often　was　heard　the
sound　of　earnest　intercession。　Everywhere　were　souls　in　deep　anguish
pleading　with　God。　Many　wrestled　all　night　in　prayer　for　the　assurance　that
their　own　sins　were　pardoned；　or　for　the　conversion　of　their　relatives　or
neighbors。

All　classes　flocked　to　the　Adventist　meetings。　Rich　and　poor；　high　and　low；
were；　from　various　causes；　anxious　to　hear　for　themselves　the　doctrine　of
the　second　advent。　The　Lord　held　the　spirit　of　opposition　in　check　while　His
servants

370

explained　the　reasons　of　their　faith。　Sometimes　the　instrument　was　feeble；
but　the　Spirit　of　God　gave　power　to　His　truth。　The　presence　of　holy　angels
was　felt　in　these　assemblies；　and　many　were　daily　added　to　the　believers。　As
the　evidences　of　Christ's　soon　coming　were　repeated；　vast　crowds　listened　in
breathless　silence　to　the　solemn　words。　Heaven　and　earth　seemed　to　approach
each　other。　The　power　of　God　was　felt　upon　old　and　young　and　middle…aged。
Men　sought　their　homes　with　praises　upon　their　lips；　and　the　glad　sound　rang
out　upon　the　still　night　air。　None　who　attended　those　meetings　can　ever
forget　those　scenes　of　deepest　interest。

The　proclamation　of　a　definite　time　for　Christ's　coming　called　forth　great
opposition　from　many　of　all　classes；　from　the　minister　in　the　pulpit　down　to
the　most　reckless；　Heaven…daring　sinner。　The　words　of　prophecy　were
fulfilled：　〃There　shall　come　in　the　last　days　scoffers；　walking　after　their
own　lusts；　and　saying；　Where　is　the　promise　of　His　coming？　for　since　the
fathers　fell　asleep；　all　things　continue　as　they　were　from　the　beginning　of
the　creation。〃　2　Peter　3：3；　4。　Many　who　professed　to　love　the　Saviour；
declared　that　they　had　no　opposition　to　the　doctrine　of　the　second　advent；
they　merely　objected　to　the　definite　time。　But　God's　all…seeing　eye　read
their　hearts。　They　did　not　wish　to　hear　of　Christ's　coming　to　judge　the
world　in　righteousness。　They　had　been　unfaithful　servants；　their　works　would
not　bear　the　inspection　of　the　heart…searching　God；　and　they　feared　to　meet
their　Lord。　Like　the　Jews　at　the　time　of　Christ's　first　advent　they　were　not
prepared　to　welcome　Jesus。　They　not　only　refused　to　listen　to　the　plain
arguments　from　the　Bible；　but　ridiculed　those　who　were　looking　for　the　Lord。
Satan　and　his　angels　exulted；　and　flung　the　taunt　in　the　face　of　Christ　and
holy　angels　that　His　professed　people　had　so　little　love　for　Him　that　they
did　not　desire　His　appearing。

〃No　man　knoweth　the　day　nor　the　hour〃　was　the　argument　most　often　brought
forward　by　rejecters　of　the　advent　faith。　The　scripture　is：　〃Of　that　day　and
hour　knoweth　no

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man；　no　not　the　angels　of　heaven；　but　My　Father　only。〃　Matthew　24：36。　A
clear　and　harmonious　explanation　of　this　text　was　given　by　those　who　were
looking　for　the　Lord；　and　the　wrong　use　made　of　it　by　their　opponents　was
clearly　shown。　The　words　were　spoken　by　Christ　in　that　memorable
conversation　with　His　disciples　upon　Olivet　after　He　had　for　the　last　time
departed　from　the　temple。　The　disciples　had　asked　the　question：　〃What　shall
be　the　sign　of　Thy　coming；　and　of　the　end　of　the　world？〃　Jesus　gave　them
signs；　and　said：　〃When　ye　shall　see　all　these　things；　know　that　it　is　near；
even　at　the　doors。〃　Verses　3；　33。　One　saying　of　the　Saviour　must　not　be　made
to　destroy　another。　Though　no　man　knoweth　the　day　nor　the　hour　of　His
coming；　we　are　instructed　and　required　to　know　when　it　is　near。　We　are
further　taught　that　to　disregard　His　warning；　and　refuse　or　neglect　to　know
when　His　advent　is　near；　will　be　as　fatal　for　us　as　it　was　for　those　who
lived　in　the　days　of　Noah　not　to　know　when　the　flood　was　coming。　And　the
parable　in　the　same　chapter；　contrasting　the　faithful　and　the　unfaithful
servant；　and　giving　the　doom　of　him　who　said　in　his　heart；　〃My　Lord　delayeth
His　coming；〃　shows　in　what　light　Christ　will　regard　and　reward　those　whom　He
finds　watching；　and　teaching　His　coming；　and　those　denying　it。　〃Watch
therefore；〃　He　says。　〃Blessed　is　that　servant；　whom　his　Lord　when　He　cometh
shall　find　so　doing。〃　Verses　42；　46。　〃If　therefore　thou　shalt　not　watch；　I
will　come　on　thee　as　a　thief；　and　thou　shalt　not　know　what　hour　I　will　come
upon　thee。〃　Revelation　3：3。

Paul　speaks　of　a　class　to　whom　the　Lord's　appearing　will　come　unawares。　〃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；　。　。　。　and　they
shall　not　escape。〃　But　he　adds；　to　those　who　have　given　heed　to　the
Saviour's　warning：　〃Ye；　brethren；　are　not　in　darkness；　that　that　day　should
overtake　you　as　a　thief。　Ye　are　all　the　children　of　light；　and　the　children
of　the　day：　we　are　not　of　the　night；　nor　of　darkness。〃　1　Thessalonians
5：2…5。

372


Thus　it　was　shown　that　Scripture　gives　no　warrant　for　men　to　remain　in
ignorance　concerning　the　nearness　of　Christ's　coming。　But　those　who　desired
only　an　excuse　to　reject　the　truth　closed　their　ears　to　this　explanation；
and　the　words　〃No　man　knoweth　the　day　nor　the　hour〃　continued　to　be　echoed
by　the　bold　scoffer　and　even　by　the　professed　minister　of　Christ。　As　the
people　were　roused；　and　began　to　inquire　the　way　of　salvation；　religious
teachers　stepped　in　between　them　and　the　truth；　seeking　to　quiet　their　fears
by　falsely　interpreting　the　word　of　God。　Unfaithful　watchmen　united　in　the
work　of　the　great　deceiver；　crying；　Peace；　peace；　when　God　had　not　spoken
peace。　Like　the　Pharisees　in　Christ's　day；　many　refused　to　enter　the　kingdom
of　heaven　themselves；　and　those　who　were　entering　in　they　hindered。　The
blood　of　these　souls　will　be　required　at　their　hand。

The　most　humble　and　devoted　in　the　churches　were　usually　the　first　to
receive　the　message。　Those　who　studied　the　Bible　for　themselves　could　not
but　see　the　unscriptural　character　of　the　popular　views　of　prophecy；　and
wherever　the　people　were　not　controlled　by　the　influence　of　the　clergy；
wherever　they　would　search　the　word　of　God　for　themselves；　the　advent
doctrine　needed　only　to　be　compared　with　the　Scriptures　to　establish　its
divine　authority。

Many　were　persecuted　by　their　unbelieving　brethren。　In　order　to　retain　their
position　in　the　church；　some　consented　to　be　silent　in　regard　to　their　hope；
but　others　felt　that　loyalty　to　God　forbade　them　thus　to　hide　the　truths
which　He　had　committed　to　their　trust。　Not　a　few　were　cut　off　from　the
fellowship　of　the　church　for　no　other　reason　than　expressing　their　belief　in
the　coming　of　Christ。　Very　precious　to　those　who　bore　this　trial　of　their
faith　were　the　words　of　the　prophet：　〃Your　brethren　that　hated　you；　that
cast　yo