The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 69

June 7, 1892

“The Sermon. The Late Decision of the Supreme Court, and the Image of the Beast. (Concluded.)” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 69, 23, pp. 353, 354.

BY ELDER A. T. JONES

(Battle Creek, Mich.)

(Concluded).

THERE is another thing to which I would like to call your attention, and ask what it means. In the REVIEW AND HERALD for the last three or four weeks, the first article has been upon the subject of persecution, and giving directions how we are to act when persecuted. I would like to ask you what you think that means. God does not send messages to people to whom these messages have no reference. God does not speak to people whom he does not expect will listen. He sends a message from week to week directly upon the subject of persecution, and our standing before judges and authorities for the truth’s sake. Is that entirely meaningless? In view of the situation of things, as God knows they exist, whether we do or not, is not the time of the crisis and the trouble right at the door? and the time of persecution hanging right over our heads? He has sent to you and me instruction how to get ready for it. Is that the use you are making of the instruction that has been given in the REVIEW for the last three or four weeks? I will read a passage or two:— ARSH June 7, 1892, page 353.1

Jesus says, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.” But you need not meet the wolves in the same spirit that they themselves possess. You are to be “as harmless as doves.” In meeting those who are fierce of spirit, you must manifest meekness and love, and the manifestation of this spirit will frequently change the spirit of the wolf, and a wonderful transformation will take place. “But beware of men.” Do not open to men all your counsels. Do not put implicit confidence in those who know not God, and open to them the whole of the sacred treasure of the truth. “For they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues.” This does not mean simply that you will be scourged in the synagogues with the tongue, as many of you are to-day in the pulpits of the land, but that men making high professions will treat you with violence. ARSH June 7, 1892, page 353.2

“And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.” The light is to be brought before kings and before the great men of the earth, although they may receive it in the same manner in which Pharaoh received the testimony of the Lord, and ask, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice?” ARSH June 7, 1892, page 353.3

Kings, governors, and great men will hear of you through the reports of those who are at enmity with you, and your faith and character will be misrepresented before them. But those who are falsely accused will have an opportunity to appear in the presence of their accusers, to answer for themselves. ARSH June 7, 1892, page 353.4

Then when you have opportunity to appear to answer for yourselves in courts before judges, will you be ready? Are you getting ready? Is that what this means to you? ARSH June 7, 1892, page 353.5

They will have the privilege of bringing the light before those who are called the great men of the earth, and if you have studied the Bible; if you are ready to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear, your enemies will not be able to gainsay your wisdom. You now have an opportunity to attain to the greatest intellectual power through the study of the word of God. But if you are indolent, and fail to dig deep in the mines of truth, you will not be ready for the crisis that is soon to come upon us. O that you would realize that each moment is golden! ARSH June 7, 1892, page 353.6

If you will live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, you will not be found unprepared. If your work is wrought in God, and you will do as Christ has commanded you, your intellect will expand; for “the entrance of thy words giveth light.” David exclaims, “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers; for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.” ARSH June 7, 1892, page 353.7

“But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” You are now to get ready for the time of trial.” ARSH June 7, 1892, page 353.8

Now, are you doing that? Are you storing your mind with the truth? Are you storing your mind with the principles of righteousness, so that when you are called before courts, God’s Spirit may bring to your remembrance whatsoever Jesus has said unto you? Paul stood there; he was brought to the test. He says, “No man stood with me,“—in the presence of Nero, too. “No man stood with me,” nevertheless God “stood with me.” How do you stand with God from day to day, from hour to hour? If you are standing with him now, you will certainly know that then he is standing with you, ande he will stand with you both now and then; for he says, “I am with you always.” If you do not know that now, how will you know it then? Now is the time to prepare. Are you read? Everything is ready but us. Everything in the world is ready but the Seventh-day Adventists. But the blessedness of it is that God is getting his people ready, those who will be made ready. But if you despise the message and the word, how can he possibly get you ready? But I read further:— ARSH June 7, 1892, page 353.9

When you are brought to the test, how do you know that you will not be alone, with no earthly friend at your side? Will you then be able to realize that Christ is your support? Will you be able to recall the promise, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world?” There will be invisible ones all about you bent upon your destruction. Satan and his agents will seek in every way to make you waver from your steadfastness to God and his truth. But if you have an eye single to his glory, you need not take thought as to how you shall witness for his truth.... The time is not far off when the people of God will be called upon to give their testimony before the rulers of the earth. Not one in twenty has a realization of what rapid strides we are making toward the great crisis in our history. ARSH June 7, 1892, page 353.10

That was written in Australia, but sent here and published. And while it was being written, the very thing that it pointed out was being done—that which opens the way for the very things that these words say are coming upon you and me. What use are you making of these things? The time is not far off when the people of God will be called upon to give their testimony before the rulers of the earth. Everything is ready but Seventh-day Adventists. In many cases it is the hardest thing in the world to get Seventh-day Adventists to see where they are. Everything is ready but the church; but God is getting the church ready, and he will get everything ready that will be got ready. It is so, we know that this must be accomplished in a little while. I thank God it takes but a little while for him to make a Christian. So many Seventh-day Adventists have been working for so many years to make themselves Christians, and have failed, that they fear to trust God, lest it take him longer than it did them. ARSH June 7, 1892, page 353.11

You cannot make yourself a Christian; you have tried it all these years. When you and I in times past have been thinking that the coming of the Lord was so near, we hoped that it might not come so soon, that we might have a little longer time to get ready. How much longer would it take, in the way we have been working in times past, to get ourselves ready, fit to be accepted in the sight of the Lord? How long? You who have been at it the longest, and tried it the hardest, how long do you think it would take to get yourselves ready? You and I cannot do it. we have tried that long enough, and at times have been so discouraged with our efforts that we have almost given up in despair, but did not dare to give up entirely, because eternal life is precious, and we want to obtain it. ARSH June 7, 1892, page 353.12

Yet the fact is, that we must have a character that the Lord himself cannot see a single flaw in,—a character to which the perfect law of God will witness that it is righteous,—a character that will stand in perfect harmony with the ten commandments, in their deepest, completest meaning. But we have tried our best to attain to this, but have only failed, deplorably failed. Now how long shall that thing continue before we become righteous enough to be accepted of God, and to pass the searching test of the judgment? ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.1

I say, another means must be resorted to. We must look beyond ourselves for righteousness. We must have something better than our own efforts to depend upon. We must look to another source for power to make us fit to stand before God. Thank God, there is a power that can accomplish that: and that power will accomplish it, if you will only let it. it is not a question of time with God. It is a question as to whether you will submit or not, to let him accomplish his own holy purpose. It is not a question of how much power is required to do it, but whether you will let him employ that power. ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.2

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” How are you dealing? Are you swindling? Are you cheating your neighbors? What are you doing? That kind of people are not going into the kingdom of God. But thank God, there stands that other verse: “And such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” I know there is virtue enough in the blood of Jesus to wash the sinner clean. I know that there is power in the name of Jesus and in the Spirit of our God to make the vilest clean in the sight of God. I know that there is power in Jesus Christ to make any man a Christian. I know there is power there, and it does not require a great deal of time for it to work. That power can make a man a Christian if the man will let it. For God has set forth Jesus “to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past.” It is the righteousness of God himself, and it is a free gift unto all and upon all them that believe, and there is no difference. And the righteousness of God will be accepted by the holy law. This is the character that will pass every test of the righteous judgment of God. This righteousness, this character, is the gift of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ. There is a character which, if you will receive it and depend upon it, will safely pass you in the judgment which is now pending, and which will soon be past forever. It is the character which God himself formed in Jesus Christ. There is a character that reaches from infancy to the grave; it is the free gift of God to every one who will take it. and if any one does not have it, he will be left outside the kingdom of God. But says this word that I have read:— ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.3

Not one in twenty has a realization of the rapid strides we are making toward the great crisis in our history. The angels of God are holding the four winds, and this leads many to cry. Peace and safety. But there is not time for vanity, for trifling, for engaging the mind in unimportant matters. We must empty the soul temple of every defilement, and let the Spirit of God take full possession of the heart, that the character may be transformed. ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.4

“Not one in twenty.” On which side do you stand? Do you stand with the “one” or with the “twenty”? For my part, I would rather stand with the “one,” even at the risk of being considered fanciful and extreme, than to stand with the “twenty.” ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.5

The paper of the following week goes on with the same object; the paper of the preceding week talks about the same thing. What do these things mean? Why is it that instructions are coming to us as a people, saying that persecution is near, and giving instruction as to what to do when it comes? What does that mean if it does not mean what it says? if that time is not at the door, and before our eyes? It is coming, and God wants us to be ready when it comes. Are you ready? ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.6

Here is this letter from Tennessee, published in the REVIEW the other day, as to how the brethren were arrested there. I want to read that, and ask you what that means:— ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.7

Springville, Tenn., April 13, 1892
A. O. Tait, Battle Creek, Mich.

DEAR BROTHER: Yours of March 27 was received some time ago, and you requested that I should let you know all of the particulars in regard to the arrests made here for Sunday labor. Since my last writing, other facts have come to light. One of our neighbors was at the county-seat on business, and the State’s attorney came in and asked him if he lived in the Advent community. He replied that he did. The attorney asked, “Do they keep up their Sunday work?” He answered, “Yes, and none of the Advents will deny it.” ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.8

Then the attorney requested him to give him the names of five of the leading church-members, which he did. The State’s attorney said he had heard the circuit judge. Judge Swiggart, say he was going to put a stop to that Sunday desecration. ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.9

So the five warrants were issued, and are in the sheriff’s hands. But it seems that he has understood that we will not give bonds, and so will wait until court sits, which will be the fourth Monday in May. These are the facts in the case. I will write again as soon as there are further developments. ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.10

Your brother in the one faith, J. MOON.

What does that clause mean which says that he asked for the leading members of the church? Such inquiries as that will be made sometime for the leading members of the Seventh-day Adventist church in Battle Creek. What does that mean to those who are now leading members of this church? What does it mean to those who are not? It means that when a whole people are violating the law, the leaders of that people will be the first to be prosecuted and the first called. I simply ask you, brethren and sisters, to think of these things. ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.11

Here is another pointer I picked up yesterday:— ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.12

Dr. Parkhurst, of unsavory notoriety because of his sensational methods for the “suppression” of vice in this city, has been invited to Washington by a number of prominent persons, including Senators Cullom and Dawes, Postmaster-General Wanamaker, Ex-Justice Strong and Justice Brewer, to tell what he knows about the “duty of the Christian church in relation to the execution of the civil law.” This is significant. ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.13

This is indeed significant. For when men standing at the head of the government of the United States, send for a preacher who resorts to such devices as Dr. Parkhurst and all these modern inquisitors use; when men at the head of the government send for such preachers to know how the church can aid in executing the law, what does that mean?—It means that the two bodies, the Church and the State, are coming together. But in the day when the government of the United States calls the clergy of the United States to its aid in enforcing the law of the country, that day the government of the United States would better give up the whole thing bodily to the bad, and let it go. For it is impossible for any government ever to be as bad separate from the church, as every government is bound to be which is joined to the church. These are some of the things that are going on right before our eyes. What use are you making of them, brethren? It is time to awake out of sleep. Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.14

Do not these things mean that there is now coming to pass what the Lord said would come? Doesn’t this mean that the things which the third angel’s message has so long been speaking of are now here? Forty-one years ago this month, Elder Andrews wrote the first article that was ever put in print, stating that there would be in this country a union of Church and State. In 1851 that was printed. It had been talked of before, but that was the first time it had been printed and spread before the nation. Suppose brother Andrews should stand to-day in this tabernacle and read that decision of the Supreme Court of the United States. What would he say to you? Would he not say to-day, “Brethren, there stands the thing that I told you of forty-one years ago”? ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.15

O, that he were here to tell it! He has been called away. But there are others who have not been called away. Will you not tell it? is it not time for you to tell it? How much longer shall we wait for the people to accept these things? What shall we do? God tells us what to do. Awake, awake; that is what he tells us to do. ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.16

Think of these things, brethren. There is much more of it. but think of this that has been told. I beg of you, think seriously of these things; for they are laden with meaning. They mean just what the third angel’s message has been saying all these years. The thing is done. As respects the principle of the thing, the image of the beast is made. Yet life is not yet given to it. These warnings that God gives, show that it will not be long until life is given to it. ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.17

This, however, is not the only side to look at. Here is the bright side; God has shown it. This is the side that makes bright even the other side. Here is God’s message to us in this time: “Life up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. Hearken unto me, yet that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation. Awake, Awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep: that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the Son of man which shall be made as grass: and forgettest the Lord thy Maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth: and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? And where is the fury of the oppressor? The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail [shall speedily be loosed; and he shall not die and go down into the pit, neither shall his bread fail. Revised Version.]. But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The Lord of hosts is his name. And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mind hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.” Isaiah 51:6-16. ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.18

Are you his people? Are you his people? Let his words be true indeed. There is where we are to look. God says, Ye shall live. He says, You shall pass through unharmed. “I am with you.” The time has come of which he has told us, of which he has warned us. May the Lord’s Spirit rest upon us, that we may realize where we are, and be ready for this time of trial and test that hangs right over our heads. ARSH June 7, 1892, page 354.19