The Church: Its Organization, Order and Discipline

Apostolic and Advent Experiences Compared

In these scriptures reference is made to the experience of the early Christians, and also to the experience of those waiting for Christ’s second coming. By comparison a similarity in the situation is seen. The disciples met with a disappointment in their expectations, so did those proclaiming the second advent of Christ. It was said of the early Christians, that “the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.” John 9:22. The believers in Christ’s second advent were excluded from the churches for even daring to express their hope in Christ’s near coming. Because of reproach and persecution the early Christians were “made a gazing-stock.” After the close of the 2300 days,-Oct. 22, 1844,-one who would still avow himself an Adventist was made the butt of ridicule both by professors and non-professors. COOD 85.2

Our younger brethren, who did not pass through that experience, but have later “become the companions of them that were so used,” have but a faint conception of the sore trial of the “come-outers,” as those were then called, who had separated themselves from the churches for the truth’s sake. COOD 85.3