The Great Second Advent Movement: Its Rise and Progress

Delay not Revealed at First

The Lord did not at once defer their hope, making their heart sick by revealing to them the fact that it would be hundreds of years before they should reach the consummation of their hopes in the promised Seed. From facts recorded we infer that they were allowed to think that the first child born would be that Seed: and that very soon, in some way, Eden would be restored, and they again have access to the tree of life. When Cain was born, Eve exclaimed, “I have gotten a man from the Lord.” ⁶ Some Hebrew scholars testify that literally and fully rendered the text reads, “I have gotten a man, the Lord.” That is, Here is the Seed that is to do this lordly work of defeating Satan. There is no record of any such expression on the part of Eve when Abel was born. She could, and naturally would, suppose the first-born was the one to fulfil the promise. How her hopes must have fallen, and even died, as the character of Cain developed, and she witnessed his evil course that finally led to the killing of his brother. Before Abel was slain they must have received some light and knowledge concerning the future sacrifice to be made in their behalf; for Abel, as divinely instructed, brought his lamb for an offering, while Cain, who had been taught the same as his brother, brought an offering of the fruits of the ground, and this even mingled with the spirit of wrath and jealousy. Abel’s offering was more acceptable than Cain’s, for it was made “by faith,” and of it Paul writes, “He being dead yet speaketh.” ⁷ GSAM 39.2