The Second Advent Manual

CONSEQUENCES

But you object to making calculations of the time for fear of consequences. What consequences? Why, if we make our “calculations of the time and the event does not come, others will not believe when it is actually coming.” Well, perhaps the snare which you are anticipating for other generations, is the one in which the present generation may be taken. That others who have fixed the time, have been mistaken, we know, and that should inspire us with modesty and caution; but it no more proves that the truth can never be known upon the subject, than the fact that men have been mistaken on other subjects proves that the truth on those subjects can never be discovered. And, after all, is it not better that there should be ten false alarms, than that there should be one surprise without any warning? And may it not be as likely that the false alarms in times past have been given by the great enemy to lull the present generation to sleep, that they may be taken in the “snare,” as that this is a false alarm to which some future generation may point as a means of quieting themselves when the end, as you suppose, may actually come? TSAM 10.2

You tell us again—“It will make infidels, if we make such calculations, and the end don’t come.” Who will be made infidels? Not those, surely, who are opposed to our views. And it would be remarkable indeed if those who are neutral, or “halting between two opinions,” should suppose the Bible has failed, and therefore “throw it away,” after time shall have proved our views not to be the correct explanation of it, when they now decline to receive our views as the doctrine of the Bible. TSAM 11.1

There can be none to “make infidels” of, then, but believers of the doctrine. And why should they turn infidels? They have taken then position not simply from what they believe the prophetic periods to teach, but also from those prophecies which bring the end to view in connection with the history of the world, and “the signs of the times;” so that we must still believe the end to be near, even if the year ’43 should pass away, though we may not fix upon any other time for the event. And we think those who have exhibited fortitude enough to bear the opposition already shown to them on account of their faith, will not be quite ready to turn infidel even if they should see a few more years on earth, and it should be their lot to suffer more than they have yet suffered. May we here ask our brethren to pray that they may have grace enough to bear with us, if we should not happen to turn infidels, should we be spared to see ’44, though their predictions, in that case, might fail as well as our calculations? TSAM 11.2

But this objection anticipates the results with as much confidence as any “prophet” might be permitted to do. We do not see any special necessity for such a conclusion. Why should the non-fulfilment of prophecy according to our calculations lead to more starting results than in other cases? According to the calculations of Professor Stuart, Mr. Dowling, and a host of others who believe with them, these prophetic times have never been fulfilled, and are they infidels? We can, at least, fall into the popular current-“have nothing to do with the prophecies”-and be as good Christians as others. We would ask, in turn, where is the propriety, in reference to this particular subject, of leaving the question, first to be considered, Is it true? and passing to the question, What will be the results? or, in looking at the results, to inquire, “What if it don’t come?” instead of asking, What if it does come? All the danger lies there. What if it does come? TSAM 12.1