The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

V. The Consciousness of a Great Commission

To recapitulate: So it was that earnest study led the Sabbatarian Adventists to believe that the closing scenes of the prophecy of Daniel 8:11-14, now in process of fulfillment, called for a definite gospel movement to appear on earth. They believed that, beginning around the allotted close of the 2300 years, it would again lift up those vital truths of redemption that papal apostasy and perversion had so long cast down. They knew that the all-sufficient, vicarious, atoning sacrifice of Christ on earth, eighteen centuries before, and His all-prevailing priestly mediation for man following thereafter, performed in the sanctuary in heaven above, had been obscured and distorted. And for centuries certain features had been well-nigh blotted out from the understanding of the church. PFF4 1161.2

They reviewed how the prophet Daniel, in vision, had foreseen and foretold the rise of that great papal apostasy, to appear after apostolic times and following the breakup of the Roman Empire, treading truth underfoot and persecuting and thinking to change the very times and law of God. (Daniel 7:25.) They had seen how its long spiritual dominance, for 1260 years, constitutes a lesser time epoch falling within the greater period of the 2300 years. And they saw how this apostasy had succeeded in its policy of perversion to a tragic degree, and had actually “cast down the truth to the ground,” and had “practised and prospered” for centuries. (Daniel 8:12.) PFF4 1161.3

And they recalled the solicitous inquiry, heard by the prophet Daniel, “How long shall be the vision?”—or, How long will the truth continue to be trampled underfoot by the practicing and prospering of this usurping system of error? And this question received the explicit answer: “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” (Daniel 3:14.) That meant until 1844, the Adventists were fully persuaded, when the 2300 years reached their close and the great judgment hour had truly come in heaven above. And with it appeared the synchronizing, “everlasting gospel” restoration of truth movement on earth, stressing again the downtrodden “commandments of God” in inseparable connection with the enabling “faith of Jesus” and His priestly ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. PFF4 1162.1

They came slowly to see that this called for a world-wide gospel movement, a threefold reformatory message, which had begun meticulously on time, according to the master clock of prophecy, appearing simultaneously in the various countries of Christendom and simply reaching its climax in North America. And the proclamation, “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come,” had rung out in varying volume in different lands of earth. And this had been followed, they believed, or rather had been joined, by a second message to men, concerning Babylon’s fall and rejection of truth. PFF4 1162.2

The real significance of it all dawned upon their consciousness. As soon as the year 1844 had passed, with its inevitable Disappointment, because of a misconception of the events scheduled to transpire, a threefold activity had begun among men. One group had begun to lift up the Sabbath; another to give voice to the final phase and present work of Christ’s priestly ministry in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, with God’s solemn judgment hour under way shortly before Christ’s second coming. And a third group had recognized the appearance of the promised guiding gift of the Spirit of prophecy. PFF4 1162.3

And now that these groups had merged their separate emphases into a single threefold message and movement, they saw the great prophetic outline steadily unfolding toward its next and final phase. They began to sense, though at first but dimly, the vast extent of the work yet to be done and the epochal character of the judgment hour that brings on the world’s climax and summons men to prepare for Christ’s imminent second appearing. The master 2300-year time prophecy, they held, had involved this very time and emphasis. And on earth, they were convinced, the pioneering heralds had appeared on time, and had begun their destined work. PFF4 1163.1

The impact of this concept upon their minds was electrifying. Out of the initial darkness of disappointment had come great light and hope—together with the consciousness of the tremendous task that faced them. Its magnitude was utterly beyond their slender resources. But such, they firmly believed, were the providential interweavings of the beams of light by which the full advent message was now being made plain. PFF4 1163.2

They felt that they now had their commission, just as the centuries had each had its mission. The great spiritual and missionary awakenings at the dawn of the nineteenth century were all preparatory factors. The great revival of study and emphasis on the last-day prophecies, appearing simultaneously throughout Christendom, had all helped to lay the groundwork for the last great revival and reformatory emphasis then due, and beginning to be given to the world. The consciousness of their part in it all was both sobering and challenging. They had a work to do; they must be up and doing. They were not to sit idly by while awaiting the return of their Lord, but were to alleviate human suffering and woe. They were to bring hope and courage and comfort to the distraught, and to do good to all men-not in an attempt to bring about the kingdom of God through sociopolitical channels, but as part of applied Christianity in time’s closing hours, pending Christ’s direct interposition at His advent. Their humanitarian activities were to go hand in hand with their evangelism. PFF4 1163.3

They firmly held that, as verily as the hour of God’s judgment had come in heaven above, so the people with the sanctuary message had appeared historically here on earth, keeping “the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” PFF4 1164.1

Moreover, in an earthly court, when the judge takes his seat on the bench, an officer of the court announces that the venerable court is in session. With his familiar “Hear ye! Hear ye!” he admonishes all persons having business before the honorable court to draw near and give heed. Even so, they held, was the heavenly assize now being clearly announced to mankind. And this, they soberly came to feel, was their primary mission on earth—to warn the world concerning the great judgment hour of God, where every soul on earth has a case pending before the Eternal. Such were their convictions. Such was the motivating concept behind the task they envisioned. PFF4 1164.2

We close this section by noting how the Adventists felt that prophecy puts depth and meaning into all fundamental Christian teachings. PFF4 1164.3