General Conference Bulletin, vol. 5

TURNING BACK THE HANDS

There is a scene that is often acted in the Senate of the United States. When the closing day of the session comes, and the hands of the clock begin to approach twelve o’clock, one watching might see the ancient door keeper of the Senate noting how the business is progressing, noting whether important measures that must be passed before that Senate adjourns have been passed, and, as he sees that the hands of the clock are getting up toward twelve, one might see that man turn back the hands: and they will go on with their business, and he will watch again to see if important measures that must be passed before the Senate adjourns at twelve o’clock have been passed; if not, he will go again and turn back the hands, and it never gets to be twelve o’clock in the Senate until they have passed those measures. GCB March 30, 1903, page 6.7

Now, I want to say to this General Conference that time and again have policies come in, have interpretations come in, have methods come in, which have turned back the hands of the clock, and we are to-day living on fictitious time, just as they do in the Senate; it is past twelve o’clock, but the clock does not say it. The hands have been turned back. We are living and acting on fictitious time. The clock of this message ought to have struck twelve long ago, and might have struck twelve long ago, if methods had not been allowed to come in, interpretations adopted, policies followed, that set the hands back, and I want to tell you that to-day we are facing a choice between interpretations, methods, plans, policies, that shall finish this important work, and let the clock strike twelve, or that shall put it back again. And I say, Let nothing interfere with the clock again. Let no methods or plans or principles or interpretations again be fastened upon this message that shall prolong our fictitious time. Let the clock strike, and let the end come. GCB March 30, 1903, page 6.8

But before the end comes, this gospel of the kingdom must be preached in all the world for a witness. Our work is not simply negative; it is not simply to keep free from something that hinders; it is to lay hold of something that helps, forgetting the things that are behind, and pressing forward, and it is in the very light of these facts that I urge this Conference to keep in mind the time, the hour, and the situation that we face. GCB March 30, 1903, page 7.1

There is only one message to be given in this generation. There are not several messages; there is only one complete whole, which includes all the parts of this message. There are no separate parts, each one equal to the other. That one message is the message that will prepare a people, body, soul, and spirit, for the coming King; a message that will gather out a people, and prepare a people completely, that they shall be ready for the coming of the Lord, and that work prepares the way for His coming. That is the message, and it is all summed up ??. It is not necessary to carve it ?? and dissect it, and label it. There is one living message when it is not dissected, and that message finds its key-note, that shall sound through every part of it, in the truth that the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. The day of the Lord is near; it is near, and hasteth greatly; prepare to meet thy God. And that is the message which the watchmen are to take up with one voice, so that, going out from this Conference, scattering to all parts of the world, there will yet be heard in every land, and in every nation, one voice sounding, one voice rising higher and higher, one voice speaking louder and louder, one voice thrilling the hearts of the people who hear it, one voice bringing conviction upon hearts, The coming of the Lord is near; the hour of His judgment is come; prepare to meet thy God. That is the inspiration that ought to take hold upon this people at this time, and this Conference should mark the turning-point; this Conference should mark in a special way a stepping forward, a definite move, that shall show to fifty or sixty thousand Advent believers in this country, and to the thousands in other countries, that this advent message still lives with power in the hearts of believers, and that there is a solid platform upon which some are willing to take their stand, and call to others, and raise the cry, that they, too, shall join us, and not get down off the platform to look to see if it is the true platform. GCB March 30, 1903, page 7.2

Eyes from all parts of the world are turned toward this Conference, and thousands of hearts are waiting to see how this Conference faces this very problem which I have put before you. GCB March 30, 1903, page 7.3

Let us be hopeful and of good cheer. In all this that I have said, there is nothing that need discourage the faith of the believer in God. The hour is late; but little time remains; but our God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, and only waits for human instrumentalities, and only waits for human channels through which He may pour the abundant tide of His power, that His work may be cut short in righteousness. GCB March 30, 1903, page 7.4

“O watchman on the mountain height,Proclaim the coming day;
Behold the spires of golden fires
Point upward far away. GCB March 30, 1903, page 7.5

“O watchman, bid the sleeping church
Awake, arise, and pray:
The heavenly Bridegroom soon will come,
And now is on His way. GCB March 30, 1903, page 7.6

“Coming, yes, He’s coming,
The Dayspring from on high;
Coming, yes, He’s coming;
The hour is drawing nigh; GCB March 30, 1903, page 7.7

Coming, yes, He’s coming;
Let all the ransomed sing;
The hills are bright with holy light;
All hail the coming King!” GCB March 30, 1903, page 7.8