General Conference Bulletin, vol. 5
GOD’S HAND IN THE WORK
L. R. Conradi
Sunday, March 29, 10:30 A. M.
We have listened during the past days to the straight truths of our message for to-day. We have listened to the wonderful prophecies pointing so clearly to the time of the end, showing that this generation shall see the coming of our Lord. We also listened last night to the wonderful providences of God in opening the way: but while this is so plain to us all, it does not exhaust the truth of its treasures, but as we take up these prophecies we see in the very beginning how this work shall be accomplished, by what power it shall be done, and in what way the prophecies will be carried out. I read to this effect in Revelation 1:20: “The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.” GCB March 31, 1903, page 25.7
JESUS HIMSELF THE REVEALER
The very beginning of the book of Revelation reveals to us a mystery and if we understand that mystery fully, we shall know how all these prophecies will be carried out, and that they will be carried out exactly at the time and in the manner in which God has foretold. The book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ; He who has died for us on the cross is the author and finisher of this work. The very first words say: “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John.” But before the Lord portrays before our minds these chains of prophecies, before He reveals to us the seals, the trumpets, and the messages, He has something in the very first chapter for us to understand, and that is a mystery. And what is the mystery? Let us see. John heard a great voice, as of a trumpet, “Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia.” As he turns about, he beholds a person. Who was it? We do not need to question long as to who it was. “And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hades and of death.” GCB March 31, 1903, page 25.8
He who comes as the very first part of the Revelation is the Revealer Himself, Jesus Christ. He appears to John on the lonely island of Patmos, and gives to him the assurance that what the book contains will indeed be carried out. GCB March 31, 1903, page 26.1
It was my privilege two years ago, while on a journey to Jerusalem on the steamer, to see the island of Patmos from a distance, away off in the sent away from the main land, away from the places and provinces where John had labored and had raised up, undoubtedly, a number of these churches mentioned in the first chapter of Revelation. There he is away from them in exile. Humanly speaking, the future seems dark to him. But while he is in exile away from his churches, who appears?—Christ Himself appears to him, and lays His right hand on His servant, and inspires confidence in Him. He shows unto him a mystery, not simply that John may be assured that Christ is with him, but that we may be assured that Christ is with us that we may know who is to carry out these prophecies; that we may understand that it depends not simply upon poor, weak man to do it, but that there is One who wants to be the power in man to do it, and carry it out; and that is the mystery. GCB March 31, 1903, page 26.2
“The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.” Let us look for a moment at the mystery. Who holds the stars in His hands?—Christ Himself. Who are the stars which He holds in His hands?—The angels, or messengers, of the churches. And who holds in His hands the messengers who are to carry out this work?—Christ Himself. And if Christ holds the messengers in His hand who are to carry th GCB March 31, 1903, page 26.3
But it is not simply that Christ holds the messengers in His hands; He not only holds the workers who may go forth into foreign, distant lands, but He is in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. What are they?—The church of Christ. Not only are the messengers to carry the truth to distant fields, but the church itself is to be the golden candlesticks which light up the world. Christ wants us to wake up and be the light of this world. And, brethren and sisters, if we know and realize this at this meeting, every question will easily be solved. You may be assured that He who has set His hand to the work will carry it through to the end, at the appointed time and hour. And that is the very first thing, the first principle, that we must realize.—Christ in our midst. He has sent forth His messengers with the assurance, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” GCB March 31, 1903, page 26.4
THE PROPHECY OF JAPHETH FULFILLED
Last night we heard of some of the providences of God in opening up the mission fields in the last century. We might go back a little farther than that I think there are other providence connected with the proclamation of God’s truth for this time. We can go back even as far as the book of Genesis, to the time when the inhabitants of the antediluvian world were destroyed by the flood, and a second world came forth, to be destroyed finally by fire. At that time God, in His almighty wisdom, laid out the plan as to how the work should be done. I have often read this prophecy,—the words given to Noah at this time,—when God said to him: “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.” GCB March 31, 1903, page 26.5
Who appears first?—Canaan. Who next?—Shem. Who comes finally?—Japheth. Is Japheth the power that is to carry the work in the last days? Has this prophecy been fulfilled? GCB March 31, 1903, page 26.6
Last November I was down in Egypt, in the land of Ham; and I noticed there the mighty temples, the wonderful monuments of the Pharaohs; and as I saw these mighty works, I said to myself, “No wonder the Israelites ‘quaked’ when that mighty king forbade them to go.” When we take into consideration the cruel power with which he oppressed them, it is no wonder that they feared him. Not simply Egypt was at that time in the power of Ham, but the land of Canaan itself, where the Philistines ruled. But God, in His wisdom, had said that this power should be broken. Did He break it?—Yes. After that power had ruled for a time, Israel, in God’s providence, was led forth to the Red Sea. God delivered them out of Egypt, and brought them into the promised land at the appointed time. GCB March 31, 1903, page 26.7
The next power having the supremacy was Shem,—the children of Israel. God said He was the God of Israel; that He was with Israel as a nation. GCB March 31, 1903, page 26.8
But Japheth was to come. We see, from the historical record, that after the children of Asia had ruled the world for a time, the rulership was transferred to Europe. Alexander came upon the stage of action; the Grecian power went forth into Asia and Africa, and became the master of those peoples. The Old Testament was translated into the Greek language. Greek became the leading language of the world. It is the language of the New Testament to-day, in the original. GCB March 31, 1903, page 26.9
The Romans, another European power, followed. They took possession of the world, and prepared the way for the first advent of Christ. Thus Japheth gained the ascendancy. It is true, Rome did not rule all the world; but when we look at the map of the world, and see Europe, Asia, and Africa, whom do we see ruling the world? Do the Asiatics or the Africans?—No; it is the Europeans. GCB March 31, 1903, page 27.1
Why did God bring all this about?—It was simply His providence. In these last days the European powers, including America (for the people living in America came from Europe), hold Africa, Asia, Australia, and the islands of the sea. Is it in order that they may show forth their power?—No, my friends; it is that they may prepare the world for the second coming of the Master. This is why Africa, the islands of the sea, India, and China are open to-day. This is why when I go to Egypt, I can speak there just as freely as I can here. This is why there are granted to us in Egypt and in many other countries even more favors than in America. To-day when I go to Egypt. I can go from Alexandria to the farthest point in Upper Egypt for half fare, because I am a missionary. They recognize us as missionaries there, and grant us special favors. This is more than is sometimes done even in America. So it is in many other countries, and so it will be, more or less, to the end of time. All the facilities for rapid transit from place to place are provided, in God’s providence, simply for the one purpose of hastening the proclamation of the third angel’s message. GCB March 31, 1903, page 27.2
A LESSON FROM THE CROSS
We may go still farther, and look at God’s providences from another point of view. When our Saviour was crucified, you remember that on the cross there was an inscription written in three different languages.—Greeks, Latin, and Hebrew. These were the three principal languages of that time. There is a meaning in all this. At the downfall of Jerusalem, the Jews were scattered into all the world,—into Greece, Rome, and every other country. The Greek and the Latin languages were spoken all over the world. As Paul went forth, sent of God, he could go over to Asia Minor, and preach the gospel there. He could go to Athens, and preach in the Greek language, for he was familiar with that language. True, the Spirit of God had descended upon the disciples, imparting to them the gift of tongues; but the way for the rapid spread of the message had also been prepared by the distribution of the Jews everywhere in countries the language of which was familiar to them. In Athens and Rome alike, Paul could preach in Greek, as well as in Hebrew. Thus it was made possible for the gospel to be proclaimed everywhere during the first century. GCB March 31, 1903, page 27.3
THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS
Although the main body of the early Christian church apostatized, the church of God did not cease to exist. God’s providence was still manifested toward His faithful children. But, as prophesied in the twelth of Revelation, we find this church in the wilderness. “The woman [God’s church] fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.... To the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” GCB March 31, 1903, page 27.4
No longer is the church to be found in Jerusalem, in Rome, in Corinth, but away in the wilderness,—in the fastnesses of the rocks and the mountains, in the dwelling-places of the eagles, so to speak, in the caves and caverns and almost inaccessible valleys of the mountains in Italy, in France, in the Orient, in Bulgaria, in Moravia. In these places the church was kept; in these places the Lord provided for it as He did for Israel of old, whom He carried on eagles’ wings, and hid in a safe place. GCB March 31, 1903, page 27.5
The church in the wilderness, during the dark ages, understood the prophecies. When I read, sometimes, the modern expositions of the prophecy of the little horn; when I find, even in our own ranks, those whose faith in our application of this prophecy wavers, who are doubtful as to whether this refers to the Papacy or not, I wish I could show to them a document that I have in my possession, written in the year 1100 by the Waldenses. In this ancient writing it is set forth that antichrist is not only come, but that he has grown old and gray-haired; that he is the man in Rome. The Waldenses understood Daniel’s prophecy. They did not question this exposition of its meaning. Although they had to flee from the power of antichrist, they preached the true explanation of this prophecy, and believed it. God cared for this church, and they gave the truth for that time, the time of “the patience of the saints.” GCB March 31, 1903, page 27.6
THE REFORMATION
Just about the time when the Papacy thought that she could crush out the life of the remnant church, we see springing forth, not in Rome, not in the mountains, but in a new section.—in Germany, in Switzerland, in England, in Scandinavia,—the Reformation of the sixteenth century. The Papacy did not expect the Reformation. It came upon them suddenly. God had provided a land for His church. The woman no longer remained in the wilderness, hidden amidst the rocks and mountains, but appeared in Northern Europe, a land prepared for her. God’s providence had prepared the way for His church to prosper. The Reformation arose with power. The true principles of the gospel, including separation of church and state, were recognized and taught at that time. GCB March 31, 1903, page 27.7
But were these principles carried out? Instead of having one state church, and one pope, we have state churches in every country, and popes in every church. This is the only real difference between the condition at present and before the Reformation. And why?—The Reformation petrified. The Protestant church went back into infidelity. This is the condition in which we find it in the seventeenth century,—a condition in harmony with the message given to the Sardis church: “Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” This church revealed no missionary spirit. No missionaries were sent out; no aggressive work was done. GCB March 31, 1903, page 27.8
AMERICA A LAND OF PROMISE0
About the time the Reformation began, God, in His wisdom, looked forward to the period when the church would lose its missionary zeal; and He prepared another land in which there might arise a movement for the consummation of His work in the earth. Of the discovery of America, Luther wrote: “We hear the news that a new country has been discovered, in the providence of God, across the waters.” GCB March 31, 1903, page 27.9
Brethren, why was this new world discovered? Was it that a mighty nation might arise, to become the greatest nation of the world?—Ah, no; this country was discovered in God’s providence, in order that there might be prepared a center from which might go forth the message for these last days. When Roger Williams came over here, the first city he founded was named “Providence.” The early settlers of this country believed that they were being led by God’s providence. The motive prompting them to come to this land was altogether different from the motive of the Spanish, who settled the Southern portions of the continent to rule and to enrich themselves. As the “Mayflower” reached the shores of New England, the first sound made after their landing was the voice of prayer and thanksgiving to God for His providential care in bringing them safely to this land of liberty. GCB March 31, 1903, page 28.1
Bancroft, the historian, says: “Truly America is the child of the Reformation.” Only in the light of this statement can we fully understand the history of America. In America the Reformation crystallized. Here the truths proclaimed by the Reformers actually took shape, giving us a country of freedom of conscience. GCB March 31, 1903, page 28.2
Although I have spent the past seventeen years in Europe, I can still see that this is the land of Providence. I admire this country, not because of the high sky-scrapers of New York City or the gold and the fruit of California. But because God has chosen this land as the land from which, in His providence, the light of the Reformation is to go to the ends of the earth. GCB March 31, 1903, page 28.3
(Concluded in next number)
“O Zion, that bringest good tidings get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah. Behold your God! Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him: behold. His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.” GCB March 31, 1903, page 28.4