General Conference Bulletin, vol. 3

THE THIRD ANGEL’S MESSAGE

L. A. HOOPESG. A. IRWIN

Sermon of Elder G. A. Irwin, Sabbath, February 10, 1900, at the Tabernacle, Battle Creek, Mich.

“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation: and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 105.1

I presume there are very few in the congregation who do not at once recognize the reading of this scripture, and can tell where it is found. I have read from the sixth to the fourteenth verse, inclusive, of the fourteenth chapter of Revelation. It is what we as a people have termed the three-fold message of Revelation. This is the most important message that has ever come to fallen humanity, in that it is the last one, and by its preaching the people of the earth are to be brought to take their stand on one side or the other of the great controversy between truth and error, between Jesus Christ and the great apostate. GCB January 1, 1900, page 105.2

This message reaches from the time of its beginning in 1844—the beginning of the hour of God’s judgement—to the close of this world in its present condition. Connected with this message is every reform that God sees should be inaugurated in the world in the closing days of its history. It is not a narrow message, but is as broad as the plan of salvation itself, because it is the everlasting gospel. In it is bound up and contained all the light and truth that has ever come to this world; and the preaching of it is simply the unfolding again of the great truths underlying the plan of salvation. In other words, it is placing all the truth of the gospel in a new setting, with the rubbish of tradition, false theology, and man-made theories taken from it, that it may shine out in its beauty and luster in the last days. GCB January 1, 1900, page 105.3

This message is to separate a people from the world—few in number though they are—who are to enjoy privileges beyond any people that have ever lived in the world. There are one hundred and forty-four thousand to be gathered out of the world by this message, to be translated to heaven, whose privilege it will be to occupy a position higher than the angels of God who have not fallen. It is their privilege to be the personal escort of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are to go with him; they are to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth; and as he goes from world to world, it is their privilege to accompany him. GCB January 1, 1900, page 105.4

It is not my purpose in reading this three-fold message this morning to enlarge upon any one of its particular phases, but simply to call your attention to it in a general way as being the one message that is due to the world at the present time. This is a clear-cut, distinct, and definite message, just as clearly defined as any message that God has ever given to the world. It is a message of warning that is not confined to any locality or nation, but it is to go to every kindred, and tongue, and people. GCB January 1, 1900, page 106.1

This message has already been going for upward of fifty-five years, and to-day we stand in the very closing days, so to speak, and the final consummation of the judgments that are threatened in the message, and the reward that is offered to the faithful. It is of some of the dangers that confront the message at this time that I would speak this morning. GCB January 1, 1900, page 106.2

The devil is opposed to this message, and all the powers of his gigantic mind, and his experience of six thousand years, will be concentrated against it in this time when it is about to culminate; because we read elsewhere in the book of Revelation that “the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” So from this statement of divine writ, I make the assertion that the devil is focusing all the powers of his gigantic mind against this message in these closing days. And the danger that will come to us, the danger that will threaten the remnant church, is that we shall lose sight of the distinctive features of our message at this time, and that something else will be proclaimed instead of the message; that the message that God would have given,—clear, distinct, definite, and clear-cut to the world, different from anything else that is in the world,—that that voice will be largely neutralized by other things that may be brought in in connection with the message. GCB January 1, 1900, page 106.3

Now I want to read some things this morning that God has caused to be written in the days that are past. There are some landmarks that have been marked out that were to be a guide to the people of God clear down through these messages, even to the coming of the Lord in the clouds of heaven; and he has caused these to be written out, that we might study them, and know when the enemy comes in to deflect us from the truth of God for this time. I read this morning from the little book “Early Writings.” It has perhaps been read in your hearing many times; but we need to repeat these things often. In the first vision that was given the servant of the Lord, shortly after the passing of the time in 1844, and published for the first time in the year 1846,—about fifty-four years ago,—this statement is made:— GCB January 1, 1900, page 106.4

“At this I raised my eyes, and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were traveling to the city, which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the beginning of the path, which an angel told me was the midnight cry. This light shone all along the path, and gave light for their feet so they might not stumble.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 106.5

The one thought I want to impress upon our minds by the reading of this, is, that away back in the year 1844 God set up a light, and he said that light was to shine all along down the way, even to the coming of the Lord in the clouds of heaven. That light was the midnight cry, or the closing work of the first and second angels’ messages. GCB January 1, 1900, page 106.6

I wish now to read another statement from this same book, in regard to these messages:— GCB January 1, 1900, page 106.7

“Many who embraced the third message had not had an experience in the two former messages. Satan understood this, and his evil eye was upon them to overthrow them; but the third angel was pointing them to the most holy place, and those who had had an experience in the past messages were pointing them the way to the heavenly sanctuary. Many saw the perfect chain of truth in the angels’ messages, and gladly received them in their order, and followed Jesus by faith into the heavenly sanctuary. These messages were represented to me as an anchor to the people of God. [That is, the first and second angels’ messages, in connection with the third.] Those who understand and receive them, will be kept from being swept away by the many delusions of Satan.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 106.8

So, then, if we are to be fortified against the delusions of Satan in the closing days of this world’s history, and in the closing days of this message, it seems to me it will be necessary for us, if we have come into the truth since the two former messages have been given, to have a correct understanding of these messages, because in these two former messages God has given us a light that is to shine clear down from the time that was to elapse from these two messages until the coming of the Lord in the clouds of heaven. And these messages, it says, are to be as an anchor to the soul. “Those who understand and receive them, will be kept from being swept away by the many delusions of Satan.” And these delusions of Satan are coming in in the last days, and are multiplying; and the object on the part of the enemy is to sweep souls away from the truth. So it seems to me that, if we have not studied these messages before, it is high time that we were turning our attention in that direction, and that we were entering in earnest upon the study of the early experiences of the people of God in connection with this truth. GCB January 1, 1900, page 106.9

I read another statement, found on page 53 of “Early Writings:”— GCB January 1, 1900, page 107.1

“I saw the necessity of the messengers, especially, watching, and checking all fanaticism wherever they might see it arise. Satan is pressing in on every side, and unless we watch for him, and have our eyes open to his devices and snares, and have on the whole armor of God, the fiery darts of the wicked will hit us. There are many precious truths contained in the word of God, but it is ‘present truth’ that the flock needs now. I have seen the danger of the messengers running off from the important points of present truth, to dwell upon subjects that are not calculated to unite the flock and sanctify the soul. Satan will here take every possible advantage to injure the cause.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 107.2

Where and how will Satan take advantage to injure the cause?—Because subjects are dwelt upon that are not calculated to unite the flock, that are not really in themselves present truth. They may be good enough in themselves, but they are not the definite, clear-cut, and distinct message that God would have given in these times, to separate a people from the world, and fit them for translation to heaven. Now, not only the messages of the first and second angel,—the work of 1843-44 and the few years succeeding,—but there are other subjects, and they are intimately related with that, because the whole of present truth is bound up in the message that I read in the fourteenth chapter of Revelation. GCB January 1, 1900, page 107.3

I will continue reading:— GCB January 1, 1900, page 107.4

“But such subjects as the sanctuary, in connection with the twenty-three hundred days, the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus, are perfectly calculated to explain the past Advent movement and show what our present position is, establish the faith of the doubting, and give certainty to the glorious future. These, I have frequently seen, were the principal subjects on which the messengers should dwell.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 107.5

Now I want to read another statement in this connection, found in Vol. 5 of the “Testimonies for the Church,” page 295:— GCB January 1, 1900, page 107.6

“Men and women will arise professing to have some new light or some new revelation whose tendency is to unsettle faith in the old landmarks. [What were those old landmarks?—The early messages, the first and second angels’ messages.] Their doctrines will not bear the test of God’s word, yet souls will be deceived. False reports will be circulated, and some will be taken in this snare. They will believe these rumors, and in their turn will repeat them, and thus a link will be formed connecting them with the arch-deceiver. This spirit will not always be manifested in an open defiance of the messages that God sends, but a settled unbelief is expressed in many ways. Every false statement that is made feeds and strengthens this unbelief, and through this means many souls will be balanced in the wrong direction. We can not be too watchful against every form of error, for Satan is constantly seeking to draw men from the truth.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 107.7

Now, it seems to me, that is enough on that point, to establish the fact that God wants us to pay heed to these messages. I will read another statement found in “Early Writings,” under the heading of “A Firm Platform:”— GCB January 1, 1900, page 107.8

“I saw a company who stood well guarded and firm, giving no countenance to those who would unsettle the established faith of the body. God looked upon them with approbation. I was shown three steps,—the first, second, and third angels’ messages. Said my accompanying angel, ‘Woe to him who shall move a block or stir a pin of these messages. The true understanding of these messages is of vital importance. The destiny of souls hangs upon the manner in which they are received.’” GCB January 1, 1900, page 107.9

Then, brethren, I understand from that, that if we do not believe the first angel’s message or the second angel’s message, if we have no faith in the experiences of the people of God that have passed through those messages, we are standing in a condition to be deceived by the enemy of souls down in these last times. Continuing, I read:— GCB January 1, 1900, page 107.10

“I was again brought down through these messages, and saw how dearly the people of God had purchased their experience. It had been obtained through much suffering and severe conflict. God had led them along step by step until he had placed them upon a solid, immovable platform.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 107.11

Brethren, I understand by that, then, that the pillars of our faith are solidly fixed, that they are immovable. And right here I wish to read a statement made in a communication received in the last mail from Australia. I have a number of such communications that I wish to read extracts from this morning, and all, except one, were written the first of this year. There is a statement in one of these that is right in harmony with that, and I felt to rejoice when I read the statement, and I want to read it to you, because I am sure it will cheer your hearts this morning. Yet I do not know that we need that additional proof. Here is the statement:— GCB January 1, 1900, page 107.12

“We must let the great principles of the third angel’s message stand out clear and distinct. The great pillars of our faith will hold all the weight that can be placed upon them.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 108.1

I was glad to read that statement, although I never doubted it. But here God says the great pillars of our faith will hold all the weight that can be placed upon them; and under every strain that can be put upon them, they will stand the test, because they have stood the test in the years that are past, and God led the people in the beginning, and placed their feet upon a firm and solid platform. Many of us now in the message have come into the truth in later years, and have had no experience in the early messages, and God wants us to study the experiences of the past. I am glad in my heart that a disposition is being manifested to go back and study the underlying principles of the third angel’s message,—these grand truths that God caused holy men in the early days to write out so clearly, and that have been the foundation of the message thus far. It seems to me that every Seventh-day Adventist should now, as never before, be studying the experiences of the past fifty-four years especially, and the first and second angels’ messages. The book “Rise and Progress” should be in every Seventh-day Adventist home, and not only be in the home, but it should be read and carefully studied in connection with the messages and the Bible, because in that book are contained the truths and the experiences that will fortify us against the errors and delusions that Satan is bringing to bear against us in these times. GCB January 1, 1900, page 108.2

Now we are not to make any man-made tests. It is no time now for any extreme and fanciful interpretations of the word of God, because these are the things that bring in confusion and error. GCB January 1, 1900, page 108.3

I want to read a statement here, and I will read the whole of this communication, because it expresses the thought so forcibly. This was written the 2nd of January, this year, and came just the other day. It is entitled “The Work for This Time.” I hope every one will give heed to it, because it is the work for this time. I will read the whole of it, as it refers to the early part of the messages. GCB January 1, 1900, page 108.4

“The Lord has a special message for us to bear to the world, even the third angel’s message. The first and second angels’ messages are bound up with the third. The power of the proclamation of the first and second messages is to be concentrated in the third. ‘And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.’ ‘After these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.’ GCB January 1, 1900, page 108.5

“We are in danger of giving this message in so indefinite a manner that it does not impress the people.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 108.6

And three years ago there was a statement made in the Testimonies, that the conviction is gaining ground in the world that Seventh-day Adventists are giving the trumpet an uncertain sound, and are following in the path of worldlings. GCB January 1, 1900, page 108.7

“So many other interests are brought in that the very message which should be proclaimed with power becomes tame and voiceless. At our camp-meetings a mistake has been made. The Sabbath question has been touched upon, but has not been presented as the great question, the test for this time. GCB January 1, 1900, page 108.8

“While the churches profess to believe in Christ, they are violating the law which Christ himself proclaimed from Sinai. The Lord bids us, ‘Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.’ The trumpet is to give a certain sound. GCB January 1, 1900, page 108.9

“At our camp-meetings, when you have a congregation before you for only two weeks, do not defer the presentation of the Sabbath question until everything else is presented, supposing that you are paving the way for it. Lift up the standard, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Make this the important theme. Then by your strong arguments wall it in, and make it of still greater force. Dwell more on the Revelation. Read, explain, and enforce its teachings. GCB January 1, 1900, page 108.10

“Our warfare is aggressive. Tremendous issues are before us, yea, and right upon us. Let our prayers ascend to God that the four angels may be commissioned to hold the four winds, that they may not blow to injure or destroy until the last warning has been given to the world. Then let us work in harmony with our prayers. Let there be nothing in any of our institutions that will lessen the force of the truth for this time. Present truth is to be our burden. A great work is to be done. The third angel’s message must do its work of separating from the churches a people who will take their stand on the platform of eternal truth. GCB January 1, 1900, page 109.1

“Our message is a life and death message, and we must let it appear as it is, the great power of God. We are to present it in all its telling force. Then the Lord will make it effectual. It is our privilege to expect large things, even the demonstration of the Spirit of God. This is the power that will convict and convert the soul.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 109.2

That Testimony is timely. I am satisfied that in the last few years we have lost much in influence and numbers, and in means to advance the cause of God, because we have not given our message in a definite and distinct form. We have made a mountain out of a mole-hill, and things of minor importance have been magnified, until the truth in its force and power has been eclipsed, and has been placed in the background. But God would have us put the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus to the front, and proclaim the Sabbath question as we have never proclaimed it before. Now we may think that sometimes the people say, “You don’t know anything but the Sabbath and the law of God and the second coming of Christ.” But that is the message for this time. We do not need, as is said in another place, man-made tests; we do not need human inventions at this time. We have all the tests that we can bear; and every soul, both inside the church and outside the church, will be tested to his fullest extent in the tests that God has given—the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, in which is bound up the Sabbath question. God has plainly told us that we are not to manufacture tests now, bringing up something through some individual’s fanciful interpretation of the scriptures that will bring in confusion among the people of God. Here is a statement that has been made:— GCB January 1, 1900, page 109.3

“The Sabbath question is a test that will come to the whole world. We need nothing to come in now to make a test for God’s people that shall make more severe for them the test that they already have. The enemy would be pleased to get up issues now to divert the minds of the people, and get them into controversy.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 109.4

Satan would be pleased to get up some controversy over some trivial and minor thing, while we lose sight of the great vital part of our faith, and the one thing that is to be a test to the world—the Sabbath of the Lord. I read another extract which came in the last mail. GCB January 1, 1900, page 109.5

“The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the test for this time, and therefore all connected with this great memorial is to be kept before the people.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 109.6

It shows who the true God is, and our attitude toward it shows on which side of the controversy we stand. When we consider that the Sabbath does not end with this world in its present condition, but that it will be kept in the eternal world, by angels and by the redeemed of God throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity, then this question becomes one of no secondary importance. GCB January 1, 1900, page 109.7

I will now read some more extracts:— GCB January 1, 1900, page 109.8

“We have now the most solemn, important test given to us from the Word of God for this special period of time. This test is for the whole world. The Lord does not require that any tests of human inventions shall be brought in to divert the minds of the people or create controversy in any line.... God’s tests are now to stand out plain and unmistakable. There are storms before us, conflicts of which few dream. Nothing should come in to divert our minds from the grand test which is to decide the eternal destiny of a world,—the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 109.9

There are some ideas extant that I have recently heard of, that the people are to be called out of the church, those who will be loyal and true. But you who have read your Bibles and “Early Writings,” know that that is not so; that the remnant church of God is going clear through to the kingdom. I wish to read a statement here bearing on this:— GCB January 1, 1900, page 109.10

“The Lord has a church upon this earth. He has a people who are working with an undivided interest, a people who are dear to his heart because they are consecrated to him. There are also men whose names are on the church books who are not serving God, who are robbing him by withholding the tithes and offerings which he, as the householder, requires as his portion. But because there are tares among the wheat, shall we demerit the church of God?—Never! GCB January 1, 1900, page 109.11

We may demerit ourselves, but never demerit those who are striving amid temptation and trial. These are the ones whom God loves.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 110.1

And the way the separation will come will not be because some one rises up and gathers what he believes to be the loyal ones out of the church of God; but the separation will come just as God has indicated,—by the shaking that will come among God’s people. The straight message to the Laodicean church is the thing that will shake out those that are not loyal and true. Here is a statement made:— GCB January 1, 1900, page 110.2

“The time is coming when those who have wanted their own way, who have refused to wear the yoke of Christ, will see that they have failed to find the rest that Christ gives; but it will then be too late.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 110.3

God is testing every individual soul in connection with this church as well as outside, and we are privileged to yield ourselves day by day to him, and cultivate that spirit of self-sacrifice and self-denial, that spirit of humility, that will listen to the reproofs of the Lord, and follow in the light that was set up away back yonder, that shines clear on through to the end; or we can have our own way, and follow in the light of our own kindling, and finally end in eternal night and ruin. That is the way the Lord has placed it in his divine economy. So when anything of that kind comes around, you may know, if you will study God’s Word and the Testimonies of the Spirit, that that is not of the Lord. GCB January 1, 1900, page 110.4

Then there are other things that are constantly coming in and cropping out,—new interpretations of scripture. I was impressed with this statement that I read this morning in “Early Writings;” it is entitled “To the Inexperienced:”— GCB January 1, 1900, page 110.5

“Some who have but just received the truth of the third angel’s message, are ready to reprove and teach those who have been established in the truth for years, and who have suffered for its sake, and felt its sanctifying power.... Those who profess the truth, and think they know it all before they have learned its first principles, and who are forward to take the place of teachers, and reprove those who for years have stood stiffly for the truth, plainly show that they have no understanding of the truth, and know none of its effects; for if they knew any of its sanctifying power, they would yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness, and be humbled under its sweet, powerful influence.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 110.6

Now God does not want any extreme interpretations put upon the truth of God as it is found in the reformation that is bound up in the third angel’s message. And while the Lord has placed things there that are of vital importance to every soul, he does not want us to take an extreme position and begin urging that, thus making a man-made test for somebody else in the denomination that will create confusion. Here is a statement made in one of these communications that I can not forbear reading this morning, because I believe the people should know of these things:— GCB January 1, 1900, page 110.7

“Those who present the idea that the blind, the deaf, the lame, the deformed, will not receive the seal of God, are not speaking words given them by the Holy Spirit. There is much suffering in our world. To some suffering and disease have been transmitted as an inheritance. Others suffer because of accidents. Cause and effect are always in operation in our world, and always will be. The Lord has afflicted ones, dearly beloved in his sight, who bear the suffering of bodily infirmities. Their trials will not be greater than they can endure.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 110.8

Then follows the statement that Paul had a bodily infliction; that he prayed to the Lord that it might be removed; but God told him to pray to him no more about it, that his grace was sufficient. Then comes this statement:— GCB January 1, 1900, page 110.9

“There are living upon our earth men who have passed the age of four score and ten. The natural results of old age are seen in their feebleness. But they believe God, and God loves them. The seal of God is upon them, and they will be among the numbers of whom the Lord has said, ‘Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.’ With Paul they can say, ‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.’ There are many whose gray hairs God honors because they have fought a good fight and kept the faith.... We need, in this age of error, of day-dreaming and reverie, to learn the first principles of the doctrine of Christ.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 110.10

Then here is another statement, found in connection what I read a few moments ago:— GCB January 1, 1900, page 110.11

“There are those who need in their hearts the touch of the divine Spirit. Then the message for this time will be their burden. They will not search for human tests, for something new and strange. The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the test for this time, and therefore all connected with this great memorial is to be kept before the people. GCB January 1, 1900, page 110.12

“I am pained beyond what any language can express. Irreverence is coming in apace. I have words to speak to the young men who have been teaching the truth. Preach the word. You may have inventive minds. You may be expert, as were the Jewish teachers, in getting up new theories; but Christ said of them, ‘In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.’ They presented traditions, suppositions, and fables of all kinds to the people. The forms and ceremonies they enjoined made it simply impossible for the people to know whether they were keeping the word of God or following the imaginations of men.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 110.13

“It is not our service to pray that colored hair shall become black, or that gray hair, which God pronounces honorable, shall become black. Those who set their minds laboring in this direction are not following on to know the Lord. They are starting in a course which will lead to the greatest, most God-dishonoring fanaticism. Our work is to form new habits of thought. Through faith in Christ we can do this. Natural propensities are to be controlled. Selfish inclinations are to be denied. Again and again something hostile to grace and reform will start into life. Again and again we shall be called into the conflict to fight against hereditary tendencies to wrong. What shall ministers teach the people?—Certainly not fables. Certainly not their own foolish imaginings, which would put a yoke grievious to be borne upon the necks of poor souls. Such a yoke Christ has not formed.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 111.1

Then here is another statement in another communication that I wish to read:— GCB January 1, 1900, page 111.2

“If Satan can work to turn the whole current of the waters of life into the most polluted channels, it is the very work he would rejoice to see the whole Seventh-day Adventist people engaged in. He desires to use up in this way all the available means, so that there is nothing left to sustain foreign missions or to send the gospel to the world. But God wants his work to go in the very way he has ordained for it to go. He has not inaugurated a new plan or arrangement to save the world.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 111.3

And right here, in another, I read this, the way he has ordained:— GCB January 1, 1900, page 111.4

“God says, ‘Begin in the highways; thoroughly work the highways, prepare a company who in unity with you will go forth to do the very work that Jesus did in seeking and saving the lost.’ This is the kind of work that I have ever seen should be done. We are not to strain every spiritual sinew and nerve to descend to the lowest depths, and make that work the all and in all, neglecting to bring to the Master others who need the truth, who are bearing responsibilities, and who will work with all their sanctified ability for the high places as well as for the low places.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 111.5

From Gospel Workers, 303, I read:— GCB January 1, 1900, page 111.6

“When the importance of laboring to reach the higher classes is urged, let none receive the idea that the poor and unlearned are to be neglected. Right methods of labor will not in any sense exclude these. It was one of the evidences of Christ’s Messiahship that the poor had the gospel preached to them.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 111.7

Then I read a statement from a communication that came in the early mail just this morning. Brethren, I read these things because I believe that, as the Spirit of God says, we are in danger in these times of neutralizing our work and our efforts. And I am satisfied that when we get back to preaching the third angel’s message as we have preached it in the past,—the message that by its preaching brought out the churches in the land, built up our institutions to their present proportions,—I am satisfied that God’s blessing will then attend the work, and we will see souls converted; because you know as well as I do, that when we first heard the message, it was this spirit of the truths of the messages that stirred our souls to the very bottom. We saw there a line drawn, and that if we were to be the Lord’s and to have eternal life, we must step over on that side of the line. But when the message is so neutralized, and preached in such a tame and voiceless manner, that it stirs nobody, you will not see any results, and things will not be built up in a solid way. GCB January 1, 1900, page 111.8

Another statement was received this morning, in the mail, just before I came down here:— GCB January 1, 1900, page 111.9

“Satan has a scheme to corrupt through the association, work called rescue work, the sight of the eyes, the hearing of the ears—the association and impressions made by Satanic agencies—that will be used to the very uttermost of Satan’s power. Through his deceptive workings, the administration of the powers of Satanic agencies, many who have given themselves to the work of rescue will drown their own souls, and will under doubts and difficulties need a similar work done for them. They may go beyond remedy. The Lord does not want the work of the message of the third angel to be retarded. The most solemn message of mercy is to be given to a fallen world. Any kind of influence, any kind of sympathy, created by pen or voice to gather the facilities of means, as has been done, and invested in this class of work, that the foreign missionary work shall be in the situation it is in to-day, is not the work of God.” GCB January 1, 1900, page 111.10

I understand from the report, that the foreign missionary donations have fallen off the past year upward of $20,000. My soul is burdened that we as a denomination of people, and as individuals, stand by the work of God to-day as it has been outlined in the past messages; and that we live so close to him, and so carefully study his word and the experiences of the past, that when these new things come in, these strange things, something devised by some inventive mind, to create sensation or something of that kind, we will be so firmly rooted in the faith that we will not be moved from our moorings, but go straight forward; and instead of letting the enemy come in and getting the church all absorbed in that, may our whole energies be given to the third angel’s message,—the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Let us lift up the message as it was preached in the early days, and it will be a cleaver to separate the honest from the people of the world, and fit them for translation. We are living in perilous times. If there ever was a time when there should be a voice sounding somewhere, that the poor, deluded sheep that have no shepherd might hear the true voice, that time is now. Brethren, may God help us to preach the message in its purity, that the sound may go to earth’s remotest bounds, and souls be gathered out, such as shall finally be saved with us in his eternal kingdom. GCB January 1, 1900, page 111.11