not speak parables？〃 In contempt they declared the preacher of righteousness
to be a wild enthusiast； and they went on； more eager in their pursuit of
pleasure； more intent upon their evil ways； than before。 But their unbelief
did not hinder the predicted event。 God bore long with their wickedness；
giving them ample opportunity for repentance； but at the appointed time His
judgments were visited upon the rejecters of His mercy。
Christ declares that there will exist similar unbelief concerning His second
coming。 As the people of Noah's day 〃knew not until the Flood came； and took
them all away； so；〃 in the words of our Saviour； 〃shall also the coming of
the Son of man be。〃 Matthew 24…39。 When the professed people of God are
uniting with the world； living as they live； and joining with them in
forbidden pleasures； when the luxury of the world becomes the luxury of the
church； when the marriage bells are chiming； and all are looking forward to
many years of worldly prosperitythen； suddenly as the
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lightning flashes from the heavens； will come the end of their bright
visions and delusive hopes。
As God sent His servant to warn the world of the coming Flood； so He sent
chosen messengers to make known the nearness of the final judgment。 And as
Noah's contemporaries laughed to scorn the predictions of the preacher of
righteousness； so in Miller's day many； even of the professed people of God；
scoffed at the words of warning。
And why were the doctrine and preaching of Christ's second coming so
unwelcome to the churches？ While to the wicked the advent of the Lord brings
woe and desolation； to the righteous it is fraught with joy and hope。 This
great truth had been the consolation of God's faithful ones through all the
ages； why had it become； like its Author； 〃a stone of stumbling〃 and 〃a rock
of offense〃 to His professed people？ It was our Lord Himself who promised
His disciples： 〃If I go and prepare a place for you； I will come again； and
receive you unto Myself。〃 John 14：3。 It was the compassionate Saviour； who；
anticipating the loneliness and sorrow of His followers； commissioned angels
to comfort them with the assurance that He would come again in person； even
as He went into heaven。 As the disciples stood gazing intently upward to
catch the last glimpse of Him whom they loved； their attention was arrested
by the words： 〃Ye men of Galilee； why stand ye gazing up into heaven？ this
same Jesus； which is taken up from you into heaven； shall so come in like
manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven。〃 Acts 1：11。 Hope was kindled
afresh by the angels' message。 The disciples 〃returned to Jerusalem with
great joy： and were continually in the temple； praising and blessing God。〃
Luke 24：52； 53。 They were not rejoicing because Jesus had been separated
from them and they were left to struggle with the trials and temptations of
the world； but because of the angels' assurance that He would come again。
The proclamation of Christ's coming should now be； as when made by the
angels to the shepherds of Bethlehem；
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good tidings of great joy。 Those who really love the Saviour cannot but hail
with gladness the announcement founded upon the word of God that He in whom
their hopes of eternal life are centered is coming again； not to be
insulted； despised； and rejected； as at His first advent； but in power and
glory； to redeem His people。 It is those who do not love the Saviour that
desire Him to remain away； and there can be no more conclusive evidence that
the churches have departed from God than the irritation and animosity
excited by this Heaven…sent message。
Those who accepted the advent doctrine were roused to the necessity of
repentance and humiliation before God。 Many had long been halting between
Christ and the world； now they felt that it was time to take a stand。 〃The
things of eternity assumed to them an unwonted reality。 Heaven was brought
near； and they felt themselves guilty before God。〃 Bliss； page 146。
Christians were quickened to new spiritual life。 They were made to feel that
time was short； that what they had to do for their fellow men must be done
quickly。 Earth receded； eternity seemed to open before them； and the soul；
with all that pertained to its immortal weal or woe； was felt to eclipse
every temporal object。 The Spirit of God rested upon them and gave power to
their earnest appeals to their brethren； as well as to sinners； to prepare
for the day of God。 The silent testimony of their daily life was a constant
rebuke to formal and unconsecrated church members。 These did not wish to be
disturbed in their pursuit of pleasure； their devotion to money…making； and
their ambition for worldly honor。 Hence the enmity and opposition excited
against the advent faith and those who proclaimed it。
As the arguments from the prophetic periods were found to be impregnable；
opposers endeavored to discourage investigation of the subject by teaching
that the prophecies were sealed。 Thus Protestants followed in the steps of
Romanists。 While the papal church withholds the Bible （see Appendix） from
the people； Protestant churches claimed that an
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important part of the Sacred Wordand that the part which brings to view
truths specially applicable to our timecould not be understood。
Ministers and people declared that the prophecies of Daniel and the
Revelation were incomprehensible mysteries。 But Christ directed His
disciples to the words of the prophet Daniel concerning events to take place
in their time； and said： 〃Whoso readeth； let him understand。〃 Matthew 24：15。
And the assertion that the Revelation is a mystery； not to be understood； is
contradicted by the very title of the book： 〃The Revelation of Jesus Christ；
which God gave unto Him； to show unto His servants things which must shortly
come to pass。 。 。 。 Blessed is he that readeth； and they that hear the words
of this prophecy； and keep those things which are written therein： for the
time is at hand。〃 Revelation 1：1…3。
Says the prophet： 〃Blessed is he that readeth〃there are those who will not
read； the blessing is not for them。 〃And they that hear〃there are some；
also； who refuse to hear anything concerning the prophecies； the blessing is
not for this class。 〃And keep those things which are written therein〃 many
refuse to heed the warnings and instructions contained in the Revelation；
none of these can claim the blessing promised。 All who ridicule the subjects
of the prophecy and mock at the symbols here solemnly given； all who refuse
to reform their lives and to prepare for the coming of the Son of man； will
be unblessed。
In view of the testimony of Inspiration； how dare men teach that the
Revelation is a mystery beyond the reach of human understanding？ It is a
mystery revealed； a book opened。 The study of the Revelation directs the
mind to the prophecies of Daniel； and both present most important
instruction； given of God to men； concerning events to take place at the
close of this world's history。
To John were opened scenes of deep and thrilling interest in the experience
of the church。 He saw the position； dangers； conflicts； and final
deliverance of the people of God。 He
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records the closing messages which are to ripen the harvest of the earth；
either as sheaves for the heavenly garner or as fagots for the fires of
destruction。 Subjects of vast importance were revealed to him； especially
for the last church； that those who should turn from error to truth might be
instructed concerning the perils and conflicts before them。 None need be in
darkness in regard to what is coming upon the earth。
Why； then； this widespread ignorance concerning an important part of Holy
Writ？ Why this general reluctance to investigate its teachings？ It is the
result of a studied effort of the prince of darkness to conceal from men
that which reveals his deceptions。 For this reason； Christ the Revelator；
foreseeing the warfare that would be waged against the study of the
Revelation； pronounced a blessing upon all who should read； hear； and
observe the words of the prophecy。
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Chapter 19
Light Through Darkness
The work of God in the earth presents； from age to age； a striking
similarity in every great reformation or religious movement。 The principles
of God's dealing with men are ever the same。 The important movements of the
present have their parallel in those of the past； and the experience of the
church in former ages has lessons of great value for our own time。
No truth is more clearly taught in the Bible than that God by His Holy
Spirit especially directs His servants on earth in the great movements for
the carrying forward of the work of salvation。 Men are instruments in the
hand of God； employed by Him to accomplish His purposes of grace and mercy。
Each has his part to act； to each is granted a measure of light； adapted to
the necessities of his time； and suf