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°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
one£»¡¡however£»¡¡then¡¡noticed¡¡than¡¡an¡¡apparent¡¡delay¡¡in¡¡the¡¡accomplishment¡¡of
the¡¡visiona¡¡tarrying¡¡timeis¡¡presented¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡prophecy¡£¡¡After¡¡the
disappointment£»¡¡this¡¡scripture¡¡appeared¡¡very¡¡significant£º¡¡¡¨The¡¡vision¡¡is¡¡yet
for¡¡an¡¡appointed¡¡time£»¡¡but¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡it¡¡shall¡¡speak£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡lie£º¡¡though¡¡it
tarry£»¡¡wait¡¡for¡¡it£»¡¡because¡¡it¡¡will¡¡surely¡¡come£»¡¡it¡¡will¡¡not¡¡tarry¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£
The¡¡just¡¡shall¡¡live¡¡by¡¡his¡¡faith¡£¡¨

A¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡Ezekiel's¡¡prophecy¡¡also¡¡was¡¡a¡¡source¡¡of¡¡strength¡¡and¡¡comfort¡¡to
believers£º¡¡¡¨The¡¡word¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡came¡¡unto¡¡me£»¡¡saying£»¡¡Son¡¡of¡¡man£»¡¡what¡¡is
that¡¡proverb¡¡that¡¡ye¡¡have¡¡in¡¡the¡¡land¡¡of¡¡Israel£»¡¡saying£»¡¡The¡¡days¡¡are
prolonged£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡vision¡¡faileth£¿¡¡Tell¡¡them¡¡therefore£»¡¡Thus¡¡saith¡¡the
Lord¡¡God¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡The¡¡days¡¡are¡¡at¡¡hand£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡of¡¡every¡¡vision¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£
I¡¡will¡¡speak£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡word¡¡that¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡speak¡¡shall¡¡come¡¡to¡¡pass£»¡¡it¡¡shall
be¡¡no¡¡more¡¡prolonged¡£¡¨¡¡¡¨They¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡¡of¡¡Israel¡¡say£»¡¡The¡¡vision¡¡that¡¡he
seeth¡¡is¡¡for¡¡many¡¡days¡¡to¡¡come£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡prophesieth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡times¡¡that¡¡are¡¡far
off¡£¡¡Therefore¡¡say¡¡unto¡¡them£»¡¡Thus¡¡saith¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡God£»¡¡There¡¡shall¡¡none¡¡of
My¡¡words¡¡be¡¡prolonged¡¡any¡¡more£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡word

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡393

which¡¡I¡¡have¡¡spoken¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡done¡£¡¨¡¡Ezekiel¡¡12£º21¡­25£»¡¡27£»¡¡28¡£

The¡¡waiting¡¡ones¡¡rejoiced£»¡¡believing¡¡that¡¡He¡¡who¡¡knows¡¡the¡¡end¡¡from¡¡the
beginning¡¡had¡¡looked¡¡down¡¡through¡¡the¡¡ages¡¡and£»¡¡foreseeing¡¡their
disappointment£»¡¡had¡¡given¡¡them¡¡words¡¡of¡¡courage¡¡and¡¡hope¡£¡¡Had¡¡it¡¡not¡¡been
for¡¡such¡¡portions¡¡of¡¡Scripture£»¡¡admonishing¡¡them¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡with¡¡patience¡¡and
to¡¡hold¡¡fast¡¡their¡¡confidence¡¡in¡¡God's¡¡word£»¡¡their¡¡faith¡¡would¡¡have¡¡failed
in¡¡that¡¡trying¡¡hour¡£

The¡¡parable¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ten¡¡virgins¡¡of¡¡Matthew¡¡25¡¡also¡¡illustrates¡¡the¡¡experience
of¡¡the¡¡Adventist¡¡people¡£¡¡In¡¡Matthew
24£»¡¡in¡¡answer¡¡to¡¡the¡¡question¡¡of¡¡His¡¡disciples¡¡concerning¡¡the
sign¡¡of¡¡His¡¡coming¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡Christ¡¡had¡¡pointed¡¡out¡¡some
of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡important¡¡events¡¡in¡¡the¡¡history¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡church
from¡¡His¡¡first¡¡to¡¡His¡¡second¡¡advent£»¡¡namely£»¡¡the¡¡destruction¡¡of¡¡Jerusalem£»
the¡¡great¡¡tribulation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡church¡¡under¡¡the¡¡pagan¡¡and¡¡papal¡¡persecutions£»
the¡¡darkening¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡and¡¡moon£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡falling¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stars¡£¡¡After¡¡this
He¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡His¡¡coming¡¡in¡¡His¡¡kingdom£»¡¡and¡¡related¡¡the¡¡parable¡¡describing
the¡¡two¡¡classes¡¡of¡¡servants¡¡who¡¡look¡¡for¡¡His¡¡appearing¡£¡¡Chapter¡¡25¡¡opens
with¡¡the¡¡words£º¡¡¡¨Then¡¡shall¡¡the¡¡kingdom¡¡of¡¡heaven¡¡be¡¡likened¡¡unto¡¡ten
virgins¡£¡¨¡¡Here¡¡is¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡view¡¡the¡¡church¡¡living¡¡in¡¡the¡¡last¡¡days£»¡¡the
same¡¡that¡¡is¡¡pointed¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡close¡¡of¡¡chapter
24¡£¡¡In¡¡this¡¡parable¡¡their¡¡experience¡¡is¡¡illustrated¡¡by¡¡the
incidents¡¡of¡¡an¡¡Eastern¡¡marriage¡£

¡¨Then¡¡shall¡¡the¡¡kingdom¡¡of¡¡heaven¡¡be¡¡likened¡¡unto¡¡ten¡¡virgins£»¡¡which¡¡took
their¡¡lamps£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡forth¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡the¡¡bridegroom¡£¡¡And¡¡five¡¡of¡¡them¡¡were
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took¡¡no¡¡oil¡¡with¡¡them£º¡¡but¡¡the¡¡wise¡¡took¡¡oil¡¡in¡¡their¡¡vessels¡¡with¡¡their
lamps¡£¡¡While¡¡the¡¡bridegroom¡¡tarried£»¡¡they¡¡all¡¡slumbered¡¡and¡¡slept¡£¡¡And¡¡at
midnight¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡cry¡¡made£»¡¡Behold£»¡¡the¡¡bridegroom¡¡cometh£»¡¡go¡¡ye¡¡out¡¡to
meet¡¡him¡£¡¨

The¡¡coming¡¡of¡¡Christ£»¡¡as¡¡announced¡¡by¡¡the¡¡first¡¡angel's¡¡message£»¡¡was
understood¡¡to¡¡be¡¡represented¡¡by¡¡the¡¡coming

394

of¡¡the¡¡bridegroom¡£¡¡The¡¡widespread¡¡reformation¡¡under¡¡the¡¡proclamation¡¡of¡¡His
soon¡¡coming£»¡¡answered¡¡to¡¡the¡¡going¡¡forth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡virgins¡£¡¡In¡¡this¡¡parable£»¡¡as
in¡¡that¡¡of¡¡Matthew¡¡24£»¡¡two¡¡classes¡¡are¡¡represented¡£¡¡All¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡their
lamps£»¡¡the¡¡Bible£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡its¡¡light¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡forth¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡the¡¡Bridegroom¡£
But¡¡while¡¡¡¨they¡¡that¡¡were¡¡foolish¡¡took¡¡their¡¡lamps£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡no¡¡oil¡¡with
them£»¡¨¡¡¡¨the¡¡wise¡¡took¡¡oil¡¡in¡¡their¡¡vessels¡¡with¡¡their¡¡lamps¡£¡¡The¡¡latter
class¡¡had¡¡received¡¡the¡¡grace¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡the¡¡regenerating£»¡¡enlightening¡¡power¡¡of
the¡¡Holy¡¡Spirit£»¡¡which¡¡renders¡¡His¡¡word¡¡a¡¡lamp¡¡to¡¡the¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡a¡¡light¡¡to
the¡¡path¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡God¡¡they¡¡had¡¡studied¡¡the¡¡Scriptures¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡the
truth£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡earnestly¡¡sought¡¡for¡¡purity¡¡of¡¡heart¡¡and¡¡life¡£¡¡These¡¡had¡¡a
personal¡¡experience£»¡¡a¡¡faith¡¡in¡¡God¡¡and¡¡in¡¡His¡¡word£»¡¡which¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be
overthrown¡¡by¡¡disappointment¡¡and¡¡delay¡£¡¡Others¡¡¡¨took¡¡their¡¡lamps£»¡¡and¡¡took
no¡¡oil¡¡with¡¡them¡£¡¨¡¡They¡¡had¡¡moved¡¡from¡¡impulse¡£¡¡Their¡¡fears¡¡had¡¡been¡¡excited
by¡¡the¡¡solemn¡¡message£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡had¡¡depended¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡faith¡¡of¡¡their
brethren£»¡¡satisfied¡¡with¡¡the¡¡flickering¡¡light¡¡of¡¡good¡¡emotions£»¡¡without¡¡a
thorough¡¡understanding¡¡of¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡or¡¡a¡¡genuine¡¡work¡¡of¡¡grace¡¡in¡¡the¡¡heart¡£
These¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡forth¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡the¡¡Lord£»¡¡full¡¡of¡¡hope¡¡in¡¡the¡¡prospect¡¡of
immediate¡¡reward£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡were¡¡not¡¡prepared¡¡for¡¡delay¡¡and¡¡disappointment¡£
When¡¡trials¡¡came£»¡¡their¡¡faith¡¡failed£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡lights¡¡burned¡¡dim¡£

¡¨While¡¡the¡¡bridegroom¡¡tarried£»¡¡they¡¡all¡¡slumbered¡¡and¡¡slept¡£¡¨¡¡By¡¡the
tarrying¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bridegroom¡¡is¡¡represented¡¡the¡¡passing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡time¡¡when¡¡the
Lord¡¡was¡¡expected£»¡¡the¡¡disappointment£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡seeming¡¡delay¡£¡¡In¡¡this¡¡time
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waves¡¡of¡¡disappointment¡¡could¡¡not¡¡wash¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¨They¡¡all¡¡slumbered¡¡and¡¡slept£»¡¨
one¡¡class¡¡in¡¡unconcern¡¡and¡¡abandonment¡¡of¡¡their¡¡faith£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡class
patiently¡¡waiting¡¡till¡¡clearer¡¡light¡¡should¡¡be¡¡given¡£¡¡Yet

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡395

in¡¡the¡¡night¡¡of¡¡trial¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡lose£»¡¡to¡¡some¡¡extent£»¡¡their¡¡zeal
and¡¡devotion¡£¡¡The¡¡halfhearted¡¡and¡¡superficial¡¡could¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡lean¡¡upon¡¡the
faith¡¡of¡¡their¡¡brethren¡£¡¡Each¡¡must¡¡stand¡¡or¡¡fall¡¡for¡¡himself¡£

About¡¡this¡¡time£»¡¡fanaticism¡¡began¡¡to¡¡appear¡£¡¡Some¡¡who¡¡had¡¡professed¡¡to¡¡be
zealous¡¡believers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡message¡¡rejected¡¡the¡¡word¡¡of¡¡God¡¡as¡¡the¡¡one
infallible¡¡guide¡¡and£»¡¡claiming¡¡to¡¡be¡¡led¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Spirit£»¡¡gave¡¡themselves¡¡up
to¡¡the¡¡control¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡feelings£»¡¡impressions£»¡¡and¡¡imaginations¡£¡¡There
were¡¡some¡¡who¡¡manifested¡¡a¡¡blind¡¡and¡¡bigoted¡¡zeal£»¡¡denouncing¡¡all¡¡who¡¡would
not¡¡sanction¡¡their¡¡course¡£¡¡Their¡¡fanatical¡¡ideas¡¡and¡¡exercises¡¡met¡¡with¡¡no
sympathy¡¡from¡¡the¡¡great¡¡body¡¡of¡¡Adventists£»¡¡yet¡¡they¡¡served¡¡to¡¡bring
reproach¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡cause¡¡of¡¡truth¡£

Satan¡¡was¡¡seeking¡¡by¡¡this¡¡means¡¡to¡¡oppose¡¡and¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡God¡£¡¡The
people¡¡had¡¡been¡¡greatly¡¡stirred¡¡by¡¡the¡¡advent¡¡movement£»¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡sinners
had¡¡been¡¡converted£»¡¡and¡¡faithful¡¡men¡¡were¡¡giving¡¡themselves¡¡to¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of
proclaiming¡¡the¡¡truth£»¡¡even¡¡in¡¡the¡¡tarrying¡¡time¡£¡¡The¡¡prince¡¡of¡¡evil¡¡was
losing¡¡his¡¡subjects£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡reproach¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡cause¡¡of¡¡God£»
he¡¡sought¡¡to¡¡deceive¡¡some¡¡who¡¡professed¡¡the¡¡faith¡¡and¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡them¡¡to
extremes¡£¡¡Then¡¡his¡¡agents¡¡stood¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡seize¡¡upon¡¡every¡¡error£»¡¡every
failure£»¡¡every¡¡unbecoming¡¡act£»¡¡and¡¡hold¡¡it¡¡up¡¡before¡¡the¡¡people¡¡in¡¡the¡¡most
exaggerated¡¡light£»¡¡to¡¡render¡¡Adventists¡¡and¡¡their¡¡faith¡¡odious¡£¡¡Thus¡¡the
greater¡¡the¡¡number¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡could¡¡crowd¡¡in¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡profession¡¡of¡¡faith¡¡in
the¡¡second¡¡advent¡¡while¡¡his¡¡power¡¡controlled¡¡their¡¡hearts£»¡¡the¡¡greater
advantage¡¡would¡¡he¡¡gain¡¡by¡¡calling¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡them¡¡as¡¡representatives¡¡of
the¡¡whole¡¡body¡¡of¡¡believers¡£

Satan¡¡is¡¡¡¨the¡¡accuser¡¡of¡¡the¡¡brethren£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡his¡¡spirit¡¡that¡¡inspires
men¡¡to¡¡watch¡¡for¡¡the¡¡errors¡¡and¡¡defects¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lord's¡¡people£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡hold
them¡¡up¡¡to¡¡notice£»¡¡while¡¡their¡¡good¡¡deeds¡¡are¡¡passed¡¡by¡¡without¡¡a¡¡mention¡£
He¡¡is¡¡always¡¡active¡¡when¡¡God¡¡is¡¡at¡¡work¡¡for¡¡the¡¡salvation¡¡of¡¡souls¡£¡¡When¡¡the
sons¡¡of¡¡God¡¡come¡¡to¡¡present¡¡themselves¡¡before¡¡the¡¡Lord£»

396

Satan¡¡comes¡¡also¡¡among¡¡them¡£¡¡In¡¡every¡¡revival¡¡he¡¡is¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡in¡¡those
who¡¡are¡¡unsanctified¡¡in¡¡heart¡¡and¡¡unbalanced¡¡in¡¡mind¡£¡¡When¡¡these¡¡have
accepted¡¡some¡¡points¡¡of¡¡truth£»¡¡and¡¡gained¡¡a¡¡place¡¡with¡¡believers£»¡¡he¡¡works
through¡¡them¡¡to¡¡introduce¡¡theories¡¡that¡¡will¡¡deceive¡¡the¡¡unwary¡£¡¡No¡¡man¡¡is
proved¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡true¡¡Christian¡¡because¡¡he¡¡is¡¡found¡¡in¡¡company¡¡with¡¡the
children¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡even¡¡in¡¡the¡¡house¡¡of¡¡worship¡¡and¡¡around¡¡the¡¡table¡¡of¡¡the
Lord¡£¡¡Satan¡¡is¡¡frequently¡¡there¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡most¡¡solemn¡¡occasions¡¡in¡¡the¡¡form
of¡¡those¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡can¡¡use¡¡as¡¡his¡¡agents¡£

The¡¡prince¡¡of¡¡evil¡¡contests¡¡every¡¡inch¡¡of¡¡ground¡¡over¡¡which¡¡God's¡¡people
advance¡¡in¡¡their¡¡journey¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡heavenly¡¡city¡£¡¡In¡¡all¡¡the¡¡history¡¡of¡¡the
church¡¡no¡¡reformation¡¡has¡¡been¡¡carried¡¡forward¡¡without¡¡encountering¡¡serious
obstacles¡£¡¡Thus¡¡it¡¡was¡¡in¡¡Paul's¡¡day¡£¡¡Wherever¡¡the¡¡apostle¡¡raised¡¡up¡¡a
church£»¡¡there¡¡were¡¡some¡¡who¡¡professed¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡the¡¡faith£»¡¡but¡¡who¡¡brought
in¡¡heresies£»¡¡that£»¡¡if¡¡received£»¡¡would¡¡eventually¡¡crowd¡¡out¡¡the¡¡love¡¡of¡¡the
truth¡£¡¡Luther¡¡also¡¡suffered¡¡great¡¡perplexity¡¡and¡¡distress¡¡from¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of
fanatical¡¡persons¡¡who¡¡claimed¡¡that¡¡God¡¡had¡¡spoken¡¡directly¡¡through¡¡them£»¡¡and
who¡¡therefore¡¡set¡¡their¡¡own¡¡ideas¡¡and¡¡opinions¡¡above¡¡the¡¡testimony¡¡of¡¡the
Scriptures¡£¡¡Many¡¡who¡¡were¡¡lacking¡¡in¡¡faith¡¡and¡¡experience£»¡¡but¡¡who¡¡had
considerable¡¡self¡­sufficiency£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡loved¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡and¡¡tell¡¡some¡¡new
thing£»¡¡were¡¡beguiled¡¡by¡¡the¡¡pretensions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡new¡¡teachers£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡joined
the¡¡agents¡¡of¡¡Satan¡¡in¡¡their¡¡work¡¡of¡¡tearing¡¡down¡¡what¡¡God¡¡had¡¡moved¡¡Luther
to¡¡build¡¡up¡£¡¡And¡¡the¡¡Wesleys£»¡¡and¡¡others¡¡who¡¡blessed¡¡the¡¡world¡¡by¡¡their
influence¡¡and¡¡their¡¡faith£»¡¡encountered¡¡at¡¡every¡¡step¡¡the¡¡wiles¡¡of¡¡Satan¡¡in
pushing¡¡overzealous£»¡¡unbalanced£»¡¡and¡¡unsanctified¡¡ones¡¡into¡¡fanaticism¡¡of
every¡¡grade¡£

William¡¡Miller¡¡had¡¡no¡¡s
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