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The condition of the church at this time is pointed out in the Saviour's
words in the Revelation： 〃Thou hast a name
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that thou livest； and art dead。〃 And to those who refuse to arouse from
their careless security； the solemn warning is addressed： 〃If therefore thou
shalt not watch； I will come on thee as a thief； and thou shalt not know
what hour I will come upon thee。〃 Revelation 3：1； 3。
It was needful that men should be awakened to their danger； that they should
be roused to prepare for the solemn events connected with the close of
probation。 The prophet of God declares： 〃The day of the Lord is great and
very terrible； and who can abide it？〃 Who shall stand when He appeareth who
is 〃of purer eyes than to behold evil；〃 and cannot 〃look on iniquity〃？ Joel
2：11； Habakkuk 1：13。 To them that cry； 〃My God； we know Thee；〃 yet have
transgressed His covenant； and hastened after another god； hiding iniquity
in their hearts； and loving the paths of unrighteousness to these the day
of the Lord is 〃darkness； and not light； even very dark； and no brightness
in it。〃 Hosea 8：2； 1； Psalm 16；4； Amos 5：20。 〃It shall come to pass at that
time；〃 saith the Lord； 〃that I will search Jerusalem with candles； and
punish the men that are settled on their lees： that say in their heart； The
Lord will not do good； neither will He do evil。〃 Zephaniah 1：12。 〃I will
punish the world for their evil； and the wicked for their iniquity； and I
will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease； and will lay low the
haughtiness of the terrible。〃 Isaiah 13：11。 〃Neither their silver nor their
gold shall be able to deliver them；〃 〃their goods shall become a booty； and
their houses a desolation。〃 Zephaniah 1：18； 13。
The prophet Jeremiah； looking forward to this fearful time； exclaimed： 〃I am
pained at my very heart。 。 。 。 I cannot hold my peace； because thou hast
heard； O my soul； the sound of the trumpet； the alarm of war。 Destruction
upon destruction is cried。〃 Jeremiah 4：19； 20。
〃That day is a day of wrath； a day of trouble and distress； a day of
wasteness and desolation； a day of darkness and gloominess； a day of clouds
and thick darkness； a day of the trumpet and alarm。〃 Zephaniah 1：15； 16。
〃Behold； the day
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of the Lord cometh； 。 。 。 to lay the land desolate： and He shall destroy the
sinners thereof out of it。〃 Isaiah 13：9。
In view of that great day the word of God； in the most solemn and impressive
language； calls upon His people to arouse from their spiritual lethargy and
to seek His face with repentance and humiliation： 〃Blow ye the trumpet in
Zion； and sound an alarm in My holy mountain： let all the inhabitants of the
land tremble： for the day of the Lord cometh； for it is nigh at hand。〃
〃Sanctify a fast； call a solemn assembly： gather the people； sanctify the
congregation； assemble the elders； gather the children： 。 。 。 let the
bridegroom go forth of his chamber； and the bride out of her closet。 Let the
priests； the ministers of the Lord； weep between the porch and the altar。〃
〃Turn ye even to Me with all your heart； and with fasting； and with weeping；
and with mourning： and rend your heart； and not your garments； and turn unto
the Lord your God： for He is gracious and merciful； slow to anger； and of
great kindness。〃 Joel 2：1；
15…17； 12； 13。
To prepare a people to stand in the day of God； a great work of reform was
to be accomplished。 God saw that many of His professed people were not
building for eternity； and in His mercy He was about to send a message of
warning to arouse them from their stupor and lead them to make ready for the
coming of the Lord。
This warning is brought to view in Revelation 14。 Here is a threefold
message represented as proclaimed by heavenly beings and immediately
followed by the coming of the Son of man to reap 〃the harvest of the earth。〃
The first of these warnings announces the approaching judgment。 The prophet
beheld an angel flying 〃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。〃
Revelation 14：6； 7。
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This message is declared to be a part of 〃the everlasting gospel。〃 The work
of preaching the gospel has not been committed to angels； but has been
entrusted to men。 Holy angels have been employed in directing this work；
they have in charge the great movements for the salvation of men； but the
actual proclamation of the gospel is performed by the servants of Christ
upon the earth。
Faithful men； who were obedient to the promptings of God's Spirit and the
teachings of His word； were to proclaim this warning to the world。 They were
those who had taken heed to the 〃sure word of prophecy；〃 the 〃light that
shineth in a dark place； until the day dawn； and the daystar arise。〃
2 Peter 1：19。 They had been seeking the knowledge of God
more than all hid treasures； counting it 〃better than the merchandise of
silver； and the gain thereof than fine gold。〃 Proverbs 3：14。 And the Lord
revealed to them the great things of the kingdom。 〃The secret of the Lord is
with them that fear Him； and He will show them His covenant。〃 Psalm 25：14。
It was not the scholarly theologians who had an understanding of this truth；
and engaged in its proclamation。 Had these been faithful watchmen；
diligently and prayerfully searching the Scriptures； they would have known
the time of night； the prophecies would have opened to them the events about
to take place。 But they did not occupy this position； and the message was
given by humbler men。 Said Jesus： 〃Walk while ye have the light； lest
darkness come upon you。〃 John 12：35。 Those who turn away from the light
which God has given； or who neglect to seek it when it is within their
reach； are left in darkness。 But the Saviour declares： 〃He that followeth Me
shall not walk in darkness； but shall have the light of life。〃 John 8：12。
Whoever is with singleness of purpose seeking to do God's will； earnestly
heeding the light already given； will receive greater light； to that soul
some star of heavenly radiance will be sent to guide him into all truth。
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At the time of Christ's first advent the priests and scribes of the Holy
City； to whom were entrusted the oracles of God； might have discerned the
signs of the times and proclaimed the coming of the Promised One。 The
prophecy of Micah designated His birthplace； Daniel specified the time of
His advent。 Micah 5：2； Daniel 9：25。 God committed these prophecies to the
Jewish leaders； they were without excuse if they did not know and declare to
the people that the Messiah's coming was at hand。 Their ignorance was the
result of sinful neglect。 The Jews were building monuments for the slain
prophets of God； while by their deference to the great men of earth they
were paying homage to the servants of Satan。 Absorbed in their ambitious
strife for place and power among men； they lost sight of the divine honors
proffered them by the King of heaven。
With profound and reverent interest the elders of Israel should have been
studying the place； the time； the circumstances； of the greatest event in
the world's historythe coming of the Son of God to accomplish the
redemption of man。 All the people should have been watching and waiting that
they might be among the first to welcome the world's Redeemer。 But； lo； at
Bethlehem two weary travelers from the hills of Nazareth traverse the whole
length of the narrow street to the eastern extremity of the town； vainly
seeking a place of rest and shelter for the night。 No doors are open to
receive them。 In a wretched hovel prepared for cattle； they at last find
refuge； and there the Saviour of the world is born。
Heavenly angels had seen the glory which the Son of God shared with the
Father before the world was； and they had looked forward with intense
interest to His appearing