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blinded the mind to the truth。 Both classes fulfilled the will of God in
delivering the message which He desired to be given； and both； through their
own misapprehension of their message； suffered disappointment。
Yet God accomplished His own beneficent purpose in permitting the warning of
the judgment to be given just as it was。 The great day was at hand； and in
His providence the people were brought to the test of a definite time； in
order to reveal to them what was in their hearts。 The message was designed
for the testing and purification of the church。 They were to be led to see
whether their affections were set upon this world or upon Christ and heaven。
They professed to love the Saviour； now they were to prove their love。 Were
they ready to renounce their worldly hopes and ambitions； and welcome with
joy the advent of their Lord？ The message was designed to enable them to
discern their true spiritual state； it was sent in mercy to arouse them to
seek the Lord with repentance and humiliation。
The disappointment also； though the result of their own misapprehension of
the message which they gave； was to be overruled for good。 It would test the
hearts of those who had professed to receive the warning。 In the face of
their disappointment would they rashly give up their experience and cast
away their confidence in God's word？ or would they； in
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prayer and humility； seek to discern where they had failed to comprehend the
significance of the prophecy？ How many had moved from fear； or from impulse
and excitement？ How many were halfhearted and unbelieving？ Multitudes
professed to love the appearing of the Lord。 When called to endure the
scoffs and reproach of the world； and the test of delay and disappointment；
would they renounce the faith？ Because they did not immediately understand
the dealings of God with them； would they cast aside truths sustained by the
clearest testimony of His word？
This test would reveal the strength of those who with real faith had obeyed
what they believed to be the teaching of the word and the Spirit of God。 It
would teach them； as only such an experience could； the danger of accepting
the theories and interpretations of men； instead of making the Bible its own
interpreter。 To the children of faith the perplexity and sorrow resulting
from their error would work the needed correction。 They would be led to a
closer study of the prophetic word。 They would be taught to examine more
carefully the foundation of their faith； and to reject everything； however
widely accepted by the Christian world； that was not founded upon the
Scriptures of truth。
With these believers； as with the first disciples； that which in the hour of
trial seemed dark to their understanding would afterward be made plain。 When
they should see the 〃end of the Lord〃 they would know that； notwithstanding
the trial resulting from their errors； His purposes of love toward them had
been steadily fulfilling。 They would learn by a blessed experience that He
is 〃very pitiful； and of tender mercy；〃 that all His paths 〃are mercy and
truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies。〃
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Chapter 20
A Great Religious Awakening
A Great religious awakening under the proclamation of Christ's soon coming
is foretold in the prophecy of the first angel's message of Revelation 14。
An angel is seen 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。〃 〃With a loud voice〃 he proclaims the
message： 〃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。〃 Verses 6； 7。
The fact that an angel is said to be the herald of this warning is
significant。 By the purity； the glory； and the power of the heavenly
messenger； divine wisdom has been pleased to represent the exalted character
of the work to be accomplished by the message and the power and glory that
were to attend it。 And the angel's flight 〃in the midst of heaven；〃 the
〃loud voice〃 with which the warning is uttered； and its promulgation to all
〃that dwell on the earth；〃〃to every nation； and kindred； and tongue； and
people；〃give evidence of the rapidity and world…wide extent of the
movement。
The message itself sheds light as to the time when this movement is to take
place。 It is declared to be a part of the 〃everlasting gospel；〃 and it
announces the opening of the
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judgment。 The message of salvation has been preached in all ages； but this
message is a part of the gospel which could be proclaimed only in the last
days； for only then would it be true that the hour of judgment had come。 The
prophecies present a succession of events leading down to the opening of the
judgment。 This is especially true of the book of Daniel。 But that part of
his prophecy which related to the last days； Daniel was bidden to close up
and seal 〃to the time of the end。〃 Not till we reach this time could a
message concerning the judgment be proclaimed； based on the fulfillment of
these prophecies。 But at the time of the end； says the prophet； 〃many shall
run to and fro； and knowledge shall be increased。〃 Daniel 12：4。
The apostle Paul warned the church not to look for the coming of Christ in
his day。 〃That day shall not come；〃 he says； 〃except there come a falling
away first； and that man of sin be revealed。〃 2 Thessalonians 2：3。 Not till
after the great apostasy； and the long period of the reign of the 〃man of
sin；〃 can we look for the advent of our Lord。 The 〃man of sin；〃 which is
also styled 〃the mystery of iniquity；〃 〃the son of perdition；〃 and 〃that
wicked；〃 represents the papacy； which； as foretold in prophecy； was to
maintain its supremacy for 1260 years。 This period ended in 1798。 The coming
of Christ could not take place before that time。 Paul covers with his
caution the whole of the Christian dispensation down to the year 1798。 It is
this side of that time that the message of Christ's second coming is to be
proclaimed。
No such message has ever been given in past ages。 Paul； as we have seen； did
not preach it； he pointed his brethren into the then far…distant future for
the coming of the Lord。 The Reformers did not proclaim it。 Martin Luther
placed the judgment about three hundred years in the future from his day。
But since 1798 the book of Daniel has been unsealed； knowledge of the
prophecies has increased； and many have proclaimed the solemn message of the
judgment near。
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Like the great Reformation of the sixteenth century； the advent movement
appeared in different countries of Christendom at the same time。 In both
Europe and America men of faith and prayer were led to the study of the
prophecies； and； tracing down the inspired record； they saw convincing
evidence that the end of all things was at hand。 In different lands there
were isolated bodies of Christians who； solely by the study of the
Scriptures； arrived at the belief that the Saviour's advent was near。
In 1821； three years after Miller had arrived at his exposition of the
prophecies pointing to the time of the judgment； Dr。 Joseph Wolff； 〃the
missionary to the world；〃 began to proclaim the Lord's soon coming。 Wolff
was born in Germany； of Hebrew parentage； his father being a Jewish rabbi。
While very young he was convinced of the truth of the Christian religion。 Of
an active； inquiring mind； he had been an eager listener to the
conversations that took place in his father's house as devout Hebrews daily
assembled to recount the hopes and anticipations of their people； the glory
of the coming Messiah； and the restoration of Israel。 One day hearing Jesus
of Nazareth mentioned； the boy inquired who He was。 〃A Jew of the greatest
talent；〃 was the answer； 〃but as He pretended to be the Messiah； the Jewish
tribunal sentenced Him to death。〃 〃Why；〃 rejoined the questioner； 〃is
Jerusalem destroyed；