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worldlings and church members； to flee from the wrath to come。 Like John the
Baptist； the forerunner of Christ； the preachers laid the ax at the root of
the tree and urged all to bring forth fruit meet for repentance。 Their
stirring appeals were in marked contrast to the assurances of peace and
safety that were heard from popular pulpits； and wherever the message was
given； it moved the people。 The simple； direct testimony of the Scriptures；
set home by the power of the Holy Spirit； brought a weight of conviction
which few were able wholly to resist。 Professors of religion were roused
from their false security。 They saw their backslidings； their worldliness
and unbelief； their pride and selfishness。 Many sought the Lord with
repentance and humiliation。 The affections that had so long clung to earthly
things they now fixed upon heaven。 The Spirit of God rested upon them； and
with hearts softened and subdued they joined to sound the cry： 〃Fear God；
and give glory to Him； for the hour of His judgment is come。〃
Sinners inquired with weeping： 〃What must I do to be saved？〃 Those whose
lives had been marked with dishonesty were anxious to make restitution。 All
who found peace in Christ longed to see others share the blessing。 The
hearts of parents were turned to their children； and the hearts of children
to their parents。 The barriers of pride and reserve were swept away。
Heartfelt confessions were made； and the members of the household labored
for the salvation of those who were nearest and dearest。 Often was heard the
sound of earnest intercession。 Everywhere were souls in deep anguish
pleading with God。 Many wrestled all night in prayer for the assurance that
their own sins were pardoned； or for the conversion of their relatives or
neighbors。
All classes flocked to the Adventist meetings。 Rich and poor； high and low；
were； from various causes； anxious to hear for themselves the doctrine of
the second advent。 The Lord held the spirit of opposition in check while His
servants
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explained the reasons of their faith。 Sometimes the instrument was feeble；
but the Spirit of God gave power to His truth。 The presence of holy angels
was felt in these assemblies； and many were daily added to the believers。 As
the evidences of Christ's soon coming were repeated； vast crowds listened in
breathless silence to the solemn words。 Heaven and earth seemed to approach
each other。 The power of God was felt upon old and young and middle…aged。
Men sought their homes with praises upon their lips； and the glad sound rang
out upon the still night air。 None who attended those meetings can ever
forget those scenes of deepest interest。
The proclamation of a definite time for Christ's coming called forth great
opposition from many of all classes； from the minister in the pulpit down to
the most reckless； Heaven…daring sinner。 The words of prophecy were
fulfilled： 〃There shall come in the last days scoffers； walking after their
own lusts； and saying； Where is the promise of His coming？ for since the
fathers fell asleep； all things continue as they were from the beginning of
the creation。〃 2 Peter 3：3； 4。 Many who professed to love the Saviour；
declared that they had no opposition to the doctrine of the second advent；
they merely objected to the definite time。 But God's all…seeing eye read
their hearts。 They did not wish to hear of Christ's coming to judge the
world in righteousness。 They had been unfaithful servants； their works would
not bear the inspection of the heart…searching God； and they feared to meet
their Lord。 Like the Jews at the time of Christ's first advent they were not
prepared to welcome Jesus。 They not only refused to listen to the plain
arguments from the Bible； but ridiculed those who were looking for the Lord。
Satan and his angels exulted； and flung the taunt in the face of Christ and
holy angels that His professed people had so little love for Him that they
did not desire His appearing。
〃No man knoweth the day nor the hour〃 was the argument most often brought
forward by rejecters of the advent faith。 The scripture is： 〃Of that day and
hour knoweth no
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man； no not the angels of heaven； but My Father only。〃 Matthew 24：36。 A
clear and harmonious explanation of this text was given by those who were
looking for the Lord； and the wrong use made of it by their opponents was
clearly shown。 The words were spoken by Christ in that memorable
conversation with His disciples upon Olivet after He had for the last time
departed from the temple。 The disciples had asked the question： 〃What shall
be the sign of Thy coming； and of the end of the world？〃 Jesus gave them
signs； and said： 〃When ye shall see all these things； know that it is near；
even at the doors。〃 Verses 3； 33。 One saying of the Saviour must not be made
to destroy another。 Though no man knoweth the day nor the hour of His
coming； we are instructed and required to know when it is near。 We are
further taught that to disregard His warning； and refuse or neglect to know
when His advent is near； will be as fatal for us as it was for those who
lived in the days of Noah not to know when the flood was coming。 And the
parable in the same chapter； contrasting the faithful and the unfaithful
servant； and giving the doom of him who said in his heart； 〃My Lord delayeth
His coming；〃 shows in what light Christ will regard and reward those whom He
finds watching； and teaching His coming； and those denying it。 〃Watch
therefore；〃 He says。 〃Blessed is that servant； whom his Lord when He cometh
shall find so doing。〃 Verses 42； 46。 〃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 3：3。
Paul speaks of a class to whom the Lord's appearing will come unawares。 〃The
day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night。 For when they shall say；
Peace and safety； then sudden destruction cometh upon them； 。 。 。 and they
shall not escape。〃 But he adds； to those who have given heed to the
Saviour's warning： 〃Ye； brethren； are not in darkness； that that day should
overtake you as a thief。 Ye are all the children of light； and the children
of the day： we are not of the night； nor of darkness。〃 1 Thessalonians
5：2…5。
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Thus it was shown that Scripture gives no warrant for men to remain in
ignorance concerning the nearness of Christ's coming。 But those who desired
only an excuse to reject the truth closed their ears to this explanation；
and the words 〃No man knoweth the day nor the hour〃 continued to be echoed
by the bold scoffer and even by the professed minister of Christ。 As the
people were roused； and began to inquire the way of salvation； religious
teachers stepped in between them and the truth； seeking to quiet their fears
by falsely interpreting the word of God。 Unfaithful watchmen united in the
work of the great deceiver； crying； Peace； peace； when God had not spoken
peace。 Like the Pharisees in Christ's day； many refused to enter the kingdom
of heaven themselves； and those who were entering in they hindered。 The
blood of these souls will be required at their hand。
The most humble and devoted in the churches were usually the first to
receive the message。 Those who studied the Bible for themselves could not
but see the unscriptural character of the popular views of prophecy； and
wherever the people were not controlled by the influence of the clergy；
wherever they would search the word of God for themselves； the advent
doctrine needed only to be compared with the Scriptures to establish its
divine authority。
Many were persecuted by their unbelieving brethren。 In order to retain their
position in the church； some consented to be silent in regard to their hope；
but others felt that loyalty to God forbade them thus to hide the truths
which He had committed to their trust。 Not a few were cut off from the
fellowship of the church for no other reason than expressing their belief in
the coming of Christ。 Very precious to those who bore this trial of their
faith were the words of the prophet： 〃Your brethren that hated you； that
cast yo