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off。 Therefore say unto them； Thus saith the Lord God； There shall none of
My words be prolonged any more； but the word
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which I have spoken shall be done。〃 Ezekiel 12：21…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： 〃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
wise； and five were foolish。 They that were foolish took their lamps； and
took no oil with them： 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
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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
of uncertainty； the interest of the superficial and halfhearted soon began
to waver； and their efforts to relax； but those whose faith was based on a
personal knowledge of the Bible had a rock beneath their feet； which the
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
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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；
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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