A Vindication of the Seventh-Day Sabbath and the Commandments of God Part 5

CHRIST'S SECOND COMING TO GATHER HIS PEOPLE.

According to the Scriptures, G.o.d will deliver his people out of the time of trouble that is now flying from the coasts of the earth, and to all appearances forming a junction in this retributive land of blood and slavery; by his VOICE _from heaven_, when he has sealed them, and Christ has made the atonement and fitted the mansions in the New Jerusalem, then they will be his chosen ones to execute the "judgment written." After this, in the order of events, the Lord Jesus "will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of G.o.d,"

&c. When G.o.d speaks from Jerusalem, then, I believe the "wise will understand" how long it will be before Jesus comes. "The times and seasons are with the Father." I believe that the Scriptures most clearly teach Christ's second coming at the feast of Tabernacles, and no where else; and that our history, in the fulfillment of prophecy, has been imperceptibly tending us there. Here is the chain in the types: "THREE _times a year shall_ ALL _thy males appear before the Lord thy G.o.d_." These three feasts are typical of three of the most important events since the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and every advent believer should have a clear understanding of them. 1st, The feast of the Pa.s.sover; 2d, Feast of Weeks; 3d, Feast of Tabernacles.

_First feast_ was the crucifixion of our Lord at the Pa.s.sover, on the 14th day of the first month, at 3 o'clock P. M.; the very day and hour the lamb was offered in the type for sixteen hundred and seventy years.

_Second feast_-the day of Pentecost, 1670 years from the time that the commandments were uttered by the voice of G.o.d, in the morning.-Exo. xix: 16; see Acts ii: 15, undoubtedly at the same hour. Now as these two feasts are perfectly fulfilled, we have nothing further to do with them here; only to say, that G.o.d never taught any other way to find the fulfillment of these two most important events, than by their typical observance.

_Third feast_-on the 15th of the seventh month; the feast of the Tabernacles. This undoubtedly represents the gathering of all Israel at the coming of Christ; the ingathering of the harvest; the end of the 6000 years: the end of the world. I see no other point of time for Christ to come than at the feast; see Deut. xvi: 1-16: Lev. xxiii; Num. xxviii, and xxix. It cannot be possible that G.o.d has been so exact in the fulfillment of the first two, to the very hour of the day, and then left the other without _order or time_! No, no! Here is the gathering of all Israel; see Lev. xxiii: 39-44. Now, this being true, all of the other events which precede this in this chapter, must, to harmonize with the types, be fulfilled first. Now there are three types in this feast; their harmony and order are as follows: First,-24th verse is the memorial of trumpets.

This is the type of the sounding of the seventh trumpet; there is nothing else for an anti-type-try and see. Than it is fulfilled, by Rev. x: 7-"In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the Mystery of G.o.d should be finished." &c. This then, we have shown, sounded on the first day of the seventh month, 1844. Here the virgins were divided, and the wise ones got ready for the coming of the Bridegroom to the marriage. See _Way Marks_, 35 to 37th pages.

_Second type_-27th verse-"Also on the 10th day of the seventh month, there shall be a day of atonement,-ye shall afflict your souls, for whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people." This, of course, was artificial; but it was a type to represent the tried state which the virgins in the parable entered into on the tenth day of this seventh month, 1844, when they see their Lord did not come. Here is where the atonement commenced with the affliction, and as they ended together in the type, so we believe they will in the anti-type, when G.o.d speaks from Zion.-Joel iii: 16, 17; see _Way Marks_, pp. 58, 59. Now it is certainly evident that G.o.d's people are in this very state. This, then, according to the type, proves the Bridegroom as High Priest, officiating in the Sanctuary, making the atonement for this same people.

_The third type_ in order, and the last in this feast, is the feast of Tabernacles, 34-39-44th verses. This is yet to come-the true point of our deliverance. What a harmonious perfect chain is here. Just see first day of seventh month, 1844; the seventh trumpet sounds, and the Mystery of G.o.d is finished; third wo come; virgins divide; on the tenth day of the same month, Bridegroom comes to the wedding; marriage takes place; door shut; Jubilee trumpet sounds to prepare for the Jubilee and Supper in the kingdom of heaven; cleansing of the Sanctuary commenced; the virgins on their trial; the appointed time, the 2300 days ended, and a cry at midnight, with all its messages. If the seventh trumpet has began to sound, then the rest have followed. If the saints are now in their trial, then, the seventh trumpet must have sounded first, or confusion would follow in the types. Destroy one link, and the chain is broke. Take it in all its parts, it is perfect, harmonious, and complete. Here, too, I understand, ends all the days of Daniel. The chart is perfect, and has answered its end. The world here also received their last warning. The Gospel age ends; the message is, "comfort ye, comfort ye _my_ people." If this was not all done before Christ should come, the scriptures would be broken. It is perfect nonsense to talk of having these things done at his coming, or after he comes. Tell me, if you can, how Christ can atone for his people in the Holiest of Holies, at his coming? And then tell me where the saints are to be on their trial, if they wait his coming first? Tell me, if you can, where you will place the third wo, which brings in the time of trouble, of which the saints are to be delivered? Tell me, if you can, how, and for what purpose the seventh messenger will begin to sound his trumpet, while Jesus is sounding the trump of G.o.d, and shouting for his saints to leave the earth in a moment? And as the seventh messenger is some of the living saints, tell me, if you can, how they will have time even to turn and say the Mystery of G.o.d is finished? Tell me, if you can, why G.o.d is going to have every thing in confusion at that day, when he has always had perfect order in heaven and earth, ever since the creation? Two things to be kept in remembrance:

FIRST-The 11th chapter of Revelations does not teach the coming of Christ in the spring, nor at any other point.

SECOND-The ingathering of _all_ Israel _after the Voice of G.o.d_ is most clearly taught to be at the feast of Tabernacles, the last type in the feast, yet unfulfilled. All the others that have been, and are _now_ fulfilling in these feasts of the Lord, have been tested to the day, and even to the hour of the day.

A CORRECTION.

I perceive that I have made a mis-statement, on page 56, 13th line; also page 59, sixth line from the top, in calling the 15th day of the first month, a holy convocation day, instead of the 14th, which always commenced at the beginning of the 14th day and ended where the 21st began.-Exo. xii: 18. The wafe sheaf also, was to be waved on Sunday morning, the morrow after the Lord's Sabbath-Lev. xxiii: 3, 11-all which makes the resurrection on the third day as clear as light-two nights and three days.

SEVENTH & FOURTEENTH OF REVELATIONS.

A further History of the Second Advent Doctrine, from its commencement to the treading of the Wine Press, &c.

With The One Hundred And Forty-Four Thousand Living Saints, Which Are To Be Gathered At The Second Coming Of Jesus, From Every Nation, Kindred, Tongue, And People; Especially Those That Are Now Occupying The Position Referred To In The Twelfth And Thirteenth Verses Of The Fourteenth Chapter.

Second Advent History.

In the fourteenth chapter of Revelations, John gives a most graphic delineation of the Second Advent movement, from its rise in about 1840, to a glorious state of immortality. He begins to describe from this never-to-be-over-looked, wonderful picture of the last days, forming, and changing in quick succession, under the deep impressions made on the heart, by the heavenly flying messengers, saying with loud voices-the hour of his judgment is come; and reminds one in some of its features, in the changing of positions, of that last dreadful conflict of nations, on the plains of Waterloo, which decided the fate of Europe. So here, in this last great conflict of contending armies, John, in his vision, hears a glorious voice, [see i: 15 and xix: 6.] and harpers harping with their harps. His eye is turned to the point from whence came the heavenly music, and he beholds a glorified company, with their INVINCIBLE Commander, standing away up on the Mount Zion, that had followed him through his fiery trying conflict, and he had brought them off victorious, and clothed them with immortality and everlasting life; and the Father had stamped "his name in their foreheads," and they numbered 144,000, redeemed from the earth; all the living saints that are saved out of the mighty host of nations. Now read the first five verses of this chapter and methinks you will agree with me, that John is here describing the character of the 144,000 as he had seen them sealed, as stated in the seventh chapter; where he closes their history with the 8th verse, to describe the dead saints, and seven angels with their trumpets, and the effect produced by them, from the 7th chapter, 9th verse to the 12th chapter. Then in the 12th and 13th chapters, the dragon, the beast and his image, &c., &c. And then he takes up the history of this same 144,000, from where he had seen them sealed in the 7th chapter, 4-8 verses; and begins by describing them sealed and redeemed from the earth, in company with the Lamb-the Lord Jesus. From the 6th to the 14th verse, he gives the outline of what they had been pa.s.sing through, and the mighty host with whom they had been engaged. It will here be remembered that this message, or proclamation of "the hour of his judgment," has gone to every nation and tongue, and people; therefore as Jesus has stated that his elect are to be gathered from the four winds, or from one end of heaven to the other, then his 144,000 will be composed of all nations, particularly the poor ignorant, but honest hearted Slaves of this doomed country. But more especially those described in the 12th verse, walking out in their faith of all the living _present truth_.

An objection may arise with some; still, supposing that the 144,000, because they are named after the tribes of Jacob in the 7th chapter, they cannot mean the Israel of these last days. Micah, speaking of Jesus, says, "He is _to be_ the ruler in Israel."-v: 1-2. Gabriel said he would "reign over the house of Jacob _forever_."-Luke i: 33. Paul says "they are not _all_ Israel that are of Israel;" "If ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise." When John was afterwards giving a description of the holy city, he even saw the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel inscribed on the twelve gates. This agrees with the description in the 7th chapter, and makes a perfect harmony when we understand that this vision was sixty years after the introduction of the gospel, when the church was the whole Israel of G.o.d. The other view would give the literal seed of Jacob full possession of the city; the gates being theirs by the t.i.tles on them. This would make a division wall there, and G.o.d would be a respecter of persons. The gentiles could have no claim there; thus their joint heirs.h.i.+p with Christ would fail and so would this Revelation; for John was directed to "show (us) things which would shortly come to pa.s.s."-i: 1; and to "write the things which thou _hast seen_, and the things which are, and the things which _shall be hereafter_" in the churches, in the future.-xxii: 16. So we see this vision was all of the present and future; besides the tribes of _literal_ Israel had before this been rejected and were to "be trodden down until the times of the gentiles were fulfilled."

To make the 14th chapter more plain, in respect to the 144,000, we will try to give an exposition of the 7th. "And after these things, I saw four Angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the _earth_, nor on the _sea_, nor on any _tree_. And I saw another angel ascending from the east having the seal of the living G.o.d; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the _earth_, and the _sea_; saying hurt not the _earth_, neither the _sea_, nor the _trees_ till we have sealed the servants of our G.o.d in their foreheads."-1-3. I believe the general view of these four angels being the four leading governments [see 9th chapter 14, 15 verses,] is correct with the exceptions of Prussia or Rome, because neither of those nations have any maritime force on the sea. Great Britain, France, Russia, and the United States of North America, possess this power over all seas, and the most part of Christendom. Our not being a party in the great christian alliance at the downfall of Napoleon Bonaparte, in 1815, neither in 1840, at the fall of the Ottoman Empire, will not, I think, effect this point; but being one of these four messengers, will make it clear, at least so far as relates to the flying messengers and their work, and our power on the sea. Who does this sealing angel ascending from the east represent? Answer-I think some of the very same flying messengers brought to view in xiv: 6, 7, and x and xviii chapters. If messengers in the form, and fas.h.i.+on of men, symbolically represented as flying through the midst of heaven, preaching the gospel to men, and "being clothed with clouds," rainbows and pillars of fire, lighting up the earth with their glory; standing upon the sea, and land, crying as when a lion roareth, that time should be no longer; are called angels, I see not, nor know of any other exposition of this second verse. If it is contended that an invisible angel is here described, then, according to the 9th chapter, 4th verse, it was done in like manner to individuals in the thirteenth century.

ASCENDING from the east, or sun's rising. I think this does not mean _rise up_ out of, &c., as in chapter 13th, or _ascending_ in a similar manner, as in chapter xvii: 8, but rather the following, for instance: these northern and middle States, and the Canadas, are now and have been the location of almost all the flying messengers, and the burden of their messages, as represented in the 14th chapter. William Miller began to proclaim the message from the west, (Low Hampton.) And now to reverse it, the sealing messenger is seen ascending from the eastern, the Atlantic States, bounded by the broad ocean, of nearly three thousand miles, which, when looking to the east, as John did at sun rising, would give the appearance of the sun's rising out of the water but a few miles off. Owing to the round surface of our globe, every 15, or nine hundred miles that we sail from hence to the east, the sun appears _ascending_ from his ocean bed one hour earlier in the morning. This is familiar to the mariner; as also when they discover another s.h.i.+p, they cry, "sail ho!" Why? Because the top of her sails are only seen, but as they approach each other, _ascending_ up, as it were, out of the ocean bed, the lower sails, and then the hull, and soon after the men are distinctly seen upon her decks.

If we look farther east for this sealing angel or messenger, even to Great Britain, or still onward to the northern coast of China, we shall find none that have been so much engaged in the work of G.o.d as those above described. But if it is still insisted upon, that this sealing angel is invisible, then we shall fail to know when we are sealed. But I think that it is a work to be done here, and the saints will understand when they are sealed or marked as readily as they did when they were rejoicing because they had got the victory over the beast and his image, on the sea of gla.s.s (or more sure word of prophecy.) Rev. xv: 2. This was their sectarian profession that bound them in Babylon; and now their second advent profession, as in Rev. xiv: 12, if adhered to, will bind them to Jesus and seal, or mark, them for the city; see xxii: 14. Ezekiel had a prefiguration of this, in his vision of the man clothed in linen with a writer's inkhorn by his side, pa.s.sing through the city, marking G.o.d groaning, sorrowing children, (ix: 2, 4, 11,) preparatory to the awful slaughter that was immediately to follow; with the strict charge not to touch them that had the mark (or seal) in their foreheads;-just as it will be in the last days, when the 144,000, all of the _living_ children, are sealed with the seal of the _living_ G.o.d in their foreheads, having been marked or sealed in a similar manner, and by the remnant of the messengers that four years ago were writing, lecturing and exhorting the people of G.o.d to get clear of the mark of the beast by coming out of Babylon, because she had fallen; developing their true profession, or christian character, even then, by the help of the marking iron, (the steel pen and stamping type,) with the ink from the writer's _ink horn_; with this difference, that this simultaneous sealing of the 144,000 will show such a clear development of christian character in their lives and s.h.i.+ning foreheads (or faces,) that it will be clearly understood that Jesus has redeemed them from _all_ iniquity, by purifying "unto himself a _peculiar people_, ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS." [These good works, methinks, will be something more than simply saying we believe the Lord is coming.] Yes, says Malachi, when by his prophetic spirit, he saw Jesus "making up his jewels," at this point of time, "_then_ shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth G.o.d and him that serveth him not." "In the latter (or last) days ye shall consider it perfectly."-Jer. Then "he that is unjust, let him be so, and he that is righteous, let him be so still, and behold I come quickly, &c."-Rev. xxii: 11, 12.

This sealing process, then, I understand to be going on with the little flock, progressing in accordance with the last eight years' peculiar labor in their experience, and will be completed and approbated by G.o.d in the agonizing time of Daniel's and Jacob's trouble, and proclaimed to the world by G.o.d's roaring out of Zion, and uttering his voice from Jerusalem; then he will be the hope of his people; (see Joel iii.) then their atonement will be finished, the Sanctuary cleansed,-16th and 17th verses; "Zion's captivity turned;" "their mouths filled with laughter;" "the jewels made up," and the wise will understand the time of their coming deliverer.(3)

_The four Angels._-How does the sealing angel, or messenger, ascending from the east, cry with a loud voice to these four angels or governments of messengers, to "hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees,"

&c. In the first place, I understand that symbolic prophecies have literal statements interspersed, which serve as a key for the rest: i. e. they have a mixed character; for instance, earth and sea here, literal; _trees_, symbolical; meaning those that are _marked_, or _sealed_; the professed people of G.o.d-followers of Jesus. See the clear proof under the sounding of the fifth trumpet by the Turks, in ch. ix: 4th verse: "they were not to hurt any tree, but only those MEN which have _not_ the _seal_ of G.o.d _in their foreheads_." This proves the trees to symbolize the followers of G.o.d; see also Hosea xiv: 8. Again, it is said that these four messengers were to "hold the wind from blowing on the _earth_, _sea_, or any _tree_." By the _wind_, I understand as Paul teaches the Eph. iv: 14, "every wind of doctrine and cunning craftiness, and slight of men to deceive, and lead nations into carnage, war and bloodshed;" see also ii: 2, "being led by the Prince of the power of the _air_, working in men disobedience, according to the course of this world." After the last great battle of nations at Waterloo, in 1815, then these blood-thirsty, conquering crowned heads, formed themselves into what they called a christian alliance, showing that there was now peace with all the world; since which time they and our own government have been pet.i.tioned or prayed to by those who professed to be the followers of the Prince of Peace, to abolish the wicked practice with themselves, and thereby restrain all other nations. Now let us learn the difference between the trees, (professors or followers of the Prince of Peace,) and _servants of G.o.d_ which are now to be sealed, viz. the 144,000. Thousands on thousands of these professors or trees since this work began, have died, and probably one hundred times that number have turned traitors, by deserting their leader and commander, while the great ma.s.s of advent believers, which stamped this truth upon them, (the nominal church) in Oct. 1844, have since that time, also turned into the enemy's ranks, leaving the remnant to finish up the work. The great majority of these professors were once under the right banner, but the winnowing fan of their great leader has left them with the chaff, so that the voice of the remaining messengers, some of whom were sending these pet.i.tions to the four governments, and their prayers to G.o.d to restrain these wicked practices, have become so feeble and disregarded by their former a.s.sociates, that the Devil, seeing his time is short, is now hard at work marshalling his united forces throughout the world, for a mighty victory; and these four messengers are his principle dependence to "gather the whole world to the battle of that great day of G.o.d Almighty," but it will not become general until the 144,000 saints are sealed.

Here, then, I understand, that the professed followers of the Prince of Peace, (symbolized as trees,) have been crying with a loud voice by their pet.i.tions, which is the symbol for prayer, see xiv: 15, 18, and Matt.

xxvii: 46, praying these four messengers that have power on all lands, and _all_ seas, not to make any more war, either on the land or on the sea, nor with the professed people of the Prince of Peace, by disregarding their pet.i.tions. I know not in what other way these four nations could be prayed to as represented in the second verse. Now the 144,000 are sealed.

Then John brings us to the resurrection. The 9th verse says, _after this_, (mark this point,) I beheld, and lo, a great mult.i.tude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds, and people and tongues stood before the throne, clothed in white, with palms in their hands, &c. These I understand are _all_ the sleeping saints from Abel down to the very last one that falls asleep here. Their having palms in their hands, and robed in white, looks to me like the perfect uniformity there will be with _them_, and the 144,000 that have never died, that I believe will be redeemed right from, or at, the time for the feast of Tabernacles, and form a perfect phalanx, rending the air with their shouts while they are mounting up with wings as eagles to meet their glorified king and Lord; see xix: 14; Lev. xxiii: 39-44. Here, they will serve G.o.d day and night in his temple.-15th verse. Therefore all the work that is pointed out here in Revelations for the messengers, (called angels,) to perform, will all be accomplished here before Christ comes. Now we will turn again to the

FOURTEENTH CHAPTER OF REV., FIRST TO FOURTEENTH VERSE.

"And I looked, and lo, a lamb stood on the Mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand; having his Father's name written in their foreheads.-And I heard a voice from heaven as the voice of many waters."

Please turn back now to the beginning of the subject 19th page, you will see it is the Father's name written in their foreheads-i. e., they are now sealed-got through with their patient waiting time, and are marked with the name of G.o.d; see iii: 10-12. In the 2d verse is the voice; this I understand is G.o.d speaking after the saints are sealed, or Christ and the saints; see i: 15, and xix: 6, as presented on the 96th page.

"And they sung as it were a new song before the throne-no man could sing that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth." [Margin says, _bought_.] Now mark! these were bought from the earth, and they sung a song that no man could learn. This must have been one which they had learned in their united experience, something like the song of Moses on the banks of deliverance from the Egyptians. No other people could have sung the song because it was the song of their deliverance, for as I have stated these first five verses show this 144,000 in their immortal state, "redeemed from the earth," (not out of it.) "These are they which were not defiled with women." "The woman which thou sawest is the great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth."-xvii: 18, called Babylon, (the nominal churches). These, then, were the same ones that had come out of the churches; see 8-11 verses, and xv: 2 verse. If the other view is insisted upon, then _all_ of this 144,000 must be men and the women would have no part in that number-no matter where they are said to come from-"_for they are virgins_." Being clear of the harlot mother and her children; and of those in the parable of the ten virgins that went into the marriage of the Bridegroom makes them emphatically so. "_These are they which follow the lamb whithersoever he goeth._" The above shows that they did follow him, and John shows that they do now in their glorified state; see xix chapter, 14th verse.

"_These_ WERE _redeemed from among men being the first fruits unto G.o.d and to the lamb_."-4th verse. Redeemed or bought from among men (not from among the dead) nor from out of the earth, but from "among men and from the earth." The first fruits cannot be until the harvest, and that cannot be until Jesus comes to reap it with his sharp sickle, see 14th and 15th verses; remember too, that the description John is here giving, is the 144,000 with Jesus, after he has reaped the harvest of the earth.

See how perfectly it harmonizes with the type of Jesus being the first fruits, to G.o.d, or handful of the _first_ harvest of barley to represent his resurrection; since which time he has been laboring with his Father for this very harvest. To have the figure harmonize the fruit must come at the harvest time, not the seed time. This is the first fruits unto G.o.d and to the Lamb conjointly. The dead saints are no where that I know of represented as fruits, before the resurrection. This then is the harmonious view; but we will look at the view which the Bible Advocate and others, have shown, that the 144,000 shown here, were the saints that came out of their graves after the resurrection.-Matt. xxvii: 52, 53; and we are told that "Eph. iv: 8, is to the point." "When he ascended upon high he led captivity captive"-[Margin says, a _mult.i.tude of captives_,] but this marginal reading so much relied on for their proof by the mark thus (||,) shows it to be the view of the bible translators. Now to get the clear view, turn to the 68th Ps. 18th verse, from where Paul quoted. Here the marginal reading marked thus [Heb.] shows it to be the original, the inspired word. Now let us read-"Thou hast led captivity captive-thou hast received gifts in _the man_, (in Jesus) yea, for the rebellious also."

This changes the meaning, and would make this mult.i.tude of captives rebellious saints. Surely Jesus took no such present as this to his Father; therefore there will be no more necessity for straining the plain text in Cor. xv: 20, 23. This text is clear, emphatic, and repeated; which distinctly teaches Christ the first fruits of them that slept; _afterwards_ they that are Christ's at his coming, when both the dead and living will be the first fruits to G.o.d and the lamb conjointly. To harmonize the type, the saints at Christ's second coming are the next or second fruits to G.o.d at the second or last harvest in the 7th month, the revolution, or ingathering of the year, the feast of Tabernacles. Another writer J. Porter, states, that Jesus took these saints that arose at Jerusalem right up to his Father, and then received his power, and returned the same day; and he might also have added, travelled with the two to Emmaus, seven and a half miles; and as others will have it, was back time enough to keep the whole day with his disciples, for the first Sabbath after his resurrection. If we really want the truth, G.o.d will give it to us, but not by rejecting other truths.

Now let us see whether the description of character given in these five verses of the 144,000, will apply to the saints that arose in Jerusalem at the resurrection. In the first place, these were never numbered.

Second-The record is entirely silent about their being united in their trials and experience, to sing a peculiar song of their own. Third-These were not redeemed from among men, on the earth, but out from among the dead. Fourth,-They could not be the first fruit before the harvest, for Paul says, "Christ the first fruits, _afterwards_ they that are Christ's at his coming," (second coming,) not them that were his at his going away at his first advent,-first harvest. That would be a clear perversion of the text; we must wait for the second harvest for the next fruit, 7th month. Fifth-To say that they were virgins, and not defiled with women, is only admitting what we know nothing about. Sixth-John saw the messenger that sealed, and says the number was 144,000; all this, was sixty years after what transpired at Jerusalem. This is out of the limits of his vision; and what will, and does forever, destroy this erroneous view, is, that the four winds are to be holden by the four Angel nations, until the whole number were sealed, and they have not let go yet; unless it can be proved that it was done 1800 years ago. That old Jerusalem was called a holy place; see Exo ix: 8; Acts vi: 13; also the testimony of Jesus, Matt.

xxiv: 15. Lastly-If it is objected that these are the living saints to be redeemed at the second advent, then we fail to find them described in this vision, which would destroy the chain of wonders which he saw respecting the living and the dead, with the varied and changing scenes through which they were continually pa.s.sing. Now, how simple, plain, and harmonious these verses appear when we apply them down at the end of all things, where they were seen in this vision, and where they most certainly belong.

The 5th verse shows them without fault before the throne, clearly in their redeemed and immortal state. Here then is the true description of their characters. In the next seven verses from 6 to 13, John describes

THEIR LABORS IN THE MESSAGES.

"And I saw another angel fly 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 G.o.d and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come."

This is so plain that all who have been engaged and laboring in the Second Advent Doctrine must admit it to represent William Miller, and those of his faith, as the flying messengers preaching the advent of Jesus to their fellow men, since 1840. Invisible angels never yet preached the gospel to men; but as it has been here-man preaching to man,-then these angels represent our own neighbors, preaching, lecturing, and exhorting us with loud voices to listen to their message, for the judgment was at hand.

He says he "saw another angel." Where did he see the first one, then?

Answer-In his description of the trumpets, viii: 13, thus he carries our minds back to the simple narration of the first description of these messengers and receivers out of which were sealed 144,000, in 7th chapter.

This message has gone to every nation, kindred, tongue and people.

"And there followed another angel saying Babylon is fallen, is fallen,"

&c., 8th verse. This fallen city, we say, was the nominal churches, embracing all of the professed followers of the prince of peace; and they have fallen, because they rejected this first message at the hour of G.o.d's judgment, and shut it out of their wors.h.i.+pping a.s.semblies, and out of their hearts-"they _made light of it_."

And the third angel followed, saying with a loud voice, "If any man wors.h.i.+p the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of G.o.d, which is poured out without mixture," &c.-9th and 10th verses.

These two last described angels, which follow the first, are only a part of the flying messengers described in the 6th and 7th verses-for many of the first cla.s.s opposed the second and third messengers, and some absolutely denounced them for saying Babylon, or the nominal churches had fallen, and for calling G.o.d's people to _come out_ of them and leave them forever. In chapter xviii, 4th verse, John heard the same voice from the same people, called the third angel, telling them to come out from Babylon. In the xiv. chapter, he more particularly describes the condition of all those who _retain_ or _receive_ again the mark of the beast, or in any way connect themselves with these churches,-Jer. iii: 3; the plain English of which is, get clear of this mark, or profession, and _keep clear_; come out and stay out of this "habitation of Devils." For a further explanation of these texts, and definition of the locations of the heavens, &c., see _Way Marks_.

Any advent believer who undertakes to dispute this, and the two preceding angels' messages, with their clear fulfillment in advent history from 1840 to the fall of 1844, is, in my opinion, but a few steps removed from the gross darkness that surrounds the habitations of Babylon. I will venture again to reiterate the a.s.sertion, that since the days of the Apostles, G.o.d's people have never witnessed such a simultaneous and righteous movement, as they did during these three messages. I feel perfectly safe in saying that I fear no contradiction here, nor condemnation hereafter, for moving in perfect harmony, as we have done, during these three messages. Many are writing and preaching that these are, and will continue to be given, while the world stands. This mistake is as fatal as the rejection of the first, because in so doing they will not see any work which G.o.d has marked out for them, in this last work for man to fulfill and finish the history of this prophecy. We say, then, that these messages closed with the world, when they were condemned by them, at the end of a cry at midnight, in Oct. 1844. G.o.d then had other and more important work for his church to perform among themselves than they ever had before, and it is clearly marked out in the verses which follow these messages, and whoever fails here, fails to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. Be a.s.sured, John has not broken the thread of this most interesting narrative here and left us in confusion, to call the testimony of _Jesus his commandments_; and our resting from this most laborious work in these messages, _the resurrection_. If our experience, for more than three years past, has not taught us that G.o.d is fulfilling his word, by having every thing in its place; one thing following another, then we have failed to profit by it. Let me entreat you, my brethren, to critically examine the next three verses: viz. "Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandments of G.o.d, and the faith of Jesus."-12th verse.

What is the faith of Jesus? Answer,-Chapter 12th, 17th verse says it is his "testimony;" chapter 19th, 10th verse, says his "testimony is the spirit of prophecy." "Teach all nations to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."-Matt. xxviii: 20. Now observe, the faith, or testimony of Jesus, embraces all his teachings. Now mark, this is what our opponents call the New Testament _commandments_, or _grace_, which they say embraces all the commandments that we are bound to believe or keep!