CHAPTER 25
(The Great Controversy)
Advent Movement Illustrated
I saw a number of companies who seemed to be
bound together by cords. Many in these
companies were in total darkness. Their
eyes were directed downward to the earth, and there seemed to be no connection
between them and Jesus. I saw
individuals scattered through these different companies whose countenances
looked light, and whose eyes were raised upward to heaven. Beams of light from Jesus, like rays of light
from the sun, were imparted to them. An
angel bid me look carefully, and I saw an angel watching over every one of
those who had a ray of light, while evil angels surrounded those who were in
darkness. I heard the voice of an angel
cry, Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come.
A glorious light rested down upon these
companies, to enlighten all who would receive it. Some of those who were in darkness received
the light and rejoiced; while others resisted the light from heaven, and said
that it was deception to lead them astray.
The light passed away from them, and they were left in darkness. Those who had received the light from Jesus,
joyfully cherished the increase of precious light which was shed upon
them. Their faces lighted up, and beamed
with holy joy, while their gaze was directed upward to Jesus with intense
interest, and their voices were heard in harmony with the voice of the angel,
Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come. As they raised this cry, I saw those who were
in darkness thrusting them with side and with shoulder. Then many of those who cherished the sacred
light, broke the cords which confined them, and stood out separate from those
companies. And as many were breaking the
cords which bound them, men belonging to these different companies, who were
revered by them, passed through the companies, and some with pleasing words,
and others with wrathful looks and threatening gestures, fastened the cords
which were weakening, and were constantly saying, God is with us. We stand in the light. We have the truth. I inquired who these men were. I was told that they were ministers, and
leading men, who had rejected the light themselves, and were unwilling that
others should receive it. I saw those
who cherished the light looking with interest and ardent desire upward,
expecting Jesus to come and take them to himself. Soon a cloud passed over those who rejoiced
in the light, and their faces looked sorrowful.
I inquired the cause of this cloud.
I was shown that it was their disappointment. The time when they expected their Saviour had
passed, and Jesus had not come.
Discouragement settled upon them, and those men I had before noticed,
the ministers and leading men, rejoiced.
Those who had rejected the light, triumphed greatly, while Satan and his
evil angels also exulted around them.
Then I heard the voice of another angel, saying,
Babylon is fallen! is fallen! A light
shone upon those desponding ones, and with ardent desires for his appearing,
they again fixed their eyes upon Jesus.
Then I saw a number of angels conversing with the second angel, who had
cried, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, and these angels raised their voices with
the second angel, and cried, Behold the Bridegroom cometh! go ye out to meet
him! The musical voices of these angels
seemed to reach everywhere. An exceeding
bright and glorious light shone around those who had cherished the light which
had been imparted to them. Their faces
shone with excellent glory, and they united with the angels in the cry, Behold,
the Bridegroom cometh! And as they
harmoniously raised the cry among these different companies, those who rejected
the light, pushed them, and with angry looks, scorned and derided them. But the angels of God wafted their wings over
the persecuted ones, while Satan and his angels were seeking to press their
darkness around them, to lead them to reject the light from heaven.
Then I heard a voice saying to those who had been
pushed and derided, come out from among them, and touch not the unclean. A large number broke the cords which bound
them, and they obeyed the voice, and left those who were in darkness, and
united with those who had previously broken the cords, and they joyfully united
their voices with them. I heard the
voice of earnest, agonizing prayer from a few who still remained with the companies
who were in darkness. The ministers and
leading men were passing around in these different companies, fastening the
cords stronger; but still I heard this voice of earnest prayer. Then I saw those who had been praying reach
out their hands for help towards that united company who were free, rejoicing
in God. The answer from them, as they
earnestly looked to heaven, and pointed upward, was, Come out from among them,
and be separate. I saw individuals
struggling for freedom, and at last they broke the cords that bound them. They resisted the efforts which were made to
fasten the cords tighter, and would not heed the repeated assertions, God is
with us, We have the truth with us.
Individuals continued to leave the companies who were in darkness, and
joined the free company, who appeared to be in an open field raised above the
earth. Their gaze was upward, and the
glory of God rested upon them, and they shouted the praises of God. They were united, and seemed to be wrapped in
the light of heaven. Around this company
were some who came under the influence of the light, but who were not
particularly united to the company. All
who cherished the light shed upon them were gazing upward with intense
interest. Jesus looked upon them with
sweet approbation. They expected Jesus
to come. They longed for his
appearing. They did not cast one
lingering look to earth. Again I saw a
cloud settle upon the waiting ones. I
saw them turn their weary eyes downward.
I inquired the cause of this change.
Said my accompanying angel, They are again disappointed in their
expectations. Jesus cannot yet come to
earth. They must yet suffer for Jesus
and endure greater trials. They must
give up errors and traditions received from men, and turn wholly to God and his
word.
They must be purified, made white and tried. And those who endure that bitter trial will
obtain an eternal victory.
Jesus did not come to earth as the waiting,
joyful company expected, to cleanse the Sanctuary, by purifying the earth by
fire. I saw that they were correct in
their reckoning of the prophetic periods.
Prophetic time closed in 1844.
Their mistake consisted in not understanding what the Sanctuary was, and
the nature of its cleansing. Jesus did
enter the Most Holy place to cleanse the Sanctuary at the ending of the
days. I looked again at the waiting,
disappointed company. They looked sad. They carefully examined the evidences of
their faith, and followed down through the reckoning of the prophetic periods,
and could discover no mistake. Time was
fulfilled, but where was their Saviour?
They had lost him.
I was then shown the disappointment of the
disciples as they came to the sepulchre and found not the body of Jesus. Said Mary, They have taken away my Lord, and
I know not where they have laid him.
Angels told the sorrowing disciples that their Lord had risen, and would
go before them into Galilee.
I saw that as Jesus looked upon the disappointed
ones with the deepest compassion, he sent his angels to direct their minds that
they might find him, and follow him where he was; that they might understand
that the earth is not the Sanctuary; that he must needs enter the Most Holy
place of the heavenly Sanctuary to cleanse it; to make a special atonement for
Israel, and to receive the kingdom of his Father, and then return to earth and
take them to dwell with him forever. The
disappointment of the disciples well represents the disappointment of those who
expected their Lord in 1844. I was
carried back to the time when Christ triumphantly rode into Jerusalem. The joyful disciples believed that he was
then to take the kingdom, and reign a temporal prince. They followed their King with high
hopes. They cut down the beautiful palm
branches, and took off their outer garments, and with enthusiastic zeal spread
them in the way; and some went before, and others followed crying, Hosanna to
the Son of David! Blessed is he that
cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosanna
in the highest! The excitement disturbed
the Pharisees, and they wished Jesus to rebuke his disciples. But he said unto them, If these should hold
their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. The prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, must be
fulfilled, yet, I saw, the disciples were doomed to a bitter
disappointment. In a few days they
followed Jesus to Calvary, and beheld him bleeding and mangled upon the cruel
cross. They witnessed his agonizing
death, and laid him in the tomb. Their
hearts sunk with grief. Their
expectations were not realized in a single particular.
Their hopes died with Jesus. But as he arose from the dead, and appeared
to his sorrowing disciples, their hopes revived.
They had lost their Saviour; but again they had
found him.
I saw that the disappointment of those who
believed in the coming of the Lord in 1844, was not equal to the disappointment
of the disciples. Prophecy was fulfilled
in the first and second angels' messages.
They were given at the right time, and accomplished the work God
designed they should.
See Daniel 8:14; Matthew 21:4-16, 25:6; Mark
16:6-7; Luke 19:35-40; John 14:1-3, 20:13; 2Corinthians 6:17; Revelation
10:8-11, 14:7-8
Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two
thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
Mat 21:4 All
this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet,
saying,
Mat 21:5 Tell
ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting
upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
Mat 21:6 And
the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
Mat 21:7 And
brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him
thereon.
Mat 21:8 And a
very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches
from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
Mat 21:9 And
the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to
the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in
the highest.
Mat 21:10 And
when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is
this?
Mat 21:11 And
the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
Mat 21:12 And
Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought
in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of
them that sold doves,
Mat 21:13 And
said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer;
but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Mat 21:14 And
the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
Mat 21:15 And
when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and
the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David;
they were sore displeased,
Mat 21:16 And
said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea;
have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected
praise?
Mat
25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh;
go ye out to meet him.
Mar 16:6 And
he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was
crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid
him.
Mar 16:7 But
go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into
Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
Luk 19:35 And
they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they
set Jesus thereon.
Luk 19:36 And
as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.
Luk 19:37 And
when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the
whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud
voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
Luk 19:38
Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in
heaven, and glory in the highest.
Luk 19:39 And
some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke
thy disciples.
Luk 19:40 And
he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their
peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
Joh 14:1 Let
not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my
Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I
go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto
myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh
20:13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto
them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid
him.
2Co
6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the
Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
Rev 10:8 And
the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take
the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the
sea and upon the earth.
Rev 10:9 And I
went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said
unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it
shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
Rev 10:10 And
I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my
mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
Rev 10:11 And
he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and
tongues, and kings.
Rev 14:7
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.
Rev 14:8 And
there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great
city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her
fornication.
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