If Man Could See....

We are now studying - 'The Present Truth' papers published in the middle 1800's. These are called the 'Present Truth' because it WAS Present Truth for that time. So why study them now? Because TRUTH at any time is worth studying, and we KNOW that often ORIGINAL truth presented before Satan has had an opportunity to corrupt it, can be very enlightening. At the very least we will see, by the grace of God, through the Holy Spirit, what truth then is still uncorrupted today and still very relevant for us living in these dark, dark times. Our world today compared to a hundred and seventy years ago is so much worse than it was, with so much evil being called good, and good being called evil.  May God bless us as we seek HIS truth for us in our present, bringing us only closer to Him and prayerfully the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

THE PRESENT TRUTH.

PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY—BY JAMES WHITE.

Vol.l.  MIDDLETOWN, CONN, JULY, 1849.  No. 1.

Continued from yesterday…

The Sabbath a perpetual Weekly Memorial.

" Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep ; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations ; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth SANCTIFY you." " Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a PERPETUAL covenant."

It is a sign between me and the children of Israel. FOREVER FOR in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed." Ex. 31.: 13-17.

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The Sabbath then is a sign, or seal between GOD and his people forever. It is a perpetual covenant between them. Will some one show us the end of a perpetual covenant, given for a sign forever ? The only reason here given why the Sabbath is a perpetual sign, is, " for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh he rested." This shows that the Sabbath was given for a weekly memorial. The passover was given for a memorial to Israel to remind them of their deliverance from bondage, and that they should not forget God, who passed over their houses in slaying their first-born, and with strength of hand brought them out of Egypt.

The communion of the body and blood of Christ was given for a memorial to the Church, that we may not forget the sufferings and death of the Lamb of GOD.

So the Sabbath was given to man for a a weekly memorial, that on the seventh day he might dismiss all servile labor and care, and look back to the creation and holy rest, and thus call to mind, worship and adore the great Jehovah. If man had kept the weekly rest, he- would never have forgotten GOD, who made heaven and earth. " The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget GOD."  Ps. 9: 17.

This view gives the Sabbath it's just weight of importance. How wise and wonderful the plan of Jehovah, laid out in the beginning. Man was to labour six days, and on the seventh day rest from servile labour and care. He was to look to the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all things, even himself—the noblest of creation, and thus call to mind the Living God.

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The two Laws.

There is a clear distinction between the law of Moses, and the law -of God in the Holy Scriptures.

The law of Moses, was a law of carnal ceremonies, written by the HAND of Moses in a BOOK.

The law of God, is the ten commandments, written by the FINGER of GOD on TWO TABLES OF STONE.

One is called the BOOK of the COVENANT, the other, the TABLES of the COVENANT.

The law of Moses, was a law of shadows, which were abolished when the new, second, and better covenant came. Its "carnal rites," "burnt offerings and sacrifices," "meats and drinks, and divers washing's," were all "nailed to the cross" when the Lamb of God shed his most precious blood.

The law of God is a law of realities, bodies, never to be abolished.

Those who confound these -two laws in one, cannot see, and feel the force of the commandments of God, and are in great -danger of settling down on the modern view, that the seventh day Sabbath is abolished. I will here introduce the two classes of texts which distinctly show the two laws, praying the Lord to guide the candid reader to a thorough examination of this subject.

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The Law of Moses.

"And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a BOOK, until they were, finished, that Moses commanded the Levites which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying, take this BOOK of the law, and put it in the SIDE of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God."- Deut. 31: 24-26. See verses 9-11.

"And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found a BOOK of the law of the Lord, given by the HAND of Moses." (See marg.) 2 Chron.34: 14.

"And he read in their ears all the words of the BOOK of the COVENANT that was found in the house of the Lord." See 2 Chron. 34: 30.

"And he read in their ears all the words of the BOOK of the COVENANT which was found in the house of the Lord." 2 Kings23: 2.

"And the king commanded all the people, saying, keep the passover unto the Lord your God, as it is written in the BOOK of this COVENANT." 2 Kings 23:21

"And they spake unto Ezra the scribe, to bring the BOOK of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel." See Neh. 8: 1-3.

"Then said I, lo, come (in the volume of the BOOK it is written of me,) to do thy will, 0 God." Heb. 10: 7; Gal 3 : 10.

"Have ye not read in the BOOK of Moses." Mark 12 : 26.

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The Law of God, or the ten Commandments.

"And the Lord said unto Moses, come up to me into the mount, and be there : and I will give thee TABLES OF STONE, and a law, and commandments which I HAVE WRITTEN ; that thou mayest teach them." Ex. 24 : 12.

"And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon

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mount Sinai, two tables, of testimony, tables of stone written with the FINGER OF GOD." Ex.  : 18.

"And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the WRITING OF GOD, graven upon the tables." See Ex.32 : 15-16.

"And he wrote upon the tables the words of the COVENANT, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS." See Ex. 34 : 28, 29.

"And he declared unto you HIS COVENANT, which he commanded you to perform, EVEN TEN COMMANDMENTS; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone." Dent. 4 : 13.

"And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the Lord gave me the two tables of stone, EVEN THE TABLES OF THE COVENANT." See Deut. 9: 9-11 ; 5: 22.

Here we see two laws, and two covenants; one written by the hand of Moses in a book, the other written with the finger of God on two tables of stone.

The ark of the covenant—a small chest, four feet six inches and eleven sixteenths long, and two feet, eight inches and thirteen sixteenths wide, and high, was made purposely to contain the covenant of commandments. See Ex.25 : 10-16; Deut. 10 : 5 ; 1  Kings 8 : 9 ; Heb. 9 : 4. The place for the ark in the tabernacle and temple, was the most holy within the second vail. Here in the holiest place on earth God placed his covenant, his law, his testimonies, even the ten commandments. St. John in holy vision, in the isle, Patmos, A. D. 96, saw the true sanctuary which the "Lord pitched, and not man," of which.

 Christ is a minister or priest, in the third heavens, and has written—

" And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament." Rev. 11 : 19.

The typical sanctuary, pitched by man on earth in which was placed the ark of the testimony, was destroyed A. D. 70, 26 years before John had his revelation ; therefore he could see no other Temple of God, and ark but those in the third heavens. John while in prophetic vision, looked down the stream of time to the great anti-typical tenth day of the seventh month atonement, (the only time for Jesus to open the "temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven ;" Rev. 15 : 5-8, and pass within the second vail, and cleanse the sanctuary,) and saw the Most Holy of the Heavenly Sanctuary opened, and in it he saw the ark of the ten commandments. Yes, reader, God's covenant of commandments is an everlasting covenant, perpetuated and preserved in the Heaven of Heavens. A change of dispensations has not broken, nor altered it.

" If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; Then will I visit their transgressions." "My covenant will I NOT BREAK NOR ALTER THE THING THAT IS GONE OUT OF MY LIPS." See Ps. 89 : 31-34. God first spake the ten commandments from Sinai, then with his holy finger wrote them on tables of stone. The Pope has altered the Sabbath - commandment from the seventh, to the first day of the week. God has not done it. He said he would not "break, nor alter" his covenant.

Read what God has said on this important subject by Isa.24 : 1-6. " Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste. And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest." "The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoke this word." "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; BECAUSE they have transgress. ed the LAWS, changed the ORDINANCE, broken the EVERLASTING COVENANT. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate : therefore the inhabitants of the earth are BURNED, and few men left." All this is to come upon the inhabitants of the earth, (with the exception of the "few men," who keep the whole law,) for changing the ordinance, (the Sabbath, from the seventh to the first day of the week,) and breaking the law of God. If men could see, and feel the awful importance of keeping God's holy law, they would tremble at the word of the Lord.

The ten commandments are the foundation of the whole Bible. They are God's moral, royal law, given to man to live by, and by it he will be judged. In our courts of justice, men are tried by the same laws that are given them to live by. Then we cannot avoid the conclusion, that we are to meet the ten commandments in the day of judgement, at the bar of God.

"So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." James 2: 12. This law is called the royal law vs. 8th, for it came forth 'from the King Eternal. James has quoted two of the commandments from the decalogue in vs. 11th, which shows that the royal law of liberty by which man is to be judged, is the ten commandments. Reader, how will you feel

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before the great white throne, when judged by the law of God, if you break the fourth commandment—the Sabbath law.

Present Truth Then Relevant Now?

We are beginning a study on - 'The Present Truth' papers published in the middle 1800's. These are called the 'Present Truth' because it WAS Present Truth for that time. So why study them now? Because TRUTH at any time is worth studying, and we KNOW that often ORIGINAL truth presented before Satan has had an opportunity to corrupt it, can be very enlightening. At the very least we will see, by the grace of God through the Holy Spirit, what truth then is still uncorrupted today and still very relevant for us living in these dark, dark times. Our world today compared to a hundred and seventy years ago is so much worse than it was, with so much evil being called good, and good being called evil.  May God bless us as we seek HIS truth for us in our present, bringing us only closer to Him and prayerfully the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

THE PRESENT TRUTH.

PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY—BY JAMES WHITE.

Vol.l.  MIDDLETOWN, CONN, JULY, 1849.  No. 1.

"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant."—Ps. 25: 14.

"WHEREFORE, I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the PRESENT TRUTH." 2 Pet. 1 : 12.

It is through the truth that souls are sanctified, and made ready to enter the everlasting kingdom. Obedience to the truth will kill us to this world, that we may be made alive, by faith in Jesus. " Sanctify them through thy truth ; thy word is truth;" John 17: 17. This was the prayer of Jesus. "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth," 3 John 4

Error, darkens and fetters the mind, but the truth brings with it freedom, and gives light and life. True charity, or LOVE, "rejoiceth in the truth;" Cor. 13: 6. " Thy law is the truth." Ps. 119: 142.

David describing the day of slaughter, when the pestilence shall walk in darkness, and destruction waste at noon-day, so that, "a thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand," says—

" He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his TRUTH shall be thy SHIELD and BUCKLER." Ps. 91 : 4.

The storm is coming. War, famine and pestilence are already in the field of slaughter. Now is the time, the only time to seek a shelter in the truth of the living God.

In Peter's time there was present truth, or truth applicable to that present time. The Church have ever had a present truth. The present truth now, is that which shows present duty, and the right position for us who are about to witness the time of trouble, such as never was. Present truth must be oft repeated, even to those who are established in it. This was needful in the apostles day, and it certainly is no less important for us, who are living just before the close of time.

For months I have felt burdened with the duty of writing, and publishing the present truth for the scattered flock; but the way has not been opened for me to commence the work until now. I tremble at the word of the Lord, and the importance of this time. What is done to spread the truth must be done quickly. The four Angels are holding the angry nations in check but a few days, until the saints are sealed; then the nations will rush, like the rushing of many waters. Then it will be too late to spread before precious souls, the present saving, living truths of the Holy Bible. My spirit is drawn out after the scattered remnant. May God help them to receive the truth, and he established in it. May they haste to take shelter beneath the "covering of the Almighty God," is my prayer.

The Weekly Sabbath Instituted at Creation, and not at Sinai.

" And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made ; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which GOD created and made." Gen 2: 2, 3.

Here GOD instituted the weekly rest or Sabbath. It was the seventh day. He BLESSED and SANCTIFIED that day of the week, and no other; therefore the seventh day, and no other day of the week is holy, sanctified time.

God has given the reason why he blessed and sanctified the seventh day. " Because that in it he had rested from all his work which GOD had created and made." He rested, and set the example for man. He blessed and set apart the seventh day for man to rest from his labor, and follow the example of his Creator. The Lord of the Sabbath said, Mark 2: 27, " The Sabbath was made for man." Not for the Jew only, but for MAN, in its broadest sense ; meaning all mankind. The word man in this text, means the same as it does in the following texts. " Man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble." Job 14 : 1. " Man lieth down and riseth not, till the heavens be no more." Job 14 : 12.

No one will say that man here means

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Jews, or Christians ; but the whole human race. The Sabbath was made for man, for the whole race of man. Adam, Noah, and Abraham were men, therefore the Sabbath was made for them, as well as for Moses, and the Jews. We are men, and the Sabbath is made for us.

GOD has given the following reason in the Decalogue, why man should keep his  holy Sabbath—" FOR in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day : wherefore the Lord BLESSED the seventh day and HALLOWED it." Ex. 20: 11.

Here our minds are directed back more than twenty-five hundred years, to the creation and holy rest in Eden, for the origin of the Sabbath. This plain fact every candid mind must see. GOD did not bless and hallow the Sabbath day at Sinai—no, no.  This he had done in Eden twenty-five hundred years before.

" And GOD blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it " Gen.2:3

The Sabbath was marked and guarded with miracles by Jehovah and kept by Israel in the wilderness of Sin, thirty days before they came to Sinai.

" And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much "bread, two omers for one man : to-morrow is the rest of the Holy Sabbath unto the Lord : bake that which ye will bake to-day, and seethe that ye will seethe ; and that which remaineth over, lay up for you to be kept until the morning."

" And Moses said, eat that to-day, for to-day is a Sabbath unto the Lord: to-day ye shall not find in the field. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none."

And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? See, for that the Lord hath given you the Sabbath. So the people rested on the seventh day." See Ex. 16: 22-30

The children of Israel departed from Egypt on the fifteenth day of the first month, and came to the wilderness of Sin on the fifteenth, day of the second month. Here God gives them bread from heaven, and 'reminds them of the Sabbath. From the wilderness of Sin they journeyed to Rephidim, and from Rephidim they came to the desert of Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the third month.

Mark this; GOD gives them manna, reminds them of his Sabbath, and guards it with miracles thirty days before they saw Mount Sinai, and thirty-two days before God spake from the smoking mount, the ten commandments.

We frequently hear the assertion, that the Sabbath is not mentioned in the Bible, till after the law was given from Mount Sinai; therefore, the seventh day Sabbath is the Sabbath of the old Jews, and is abolished. Not long since a second advent preacher made this false statement to me. Another person repeated this statement to me not two weeks since. Now, I hope all who are laboring under this mistaken view will look again. Please read the history of the journey of Israel from Egypt to Mount Sinai, found in Exodus.

The Lord said to Moses, thirty-two days before he gave the law of commandments, "How long refuse ye to keep MY COMMANDMENTS and MY LAWS ? See, for that the Lord hath given you the Sabbath." The Sabbath is not mentioned here as a new institution, but an old one, that they had not kept while in bondage to the Egyptians. GOD brought Israel out of the house of bondage to prove them, and see if they would keep his commandments. They had been from Egypt but thirty days when God reminded them of his Sabbath.

" And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee 'these forty years in the wilderness, to  humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldst keep his commandments, or no." Dent 8:. 2. They could not keep his Sabbath in Egypt, They could not keep it; neither can we keep it when bound by sectarian creeds. There fore God has brought us out of the churches to prove us, to try us, to know what is in our hearts, whether we will keep his commandments.

TO BE CONTINUED….

Blessed Are They That Do...

Article Title: The Parable of the Ten Virgins

"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. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

"Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."

When the ten virgins went forth to meet the bridegroom, their lamps were trimmed and burning. Apparently there was no difference between the five who were wise and the five who were foolish. To outward appearance all were prepared, robed in white, and carrying their lighted lamps. But only five of these virgins were wise. These anticipated delay, and filled their flagons with oil, ready for any emergency. Five of the number had not this foresight; they made no provision for disappointment or delay.

All the virgins are watching for the bridegroom. Hour after hour passes, and they are still anxiously looking for his appearing. But at last the weary, watching ones fall asleep. And at midnight, the very darkest hour, when their lamps are most needed, the cry is heard, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him."

At the call, the sleeping eyes are opened, and every one is aroused. They see the procession they are to join moving on, bright with torches and glad with music. They hear the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride. The five wise virgins trim their lamps, and go forth to meet the bridegroom.

The foolish virgins made no provision for their lamps; and when aroused from their slumbers, they found that their lights were going out. They now see the consequences of their carelessness, and plead with their companions for a supply of oil: "Give us of your oil," they say; "for our lamps are going out." But the waiting five, with their freshly trimmed lamps, have emptied their vessels. They have no oil to spare, and they answer: "Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you. But go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves." But while they went to buy, the procession moved on, and left them behind. The bridal train entered the house, and the door was shut. When the foolish virgins reached the banqueting hall, they received an unexpected denial. They were left outside in the blackness of the night.

This parable is not a representation of open sinners, but of those who profess Christ. The bride is the church who is waiting for the second appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In the proclamation of the first and second angels of Revelation 14, a special message has come to our world. Speaking of these messages, John says: "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 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. 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."

The first and second angels' messages are united and made complete in the third. -John says: "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship 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 God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb."

Under the proclamation of these messages the cry was made, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh." The believers in these messages were compelled to go out from the churches because they preached the second appearing of Christ in the clouds of heaven. The whole world was to hear the message, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." Many who heard these messages thought they would live to see Christ come; but there was a delay in the coming of the Bridegroom, in order that all might have an opportunity to hear the last message of mercy to a fallen world.

Had those who claimed to believe the truth acted their part as wise virgins, the message would ere this have been given to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. But five were foolish. The truth should have been proclaimed by the ten virgins, but only five had made the provision essential to join the company that walked in the light given to them.

The first, second, and third angels' messages are to be repeated. The call is to be given to the church: "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. . . . Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities."

Many who went forth to meet the Bridegroom under the messages of the first and second angels, refused the third, the last testing message to be given to the world, and a similar position will be taken when the last call is made.

Every specification of this parable should be carefully studied. We are represented either by the wise or by the foolish virgins. There are many who will not remain at the feet of Jesus, and learn of him. They have not a knowledge of his ways; they are not prepared for his coming. They have made a pretense of waiting for their Lord. They have not watched and prayed with that faith which works by love and purifies the soul. They have lived a life of carelessness. They have heard and assented to the truth, but they have never brought it into their practical life. The oil of grace is not feeding their lamps, and they are not prepared to enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb. The oil is the holy grace that is sent from heaven; and there must be an inward adorning with that grace, if we would stand when he appears.

The men of the world do not wish the light of truth, and they are one in spirit with those who, while professing to be children of God, do not let their light shine in words of truth and deeds of holiness. Unconverted men who claim to be Christians only encourage the sinner to continue in his sin. In the place of seeking to save the souls that are ready to perish, they live for self. Their vessels are empty, and therefore they can not keep their lamps replenished. To these Christ says, I know you not. You have not taken me as your counselor. You have not walked in the light of my word. You have not come under my yoke. Your light is darkness, because you have walked in the sparks of the fire of your own kindling. Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

We are not to rest in the idea that because we are church-members we are saved, while we give no evidence that we are conformed to the image of Christ, while we cling to our old habits, and weave our fabric with the threads of worldly ideas and customs. Christ declares: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

This representation should call forth our earnest study in order that we may know what preparation to make that we may enter in and partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."

The ten virgins are watching in the evening of this earth's history. All claim to be Christians. All have a call, a name, a lamp, and all claim to be doing God service. All apparently watch for his appearing. But five are wanting. Five will be found surprised, dismayed, outside the banquet hall. There are many who cry, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. This is the most perilous belief that the human soul can entertain. Christ calls upon all who bear his name, who claim to be his followers, to eat his flesh and drink his blood, or they can have no part with him.

Be not like the foolish virgins, who take for granted that the promises of God are theirs, while they do not follow the injunctions of Christ. Christ teaches us that profession is nothing. "If any man will come after me," he says, "let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

When we stand the test of God in the refining, purifying process; when the furnace fire consumes the dross, and the true gold of a purified character appears, we may still say, with Paul, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after. . . . This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 

Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

THE REVIEW AND HERALD

October 31, 1899

Matthew 25:1-13, Revelation 14:6-12, Revelation 18:2-5, Matthew 7:21-23, Revelation 22:14, Luke 9:23, Matthew 5:19,20, Philippians 3:12-14

From <http://www.adventistlaymen.com/Documents/THE_PARABLE_OF_THE_TEN_VIRGINS.html>

No More Curse

CHAPTER 41  (The Great Controversy)

The Second Death

Satan rushes into the midst, and tries to stir up the multitude to action.  But fire from God out of heaven is rained upon them, and the great men, and the mighty men, and the noble, and poor and miserable men, are all consumed together.  I saw that some were quickly destroyed, while others suffered longer.  They were punished according to the deeds done in the body.  Some were many days consuming, and just as long as there was a portion of them unconsumed, all the sense of suffering was there.  Said the angel, The worm of life shall not die; their fire shall not be quenched as long as there is the least particle for it to prey upon.

But Satan and his angels suffered long.  Satan not only bore the weight and punishment of his sins, but the sins of all the redeemed host had been placed upon him; and he must also suffer for the ruin of the souls which he had caused.  Then I saw that Satan, and all the wicked host, were consumed, and the justice of God was satisfied; and all the angelic host, and all the redeemed saints, with a loud voice said, Amen!

Said the angel, Satan is the root, his children are the branches.  They are now consumed root and branch.  They have died an everlasting death.  They will never have a resurrection, and God will have a clean universe.  I then looked, and saw the fire which had consumed the wicked, burning up the rubbish and purifying the earth.  Again I looked and saw the earth purified.  There was not a single sign of the curse.  The broken up, and uneven surface of the earth now looked like a level, extensive plain.  God's entire universe was clean, and the great controversy was forever ended.  Everywhere we looked, everything the eye rested upon, was beautiful and holy.  And all the redeemed host, old and young, great and small, cast their glittering crowns at the feet of their Redeemer, and prostrated themselves in adoration before him, and worshiped him that liveth forever and ever.  The beautiful New Earth, with all its glory, was the eternal inheritance of the saints.  The kingdom, and dominion, and greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, was then given to the saints of the Most High who were to possess it forever, even forever and ever.

See Isaiah 66:24; Daniel 7:26-27; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:9-15, 21:1, 22:3 

Isa 66:24  And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. 

Dan 7:26  But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. 

Dan 7:27  And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. 

Mar 9:43  And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 

Mar 9:44  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 

Mar 9:45  And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 

Mar 9:46  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 

Mar 9:47  And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 

Mar 9:48  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 

Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 

Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 

Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 

Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 

Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 

Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 

Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

Rev 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 

Rev 22:3  And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him

After A Thousand Years.

CHAPTER 40  (The Great Controversy)

The Second Resurrection

Then Jesus and all the holy retinue of angels, and all the redeemed saints, left the City.  The holy angels surrounded Jesus, and escorted him on his way, and the train of redeemed saints followed.  Then Jesus in terrible, fearful majesty called forth the wicked dead; and as they came up with the same feeble, sickly bodies that went into the grave, what a spectacle! what a scene!  At the first resurrection all came forth in immortal bloom; but at the second, the marks of the curse are visible on all.  Kings and the noble men of earth come forth with the mean and the low, learned and unlearned together.  All behold the Son of man; and those very men who despised and mocked Jesus, and smote him with the reed, and that put the crown of thorns upon his sacred brow, behold him in all his kingly majesty.  Those who spit upon him in the hour of his trial, now turn from his piercing gaze, and from the glory of his countenance.  Those who drove the nails through his hands and his feet, now look upon the marks of his crucifixion.  Those who thrust the spear into his side, behold the marks of their cruelty on his body.  And they know that he is the very One whom they crucified, and derided in his expiring agony.  And then there arises one long protracted wail of agony, as they flee to hide from the presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords. All are seeking to hide in the rocks, and shield themselves from the terrible glory of him whom they once despised. 

As all are overwhelmed and pained with his majesty and his exceeding glory, they with one accord raise their voices, and with terrible distinctness exclaim, Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord.

Then Jesus and the holy angels, accompanied by all the saints, again go to the City, and the bitter lamentations and wailings of the doomed wicked fill the air.  Then I saw that Satan again commenced his work.  He passed around among his subjects, and made the feeble and weak strong, and then he told them that he and his angels were powerful.  He then pointed to the countless millions who had been raised.  There were mighty warriors and kings who were well skilled in battle, and who had conquered kingdoms.  And there were mighty giants, and men who were valiant, and had never lost a battle.  There was the proud, ambitious Napoleon whose approach had caused kingdoms to tremble.  There stood men of very high stature, and of dignified, lofty bearing, who had fallen in battle.  They fell while thirsting to conquer.  As they come forth from their graves, they resume the current of their thoughts where it ceased in death.  They possess the same spirit to conquer which ruled when they fell.  Satan consults with his angels, and then with those kings and conquerors and mighty men.  Then he looks over the vast army and tells them that the company in the City is small and feeble, and that they can go up and take that City, and cast out its inhabitants, and possess its riches and glory themselves.

Satan succeeds in deceiving them, and all immediately commence to fit themselves for battle.  They construct weapons of war; for there are many skillful men in that vast army.  And then with Satan at their head, the multitude move on.  Kings and warriors follow close after Satan, and the multitude follow after in companies.  Every company has a leader, and order is observed as they march over the broken surface of the earth to the holy City.  Jesus closes the gates of the City, and this vast army surround it and place themselves in battle array.  They have prepared all kinds of implements of war, expecting to have a fierce conflict.  They arrange themselves around the City.  Jesus and all the angelic host with the glittering crowns upon their heads, and all the saints with their bright crowns, ascend to the top of the wall of the City.  Jesus speaks with majesty and says, Behold, ye sinners, the reward of the just!  And behold ye my redeemed, the reward of the wicked!  The vast multitude behold the glorious company on the walls of the City.  And as they witness the splendor of their glittering crowns, and see their faces radiant with glory, expressing the image of Jesus, and then behold the unsurpassed glory and majesty of the King of kings, and Lord of lords, their courage fails.  The sense of the treasure and glory which they have lost, rushes upon them, and they have a realizing sense that the wages of sin is death.  They see the holy, happy company whom they have despised, clothed with glory, honor, immortality and eternal life, while they are outside of the City with every mean and abominable thing.

See Matthew 23:29; Revelation 6:15-16, 20:7-9, 22:12-15

Mat 23:29  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 

Rev 6:15  And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 

Rev 6:16  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb

Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 

Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 

Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city

Rev 22:12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 

Rev 22:13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 

Rev 22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 

Rev 22:15  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Last Desolation.

CHAPTER 39 (The Great Controversy)

The Earth Desolated

I then beheld the earth.  The wicked were dead, and their bodies were lying upon the face of the earth.  The inhabitants of earth had suffered the wrath of God in the seven last plagues.  They had gnawed their tongues for pain and had cursed God.  The false shepherds were signal objects of Jehovah's wrath.  Their eyes had consumed away in their holes, and their tongues in their mouths, while they stood upon their feet.  After the saints were delivered by the voice of God, the rage of the wicked multitude was turned upon each other.  The earth seemed to be deluged with blood, and dead bodies were from one end of the earth to the other.

The earth was in a most desolate condition.  Cities and villages, shaken down by the earthquake, lay in heaps.  Mountains were moved out of their places, leaving large caverns.  The sea had thrown out ragged rocks upon the earth, and rocks had been torn out of the earth, and were scattered all over its surface.  The earth looked like a desolate wilderness.  Large trees were rooted up, and were strewn over the land.  Here is Satan's home, with his evil angels, through the 1000 years.  Here they will be confined, and wander up and down over the broken surface of the earth, and see the effects of his rebellion against God's law.  The effects of the curse which he has caused, he can enjoy through the 1000 years.  Limited alone to the earth, he will have no privilege of ranging around to other planets, to tempt and annoy those who have not fallen.  Satan suffers in this time extremely.  Since his fall his evil traits have been in constant exercise.  He is then deprived of his power, and left to reflect upon the part he has acted since his fall, and to look forward with trembling and terror to the dreadful future, when he must suffer for all the evil he has done, and be punished for all the sins he has caused to be committed.

Then I heard shouts of triumph from the angels, and from the redeemed saints, which sounded like ten thousand musical instruments, because they were to be no more annoyed and tempted by the Devil, and the inhabitants of other worlds were delivered from his presence and his temptations.

Then I saw thrones, and Jesus and the redeemed saints sat upon them; and the saints reigned as kings and priests unto God, and the wicked dead were judged, and their acts were compared with the statute book, the word of God, and they were judged according to the deeds done in the body.  Jesus, in union with the saints, meted out to the wicked the portion they must suffer, according to their works; and it was written in the book of death, and set off against their names.  Satan and his angels were also judged by Jesus and the saints.  Satan's punishment was to be far greater than that of those whom he had deceived.  It so far exceeded their punishment that it could not be compared with theirs.  After all those whom he had deceived had perished, Satan was to still live and suffer on much longer.

After the judgment of the wicked dead was finished, at the end of the one thousand years, Jesus left the City, and a train of the angelic host followed him.  The saints also went with him.  Jesus descended upon a great and mighty mountain, which, as soon as his feet touched it, parted asunder, and became a mighty plain.  Then we looked up and saw the great and beautiful City, with twelve foundations, twelve gates, three on each side, and an angel at each gate.  We cried out, The City! The great City!  It is coming down from God out of heaven!  And it came down in all its splendor, and dazzling glory, and settled in the mighty plain which Jesus had prepared for it.

See Zechariah 14:4-12; Revelation 5:10, 20:2-6, 20:12, 21:10-27

Zec 14:3  Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 

Zec 14:4  And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 

Zec 14:5  And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. 

Zec 14:6  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: 

Zec 14:7  But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. 

Zec 14:8  And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. 

Zec 14:9  And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. 

Zec 14:10  All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses. 

Zec 14:11  And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. 

Zec 14:12  And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. 

Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Rev 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 

Rev 20:3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 

Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 

Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 

Rev 21:10  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 

Rev 21:11  Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 

Rev 21:12  And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 

Rev 21:13  On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 

Rev 21:14  And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 

Rev 21:15  And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 

Rev 21:16  And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 

Rev 21:17  And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 

Rev 21:18  And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 

Rev 21:19  And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 

Rev 21:20  The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 

Rev 21:21  And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 

Rev 21:22  And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 

Rev 21:23  And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 

Rev 21:24  And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 

Rev 21:25  And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 

Rev 21:26  And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 

Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. 

Faith Rewarded.

CHAPTER 38  (The Great Controversy)

The Saints' Reward

Then I saw a very great number of angels bring from the city glorious crowns; a crown for every saint with his name written thereon; and as Jesus called for the crowns, angels presented them to him, and the lovely Jesus, with his own right hand, placed the crowns on the heads of the saints.  In the same manner, the angels brought the harps, and Jesus presented them also to the saints.  The commanding angels first struck the note, and then every voice was raised in grateful, happy praise, and every hand skillfully swept over the strings of the harp, sending forth melodious music in rich and perfect strains.  Then I saw Jesus lead the redeemed company to the gate of the city.  He laid hold of the gate and swung it back on its glittering hinges, and bade the nations who had kept the truth to enter in.  There was everything in the city to feast the eye.  Rich glory they beheld everywhere.  Then Jesus looked upon his redeemed saints; their countenances were radiant with glory; and as he fixed his loving eyes upon them, he said, with his rich, musical voice, I behold the travail of my soul, and am satisfied.  This rich glory is yours to enjoy eternally.  Your sorrows are ended.  There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.  I saw the redeemed host bow and cast their glittering crowns at the feet of Jesus, and then, as his lovely hand raised them up, they touched their golden harps, and filled all heaven with their rich music, and songs to the Lamb.

I then saw Jesus leading the redeemed host to the tree of life, and again we heard his lovely voice, richer than any music that ever fell on mortal ear, saying, The leaves of this tree are for the healing of the nations.  Eat ye all of it.  Upon the tree of life was most beautiful fruit, which the saints could partake of freely.  There was a most glorious throne in the City, and from under the throne proceeded a pure river of water of life, as clear as crystal.  On either side of this river of life was the tree of life.  On the banks of the river were beautiful trees bearing fruit which was good for food.  Language is altogether too feeble to attempt a description of heaven.  As the scene rises before me I am lost in amazement; and carried away with the surpassing splendor and the excellent glory, I lay down the pen, and exclaim, O what love!  What wondrous love!  The most exalted language cannot describe the glory of heaven, nor the matchless depths of a Saviour's love.

See Isaiah 53:11; 2Timothy 4:8; Revelation 15:2, 21:4, 22:1-2

Isa 53:11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

2Ti 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 

Rev 15:2  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

Rev 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 

Rev 22:1  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 

Rev 22:2  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 

Praise God!!!!!!!