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holy places are polluted.
Anciently the Lord declared to his servants concerning Israel:
“The leaders of this people cause them to err, and they that are
led of them are destroyed.” [Isaiah 9:16.] “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means, and my people love
to have it so; and what will ye do in the end thereof?” [Jeremiah
5:31.] “For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them, every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto
the priest, every one dealeth falsely.” [Jeremiah 6:13.] The Jewish church, once so highly favored of the Lord, became an astonishment
and a reproach through neglect to improve the blessings granted
them. Pride and unbelief led to their ruin. But these scriptures do
not apply to ancient Israel only. The character and condition of
many nominally Christian churches are here portrayed. Though in
possession of far greater blessings than were granted to the Jews,
they are following in the steps of that people; and the greater the
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light and privileges bestowed, the greater the guilt of those who
permit them to pass unimproved.
The picture which the apostle Paul has drawn of the professed
people of God in the last days is a sad but faithful delineation of
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the popular churches of our time. “Having a form of godliness, but
denying the power thereof,” “lovers of pleasures more than lovers
of God,” “lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,”
[2 Timothy 3:2-7.]—such are a few specifications from the dark catalogue which he has given. And in view of the frequent and
startling revelations of crime, even among those that minister in
holy things, who dare affirm that there is one sin enumerated by the
apostle which is not concealed under a profession of Christianity?
“But what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?”
“And what concord hath Christ with Belial?” “And what agreement
hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the
living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them;
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean, and I will receive you, and will be a Father
unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord
Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:14-18.]
At the proclamation of the first angel’s message, the people of
God were in Babylon; and many true Christians are still to be found
in her communion. Not a few who have never seen the special
truths for this time are dissatisfied with their present position, and
are longing for clearer light. They look in vain for the image of
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Christ in the church. As the churches depart more and more widely
from the truth, and ally themselves more closely with the world, the
time will come when those who fear and honor God can no longer
remain in co
but had pleasure in unrighteousness,” will be left to receive “strong
delusion,” and to “believe a lie.” [2 Thessalonians 2:11, 12.] Then the spirit of persecution will again be revealed. But the light of truth
will shine upon all whose hearts are open to receive it, and all the
children of the Lord still in Babylon, will heed the call, “Come out
of her, my people.”
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Chapter 16—The Tarrying Time
When the year 1843 [See Appendix, note 4.] entirely passed away unmarked by the advent of Jesus, those who had looked in
faith for his appearing were for a time left in doubt and perplexity.
But notwithstanding their disappointment, many continued to search
the Scriptures, examining anew the evidences of their faith, and
carefully studying the prophecies to obtain further light. The Bible
testimony in support of their position seemed clear and conclusive.
Signs which could not be mistaken pointed to the coming of Christ
as near. The believers could not explain their disappointment; yet
they felt assured that God had led them in their past experience.
Their faith was greatly strengthened by the direct and forcible
application of those scriptures which set forth a tarrying time. As
early as 1842, the Spirit of God had moved upon Charles Fitch to
devise the prophetic chart, which was generally regarded by Adven-
tists as a fulfillment of the command given by the prophet Habakkuk,
“to write the vision and make it plain upon tables.” No one, however,
then saw the tarrying time, which was brought to view in the same
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prophecy. After the disappointment, the full meaning of this scrip-
ture became apparent. Thus speaks the prophet: “Write the vision,
and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For
the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak,
and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come,
it will not tarry.” [Habakkuk 2:2, 3.]
A portion of Ezekiel’s prophecy also was a source of much
strength and comfort to believers: “And the word of the Lord came
unto me, saying, Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have
in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every
vision faileth? Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God:” “The
days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.” “I will speak, and
the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more
prolonged.” “They of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth
is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are
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far off. Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God: There
shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which
I have spoken shall be done.” [Ezekiel 12:21-25, 27, 28.]
The waiting ones rejoiced that He who knows the end from the
begi
disappointment, had given them words of courage and hope. Had it
not been for such portions of Scripture, showing that they were in
the right path, their faith would have failed in that trying hour.
In the parable of the ten virgins, Matthew 25, the experience of Adventists is illustrated by the incidents of an Eastern marriage. [243]
“Then shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins,
which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.”
“While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.” The
wide-spread movement under the proclamation of the first message,
answered to the going forth of the virgins, while the passing of
the time of expectation, the disappointment, and the delay, were
represented by the tarrying of the bridegroom. After the definite
time had passed, the true believers were still united in the belief that