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there were, hidden in secret places, faithful souls who honored the
Creator’s rest-day.
Since the Reformation, there have been in every generation
witnesses for God to uphold the standard of the ancient Sabbath.
Third Angel’s Message
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Though often in the midst of reproach and persecution, a constant
testimony has been borne to this truth. Since 1844, in fulfillment of
the prophecy of the third angel’s message, the attention of the world
has been called to the true Sabbath, and a constantly increasing
number are returning to the observance of God’s holy day.
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Chapter 21—The Third Message Rejected
As those who first received the third angel’s message saw the
beauty and harmony of the system of truth that opened to their
understanding, they desired that the light which appeared to them
so precious might be imparted to all Christians; and they could not
but believe that it would be joyfully accepted. But truths that would
place them at variance with the world were not welcome to many
who claimed to be followers of Christ. Obedience to the fourth
commandment required a sacrifice from which the majority, even of
Adventists, drew back.
As the claims of the Sabbath were presented, many who had
endured reproach and persecution for the Advent faith, began to
reason from the worldling’s standpoint. Said they: “We have always
kept Sunday, our fathers kept it, and many good and pious men have
died happy while keeping it. If they were right, so are we. The
keeping of this new Sabbath would throw us out of harmony with the
world, and we would have no influence over them. What can a little
company keeping the seventh day hope to accomplish against all the
world who are keeping Sunday?” It was by similar arguments that the
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Jews endeavored to justify their rejection of Christ. Their fathers had
been accepted of God in presenting the sacrificial offerings, and why
could not the children find salvation in pursuing the same course?
So, in the time of Luther, papists reasoned that true Christians had
died in the Catholic faith, and therefore that religion was sufficient
for salvation. Such reasoning would prove an effectual barrier to all
advancement in religious faith or practice.
Many urged that Sunday-keeping had been an established doc-
trine and a wide-spread custom of the church for many centuries.
Against this argument it was shown that the Sabbath and its obser-
vance were more ancient and wide-spread, even as old as the world
itself, and bearing the sanction both of angels and of God. When
the foundations of the earth were laid, when the morning stars sang
together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy, then was laid the
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Third Message Rejected
191
foundation of the Sabbath. [Job 38:6, 7; Genesis 2:1-3.] Well may this institution demand our reverence: it was ordained by no human
authority, and rests on no human tradition; it was established by the
Ancient of days, and commanded by his eternal word.
As the attention of the people was called to the subject of Sab-
bath reform, popular ministers perverted the word of God, placing
such interpretations upon its testimony as would best quiet inquiring
minds. And those who did not search the Scriptures for themselves
were content to accept the ministers’ conclusions. By argument,
sophistry, the traditions of the Fathers, and the authority of the
church, opposers endeavored to overthrow the truth. Its advocates
were driven to their Bibles to defend the validity of the fourth com- [289]
mandment. Humble men, armed with the word of truth alone, met
and withstood the attacks of men of learning. With surprise and
anger, popular ministers found their eloquent sophistry powerless
against the simple, straightforward reasoning of men who had but
little of the learning of the schools.
In the absence of Scripture testimony in their favor, many with
unwearying persistency inquired,—forgetting how the same rea-
soning had been employed against Christ and his apostles,—“Why
do not our great men understand this Sabbath question? But few
believe as you do, and even these are uneducated persons. It ca
be that you are right, and that all the men of learning in the world
are wrong.”
To refute such arguments it was needful only to cite the teachings
of the Scriptures and the history of the Lord’s dealings with his
people in all ages. God works through those who hear and obey his
voice, those who will, if need be, speak unpalatable truths, those
who do not fear to reprove popular sins. The reason why he does not
oftener choose men of learning and high position is, that they trust to
their creeds, theories, and theological systems, and feel no need to be
taught of God. Only those who have a personal co
Source of wisdom are able to understand or explain the Scriptures.
Men who have little of the learning of the schools are called to
declare the truth, not because they are unlearned, but because they
are not too self-sufficient to be taught of God. They learn in the
school of Christ, and their humility and obedience make them great.
In committing to them a knowledge of his truth, God confers upon
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The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4
them an honor, in comparison with which earthly honor and human
greatness sink into insignificance.
As the majority of Adventists rejected the truths concerning the
sanctuary and the law of God, many also renounced their faith in the
Advent movement, and adopted unsound and conflicting views of
the prophecies which applied to that work. Some were led into the
error of repeated time-setting. The light of the third message would
have shown them that no prophetic period extends to the coming of
Christ; that the exact time of his coming is not foretold. But, turning
from the light, they continued to set time after time for the Lord to
come, and as often were disappointed.
When the Thessalonian church received erroneous views con-
cerning the coming of Christ, the apostle Paul counseled them to
carefully test their hopes and anticipations by the word of God. He
cited them to prophecies revealing the events to take place before
Christ should come, and showed that they had no ground to expect
him in their day. “Let no man deceive you by any means,” are his
words of warning. Should they indulge expectations that were not
sanctioned by the Scriptures, they would be led to a mistaken course
of action; disappointment would expose them to the derision of
unbelievers, and they would be in danger of yielding to discourage-
ment, and would be tempted to doubt the truths essential for their
salvation. The apostle’s admonition to the Thessalonians contains