Chapter 50—The Pillars of Our Faith
[
Written on the train en route to Lynn, Massachusetts, December,
1890. Appeared in Notebook Leaflets, The Church, No. 4
.]
During the past fifty years of my life, I have had precious oppor-
tunities to obtain an experience. I have had an experience in the first,
second, and third angels’ messages. The angels are represented as
flying in the midst of heaven, proclaiming to the world a message of
warning, and having a direct bearing upon the people living in the last
days of this earth’s history. No one hears the voice of these angels, for
they are a symbol to represent the people of God who are working in
harmony with the universe of heaven. Men and women, enlightened
by the Spirit of God and sanctified through the truth, proclaim the
three messages in their order.
I have acted a part in this solemn work. Nearly all my Christian
experience is interwoven with it. There are those now living who
have an experience similar to my own. They have recognized the truth
unfolding for this time; they have kept in step with the great Leader,
the Captain of the Lord’s host.
In the proclamation of the messages, every specification of
prophecy has been fulfilled. Those who were privileged to act a part
in proclaiming these messages have gained an experience which is of
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the highest value to them; and now when we are amid the perils of
these last days, when voices will be heard on every side saying, “Here
is Christ,” “Here is truth,” while the burden of many is to unsettle the
foundation of our faith which has led us from the churches and from
the world to stand as a peculiar people in the world, like John our
testimony will be borne:
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which
we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our
hands have handled, of the Word of life; ... that which we have seen
and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with
us” (
1 John 1:1-3
).
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