First Angel’s Message
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the wrath to come, many who were united with the churches received
the healing message; they saw their backslidings, and, with bitter tears
of repentance, and deep agony of soul, humbled themselves before
God. And as the Spirit of God rested upon them, they helped to sound
the cry, Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment
is come.
The preaching of definite time called forth great opposition from
all classes, from the minister in the pulpit, down to the most reckless,
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heaven-daring sinner. No man knoweth the day and the hour, was
heard from the hypocritical minister and the bold scoffer. Neither
would be instructed and corrected on the use made of the text by those
who were pointing to the year when they believed the prophetic periods
would run out, and to the signs which showed Christ near, even at the
doors. Many shepherds of the flock, who professed to love Jesus, said
they had no opposition to the preaching of Christ’s coming; but they
objected to the definite time. God’s all-seeing eye read their hearts.
They did not love Jesus near. They knew that their unchristian lives
would not stand the test; for they were not walking in the humble path
laid out by him. These false shepherds stood in the way of the work of
God. The truth spoken in its convincing power to the people aroused
them, and like the jailer, they began to inquire, What must I do to be
saved. But these shepherds stepped between the truth and the people,
and preached smooth things to lead them from the truth. They united
with Satan and his angels, and cried, Peace, peace, when there was no
peace. I saw that angels of God had marked it all, and the garments of
those unconsecrated shepherds were covered with the blood of souls.
Those who loved their ease, and were content with
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their distance from God, would not be aroused from their carnal secu-
rity.
Many ministers would not accept this saving message themselves,
and those who would receive it, they hindered. The blood of souls is
upon them. Preachers and people joined to oppose this message from
heaven. They persecuted Wm. Miller, and those who united with him
in the work. Falsehoods were circulated to injure his influence, and
at different times after he had plainly declared the counsel of God,
applying cutting truths to the hearts of his hearers, great rage was
kindled against him, and as he left the place of meeting, some way-laid
him in order to take his life. But angels of God were sent to preserve