Explanation of Early Statements
57
the law of God, will find, if they persist in this path of disobedience,
the gates of the city of God closed against them.
“Time Nearly Finished”
A statement published in 1851 in Experience and Views, and found
on page 49 [page 58, present edition] of Early Writings is quoted as
proving my testimonies false: “I saw that the time for Jesus to be in
[67]
the most holy place was nearly finished, and that time can last but a
very little longer.”
As the subject was presented before me, the period of Christ’s
ministration seemed almost accomplished. Am I accused of falsehood
because time has continued longer than my testimony seemed to indi-
cate? How is it with the testimonies of Christ and His disciples? Were
they deceived?
Paul writes to the Corinthians:
“But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both
they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep,
as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced
not” (
1 Corinthians 7:29, 30
).
Again, in his epistle to the Romans, he says:
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off
the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (
Romans
13:12
).
And from Patmos, Christ speaks to us by the beloved John:
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time
is at hand” (
Revelation 1:3
). “The Lord God of the holy prophets sent
his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be
done. Behold, I come quickly; blessed is he that keepeth the sayings
of the prophecy of this book” (
Revelation 22:6, 7
).
The angels of God in their messages to men represent time as very
short. Thus it has always been presented to me. It is true that time has
continued longer than we expected in the early days of this message.
Our Saviour did not appear as soon as we hoped. But has the word of
the Lord failed? Never! It should be remembered that the promises
and threatenings of God are alike conditional.