Basic HTML Version
First Angel’s Message
225
lay the ax at the root of the tree, and call upon men to bring forth
fruits meet for repentance. Their testimony was calculated to arouse
and powerfully affect the churches and manifest their real character.
And as the solemn warning to flee from the wrath to come was
sounded, 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,
heaven-daring sinner. “No man knoweth the day nor the hour,” was
heard from the hypocritical minister and the bold scoffer. Neither
would be instructed and corrected by those who were pointing to
the year when they believed the prophetic periods would run out,
[234]
and to the signs which showed Christ near, even at the doors. Many
shepherds of the flock, who professed to love Jesus, said that 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 marked out by Him. These false shepherds stood in the way of
the work of God. The truth spoken in its convincing power aroused
the people, and like the jailer, they began to inquire, “What must I do
to be saved?” But these shepherds stepped in between the truth and
the people, and preached smooth things to lead them from the truth.
They united with Satan and his angels, crying, “Peace, peace,” when
there was no peace. Those who loved their ease and were content
with their distance from God would not be aroused from their carnal
security. I saw that angels of God marked it all; the garments of
those unconsecrated shepherds were covered with the blood of souls.
Ministers who would not accept this saving message themselves
hindered those who would have received it. The blood of souls is
upon them. Preachers and people joined to oppose this message from
heaven and to persecute William 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