Work of Reform
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men of learning and high position to lead out in reform movements 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
connection with the Source of wisdom are able to understand or explain
the Scriptures. Men who have little of the learning of the schools are
sometimes 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 them an honor, in comparison with which earthly honor
and human greatness sink into insignificance.
The majority of Adventists rejected the truths concerning the sanc-
tuary and the law of God, and 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 repeatedly fixing upon a definite time for the coming of Christ. The
light which was now shining on the subject of the sanctuary should
have shown them that no prophetic period extends to the second ad-
vent; that the exact time of this advent is not foretold. But, turning
from the light, they continued to set time after time for the Lord to
come, and as often they were disappointed.
When the Thessalonian church received erroneous views concern-
ing the coming of Christ, the apostle Paul counseled them to test their
hopes and anticipations carefully 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” (
2 Thessalonians 2:3
), are
his words of warning. Should they indulge expectations that were not
sanctioned by the Scriptures, they would be led to a mistaken course
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of action; disappointment would expose them to the derision of un-
believers, and they would be in danger of yielding to discouragement
and would be tempted to doubt the truths essential for their salvation.
The apostle’s admonition to the Thessalonians contains an important
lesson for those who live in the last days. Many Adventists have
felt that unless they could fix their faith upon a definite time for the
Lord’s coming, they could not be zealous and diligent in the work of
preparation. But as their hopes are again and again excited, only to be