266
The Great Controversy 1888
could be understood. He saw that the prophecies, so far as they had
been fulfilled, had been fulfilled literally; that all the various figures,
metaphors, parables, similitudes, etc., were either explained in their
immediate connection, or the terms in which they were expressed
were defined in other scriptures; and when thus explained were to be
literally understood. “Thus I was satisfied,” he says, “that the Bible
was a system of revealed truth so clearly and simply given that the
wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err therein.” Link after link of
the chain of truth rewarded his efforts, as step by step he traced down
the great lines of prophecy. Angels of Heaven were guiding his mind
and opening the Scriptures to his understanding.
[321]
Taking the manner in which the prophecies had been fulfilled in
the past, as a criterion by which to judge of the fulfillment of those
which were still future, he became satisfied that the popular view of
the spiritual reign of Christ—a temporal millennium before the end
of the world—was not sustained by the Word of God. This doctrine,
pointing to a thousand years of righteousness and peace before the
personal coming of the Lord, put far off the terrors of the day of God.
But, pleasing though it may be, it is contrary to the teachings of Christ
and his apostles, who declared that the wheat and the tares are to
grow together until the harvest, the end of the world; [
Matthew 13:30,
38-41
.] that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse;” [
2
Timothy 3:13, 1
.] that “in the last days perilous times shall come;”
[
2 Timothy 3:13, 1
.] and that the kingdom of darkness shall continue
until the advent of the Lord, and shall be consumed with the spirit of
his mouth, and be destroyed with the brightness of his coming. [
2
Thessalonians 2:8
.] The doctrine of the world’s conversion and the
spiritual reign of Christ was not held by the apostolic church. It was
not generally accepted by Christians until about the beginning of the
eighteenth century. Like every other error, its results were evil. It
taught men to look far in the future for the coming of the Lord, and
prevented them from giving heed to the signs heralding his approach. It
induced a feeling of confidence and security that was not well founded,
and led many to neglect the preparation necessary in order to meet
their Lord.
Miller found the literal, personal coming of Christ to be plainly
taught in the Scriptures. Says Paul, “The Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with