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The Great Controversy 1888
out.” [
Luke 19:40
.] Prophecy must be fulfilled. The disciples were
accomplishing the purpose of God; yet they were doomed to a bitter
disappointment. But a few days had passed ere they witnessed the
Saviour’s agonizing death, and laid him in the tomb. Their expectations
had not been realized in a single particular, and their hopes died with
Jesus. Not till their Lord had come forth triumphant from the grave
could they perceive that all had been foretold by prophecy, and “that
Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead.” [
Acts
17:3
.]
[405]
Five hundred years before, the Lord had declared by the prophet
Zechariah, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of
Jerusalem. Behold, thy King cometh unto thee. He is just, and having
salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an
ass.” [
Zechariah 9:9
.] Had the disciples realized that Christ was going
to judgment and to death, they could not have fulfilled this prophecy.
In like manner, Miller and his associates fulfilled prophecy, and
gave a message which inspiration had foretold should be given to the
world, but which they could not have given had they fully understood
the prophecies pointing out their disappointment, and presenting an-
other message to be preached to all nations before the Lord should
come. The first and second angels’ messages were given at the right
time, and accomplished the work which God designed to accomplish
by them.
The world had been looking on, expecting that if the time passed
and Christ did not appear, the whole system of Adventism would be
given up. But while many, under strong temptation, yielded their
faith, there were some who stood firm. The fruits of the Advent
movement, the spirit of humility and heart-searching, of renouncing
of the world, and reformation of life, which had attended the work,
testified that it was of God. They dared not deny that the power of the
Holy Spirit had witnessed to the preaching of the second advent, and
they could detect no error in their reckoning of the prophetic periods.
The ablest of their opponents had not succeeded in overthrowing their
system of prophetic interpretation. They could not consent, without
Bible evidence, to renounce positions which had been reached through
earnest, prayerful study of the Scriptures, by minds enlightened by
the Spirit of God, and hearts burning with its living power; positions
which had withstood the most searching criticisms and the most bitter