Basic HTML Version
192
From Here to Forever
in the Word of God. Their teaching made men infidels, and many
took license to walk after ungodly lusts. Then the authors of the evil
charged it all upon Adventists.
While drawing crowded houses of intelligent hearers, Miller’s
name was seldom mentioned by the religious press except by ridicule
or denunciation. The ungodly, emboldened by religious teachers,
resorted to blasphemous witticisms on him and his work. The gray-
headed man who had left a comfortable home to travel at his own
expense to bear to the world the solemn warning of the judgment
near was denounced as a fanatic.
Interest and Unbelief
Interest continued to increase. From scores and hundreds, con-
gregations had grown to as many thousands. But after a time, oppo-
sition was manifest against these converts, and the churches began to
take disciplinary steps with those who had embraced Miller’s views.
[211]
This called forth a response from his pen: “If we are wrong, pray
show us wherein consists our wrong. Show us from the word of God
that we are in error; we have had ridicule enough; that can never
convince us that we are in the wrong; the word of God alone can
change our views. Our conclusions have been formed deliberately
and prayerfully, as we have seen the evidence in the Scriptures.
When the iniquity of the antediluvians moved God to bring a
flood upon the earth, He first made known to them His purpose. For
120 years was sounded the warning to repent. But they believed
it not. They mocked the messenger of God. If Noah’s message
were true, why did not all the world see and believe it? One man’s
assertions against the wisdom of thousands! They would not credit
the warning nor seek shelter in the ark.
Scoffers pointed to the unvarying succession of the seasons, the
blue skies that had never poured out rain. In contempt they declared
the preacher of righteousness a wild enthusiast. They went on, more
intent on their evil ways than before. But at the appointed time God’s
judgments were visited upon the rejecters of His mercy.
10
Bliss, pp. 250, 252.