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From Here to Forever
Despair to Assurance
In a more complete sense than ever before the disciples had
“found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write.”
The uncertainty, the despair, gave place to assurance, to unclouded
faith. They had passed through the deepest trial possible for them to
experience and had seen how the word of God had been triumphantly
accomplished. Henceforward what could daunt their faith? In the
keenest sorrow they had “strong consolation,” a hope which was as
“an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.”
Hebrews 6:18, 19
.
Saith the Lord: “My people shall never be ashamed.” “Weeping
may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Joel 2:26
;
Psalm 30:5
. On His resurrection day these disciples met the Saviour,
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and their hearts burned within them as they listened to His words.
Before His ascension, Jesus bade them, “Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel,” adding, “Lo, I am with you alway.”
Mark 16:15
;
Matthew 28:20
. On the Day of Pentecost the promised Comforter
descended, and the souls of the believers thrilled with the conscious
presence of their ascended Lord.
The Disciples’ Message Compared to the 1844 Message
The experience of the disciples at the first advent of Christ had
its counterpart in the experience of those who proclaimed His sec-
ond advent. As the disciples preached, “The time is fulfilled, the
kingdom of God is at hand,” so Miller and his associates proclaimed
that the last prophetic period in the Bible was about to expire, that
the judgment was at hand, and that the everlasting kingdom was
to be ushered in. The preaching of the disciples in regard to time
was based on the seventy weeks of
Daniel 9
. The message given by
Miller and his associates announced the termination of the 2300 days
of
Daniel 8:14
, of which the seventy weeks form a part. The preach-
ing of each was based upon the fulfillment of a different portion of
the same prophetic period.
Like the first disciples, William Miller and his associates did
not fully comprehend the message which they bore. Errors long
established in the church prevented a correct interpretation of an im-
portant point in the prophecy. Therefore, though they proclaimed the