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From Here to Forever
Disappointed Again
But again, the time of expectation passed, and their Saviour did
not appear. Now they felt as did Mary when, coming to the Saviour’s
tomb and finding it empty, she exclaimed with weeping: “They have
taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.”
John 20:13
.
A fear that the message might be true had served as a restraint
upon the unbelieving world. But as no tokens of God’s wrath were
seen, they recovered from their fears and resumed their reproach and
ridicule. A large class who had professed to believe renounced their
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faith. The scoffers won the weak and cowardly to their ranks, and
all these united in declaring that the world might remain the same
for thousands of years.
The earnest, sincere believers had given up all for Christ and
had, as they believed, given their last warning to the world. With
intense desire they had prayed, “Come, Lord Jesus.” But now to take
up again the burden of life’s perplexities and to endure the taunts of
a scoffing world was a terrible trial.
When Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem, His followers
believed that He was about to ascend the throne of David and deliver
Israel from her oppressors. With high hopes, many spread their outer
garments as a carpet in His path or strewed before Him the leafy
branches of the palm. The disciples were accomplishing the purpose
of God, yet they were doomed to a bitter disappointment. But a few
days passed ere they witnessed the Saviour’s agonizing death and
laid Him in the tomb. Their hopes died with Jesus. Not till their
Lord had come forth from the grave could they perceive that all had
been foretold by prophecy.
Messages Given at the Right Time
In like manner Miller and his associates fulfilled prophecy and
gave a message which Inspiration had foretold should be given to
the world. They could not have given it had they fully understood
the prophecies pointing out their disappointment, and presenting
another message to be preached to all nations before the Lord should
come. The first and second angels’ messages were given at the right