September 23, the Lord showed me that He had stretched out His
hand the second time to recover the remnant of His people, and
that efforts must be redoubled in this gathering time. In the
scattering, Israel was smitten and torn, but now in the gathering
time God will heal and bind up His people. In the scattering,
efforts made to spread the truth had but little effect, accomplished
but little or nothing; but in the gathering, when God has set
His hand to gather His people, efforts to spread the truth will
have their designed effect. All should be united and zealous in
the work. I saw that it was wrong for any to refer to the scattering
for examples to govern us now in the gathering; for if God should
do no more for us now than He did then, Israel would never be
gathered. I have seen that the 1843 chart was directed by the
hand of the Lord, and that it should not be altered; that the
figures were as He wanted them; that His hand was over and hid
a mistake in some of the figures, so that none could see it, until
His hand was removed.
Then I saw in relation to the "daily" (Dan. 8:12) that
the word "sacrifice" was supplied by man's wisdom, and
does not belong to the text, and that the Lord gave the correct
view of it to those who gave the judgment hour cry. When union
existed, before 1844, nearly all were united on the correct view
of the "daily"; but in the confusion since 1844, other
views have been embraced, and darkness and confusion have followed.
Time has not been a test since 1844, and it will never again be
a test.
The Lord has shown me that the message of the third angel must
go, and be proclaimed to the scattered children of the Lord, but
it must not be hung on time. I saw that some were getting a false
excitement, arising from preaching time; but the third angels
message is stronger than time can be. I saw that this message
can stand on its own foundation and needs not time to strengthen
it; and that it will go in mighty power, and do its work, and
will be cut short in righteousness.
Then I was pointed to some who are in the great error of believing
that it is their duty to go to Old Jerusalem, and think they have
a work to do there before the Lord comes. Such a view is calculated
to take the mind and interest from the present work of the Lord,
under the message of the third angel; for those who think that
they are yet to go to Jerusalem will have their minds there, and
their means will be withheld from the cause of present truth to
get themselves and others there. I saw that such a mission would
accomplish no real good, that it would take a long while to make
a very few of the Jews believe even in the first advent of Christ,
much more to believe in His second advent. I saw that Satan had
greatly deceived some in this thing and that souls all around
them in this land could be helped by them and led to keep the
commandments of God, but they were leaving them to perish. I also
saw that Old Jerusalem never would be built up; and that Satan
was doing his utmost to lead the minds of the children of the
Lord into these things now, in the gathering time, to keep them
from throwing their whole interest into the present work of the
Lord, and to cause them to neglect the necessary preparation for
the day of the Lord. -
A sense of duty to my brethren and sisters and a desire that the
blood of souls might not be found on my garments have governed
me in writing this little work. I am aware of the unbelief that
exists in the minds of the multitude relative to visions, also
that many who profess to be looking for Christ and teach that
we are in the "last days" call them all of Satan. I
expect much opposition from such, and had I not felt that the
Lord required it of me, I should not have made my views thus public,
as they will probably call forth the hatred and derision of some.
But I fear God more than man.
When the Lord first gave me messages to deliver to His people,
it was hard for me to declare them, and I often softened them
down and made them as mild as possible for fear of grieving some.
It was a great trial to declare the messages as the Lord gave
them to me. I did not realize that I was so unfaithful and did
not see the sin and danger of such a course until in vision I
was taken into the presence of Jesus. He looked upon me with a
frown and turned His face from me. It is not possible to describe
the terror and agony I then felt. I fell upon my face before Him,
but had no power to utter a word. Oh, how I longed to be covered
and hid from that dreadful frown! Then could I realize, in some
degree, what the feeling of the lost will be when they cry, "Mountains
and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth
on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb."
Presently an angel bade me rise, and the sight that met my eyes
can hardly be described. A company was presented before me whose
hair and garments were torn and whose countenances were the very
picture of despair and horror. They came close to me and took
their garments and rubbed them on mine. I looked upon my garments
and saw that they were stained with blood, and that blood was
eating holes in them. Again I fell like one dead at the feet of
my accompanying angel. I could not plead one excuse. My tongue
refused all utterance, and I longed to be away from such a holy
place. Again the angel stood me upon my feet and said, "This
is not your case now, but this scene has passed before you to
let you know what your situation must be if you neglect to declare
to others what the Lord has revealed to you. But if you are faithful
to the end, you shall eat of the tree of life and shall drink
of the river of the water of life. You will have to suffer much,
but the grace of God is sufficient." I then felt willing
to do all that the Lord might require me to do that I might have
His approbation and not feel His dreadful frown.
I have frequently been falsely charged with teaching views peculiar
to Spiritualism. But before the editor of the Day-Star ran into
that delusion, the Lord gave me a view of the sad and desolating
effects that would be produced upon the flock by him and others
in teaching the spiritual views. I have often seen the lovely
Jesus, that He is a person . I asked Him if His Father was a person
and had a form like Himself. Said Jesus, "I am in the express
image of My Father's person."
I have often seen that the spiritual view took away all the glory
of heaven, and that in many minds the throne of David and the
lovely person of Jesus have been burned up in the fire of Spiritualism.
I have seen that some who have been deceived and led into this
error will be brought out into the light of truth, but it will
be almost impossible for them to get entirely rid of the deceptive
power of Spiritualism. Such should make thorough work in confessing
their errors and leaving them forever.
I recommend to you, dear reader, the Word of God as the rule of
your faith and practice. By that Word we are to be judged. God
has, in that Word, promised to give visions in the "last
days"; not for a new rule of faith, but for the comfort of
His people, and to correct those who err from Bible truth. Thus
God dealt with Peter when He was about to send him to preach to
the Gentiles. (Acts 10.)
To those who may circulate this little work, I would say that
it is designed for the sincere only and not for those who would
ridicule the things of the Spirit of God. -