I saw a number of companies that seemed to be bound together by
cords. Many in these companies were in total darkness; their eyes
were directed downward to the earth, and there seemed to be no
connection between them and Jesus. But scattered through these
different companies were persons whose countenances looked light,
and whose eyes were raised to heaven. Beams of light from Jesus,
like rays from the sun, were imparted to them. An angel bade me
look carefully, and I saw an angel watching over every one of
those who had a ray of light, while evil angels surrounded those
who were in darkness. I heard the voice of an angel cry, "Fear
God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come."
A glorious light then rested down upon these companies, to enlighten
all who would receive it. Some of those who were in darkness received
the light and rejoiced. Others resisted the light from heaven,
saying that it was sent to lead them astray. The light passed
away from them, and they were left in darkness. Those who had
received the light from Jesus joyfully cherished the increase
of precious light which was shed upon them. Their faces beamed
with holy joy, while their gaze was directed upward to Jesus with
intense interest, and their voices were heard in harmony with
the voice of the angel, "Fear God, and give glory to Him;
for the hour of His judgment is come." As they raised this
cry, I saw those who were in darkness thrusting them with side
and with shoulder. Then many who cherished the sacred light, broke
the cords which confined them and stood out separated from those
companies. As they were doing this, men belonging to the different
companies and revered by them passed through, some with pleasing
words, and others with wrathful looks and threatening gestures,
and fastened the cords which were weakening. These men were constantly
saying, "God is with us. We stand in the light. We have the
truth." I inquired who these men were, and was told that
they were ministers and leading men who had rejected the light
themselves, and were unwilling that others should receive it.
I saw those who cherished the light looking upward with ardent
desire, expecting Jesus to come and take them to Himself. Soon
a cloud passed over them, and their faces were sorrowful. I inquired
the cause of this cloud and was shown that it was their disappointment.
The time when they expected their Saviour had passed, and Jesus
had not come. As discouragement settled upon the waiting ones,
the ministers and leading men whom I had before noticed, rejoiced,
and all those who had rejected the light triumphed greatly, while
Satan and his evil angels also exulted.
Then I heard the voice of another angel saying, "Babylon
is fallen, is fallen!" A light shone upon those desponding
ones, and with ardent desires for His appearing, they again fixed
their eyes upon Jesus. I saw a number of angels conversing with
the one who had cried, "Babylon is fallen," and these
united with him in the cry, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh;
go ye out to meet Him." The musical voices of these angels
seemed to reach everywhere. An exceedingly bright and glorious
light shone around those who had cherished the light which had
been imparted to them. Their faces shone with excellent glory,
and they united with the angels in the cry, "Behold, the
Bridegroom cometh." As they harmoniously raised the cry among
the different companies, those who rejected the light pushed them
and with angry looks scorned and derided them. But angels of God
wafted their wings over the persecuted ones, while Satan and his
angels were seeking to press their darkness around them, to lead
them to reject the light from heaven.
Then I heard a voice saying to those who had been pushed and derided,
"Come out from among them, and touch not the unclean."
In obedience to this voice, a large number broke the cords which
bound them, and leaving the companies that were in darkness, joined
those who had previously gained their freedom, and joyfully united
their voices with them. I heard the voice of earnest, agonizing
prayer from a few who still remained with the companies that were
in darkness. The ministers and leading men were passing around
in these different companies, fastening the cords more firmly;
but still I heard this voice of earnest prayer. Then I saw those
who had been praying reach out their hands for help toward the
united company who were free, rejoicing in God. The answer from
them, as they earnestly looked to heaven, and pointed upward,
was, "Come out from among them, and be separate." I
saw individuals struggling for freedom, and at last they broke
the cords that bound them. They resisted the efforts which were
made to fasten the cords tighter and refused to heed the repeated
assertions: "God is with us." "We have the truth
with us."
Persons were continually leaving the companies that were in darkness
and joining the free company, who appeared to be in an open field
raised above the earth. Their gaze was directed upward, the glory
of God rested upon them, and they joyfully shouted His praise.
They were closely united and seemed to be wrapped in the light
of heaven. Around this company were some who came under the influence
of the light, but who were not particularly united to the company.
All who cherished the light shed upon them were gazing upward
with intense interest, and Jesus looked upon them with sweet approbation.
They expected Him to come and longed for His appearing. They did
not cast one lingering look to earth. But again a cloud settled
upon the waiting ones, and I saw them turn their weary eyes downward.
I inquired the cause of this change. Said my accompanying angel,
"They are again disappointed in their expectations. Jesus
cannot yet come to earth. They must endure greater trials for
His sake. They must give up errors and traditions received from
men and turn wholly to God and His Word. They must be purified,
made white, and tried. Those who endure that bitter trial will
obtain an eternal victory."
Jesus did not come to the earth as the waiting, joyful company
expected, to cleanse the sanctuary by purifying the earth by fire.
I saw that they were correct in their reckoning of the prophetic
periods; prophetic time closed in 1844, and Jesus entered the
most holy place to cleanse the sanctuary at the ending of the
days. Their mistake consisted in not understanding what the sanctuary
was and the nature of its cleansing. As I looked again at the
waiting, disappointed company, they appeared sad. They carefully
examined the evidences of their faith and followed down through
the reckoning of the prophetic periods, but could discover no
mistake. The time had been fulfilled, but where was their Saviour?
They had lost Him.
I was shown the disappointment of the disciples as they came to
the sepulcher and found not the body of Jesus. Mary said, "They
have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him."
Angels told the sorrowing disciples that their Lord had risen,
and would go before them into Galilee.
In like manner I saw that Jesus regarded with the deepest compassion
the disappointed ones who had waited for His coming; and He sent
His angels to direct their minds that they might follow Him where
He was. He showed them that this earth is not the sanctuary, but
that He must enter the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary
to make an atonement for His people and to receive the kingdom
from His Father, and that He would then return to the earth and
take them to dwell with Him forever. The disappointment of the
first disciples well represents the disappointment of those who
expected their Lord in 1844.
I was carried back to the time when Christ rode triumphantly into
Jerusalem. The joyful disciples believed that He was then to take
the kingdom and reign a temporal prince. They followed their King
with high hopes. They cut down the beautiful palm branches, and
took off their outer garments, and with enthusiastic zeal spread
them in the way; and some went before, and others followed, crying,
"Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in
the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest." The excitement
disturbed the Pharisees, and they wished Jesus to rebuke His disciples.
But He said unto them, "If these should hold their peace,
the stones would immediately cry out." The prophecy of Zechariah
9:9 must be fulfilled; yet the disciples were doomed to a bitter
disappointment. In a few days they followed Jesus to Calvary,
and beheld Him bleeding and mangled upon the cruel cross. They
witnessed His agonizing death and laid Him in the tomb. Their
hearts sank with grief; their expectations were not realized in
a single particular, and their hopes died with Jesus. But as He
arose from the dead and appeared to His sorrowing disciples, their
hopes revived. They had found Him again.
I saw that the disappointment of those who believed in the coming
of the Lord in 1844 was not equal to the disappointment of the
first disciples. Prophecy was fulfilled in the first and second
angels' messages. They were given at the right time and accomplished
the work which God designed to accomplish by them. -