Certainties Of The Advent Movement By William A. Spicer “That I might make thee know the certainty of the word of truth!” Proverbs 22:21. REVIEW AND HERALD PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION TACOMA PARK WASHINGTON, DC USA Copyright 1929 www.MaranathaMedia.com.au Printed in the USA Contents INTRODUCTION 1. DIVINE CERTAINTY 2. THE WITNESS TO THE LIVING GOD 3. WITNESS TO THE LIVING GOD IN ANCIENT TIMES 4. THE EXODUS MOVEMENT AND THE ADVENT MOVEMENT 5. CALLED OUT TO KEEP GOD’S LAW 6. THE SABBATH THE TEST OF LOYALTY 7. WHERE THE PATHWAY TURNED INTO EGYPT 8. OPPOSITION TO THE SABBATH IN THE TWO MOVEMENTS 9. ORGANIZED OPPOSITION TO THE LAW OF GOD 10. EACH MOVEMENT ROSE AT THE TIME FORETOLD 11. THE CERTAINTY OF THE DATE 457 BC 12. THE HEAVENS CONFIRM THE PROPHECY AND HISTORY 13. THE RISE OF THE ADVENT MOVEMENT 14. PREPARATION FOR THE ADVENT MOVEMENT 15. PROVIDENTIAL PROVISION FOR A QUICK WORE 16. THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY IN THE TWO MOVEMENTS 17. THE PLACE OF THE GIFT IN THE MOVEMENT 18. COUNSELS THAT BUILT UP 19. NOT BY HUMAN FORESIGHT AND DEVISING 20. PERILS OF THE WAY 21. AN ORGANIZED MOVEMENT 22. THE MOVEMENT MARKED THROUGH TO THE CITY OF GOD Certainties Of The Advent Movement INTRODUCTION IN ancient times God called a people out of bondage in Egypt and gave them His holy law and commandments. He led them in a great movement through the wilderness to the land of Canaan, which had been promised to them as an inheritance from the days of their fathers. Such a movement had never before been witnessed among men. Under divine guidance, with manifest tokens of the presence of God, the people of Israel marched to the land of Promise. The living God led the Exodus movement out of Egypt and into Canaan. As verily as God led the Exodus Movement in the days of ancient Israel, even so by His word and by His providences He is leading the world-wide Advent Movement in these latter days. Again He is delivering a people from bondage - the bondage of sin. He gives to them His holy law and commandments. And at the end of the journey is the heavenly Canaan, the eternal Land of Promise. As the living God led the Exodus Movement, in fulfillment of prophecy and promise uttered to the patriarchal fathers long before, even so the living God is leading the Advent Movement true to the sure word of prophecy uttered in Holy Writ long ages ago. At the end of the pilgrim journey Christ Himself, the invisible Leader, comes in visible power and glory, to lead His people into the everlasting Land of Promise. By the resurrection at Christ’s appearing, the saved of all the ages are brought forth to enter the kingdom with the believers of the last generation. All march in together. What joy to know the certainty that the heavenly Canaan is now just a little way before! To Canaan’s Fair and Happy Land On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand, And cast a wishful eye To Canaan’s fair and happy land, Where my possessions lie. O, the transporting, rapturous scene That meets to my sight! Sweet fields arrayed in living green, And rivers of delight. There, generous fruits that never fail, On trees immortal grow; There rocks and hills and brooks and vale With milk and honey flow. Over all those wide, extended plains, Shines one eternal day; There Christ, the sun, forever reigns, And scatters night away. When shall I reach that happy place, And be forever blest? When shall I see my Father’s face, And in His kingdom rest? Filled with delight, my raptured soul Would here no longer stay; Though Jordan’s waves around me roll, Fearless, I’d launch away. Samuel Stennett. 2 www.MaranathaMedia.com.au Certainties Of The Advent Movement 01. DIVINE CERTAINTY When the apostle Luke, under the guidance of Inspiration, set his hand to declare the things of the gospel, it was, as he said to Theophilus, “That you, might know the certainty of those things, wherein you have been instructed!” Luke 1:4. The Lord is just. He does not leave us to risk eternal life upon a hazard, a guess, or a mere, hope so. He gives evidence by which to fortify faith, evidence by which men may know the certainty of the things which are essential to godliness and eternal life. THE NOTE OF CERTAINTY As the early teachers of New Testament times went forth, they preached divine certainties. The ring of certainty sounded in the message they bore. The apostle Paul said to the Corinthians: I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air!” 1 Corinthians 9:26. There was no wavering note in his testimony. In certain tones the apostle bore witness to the power of God to save every believing sinner from his sins. Again he declared against any uncertainty in the proclamation of the things of God: “If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” 1 Corinthians 14:8. We are dealing with divine certainties in the study of the essential things of life and salvation. The living God gives evidence by which any questioning, mind that will give attention to the facts may know the certainty of the divine counsels. The Lord declares: “Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou might answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? “ Proverbs 22: 20, 21. Certainty is what we need. We can rest in nothing less. First of all, in the prophetic portions of Holy Scriptures we have multiplied unto us these excellent things in counsels and knowledge by which the Lord makes known the certainty of divine things to every soul who will give attention to the facts. He desires to make us know the certainty of the words of truth, not for our own sakes only, but that we may tell others the sure way of life eternal: “That you might answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee!” GOING OVER THE EVIDENCE In the record of prophecy foretelling the course of history through the ages, we have evidence piled upon evidence that the living God speaks in Holy Scripture. We can add these evidences as we would add a column of figures. What would one do if required to add up a long column of figures and set down the sum, guaranteeing the accuracy of the reckoning at the forfeit of life if he makes an error? One would add those columns up and set down the result. He would add those columns of figures down, making certain that the total came out the same. With life at stake, he would go over the figures again and again, upward and downward, rejoicing in the certainty of his calculation as every turn at the figures brought ,the same result. And regardless of the number of times we had gone over the figures, what would any one of us do as the time came to appear before the tribunal to give the answer? I think any one of us would certainly go over those figures again. I would say to myself, “I know that answer is right, I am certain it is correct; but for the joy of seeing again with my own eyes the assurance that I am right and that my life can never U forfeited upon the answer, I will go over the figures again.” Just so we may take the certainties of divine prophecy. We may begin with ancient times, and follow the great lines of historical prophecy down through the ages to our own time. There are many such lines of prophecy. The prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation especially deal with the consecutive events of history through the ages. History has fulfilled the prophetic picture to almost the last outlines, and we know that Christ’s kingdom is soon to appear. 3 www.MaranathaMedia.com.au Certainties Of The Advent Movement First, the Assyrian kingdom ruled the world, Then Medo-Persia’s banners were unfurled; And after Greece held universal sway, Rome seized the scepter, where are we today? Look for the way marks, the great prophetic way marks, Down through the ages, past the kingdoms, four. Look for the way marks, the great prophetic way marks; The journey’s almost over.” THE SUM OF THE EVIDENCE Whenever we add up the evidence of divine prophecy, we find the same result every time: The last days have come. The last message of the “everlasting gospel” is due to the, world. The message of Revelation fourteen, proclaiming the judgment hour, is that last gospel message. The last church of the prophecy - the “remnant,” “which keep the commandments of God” (Revelation 12: 17) should be abroad in the world preaching, that message. And the church of the Advent Movement is that remnant church, proclaiming the message of the judgment hour in the world movement foretold by the prophecy: 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.