THE LOUD CRY | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · January 15, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 3

THE LOUD CRY.

A SUBSCRIBER asks what is meant by “the loud cry,” of which more or less is said in connection with our work. It is simply the “loud voice” spoken of in the prophecy of the third angel’s message in Rev. 14: 9. The passage reads: “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand,” &c.

If we are asked to define in what we suppose this will consist, we answer by referring to verse 7, where the same expression is used in reference to the first message: “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him.” We believe that that message began with the great Advent movement of 1840-1844, and that all the features of the message were brought out in that work. From the history of that movement, therefore, we can draw some conclusion concerning the signification of the expression, “Saying with a loud voice.”

That was a message of importance, as is well indicated by the symbol of an angel flying through heaven to proclaim it. It was heard the world over. Its influence extended rapidly. It moved the minds of the people mightily. It produced a degree of consecration, and brought a blessing to those receiving it, such as had not been witnessed for generations. The presence of the Spirit and power of God was manifested in a most remarkable manner. It melted away all denominational distinctions, and fused elements, naturally the most discordant, into one body of brotherly love.

The message, of course, did not go beyond the prophecy. And if the “loud voice” meant such a movement in that first message, it means no less in the third.

We believe it means more; for there are other prophecies by which the nature of this work is more fully set before us. It is the movement described in Rev. 7, by which the seal of God is placed upon his people in the last days, while four mighty messengers from Heaven hold the winds of political strife in abeyance till the work is accomplished. In Rev. 18: 1, 2, it is a message from Heaven uttering a final warning against a corrupt and backslidden Christianity, and going forth with such power that the whole earth is lightened with its glory. We believe it also embraces the great refreshing of Acts 3:19, the supping with Christ in the intimate relationship described in Rev. 3:20, and the rising of the day star in the heart. 2 Pet. 1:19. It is also the message of Rev. 10:11, which goes to “many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”

This message we believe is now going forth. And those features which constituted the “loud voice” of the first message, are, to a greater or less extent, already seen under this. In some respects it is far in advance of the previous message. It is a message which must be heard. It will develop characters so like the divine standard that they will be prepared to pass the searching test of the Judgment. It will search and sift out the half-hearted and unworthy. It will exhibit a concentration of the light of truth in this dispensation. It will bear its testimony against corruption in high places in the church and world. It will excite the wrath of the dragon as nothing else has done since our Lord was himself upon the earth. It will be clad with the panoply of God’s Spirit. It will test the world, and ripen the harvest of the earth.

These results we look for in this message as it increases in power. This we understand will be the “loud cry,” or the proclamation of the message with a “loud voice.” Those who, with the present sufficient amount of evidence before them as it has been developed and now presents itself in this message, see, believe and obey, will be sanctified through it. Those who wait to behold its wonderful results before they make a move, intending when the fulfillments of prophecy in connection therewith amount to a demonstration, to connect themselves with it, and thus secure the results of its saving power, will find themselves too late.