THE OPENING YEAR by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, January 6, 1885

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 62, No. 1

THE OPENING YEAR.

By Editor

“Watchman, what of the night?” is the opening question of the year with every one who is waiting for the consolation of Zion. Events and movements and outlooks are of interest chiefly in proportion to their relation to the question of the progress of the cause of truth in the earth. Whatever affects this is worthy of attention. Whatever tends to the advancement of this cause, regardless of the form it may assume, is a matter of encouragement.

The year opens auspiciously for our work all along the line. The REVIEW never had a larger and better paying list of subscribers than at the present time. And the same is probably true of all the periodicals published in the cause of present truth in this country and in Europe.

The results of last year's work are encouraging, and the outlook for the future is hopeful. Some movements which at first partook partially of the nature of experiments, have proved successful, and may now be prosecuted with all confidence as a part of a tested and settled policy. The work of the past twelve months has not been merely a spasmodic effort, but will be continued with an increasing activity. Broader plans, and a pushing out into regions still beyond, are the watchwords of the hour.

This cause has never had any failures to explain, any misapplications of prophecy to correct, any back track to take on any question. It has taken a uniform position, and borne a uniform testimony from the beginning, wholly by faith on many points at the commencement; but events have been transpiring all along, slowly it seemed sometimes, but nevertheless surely, to confirm our faith and verify our predictions.

But, says one, the Adventists of 1844 were very positive and sure they were right; yet they made a great mistake; and although you feel very positive as to the correctness of your position, may you not after all be just as mistaken? We answer, the situation has greatly changed since 1844. The prophetic field has been more fully explored, and our relation to passing and coming events is more clearly understood.

Let us illustrate. When the navigators of the 15th and 16th centuries sailed westward from the shores of Europe, it was for the purpose of finding a shorter passage to India and the eastern world. And when land was discovered, they supposed it was the eastern coast of their own continent, and searched carefully all the bays and inlets of our Atlantic coast in expectation of finding a short passage through to the South Sea, in the vicinity of which they verily supposed themselves to be. They thought they were right; but they were mistaken; and further discoveries soon showed that they had not reached India by a whole continent and another and larger ocean. But this continent has since been explored, and the great Pacific Ocean traversed, and now all navigators know the whole extent of the field, and can tell just where they are on the surface of the globe.

So in prophecy. New discoveries have been made. New evidence has been produced. New truths have unvailed themselves. Time and study have cleared up completely the mistake the Adventists made in 1844. The whole prophetic globe, so to speak, has been explored, and the circuit completed. We can locate all its countries and continents. We can calculate all its degrees of latitude and longitude. And we can no more be mistaken in our present position in prophecy, than the geographers and navigators of our time can be mistaken when they map out the countries of our globe, and sail across its seas.

As compared with any development of truth in the past, there is tenfold more evidence for the position we occupy, than others have had for their work. What evidence had Noah to present to the world that the flood was coming? He had simply the fact that the Lord had said it, and he was well along in the building of the ark. What evidence have we that the end is at hand? We have the word of the Lord for it, and the work which the Lord has given his people to do in view of it, well under way; but the Lord has added a thousand other particulars in the social, moral, political, and physical worlds, which appearing all around us, add their testimony to the truthfulness of our position.

The whole world has been explored. All civilized lands know where every nation is located. There are no new nations to be developed. The present ones only are to be warned; and then shall the end come.

There are many hearts into which the inspiration of this truth has come to stay. The voices which come up from all sides are voices of hope and courage, enthusiasm and zeal. Watchman, what of the night?—The morning cometh! The day is at hand.

Another year's pledge for earnest work in the good cause goes up on high from many hearts; and they gird on the armor anew to go forth to transform it into the record of faithful service done.