VERSES 1–5. And I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women: for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile; for they are without fault before the throne of God.
It is a pleasing feature of the prophetic word that the people of God are never brought into positions of trial and difficulty and there left. Taking them down into scenes of danger, the voice of prophecy does not there cease, leaving them to guess their fate, in doubt, perhaps despair, as to the final result; but it takes them through to the end, and shows the issue in every conflict. The first five verses of Rev. xiv, are an instance of this. The xiii th chapter left the people of God, a small and apparently weak and defenseless company, in deadly conflict with the mightiest powers of earth which the dragon is able to muster to his service. A decree is passed, backed up by the supreme power of the land, that they shall all receive the anti-christian mark, under pain of death if they refuse to comply. What can the people of God do in such a conflict, and in such an extremity? What will become of them? Glance forward with the apostle to the very next scene in the programme, and what do we behold? The very same company standing on mount Zion with the Lamb—a victorious company, harping on golden harps, their triumph through the courts of heaven.
Thus are we assured that when the time of our conflict with the powers of darkness comes, deliverance is not only certain, but will immediately be given, being the next event in our history, the glorious rest after the weary pilgrimage, the glorious consummation of a life of toil, suffering, and ceaseless conflict here.
That the 144,000 here seen on mount Zion, are the saints who were just before brought to view as objects of the wrath of the beast and his image, several considerations show:
1. They are identical with those sealed in Rev. vii, who have already been shown to be the righteous who are alive at the second coming of Christ.
2. They are the overcomers of the sixth, or Philadelphian, state of the church. See Rev. iii, 11, 12.
3. They are “redeemed from among men,” verse 4, an expression which can be applicable only to those who are translated from among the living. Paul labored if by any means he might attain to a resurrection out from among the dead. Phil. iii, 11. This is the hope of those who sleep in Jesus—a resurrection from the dead: a redemption from among men, from among the living, must mean a different thing, and can mean only one thing, and that is translation. Hence the 144,000 are the living saints who will be translated at the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Where is the mount Zion where this company is seen standing? The mount Zion above; for the voice of harpers, which no doubt is uttered by these very ones, is heard from heaven; the same Zion from which the Lord utters his voice when he speaks to his people in close connection with the coming of the Son of man. See Joel iii, 16; Heb. xii, 26–28; Rev. xvi, 17. A just consideration of the fact that there is a mount Zion in Heaven, and a Jerusalem above, would be a powerful antidote against the hallucination of the doctrine called “Age to Come.”
A few more particulars, only, respecting the 144,000, will claim notice in these brief thoughts.
1. They have the name of the Lamb’s Father in their foreheads. In chap. vii, they are said to have the seal of God in their foreheads. An important key to an understanding of the seal of God is thus furnished us; for we at once perceive that the Father regards his name as his seal. That commandment of the law which contains God’s name is therefore the seal of the law. The Sabbath commandment is the only one which has this; that is, that contains the descriptive title which distinguishes the true God above all false gods. Wherever this was placed, there the Father’s name was said to be. Deut. xxviii, 10, and whoever keeps this commandment has, consequently, the seal of the living God.
2. They sing a new song which no other company is able to learn. In chap. xv, 3, it is called the song of Moses, and the song of the Lamb. The song of Moses, as may be seen by reference to Ex. xv, was the song of his experience and deliverance. Such therefore is the song of the 144,000. No others can join in it; for no other company will have an experience like theirs.
3. They were not defiled with women. A woman is the Scripture symbol of a church: a virtuous woman representing a pure church, a corrupt woman an apostate church. It is then a characteristic of this company that at the time of their deliverance they are not defiled with, or have no connection with, the corrupt churches of the land. Yet we are not to understand that they never had any connection with these churches; for it is only at a certain time that people become defiled by them. In chap. xviii, 4, we find a call issued to the people of God while they are in Babylon, to come out, lest they become partakers of her sins. Heeding that call, and leaving her connection, they escape the defilement of her sins. So the 144,000, though some of them may once have had a connection with corrupt churches, break off that connection, when it would have become sin to longer retain it.
4. They follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. We understand that this is spoken of them in their redeemed state. They are the special companions of their glorified Lord in the kingdom. Chap. vii, 17, speaking of the same company, and at the same time, says, “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters.”
5. They are “first-fruits” unto God and the Lamb. This term appears to be applied to different ones to denote especial conditions. Christ is the first-fruits as the antitype of the wave-sheaf. The first receivers of the gospel are called by James i, 18, a kind of first-fruits. So the 144,000 ripening up for the heavenly garner here on earth, during the troublous scenes of the last days, being translated to heaven without seeing death, and occupying a pre-eminent position, are in this sense, we understand, called first-fruits unto God and the Lamb.
Verses 6–12. 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, 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. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 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, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation: and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Another scene, and another chain of prophetic events is introduced in these verses. We here have what is known as the three angels’ messages of Rev. xiv. The first angel is called another angel, because John had already seen one flying in a similar manner. Chap. xiv, 6. He proclaims the gospel, not a new one, but the everlasting gospel, called in Matt. xxiv, 14, “the gospel of the kingdom.” But while it is the same gospel, there are particular features which constitute197the burden of the message, chief among which as shown by verse 7, is the nearness of the kingdom.
This message cannot therefore symbolize the preaching of the gospel by the apostles, nor by the reformers, nor by any class of people except those who live when the end is just at hand. The advent proclamation, especially from 1840 to 1844, completely answers to the prophecy, and is the only great religious movement which can be pointed to as its fulfillment. The judgment announced is shown by arguments which the designed brevity of these articles will not here admit, to be the investigative judgment, which the reader will perceive must necessarily take place before the coming of Christ; for when Christ comes it is already decided who of the dead shall be raised, and who of the living are worthy to be changed. That investigative work we believe commenced in the Sanctuary above, when this message ceased as a leading proclamation, at the close of the prophetic periods in 1844.
The second angel announces the fall of Babylon. What is Babylon? The figure is taken from the ancient city of Babylon; and that took its name from the confusion of tongues which there took place; hence we understand that by this symbol is meant the great mass of confused and corrupt Christianity,
“Where creeds are various as her costly towers.”
Her fall was a moral fall, caused by rejecting the vivifying truths of the first message, or great advent proclamation.
The third angel follows them with a message of most fearful import. From the language in which it is expressed, we understand at once that it is designed to warn men against the worship of the beast and his image, and prepare them for that time when the decree shall be issued enforcing such worship, as noticed in the previous chapter. This is the issue then into which the world is to be brought: refuse the mark of the beast and thus become exposed to the wrath of antichristian, earthly powers, or receive the mark and brave the unmixed wrath of God. This wrath is embraced, according to chap. xv, 1, in the seven last plagues. The torment of fire and brimstone, when is that? Some apply it at the end of the one thousand years, but we think not necessarily. Chap. xix, 20 shows that there is at the second coming of Christ, what may be compared to a lake of fire and brimstone, into which the beast and false prophet are cast alive. This can refer to none other than the destruction visited upon them at the commencement, not at the end, of the thousand years. Again, there is a remarkable passage in Isaiah to which we are obliged to refer in explanation of the phraseology of the threatening of the third angel, and which unquestionably describes scenes to take place here at the second advent, and the desolate state of the earth during the thousand years following. That the language in the Revelation was borrowed from this prophecy can hardly fail to be seen. After describing the Lord’s anger upon the nations, the great slaughter of their armies, the departing of the heavens as a scroll, &c., it says: “For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up forever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it forever and ever.” Isa. xxxiv, 8–10. And since there is to be a lake of fire at the end of the thousand years, we can only conclude that the destruction of the living wicked at the commencement, and the final doom of all the ungodly at the end, of this period, are very similar.
The period of the third message is a time of patience with the people of God. Paul and James both give us instruction on this point. Heb. x, 36; James v, 7, 8. Meanwhile this waiting company are keeping the commandments of God, the ten commandments, and the faith of Jesus, all the teachings of Christ and his apostles as contained in the New Testament. For a full exposition of this interesting and important subject, see “The Three Messages of Rev. xiv,” published at this Office.
(To be continued.)
Suffering After the Minnesota Massacres
THE Indian massacres in Minnesota (so say the papers) have produced great distress among the settlers all along the frontier counties. Appeals for contributions to aid them have been made in the principal cities. The Governor of Minnesota states that at least thirty thousand miserable men, heart-broken women and abject children, are wandering homeless, naked, and starving. Certainly our country affords no parallel of suffering such as this. Clothing is greatly needed by the suffering, for the rigors of winter are at hand.—Sel.
“Show it, Then!”
By M. E. Cornell
Bro. White: Allow me to say to those who have taken the Review through my agency, promising to pay soon, that I have looked over the Iowa list and find that many have not yet paid anything, and are now all the way from three to ten volumes behind.
Now I feel it my duty to see that those whose names I have sent in, should pay up, or render a reason. If there are those who prize the paper, and are trying to live out the truth, that are not able to pay, let them write, or get some one to write for them.
Some have already come to the conclusion that this is a very cheap gospel, and that they are accommodating the Association very much to consent to take their papers free.
Such will soon find out their mistake. We are not the people that glory in numbers. A “little flock” well united, like Gideon’s three hundred men, will triumph at last.
I say then, if you prize the paper, let it be manifested by earnest efforts to “Pay that thou owest.” A man was once reproved and taught his duty by the singing of birds. He thought a bird on one side of the road said, “I love you, I love you,” and was immediately answered from the other side, “Show it then, Show it then.”
Do you prize the Advent Review? Show it, then! show it, then!
Where there is a will, there is (in most cases), a way. The devoted, worthy poor, are the only ones who can have the Review free, henceforth, through my agency. When honest inquirers after truth have taken the paper one year, they will do their utmost to pay for it, and when they cannot, will in some way let it be known. Adventists, of all people, should be most earnest and faithful.
M. E. CORNELL.
Stone of Stumbling.
By J. Clarke
PRIDE must fall, and however cautious the possessor of this passion may be, there is certainly some stone over which he will fall, some stone of stumbling and rock of offense.
To the Christian, occasions of stumbling lie all along the path to glory; but humility, and submission, and teachableness, do so temper his understanding that he is quick to discern the hidden danger; while the self-wise have their eyes so dimmed by pride and conceit, that the warnings of heaven are slighted and unnoticed.
The Jew stumbled at the cross, and fearful was the fall. Many were charmed with the teachings of Christ; but when he told them that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood, many were offended and forsook him, not asking or waiting an explanation.
The churches of the present day are evidently stumbling over the doctrine of the Advent, and the truths connected therewith.
Those connected with the S. D. Adventists may perhaps imagine that they are safe from danger of this kind.
Let us beware! The march of God’s people is an onward march, in a perilous time, amid all dangers.
We, a weak remnant of a fallen race, we, fleeing from an apostate church, in which we have imbibed manifold errors and prejudices, have yet much to learn and much to unlearn.
Let us read carefully Vol. II of Spiritual Gifts, and consider the awful fall of many who started fair many years ago in this faith of the third message, and consider the history of the S. D. A. church, and notice the fall of many at every advance move of the body.
We find this people do not hesitate to abjure an error, however long it may have been held, or dearly cherished; nor do they hesitate to adopt a truth, when they find it to be truth, even though it may have been opposed before.
Now this is the opposite of bigotry. May they ever persevere in this, till all come into the full blaze of the truth as it was delivered once to the saints.
It is as necessary for a S. D. Adventist to free himself from bigotry and self-will, as for those who stand opposed to the whole truth. At present, the subject of organization seems to be the stone of stumbling among us; and a foolish stumble many are making. I have found in teaching school, that the more thorough and systematic its organization, the more successful the school.
From the first I have admired the plan of organization, and I have been puzzled beyond measure to see the part acted by those opposing it; especially that men of talent, of piety, of largeness of mind, should fail to move most heartily for complete organization.
Why is it? Why don’t we all hasten? Is not destruction at hand? What! can it be? Are our officers acting like the army officers at the defeat at Bull Run? Men of God! Is it so? Are the soldiers cut to pieces for want of pluck in our officers?
Is it possible, we exclaimed, as we read the article on Organization in No. 18, by Bro. White, that anti-organizationalists still are hesitating? Why don’t you come up, to a man, in this business? When I think, after all that has been said and done on this matter, how Bro. White is tantalized, how the testimony is198trampled on, how the church is trammelled, how the good Spirit is slighted, oh, it is provoking, it is sickening, it is discouraging, it is positively flat, nauseous as the lukewarm water from the stagnant pool.
It is amazing, with such a flood of light, that any should walk in darkness. Does not Paul compare the church to the human body? Is not the human body organized? Suppose it were possible that by some accident your body were disorganized, your limbs broken, your joints dislocated, your jaws locked, your pulse fitful and faint; and a council of medical men should meet, and the head surgeon should advise immediate action, to set the dislocated joints, and broken limbs; to organize as far as possible the disorganized parts: thus, says he, order will be restored, and the suffering patient will breathe free; his heart will cease to palpitate with such painful agony, his pulse will soon regain its regularity, and he will soon recover. Meanwhile the patient groans in agony, hardly conscious of existence, and the council of doctors seems to him like the visions of the nightmare, or the ghosts of the departed.
The council hesitate; the patient sinks; they doubt the propriety of the surgeon's suggestions; they doubt, and doubt; the patient sinks, and sinks; his breath is feeble, and more feeble. The surgeon is astonished at the stupidity of his council. He alone goes to work, straightens the spine and limbs as well as he can (God bless him), bandages the swollen places, sets the patient as well as he can with the help he can muster, and says he, "Now can't you assist me, my brethren?"
Now we, that groaning body, have got just out of this fainting fit, and can just sit propped up with pillows (thanks to the good surgeon's efforts), and our prayer to God is to send help to our surgeon, of the right kind, who will help to set our broken bones and dislocated joints; and if any quacks still doubt about setting these bones, and organizing this body, may God take from them their diplomas, and give them to good assistant surgeons, who will act like men of sense.
Our body is racked with pain. The church sighs to be free, to walk out and take air. It is painful to be thus confined to a state of inactivity and suffering.
J. CLARKE.
Report of Meetings.
By A. S. Hutchins
BRO. WHITE: Last week Bro. D. T. Bourdeau and myself returned home from our tour South. We were absent four weeks.
Sabbath and first-day, Oct. 18 and 19, we met with the church in Berlin, Ct. Though our brethren and sisters here had not been favored with preaching before for over two years, we found them pressing forward and toiling on for mount Zion. They had felt the necessity of order in their midst for some time, and were anxiously waiting for organization. We enjoyed good freedom in our meetings, both in preaching and in the work of organization. About twenty were united as a church, covenanting together to keep the commandments of God and faith of Jesus. We were happy to see the strict regard for the observance of the holy Sabbath here. The Author of this sacred institution must smile with approbation upon such. Their tables were furnished on the Sabbath with plain, healthful food, prepared on sixth-day. Why cannot others do likewise?
In Ashfield, Mass., the Lord gave us good liberty in speaking upon, and answering objections to, our view of the gifts. Let us all heed the injunction, ‑Despise not prophesyings.‑ 1 Thess. v, 20.
In Vernon, Vt., we gave a few lectures, but the interest was not sufficient to give a full course at present. Bro. G. F. Richmond, who with his companion embraced the Bible Sabbath last winter in N. Y. from reading a few of our publications sent him by his mother, went forward in the ordinance of baptism.
In Jamaica the brethren felt the need of more order, and manifested a desire for it, by completing the work of organization.
The brethren in Andover also expressed a desire to have things set in order. A meeting was held for this purpose, which we trust resulted in great good to the cause here. It was truly painful to witness the sad work of the busy, mischievous tongue in this little church. But we hope there may be a speedy, thorough, and permanent reform in this respect. Says David, ‑I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.‑ This is truly a worthy purpose! After the removal of hindrances, a church was organized, consisting of all found in union and Christian fellowship.
While in Ct. we received several urgent requests to visit other sections, with which we would gladly have complied, but we had left our team two hundred miles from home, which we must drive about three hundred more on our return to meet previous arrangements; and as it was too late in the season, we feared we might soon meet with cold weather, snow, and bad wheeling; and as I write to-day, the fast-falling snow, with the quantity already upon the ground, reminds us that such fears were not groundless.
With emotions of gratitude we call to mind the refreshing seasons enjoyed with the people of God on this tour. We also feel thankful for their readiness to administer to our temporal wants. May we all be of one mind, that the God of love and peace may be with us, and we all finally share in the inestimable reward of immortality and eternal life.
A. S. HUTCHINS.
Barton Landing, Vt., Nov. 9, 1862.
Voice from Minnesota.
By Jno. Bostwick, W. Morse
BRO. WHITE: After reading your remarks in Review No. 16, on State Conferences, and your remarks on organization in No. 18, we thought it our duty to speak out in behalf of the cause in this State.
First, we can say that we have not suffered so much from a spirit of opposition to organization, as from the bad effects of premature organization. We have been so anxious to move in harmony with the body that we have moved in some things too fast. Had we waited till the Review had taken a decided stand in favor of the gifts being made a test, also the strait testimony of sister White on the subject of hoops, tobacco, tea, and coffee, we might have avoided much trial and perplexity of mind, together with the many bad results of a hasty organization. But we have learned a lesson by what we have suffered in the past that will cause us to move cautiously in the future.
We have of late been effecting a more thorough organization, with good success. Our last conference was the best ever held in the State. A deep solemnity pervaded the entire meeting from commencement to close. All seemed to realize that the perils of the last days are right upon us, and the importance of being awake to the time in which we live, and the dangers that surround us.
You will see by our conference report that we have organized into a State Conference. We would have been glad to postpone the organization till we could have had some one of experience to assist us; but the wants of the cause seemed to require the immediate concentration of our forces, that we might be enabled to more properly conduct our business operations. And we know of no better way than State Conference organization.
We have done the best we could, hoping to have some one of experience to assist in obtaining a more perfect organization, it being our desire as a people in this State (with few exceptions) to stand with the body, and to act upon, and carry out as far as possible, the instructions of the Review, its Editor having our hearty co-operation in every strike made for the further advancement and prosperity of the cause of present truth. We hope to have our next conference at a time when we can secure a visit from yourself and sister White. We think your labors among us would be highly appreciated.
We would be glad to state that the doings of the Michigan Conference meet our hearty approval, especially the action taken on the items introduced by Bro. Sanborn.
In conclusion we would say to those of our brethren scattered throughout the State, and who are not connected with any of our organized churches, that we are desirous of having your hearty co-operation, and hope if possible you will organize with one or more officers, so that you may be able to have a voice in our State Conference. We hold ourselves in readiness to assist you, the Lord willing.
Brethren in Minnesota, let us rally to the standard, for the powers of darkness are pressing hard, and by standing together in an organization, where we can more effectually assist the cause by our prayers and means through systematic labor in every department, we can in this way, and this alone, carry forward the last solemn message ever to be given to the children of men, and be enabled to stand in that more perfect organization on the sea of glass before the throne.