DEAR BRO. WHITE:—Although we are strangers in the flesh, I trust we are brethren and fellow citizens in the household of God.
My name has been registered with the people called Christians forty-four years, and I have taken a great deal of comfort with them, especially in times of reformation, when we were raised up to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
But, O, since that time, how has the most fine gold become dim, and what a time of trial in the dark and cloudy day. How I have sighed, and cried before God, at home and abroad, on the road, in my field and in the meeting in prayer to Almighty God to know what I should or could do. And my heavenly Father has blessed me in so doing, and kept me from falling. Glory to his holy name.
My great trial has been to get the church to travel with me. I tell them that there is greater light before us; that we have not got all the light, and if they keep company with me they must travel. I believe that the time has come for the books of Daniel and John to be understood as well as other scriptures; for they were sealed for a definite time. And I believe that our glorious High Priest will soon come, and raise the righteous dead, and change the living saints, and, then glory to God, there will be a shout that will make heaven and earth ring.
I believe, also, that the seventh-day Sabbath is still the only Sabbath of the Bible, and a blessing instead of a curse, and have been trying to keep it for six years past. But I stand alone in these things. My brethren do not see, nor travel with me. But I have200been greatly encouraged of late; for God has sent our dear Bro. Chapin out into this region, and we have enjoyed several glorious meetings with him. And I do and will rejoice; for God through his instrumentality has started out six of my children to keep the Bible Sabbath and believe in the near coming of Jesus. Glory to God, and my dear companion also. O, what blessed meetings we have had at my house since then.
We bless God for the privilege of worshiping with a people that believe that all the scriptures are a revelation, and that we may learn more and more, for the path of the just shines more and more until the perfect day. I enjoy a great blessing also in reading the Review.
RUSSELL WEAVER
Mt. Cambria, N. Y., Apr. 4th, 1853.
The Carnal Mind Is Enmity Against God
"The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. viii. 7.
Answers.
By Editor
1. The following extract from Litch's Prophetic Expositions, will meet the leading points in the first question:
"It is obvious, from the last verse of the eighth chapter, that Daniel felt the most intense anxiety in respect to the vision, and yet had no light. But, according to the ninth chapter, he learned, immediately after the death of Belshazzar, [see Dan. v, 26, and onward,] in the first year of Darius the Mede, that Jeremiah had foretold 70 years captivity of the Jews in Babylon, and the same period of desolation of the land by the hand of the king of Babylon. From the beginning of Daniel's captivity, in the third year of Jehoiakim, and the first of Nebuchadnezzar, there had been seventy years accomplished. Daniel, knowing this fact, and also misunderstanding the real import of Jeremiah's prophecy, as well as his own vision, supposed the time for cleansing or justifying the sanctuary had arrived. But the prediction of Jeremiah [chap. xxv, 9-11] was, that God would bring Nebuchadnezzar against that land and nation, and 'utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and 'PERPETUAL DESOLATIONS.' 'This whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon 70 years. The Babylonian captivity was to be 70 years, but the land was to be 'perpetual desolations.' 'And it shall come to pass when 70 years are accomplished,'—not that the desolation of the holy land and oppression and bondage of the church cease, but—'I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.' The 70 years ended, and God sent the hand-writing on the palace wall of Babylon, 'Mene,' 'GOD HATH NUMBERED THY KINGDOM AND FINISHED IT.' That night Belshazzar was slain, and Darius took the kingdom.—But the desolations, both of Judea and Chaldea, yet continue."
We think that these remarks present the subject in the true light. It is not predicted that the desolation of Judea should terminate with the 70 years, but that the Babylonian servitude should continue that number of years. Jer. xxv, 9-11. The event which marks the termination of the 70 years is the punishment of the king of Babylon. Compare verse 12 with chap. xxvii, 7; Dan. v. 25-31. About two years after the punishment of the king of Babylon, God visited his people in that city, by stirring up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, to cause them to return to their own land. Jer. xxix, 10; Ezra i, 1-3.
The commandment, which Gabriel says came forth at the beginning of Daniel's supplication, was, doubtless, the divine mandate to Gabriel requiring him to visit and explain to Daniel those things which he had omitted to explain in chapter viii. For he says, "At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee." Dan. ix, 23. It was in obedience to that commandment, that Gabriel had then come.
It is certain that the decree from which the 70 weeks are dated [Dan. ix, 25] could not have gone forth at the end of the 70 years of Babylonian servitude, which was more than 530 years before Christ. For in that case the entire period of 70 weeks or 490 prophetic days, would not reach even to the birth of Christ, by a space of more than 40 years! Whereas 69 of the 70 weeks were to extend to the Messiah the Prince. But the decree of the seventh year of Artaxerxes answers all the conditions of the prophecy; and, reckoning from that decree, the 70 weeks were exactly fulfilled in all particulars. The seventh of Artaxerxes was B. C. 457. At the end of 69 weeks or 483 prophetic days from that point the Messiah began to preach in A. D. 27, saying "The time is fulfilled." Mark i, 14, 15.
It is true that Gabriel in this interview with Daniel predicted the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans; but he does not state that the 70 weeks extend to that event. He testifies that 69 of them extend only to Messiah the Prince. It is certain, therefore, that the remaining week, or period of 7 years, could not be extended to the destruction of Jerusalem, as that event did not occur for almost 40 years. And if the 70 weeks began with the termination of the Babylonian captivity they could not extend to the destruction of Jerusalem by a period of almost 120 years.
2. The evidence is perfectly conclusive that the Sanctuary of the Bible is the tabernacle of God, and not the earth, the land of Palestine, or the church. Ex. xxv, 8; Heb. ix, 1-5. The fact is clearly stated in the Scriptures that the earthly Sanctuary, or tabernacle, was made as a pattern or a representation of the true Sanctuary or tabernacle in heaven. Ex. xxv, 8, 40; Heb. viii, 1-5. It is plainly stated, in Heb. ix that the earthly Sanctuary was a figure of the true tabernacle, designed for the time then present, that is, for that dispensation, and that since the Lord Jesus became an High Priest, the greater and more perfect tabernacle has taken the place of that "figure," "example" or "pattern." The ninth chapter of Daniel, which is the inspired commentary on the vision of the Sanctuary and 2300 days in the eighth chapter, shows how large a portion of the 2300 days belongs to the earthly Sanctuary. "Seventy weeks [490 days] are determined [literally cut off] upon thy people and upon thy holy city." Verse 24. This shows that the whole period of 2300 days does not belong to Jerusalem and the Jews. It is an important fact, that this period of 70 weeks terminates at the time where the New Testament places the transfer from the earthly Sanctuary to the real one in heaven. And it is to be noticed that Gabriel introduces the heavenly Sanctuary to the view of Daniel. For the last event in the 70 weeks, as given by him, is the anointing of the "most holy," literally, as rendered by Clark and other eminent scholars, the "Holy of holies." This can refer to nothing else than the true tabernacle in which our High Priest was to minister for us. The act of anointing the earthly tabernacle, preceded the ministration of the Levitical priests; and the anointing of the heavenly Sanctuary precedes our Lord's ministration therein.
These facts, we think, are conclusive proof that the heavenly Sanctuary is the subject of that part of Daniel's vision that relates to the gospel dispensation. The cleansing of the earthly Sanctuary is distinctly stated in Lev. xvi. This was a part of the shadow of good things to come; of which good things, Christ is a minister in the greater and more perfect tabernacle. And the fact that the heavenly Sanctuary is to be cleansed for the same reason that the earthly was cleansed, is plainly stated in Heb. ix, 22-24.
3. The fulfillment of the prophetic periods in the symbolic prophecy, has ever been a day for a year. But the fulfillment of the types has never been thus marked. We understand that the Saviour ministered in the first apartment until the end of the 2300 days, and that the termination of that period marked the commencement of his ministration in the holies of all. If the ministration of the Saviour in the first apartment had been on the principle of a day in the type answering to a year in the antitype, then it would have occupied only 364 years instead of more than 1800. We know of no means of marking the precise length of Christ's ministration in the most holy place; but regard it as the brief period which will terminate human probation, and end in the pouring out of God's wrath in the seven last plagues.
Questions by Bro. Stone.
By Albert Stone
1. The Angel said to Daniel, “Unto 2300 days; then shall the Sanctuary be cleansed.” If this period closed on the tenth day of the seventh month, 1844, how is it that the Sanctuary and host are trodden under foot up to the present time, when it is now 2300 days and a few months over?
2. Will the phraseology or meaning of the text, allow more than one prophetic day from the close of the 2300 days, to accomplish the cleansing of the Sanctuary?
I subscribe myself yours, wishing to know the whole truth,
Eden, Vt. ALBERT STONE.
THE REVIEW AND HERALD.
By Editor
ROCHESTER, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1853
Bro. Miller's Article on the Sabbath.
We publish this excellent article for the truth's sake. It will be read with interest. He says:—
"The communication I send with this, was written for, and sent for publication, to the Second Advent Watchman, a paper which professes to be "devoted to the free and full investigation of all questions of bible theology, and its columns are open to the honest views of all, upon the various questions of interest to the church, arising from the word of God."
But, with these reasons assigned, the article is returned without publication;—"because it cannot possibly subserve the interests of the gospel of Jesus Christ," and "as the question of the Sabbath has been fully discussed in days past, the committee have decided not to make the Watchman a bearer of argument in favor of keeping a law which, if the gospel is true, was abolished more than 1800 years ago."
QUESTIONS BY BRO. FRISBIE.
By John B. Frisbie
1. I want to know how you reconcile the 70 years captivity, prophesied of by Jeremiah, [chap. xxv, 12,] which Daniel [chap. ix, 2] understood to be 70 years of desolation of Jerusalem, when the beginning was in B. C. 606, [2 Kings xxiv, 1,] and the end was in B. C. 536, [Ezra i, 1,] in the first year of Cyrus. Jer. xxv, 12, margin. Now we are told that the commandment did not go forth until the seventh year of Artaxerxes, B. C. 457. This was 79 years longer, which in all, made 149 years desolation, or captivity, instead of 70. This does not appear to agree with Dan. ix, 23, “at the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth,” &c. This appears to have been the first year of Darius B. C. 538. Dan. ix, 1, margin. And this vision appears to reach from the building of the city until its destruction by the Romans. Dan. ix, 26, 27. I do not know but it is all straight enough, when it is explained. But I have never seen any thing about this 79 years extra, and this vision reaching to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. I do not throw this out as a puzzle, but as a real difficulty in my own mind. I do not know but I am alone in this.
2. How do you know that the Sanctuary in Dan. viii, 14 is the one in heaven to be cleansed at the end of the 2300 days?
3. As you believe in type and antitype, how do you account for Jesus' stay in the most holy place (if he went in there in 1844) more than one year, answering to the day in the type?
Chelsea, Mich., March 29, 1853. J. B. FRISBIE.
Answers.
By John Nevins Andrews
1. The event to transpire at the end of the 2300 days is the cleansing of the Sanctuary. That the tabernacle of God is the Sanctuary of the Bible, a multitude of texts directly testify. Ex. xxxvi, 1-6; Lev. iv, 6; xvi, 33; Num. iv, 15; Ps. lxxviii, 54, 69; Heb. viii, 1, 2. That the cleansing of the Sanctuary is the work of a high priest, performed by blood, and not with fire is also a matter of certainty. Lev. xvi; Heb. ix. The work of cleansing the Sanctuary is not that of a king taking vengeance on his adversaries, but that of a priest concluding his work in the tabernacle of God. Hence, this work must precede the second Advent, and be accomplished ere the priestly work of our Lord is closed in the Sanctuary of God. Until that point of time, the wrath of God is stayed by the intercession of our great High Priest. When that point is reached, the sins of the host or church, having been transferred from the Sanctuary to the antitypical scape-goat, and the saints of God being all sealed, the wrath of God without mixture of mercy is poured out, and the adversaries of the Lord are destroyed with an utter destruction. The period of time in which the Sanctuary is being cleansed, we understand to be what the angel denominates "the last end of the indignation." Dan. viii, 19. That it occupies a space of time is evident from the form of expression used by Gabriel: "I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation."
2. We think there is nothing in Dan. viii, which limits the cleansing of the Sanctuary to one prophetic day. If the ministry in the holiest of all were proportioned to the length of time occupied by our Lord in ministering in the first apartment, several prophetic days must be required. And if the mighty events connected with that ministration be taken into the account, this will appear in the highest degree reasonable and just. J. N. A.
Financial Report on Tracts and the Review
By Editor
The amount received to publish Tracts is, $298,42
The expense of publishing Tracts noticed in No. 23, 290,00
For 4000 copies of a Work of 40 pages on the first day of the week, and history of the Sabbath, 100,00
Whole expense for Tracts published, 390,00
Expense above what has been received, 91,58
We have stated that if 1500 of our readers would forward to us $1 each, it would pay the expenses of the publication of the REVIEW for one year, or a volume of 26 numbers. Of this sum, $1411,21 has been received, leaving $88,79 to be paid on the present volume, which closes with one number more.
The amount still to be paid on this volume of the REVIEW and for tracts, is $180,37. This sum we shall need by the tenth of May, to purchase paper, and to meet other necessary expenses before going West. We freely state the condition of the Office as to means, knowing that the friends of the cause will cheerfully aid us.
We have 400 copies of the Pamphlet, entitled Advent Review, containing thrilling testimonies relative to the Advent Movement. As many of the testimonies in this work were given, more to show what had been the faith of the Advent body than to present a system of truth, and lest our real views be misunderstood by this work, we have added a few remarks by way of explanation, and shall now be happy to circulate it.
Appointments.
By J. N. Loughborough
Providence permitting, I will hold meetings with the brethren, on my way west, as follows:
Fredonia, N. Y., April 30th and May 1st. Milan, Ohio, May 7th and 8th. Tyrone, Mich., May 14th and 15th. Jackson, Mich., the 17th, at 5 o'clock P. M. Battle Creek, the 19th at 5 o'clock P. M. Bedford, Mich., May 21st and 22d.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Letters.
By Editor
R. S. Johnson, U. Colby, E. J. Paine, J. Fuller, A. Fuller, F. Wheeler, S. R. C. Denison, L. Paine, R. Weaver, S. W. Rhodes, J. H. Waggoner, E. Everts, J. N. Luther, M. G. Kellogg, S. Harriman, Wm. Bryant, H. W. Lawrence, M. S. Avery, S. J. Voorus, O. Nichols, H. Edson, J. Bates, B. Madill, E. Farnsworth, R. Hicks, P. Miller, Jr., A. P. H. Kelsey, M. Slayton, R. A. Sperry, G. M. Burnett, A. H. Robinson, H. Flower, H. S. Gurney, U. Smith, C. M. Brown, S. Peckham, J. Kellogg.
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E. Davis, L. M. Freeto, R. Reed, S. Burdick, H. M. Ayres, B. B. Brigham, H. Gardner, each $2; A. T. Wilkinson, a Friend in Maine, E. Lothrop, each $3; L. Carpenter $2.75. A. Hazeltine $1.50; S. Dunten $1.25; D. R. Palmer, $1.65.—V. R. Stowell, a Friend, each 70 cents; S. Pratt, A. Kingsbury, A. Cudworth, I. Ring, each 50 cents; C. Bourn, J. Wilder, each 25 cents; L. Bean 60 cents; R. F. Cottrell 40 cents.
For Tracts.
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