TWO CLASSES OF SERVANTS

Referring again to the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew, you will notice that after the proclamation of the parable of the fig-tree, two classes of servants are presented, in the following language: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” ^{12Matthew 24:45-51.}LDT 157.1

These two classes of servants have been “fellow servants.” They must then have been engaged in the same work. This was true of those ministers in the churches who said “Amen” to the advent doctrine up to April, 1844, but who, after that time, turned to oppose the doctrine. They had been “fellow servants” with those who still continue to give “meat in due season,” and had joined them in saying, “The Lord is coming,” and in teaching the needed preparation to meet Him. Now they begin to smite their fellow servants, and at the same time “to eat and drink with the drunken.”LDT 158.1