No. III. VIEWS OF THE CLOSING OF THE DOOR OF MERCY
THE following is an extract of one of the articles to which Mr. Miller refers in Letter IV., page 236. We have thought best to give it in this work, that all careful, inquiring, and candid students of prophecy may understand Mr. Miller’s, as well as our own views of this solemn subject. We are more particular on this point because we have been misunderstood and misrepresented. E X T R A C T. As there has been much inquiry of late on the subject of the closing up of the day of grace, or probation, we here give the scriptures on which this opinion is founded, with some remarks, and leave our readers to judge for themselves. Revelation 16:12-21. The attentive reader of the foregoing passages will see that on the pouring out of the “seventh vial,” a voice “from the throne” proclaimed,-“IT IS DONE.” This was after the battle of “Armageddon.” If it is after that, then the day of grace will continue to the end of the world, or till Christ comes. 1 Corinthians 15:23, 24: “Afterwards, they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father.” On this passage, Prof. STUART, of Andover, makes the following remark:- “The apostle here represents the end as coming when Christ will deliver up his mediatorial kingdom, after he has put all enemies under his feet: this accomplished, his mediatorial work is done; his embassy is completed; his mission, therefore, comes to an end.” Again; Revelation 10:7: “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.” When the sixth trumpet hath ceased to sound, the seventh begins, and “in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall BEGIN to sound, the mystery of God [or dispensation of grace] shall be finished.” It would appear from this, that upon the fall of the Turkish empire, which will take place on the closing up of the “sixth vial” and “trumpet,” that the day of probation will close. Again, Revelation 11:15: “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.” This most certainly closes up the gospel dispensation, and brings us to the glorified state; for we are to “reign forever and ever.” This will take place when the seventh angel shall sound. Here we have this most solemn and momentous subject, as brought to view in the book of Revelation. There is one other passage that we quote, which has an important bearing upon this subject. Matthew 25:10-12: “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage; and the DOOR WAS SHUT.” We learn that the preparation was made by the wise when the midnight cry was given: but the foolish deferred the matter until it was too late, for while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, “and the door was shut.” “Afterwards, the foolish virgins came, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us. But he answered and said, Verily, I say unto you, I know you not.” This is the time referred to in Revelation 22:11: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”MWV1 251.1
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. He which testifieth these things saith, SURELY; I come quickly; Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”MWV1 252.1