PREFACE

THIS work is designed to give a general outline of the foundation, rise and progress of the Advent movement up to the present time, showing that it was the work of God, also, its connection with prophecy, and the prophetic fulfillments upon which it is based. That the reader may better understand its application, let the mind go back to the time when the interest on this subject commenced, and then follow on in the course of the narration, to the present. Part I, takes us from the commencement of the work to the passing of the time in 1844. Its analysis may be told, in brief, as follows:WVTP 1.1

1. The Bible man’s only guide. 2. The prophecies may be understood, and are given for our instruction, that we might “all keep pace with truth.” 3. The signs of the last days in sun, moon and stars. 4. The state of the world just previous to the preaching of the Advent. 5. The first angel’s message: “Fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgement is come.” 6. The prophecies of Daniel on which it is based. 7. The voice of Time, showing the fulfillment of those prophecies in the past. 8. A company go forth to sound the message, represented as a “pilgrim band, taking up their march.” 9. The rejection of the message by the Nominal Church, hence, 10. The second angel’s message: “Babylon is fallen, is fallen.” 11. The disappointment of 1843, on account of which, “they all slumbered and slept.” 12. The Midnight Cry-2300 days, at whose end the Sanctuary should be cleansed, shown to terminate on the tenth day of the seventh month, 1844. (See Notes, in the last part of the book.) 13. The great disappointment at the passing of that time, and its immediate effects.WVTP 1.2

Part II, after giving an apostrophe to the “Blessed Hope,” to which a few still clung, and were sustained in all their trials, casting not away their confidence, [Hebrews 10:35.]-continues the narration, showing the more gradual effects of the disappointment; viz: the numerous divisions which crept in and scattered the flock. 2. The Sanctuary is then explained, wherein lay the cause of the disappointment, and the past is established. 3. Thence we come to a farther development of prophecy: the third angel’s message, and the prophecies of Revelation with which it is connected. 4. The Sabbath of the Lord. 5. An address to the Laodiceans-those who profess to be Adventists, but have lost all the life and power of godliness, not having followed along down the track of Prophecy —and to those who have given up all their profession, and gone back into the world. 6. A warning to the shepherds. 7. Watchmen, what of the night? 8. The Spirit manifestations, Satan’s last scheme to deceive mankind. 9. A warning to the world. 10. Distress of nations. 11. The coming storm. 12. The time of trouble, and the seven last plagues. 13. The final battle, and 14. The Restitution.WVTP 2.1

It is not, however, the object of this work, to enter into all the minute details of the Advent faith; these may be found written out in other publications; nor can it be expected that a work of this kind would enter so largely into deep and close reasoning, as might be expected from argumentative prose pieces; but as it has become an undeniable fact that “earth’s career is drawing near its close,” that the scenes of time are almost finished, and that the destinies of all mankind will soon be fixed for ever, it is hoped that the following lines will be instrumental in leading some minds to examine the important subjects therein faintly outlined; that they may prepare for the fearful scenes now hanging over a sleeping world, and thus secure,WVTP 3.1

“Against the day of wrath, a safe retreat.”WVTP 3.2

The great conclusion of the prophetic records, that the present system of things is soon to cease, that the Son of man will soon appear in the clouds of heaven, to gather his people to himself, and take vengeance on them that know not God, has become, as it were an axiom, a self-evident proposition. The Scriptures speak out too plainly on this point, and the signs of the present day, present too startling a fulfillment of the corresponding predictions, to admit of any doubt on this subject. Only those who are asleep to the nature of events transpiring around us, and their tendency, are indifferent about their termination. How then does it become all those who know these things to be truth, to do what they can to warn others. U.S.WVTP 3.3