Prophets Anxious For The Return Of The Lord
The theological concept that the coming of the Messiah initiated the “eschatological era” or “end time” may well have been understood and accepted by the apostles. Nevertheless, we must recognize that none of them imagined that the end time would extend for centuries. Nearly all shared the conviction that Christ’s coming was imminent. Although we don’t know exactly the way in which the Holy Spirit handled this matter, at least we know that the apostles received additional information. For example, in his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul appears to express his conviction that he will live to see the coming of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17). However, additional information received between the two letters allowed him to suggest to the brethren not expect Christ’s return immediately (2 Thessalonians 2:14).VOTS 30.1
The apostle John seemed to be convinced he was living in the “end time” (1 John 2:18). We know, however, that subsequent visions given to the seer of Patmos caused him to realize that many things would happen, including intense persecutions, before the coming of the Lord. Undoubtedly, the book of Revelation was the Spirit’s answer to the various expectations that may have arisen in the beloved disciple’s mind.VOTS 30.2
Something similar happened in the early Adventist movement. Practically all the believers, including the messenger of the Lord, shared the conviction of the imminence of the second coming of Christ. We need not be embarrassed by the fact that Ellen White expressed her expectations. So did Paul, Peter, and John in biblical times. Again, however, the Holy Spirit had to correct some ideas and give additional information to guide the church in the right direction. In 1856, Ellen White stated that some believers attending a certain meeting would live until the coming of the Lord, creating certain expectations about this particular group. Two years later, in 1858, the messenger of the Lord had the vision about the great controversy between Christ and Satan and received additional information about the journey that still lay ahead. Later it was revealed: “We may have to remain here in this world because of insubordination many more years, as did the children of Israel.” VOTS 31.1
These statements referring to the expectations of the prophets about the coming of the Lord fall within the category of “conditional prophecies.” In a concise statement, Ellen White gives us at least three reasons why the concept of imminence was always in her mind: (1) the time was always revealed to her as being very brief, (2) she herself longed for Christ’s soon return, (3) the prophecies in which human beings are involved are conditional.VOTS 31.2
The angels of God in their messages to men represent time as very short. Thus it has always been presented to me. It is true that time has continued longer than we expected in the early days of this message. Our Saviour did not appear as soon as we hoped. But has the Word of the Lord failed? Never! It should be remembered that the promises and the threatenings of God are alike conditional. VOTS 31.3
It is amazing to see how God solves the problem of working with human, and therefore imperfect, messengers. If the prophet has a preconceived idea that may distort the way he perceives truth, the Spirit will take charge of clarifying that idea in the prophet’s mind so that he/she can correctly transmit the divine message. If the problem is a certain anticipation on behalf of the prophet to see the prophecies he himself has communicated to the people of God fulfilled, the Spirit will take charge of offering additional information to the prophet to protect the church from false expectations. The work of the divine instrument in guiding the human instrument and leading him into all truth is what gives us the assurance that the divine message is free from errors or mistakes that could confuse the understanding of the believers.VOTS 32.1