MR No. 1078—“Go Forward”

(Written December 20, 1898, from Newcastle, NSW, Australia.)

The Lord has said, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).13MR 395.1

Unbelief has kept the work centered in a few places, and the message has not advanced as it should. Satan is seeking to hinder the work of God by filling the hearts of the workers with a desire for recognition and the supremacy. Contention and strife as to who shall be the greatest have taken the strength and grace and power from the working forces. God calls for a decided change in every church, that all may become one in Christ Jesus. It is no time now for us selfishly to draw apart from our brethren. There is to be unity and love among God's people.13MR 395.2

I address the Seventh-day Adventist churches. The Lord is coming. I am bidden to call upon the churches to awake out of sleep. We must contend with invisible, supernatural foes. We are to put on the whole armor of God, that we may be prepared for the battles we have daily to fight. [See Ephesians 6:11.]13MR 395.3

I call upon those who have received light and knowledge to pray most earnestly, and to come up to “the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty” [Judges 5:23]. Who are these mighty foes? They are the powers who in the days of Daniel hindered the heavenly messenger from convincing the king of Persia of the work he was to do.13MR 395.4

Our work of heralding the second coming of Christ is similar to that of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ at His first advent. We are to proclaim to the world the message, “The great day of the Lord is near” [Zephaniah 1:14]. “Prepare to meet thy God” [Amos 4:12]. We are to do much more than we have yet done.13MR 396.1

Among us, as among the children of Israel when they were being led to the Promised Land, are many who, unless they can see clearly every step in advance, will not move at the command of God to “go forward” [See Exodus 14:15]. They have but little faith and but little of the spirit of self-denial and self-sacrifice.13MR 396.2

Here in this field we are bound about. We must make centers for the work in this country just as fast as possible—not like the center that has been made in Battle Creek, but many centers on a smaller scale. We are not to overbuild in some places while many sections are left unworked.13MR 396.3

We must build humble houses for worship. Wherever our camp meetings are held, some of our workers are to remain and carry on the work as the interest demands; and this work should not be left before a meetinghouse is erected for the use of those who shall accept the truth as the result of the personal labor that has been put forth. In Brisbane this plan has been followed, and about 40 have been converted. A small meetinghouse is now being erected. [April, 1899. This work has advanced, and I now understand that the church is completed and is dedicated free from debt.]13MR 396.4

Many are earnestly laboring for the conversion of souls in Brisbane; but in that large city Elder Haskell is the only minister.13MR 396.5

Brother Wilson and his wife, precious and successful laborers, have accomplished a good work wherever they have gone. But our beloved Brother Wilson now sleeps in Jesus. We bury our faithful standard-bearers, but we have no time to stop for mourning; we are to “go forward.” The inhabitants of the world are perishing, many without having heard the call to repentance. The work must be advanced in every place.13MR 397.1

As yet there are but few of our people in Newcastle. This great city must be worked.13MR 397.2

Shall we stop where we are? No; to us who have the truth is given the command: “Go forward; enter new fields; lift up the standard in new territory.” In Australia we are entering new fields continually, yet we have not done one hundredth part of what we might have done if we had received the help we needed.13MR 397.3