"Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said…"
Matthew 24
15.When ye therefore shall see…
33.when ye shall see all these things, know…
42.Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
44.Therefore be ye also ready
Mark 13:
14.But when ye shall see…
23.But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
29.when ye shall see these things come to pass, know…
33.Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
35-37.Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Luke 21:
21.And when ye shall see…
31.when ye see these things come to pass, know ye…
36.Watch ye therefore, and pray always…
Our position has been one of waiting and watching, with no time proclamation to intervene between the close of the prophetic periods in 1844 and the time of the Lord’s coming. LDE 36
The Lord showed me that the message must go, and that it must not be hung on time; for time will never be a test again.
I saw that some were getting a false excitement, arising from preaching time, that the third angel’s message can stand on its own foundation, and that it needs not time to strengthen it, and that it will go with mighty power, and do its work, and will be cut short in righteousness. “I saw some were making everything bend to this next fall; that is, making their calculations, and disposing of their property in reference to that time.
I saw that this was wrong for this reason, instead of going to God daily, and earnestly desiring to know their present duty, they looked ahead, and made their calculations as though they knew that the work would end this fall, without inquiring their duty of God daily…
The times and the seasons God has put in his own power, and why has not God given us this knowledge?—Because we would not make a right use of it if he did.
A condition of things would result from this knowledge among our people that would greatly retard the work of God in preparing a people to stand in the great day that is to come.
We are not to live upon time excitement.
We are not to be engrossed with speculations in regard to the times and the seasons which God has not revealed.
Jesus has told his disciples to “watch,” but not for definite time.
His followers are to be in the position of those who are listening for the orders of their Captain; they are to watch, wait, pray, and work, as they approach the time for the coming of the Lord; but no one will be able to predict just when that time will come; for “of that day and hour knoweth no man.”
You will not be able to say that he will come in one, two, or five years, neither are you to put off his coming by stating that it may not be for ten or twenty years.
This is the work in which we also are to be engaged. Instead of living in expectation of some special season of excitement, we are wisely to improve present opportunities, doing that which must be done in order that souls may be saved. Instead of exhausting the powers of our mind in speculations in regard to the times and seasons which the Lord has placed in his own power, and withheld from men, we are to yield ourselves to the control of the Holy Spirit, to do present duties, to give the bread of life, unadulterated with human opinions, to souls who are perishing for the truth.
Satan is ever ready to fill the mind with theories and calculations that will divert men from the present truth, and disqualify them for the giving of the third angel's message to the world. It has ever been thus; for our Saviour often had to speak reprovingly to those who indulged in speculations and were ever inquiring into those things which the Lord had not revealed. Jesus had come to earth to impart important truth to men, and he wished to impress their minds with the necessity of receiving and obeying his precepts and instructions, of doing their present duty, and his communications were of an order that imparted knowledge for their immediate and daily use. RH March 22, 1892
William Miller’s Rule Number 13. To know whether we have the true historical event for the fulfillment of a prophecy: If you find every word of the prophecy (after the figures are understood) is literally fulfilled, then you may know that your history is the true event. But if one word lacks a fulfillment, then you must look for another event, or wait its future development. For God takes care that history and prophecy doth agree, so that the true, believing children of God may never be ashamed. Psalms 21:5; Isaiah 14:17-19; 1 Peter 2:6; Revelation 17:17; Acts 3:18
e.g.
And when ye shall see…
An immense ball of fire that came right from heaven and settled in Nashville. There were flames going out like arrows from that ball; houses were being consumed; houses were tottering and falling. Some of our people were standing there. “It is just as we expected,” they said, “we expected this.” Ms 188, 1905
If you find every word of the prophecy (after the figures are understood) is literally fulfilled, then you may know that your history is the true event. But if one word lacks a fulfillment, then you must look for another event, or wait its future development. For God takes care that history and prophecy doth agree, so that the true, believing children of God may never be ashamed.
Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. Psalms 52:9
My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. Psalms 62:1,5
Let not them that wait on Thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed…O God of Israel. Psalms 69:3,6
These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat in due season. Psalms 104:27
I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope. Psalms 130:5,6
The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Psalms 145:15
Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. Daniel 12:12
Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually. Hosea 12:6
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:3
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. Luke 2:25
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me. Acts 1:4
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Romans 8:23,25
Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:7
And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. James 5:7
We hope you will wait on God, and seek wisdom from above. “Without Me,” says Christ, “ye can do nothing.” Lt23 1870
Let us each wait on God, and He will teach us how to work and what work we are best adapted to perform...Look not to man for guidance, but to the God of Israel. 5T 463
If you find every word of the prophecy (after the figures are understood) is literally fulfilled, then you may know that your history is the true event. But if one word lacks a fulfillment, then you must look for another event, or wait its future development. For God takes care that history and prophecy doth agree, so that the true, believing children of God may never be ashamed.
For they shall not be ashamed that wait for Me. Isaiah 49:23
