12th August, 2021 AEST
When Joseph Bates organised the Exeter camp meeting for 12-18 August, 1844, little did he know what a significant event it would become in this world's history. While travelling by train to the event he had an impression that something important would take place. “You are going to have new light here, something that will give a new impetus to the work”. But how would this occur?
He was one of the leading Adventist preachers and was preaching on the evening of the third day (14th August). As he was still deeply affected by the “first disappointment” of 19th April, he tried to illustrate the bewilderment of the Adventists in seafaring language, as only a retired sea captain could. However, he felt that his message was lifeless.
Out of the corner of his eye he noticed the arrival of a panting horse . The rider dismounted and joined the congregation, sitting by Elder and Mrs John Couch (his sister), to whom he whispered a few words. This was Samuel S. Snow. Mrs Couch rose to her feet and addressing the speaker she said, “It is too late, Brother Bates. It is too late to spend our time as we have since this camp-meeting commenced. Time is short. The Lord has servants here who have meat in due season for His household. Let them speak, and let the people hear them. 'Behold, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet Him'”. Meekly Brother Bates invited Snow to the desk to share the message he had for the people. A short discourse ensued, followed the next morning (15th) by an in depth study on the “Midnight Cry”.
In summary Samuel Snow's message was as follows:
The decree of 457 BC began in the autumn of that year.
The “70 weeks” both began and ended in the autumn.
The prophetic “week” (AD27-AD34) began and ended in the autumn, with the midst of the week being the spring of AD 31.
The Antitype of the Passover Lamb, the Wave Sheaf and Pentecost all occurred on the exact day that they were typically kept, therefore-
1810 years remained from AD 34 → 1844, and in line with the Jewish Karaite calendar,
the Great Day of Atonement (10th day of the 7th month) was to fall on the 22nd October of the Gregorian calendar.
The importance of the 2520 – the 7 times of Leviticus 26, one of which also came to its conclusion in 1844.
This message was accepted by the people that morning and in just over 2 months spread across the USA and around the world “to every missionary station”.
“Near the close of the second angel’s message, I saw a great light from heaven shining upon the people of God. The rays of this light seemed bright as the sun. And I heard the voices of angels crying, “Behold, the Bridegroom comes; go you out to meet Him!”
This was the midnight cry, which was to give power to the second angel’s message. Angels were sent from heaven to arouse the discouraged saints and prepare them for the great work before them. The most talented men were not the first to receive this message. Angels were sent to the humble, devoted ones, and constrained them to raise the cry, “Behold, the Bridegroom comes; go you out to meet Him!” Those entrusted with the cry made haste, and in the power of the Holy Spirit sounded the message, and aroused their discouraged brethren. This work did not stand in the wisdom and learning of men, but in the power of God, and His saints who heard the cry could not resist it. The most spiritual received this message first, and those who had formerly led in the work were the last to receive and help swell the cry, “Behold, the Bridegroom comes; go you out to meet Him!”
In every part of the land, light was given upon the second angel’s message, and the cry melted the hearts of thousands. It went from city to city, and from village to village, until the waiting people of God were fully aroused. In many churches the message was not permitted to be given, and a large company who had the living testimony left these fallen churches. A mighty work was accomplished by the midnight cry. The message was heart-searching, leading the believers to seek a living experience for themselves. They knew that they could not lean upon one another.” EW 91
When Jesus did not return on this date, to the 50 who remained faithful (of the 50,000 before the 23rd) it was later shown, in vision to Ellen G. White, that this would be the light that would light their path from behind, as they followed Christ to the city of God.
“While I was praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell upon me, and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them, when a voice said to me, “Look again, and look a little higher.” At this I raised my eyes, and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were traveling to the city, which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the beginning of the path, which an angel told me was the midnight cry. This light shone all along the path and gave light for their feet so that they might not stumble. If they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the city, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and said the city was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them...Others rashly denied the light behind them and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out, leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and lost sight of the mark and of Jesus, and fell off the path down into the dark and wicked world below.” EW 14,15
It is still lighting the way of our path, from behind us, today.
“And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 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. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” Matthew 25:6-12
As the events of the history of the early Adventists – the Seven Thunders – are being repeated now, so, very soon, when “His wife hath made herself ready” there will be a very significant world event, and we will hear the repeat of the Midnight Cry, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh...”
It will then be discovered who has “The Oil”!
One more thought:
The Bride will not be asleep!
The sleepers, suddenly awaking, spring to their feet. They see the procession moving on, bright with torches and glad with music. They hear the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride. The ten maidens seize their lamps and begin to trim them, in haste to go forth. COL 405
