The Seventh-day Adventists, having a prophetic basis in Daniel 8:14, associated themselves in 1860 when they selected their name and pledged themselves to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. A few years later, in 1863, they were organized as a General Conference.

In a pamphlet written in 1897 entitled, “Methods of Labor,” Inspiration declares, “Some who now bear the message of truth will let the banner fall from their hands, and trail in the dust, and will then trample it under their feet. Some who are now in the darkness of error will receive the truth, and be converted, and will lift aloft the banner from the hands of those who now hold it.”1

“The promises of God, which are given on condition of obedience, are for those who walk in the light of His holy word. Those who do His will may claim all the benefits the Lord has promised. The obedient do not simply cry, ‘Believe, all you have to do is believe in Christ;’ but their faith is like Noah’s and Abraham’s, which led them to keep the commandments.”2

“But, oh, sad picture! Those who do not submit to the influence of the Holy Spirit soon lose the blessings received when they acknowledged the truth as from heaven. They fall into a cold, spiritless formality; they lose their interest in perishing souls: they have ‘left their first love.’ And Christ says unto them, ‘Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent’ (Revelation 2:5). He will take His Holy Spirit from the church, and give [the Spirit] to others who will appreciate Him.”3

A spiritual revival and reformation began in 1888 and, eventually, in order that the banner of truth - the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus - might continue to be upheld, the first delegation session of the General Conference of Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement was held at Gotha, Germany, from July 14-20, 1925. It is now 80 years since this body was organized. Yet just those 80 years are already equal to double the amount of time the Israelites spent wandering in the wilderness. At this juncture we need to consider seriously the Lord’s business and our duty before Him.

God has committed to us as a people a work to be accomplished on earth. Are we fulfilling that purpose with fidelity? On what conditions can we consistently claim those special promises bestowed upon “the apple of His eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10), as probation draws to a soon close? We are to proclaim the third angel’s message and to direct the minds of the people to the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ has entered to make atonement for His people. The Sabbath message must be proclaimed with a loud voice, that all the inhabitants of the earth may receive the warning. We must purify our souls through complete surrender to Christ and total obedience to the truth.

Had Adventists, after the great disappointment in 1844, held fast their faith and united upon the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, Christ would have come to receive them.

It was not the will of God that the coming of Christ should be thus delayed. God did not design that His people should wander forty years in the wilderness. He promised to lead them directly to the land of Canaan. But because of their unbelief, murmuring, rebellious actions, and hatred, He could not fulfill His covenant with them and was compelled to shut the majority out from the Promised Land. Likewise, it is the unbelief, worldliness, strife, and lack of consecration that delays the entrance of modern Israel into the heavenly Canaan.4

If we continue this way, because of our disobedience, we may have to hang around here for many more years and, like our predecessors, risk the removal of the candlestick. Instead, we should hasten our Lord’s return by spreading the gospel to the world and by representing Christ in our life. It is our privilege not only to look for, but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Beloved brethren and sisters, the time has come to re-consecrate our life to God. This is why we need this special week of prayer. We need these ten days of consecration for a deep searching of heart that the Lord may bestow upon us a stronger commitment for greater love toward Him and toward one another - love as it shines in brightest beams from the throne of glory. Let us, by God’s abundant grace, therefore make the most of this precious opportunity!