As an Adventist, losing someone dear to you through death at the beginning of 1844, probably would not be as sad and hurtful as it is today.

Though today we are comforted with the assurance of resurrection we do not know precisely the day it will happen, but in 1844 all Adventists were sure Christ would come on October 22nd of that year and therefore they would meet again their resurrected beloved ones who were resting in their graves. What a comfort to the mourning families!

Charles Fitch, one of the fervent Adventist pioneers, died just eight days before the day the church expected Jesus to return. He was still young, just thirty years old, but got sick apparently as a result of performing baptisms on some cold days before he died on Monday, October 14, 1844. We can imagine how comforting it was to his wife and their two children to believe that they would see him again on Tuesday of the coming week.

Oh, how they were looking forward for that day! But Jesus did not come on the 22nd of October and now we can only imagine the disappointment of that mother and two children. That Tuesday they probably cried out all the tears they had not cried the week before.

Almost two centuries have passed by, but soon that mother and her two children who are now also sleeping, will have the privilege to reunite with their dear husband and father. Because though the Adventist pioneers misunderstood the event happening in 1844 (Christ entered into the most holy place in heaven instead of returning to earth), the prophecy has not failed and the promise of Jesus—that He will return, stands firm and it is now closer than ever.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1–3).

Prophecies regarding the end of this world have been and are being fulfilled:

One day, the disciples approached Jesus “as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3).

Jesus answering, said: “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars . . . for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places” (Matthew 24:6, 7). “The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken” (Mark 13:24, 25). “And upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring, men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke 21:25, 26). “And 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).

All the prophecies above, mentioned by Christ, have been or are being fulfilled, but one of them: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world” is our responsibility to fulfill, by God’s grace.

And the Bible tells us that we can hasten the coming of Jesus: “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:12).

A. Preach the gospel. One way of hastening the coming of Jesus is by getting more involved in the spreading of the gospel. We cannot just go by our daily life of work to accomplish temporal things; yes, we have needs and we are supposed to work to satisfy our temporal needs, but that is not enough. What are you sacrificing for Christ today? “We are soldiers of Christ; and those who enlist in His army are expected to do difficult work, work which will tax their energies to the utmost. We must understand that a soldier’s life is one of aggressive warfare, of perseverance and endurance. For Christ’s sake we are to endure trials. We are not engaged in mimic battles.”1

It is interesting that 2 Peter 3:14, tells us that by being involved in spreading the gospel we are kept in peace (true peace that only Jesus can give), without spot and blameless: “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

B. Attend the church services. Simple things like attending prayer meetings, camp meetings, youth conventions, etc., with the intention of being a blessing to those present will make a difference in the lives around us and lead them to Jesus. “Never entertain the thought that you can be Christians and yet withdraw within yourselves. Each one is a part of the great web of humanity, and the nature and quality of your experience will be largely determined by the experiences of those with whom you associate. . . . Then let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.”2

C. Be generous. Being liberal with our offerings and faithful in our tithing will also accelerate the preaching of the gospel. “for the Lord says to you, ‘Lay up your treasure in heaven.’ ‘Invest your means to advance My work, to open new fields, that the light of present truth may shine to all parts of the world.’”3

D. Live the gospel of Jesus. Witnessing in our daily walk by being honest, patient and caring will show to others that we care about the world to come and it will motivate souls to desire to know the Lord and the hope we have. “The Lord has honored us by choosing us as His soldiers. Let us fight bravely for Him, maintaining the right in every transaction. Rectitude in all things is essential to the warfare of the soul. As you strive for the victory over your own inclinations, He will help you by His Holy Spirit to be circumspect in every action, that you may give no occasion for the enemy to speak evil of the truth.”4

Are you being merciful and forgiving, showing that Jesus is a reality in your life, thus leading those around you to glorify your Heavenly Father?

“The Bible enjoins courtesy; and it presents many illustrations of the unselfish spirit, the gentle grace, the winsome temper, that characterize true politeness. These are but reflections of the character of Christ. All the real tenderness and courtesy in the world, even among those who do not acknowledge His name, is from Him. And He desires these characteristics to be perfectly reflected in His children. It is His purpose that in us men shall behold His beauty.”5

Are you keeping the Sabbath in such a way that reveals to your friends and relatives that you honestly believe that Christ is coming soon?

Are you progressing in your health reform, thus showing to the world that you are traveling to a better world?

Are you dressing in a manner (according to the Bible principles and with good taste) that others can see that you are a child of God?

“If the heart is right, your words, your dress, your acts will all be right.”6

Are you united with your brethren, talking good about your church and its workers, loving and praying for them in such a way that those you come in contact with can see that you are a disciple of Jesus?

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

Having fellowship with Jesus through the study of His word and prayer will empower us to detach from the world and its practices:

“The world does not know the exaltation of the sons and daughters of the Most High. Those around them do not see that the humble, self-denying spirit, the patient meekness of heart, has any extraordinary value. They did not know or appreciate Christ when He was on the earth, and the servant is not greater than his Lord. They could not understand Him; and the greater our likeness to the divine character of our Lord, the more we shall be misunderstood by the world. The more we come into fellowship with Christ and heaven, the less will be our fellowship with the world; for we are not of the world, therefore the world knoweth us not. Our work is to seek the closest union with the Son of God, to learn in His school, to become meek and lowly of heart, to work the works of Christ, advancing His kingdom and hastening His coming.”7

“The great ambition of the children of this world is to meet the world’s standard. They cannot see the precious advantages to be obtained in serving the God of heaven; but the children of light have the great prize set before them. They find the service of Christ is not grievous but full of delight. He says, ‘My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ Beloved, if God has so loved us, should we not serve him with all our might, and strive to enter in at the strait gate, complying with every requirement of his word? Let us seek by ‘patient continuance in well-doing’ to gain immortality and the crown of life. ‘Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.’ ”8

By being ready to receive Jesus in His second coming we lead others to be ready as well and thus therefore we hasten His coming:

“Thousands who now reject the message of salvation would accept Christ if they could see the beauty of His character reflected in His followers.

“Then can we be surprised that the enemy should put forth every effort in his power to create dissension, alienation, and strife in the church of God, that they may not reveal to the world the glory, the character, of Christ?

“It is time that the people of God brought fervent love for one another into their daily experience. When the love of Jesus is abiding in the heart, it will be revealed in every action. Differences of opinion will disappear; for self will no longer seek the supremacy. Thus the church may become a bright and shining light, and Heaven, looking on, may see that there is a body with one spirit, one hope, drawing toward one great center—Christ.”9

“When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.”10

The enemy is deceiving multitudes with false hopes, but we must ignore his ploys and climb heavenward in this waiting time.

“Satan has come down with great power; he is working with desperate energy, playing the game of life for the souls of men. We need now men of discernment and understanding, who will look deep and reason soundly, men in living touch with Christ, the risen Saviour. Falsehoods are everywhere, but God’s Word is the solid rock. We are in the day of waiting; we are to be looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God. We are to be climbing, ever climbing, heavenward.”11

The leaders of the nations are desperately looking for environmental solutions, health solutions and economic solutions. But this old world seems to be speedily driving towards its end.

We as Christians are supposed to be good stewards and take good care of the planet entrusted to us, but we cannot forget that it is going to be destroyed and renewed not by man but by God.

Why do people still have the illusion that peace and security is a possibility on this planet despite all the evidence that this world is speedily going towards a level of chaos without precedent?

It is because multitudes distracted with the things of this world cannot see beyond this temporal life, few believe that we have a heaven to win!

“Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and calamity follows calamity by sea and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires, floods, murders of every grade. Who can read the future? Where is security? There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly. Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly are they waiting and watching the movements of their leaders. There are those who are waiting and watching and working for our Lord’s appearing. Another class are falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate. Few believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win.”12

The prophecy of Isaiah 4:1 is being fulfilled in its completeness: “And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.”

In prophetic symbolism, a woman represents a church (and women churches), seven represents totality, bread represents doctrine and apparel righteousness. Therefore, the prophecy says that in general, the churches existing in the last days would only want to be called by the name of Jesus, but have their own doctrines and their own righteousness instead of His.

Pastors are preaching soft sermons to allow souls to sleep in their carnal passions. The voice rebuking vanity, self-indulgence, prostitution and adultery has been quieted and in exchange, pleasant words are spoken from the pulpits to please the people.

“What the church needs in these days of peril is an army of workers, . . . men who are brave, who are true; men who have Christ formed within them, and who, with lips touched with holy fire, ‘will preach the word’ amid the thousands who are preaching fables. For the want of such workers, the cause of God, languishes, and fatal errors, like a deadly poison, taint the morals and blight the hopes of a large part of the human race.”13

“At Christ’s first advent the angels broke the silence of the night with acclamations of praise, and proclaimed, ‘Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth; good will toward men.’ He is soon to come again with power and great glory. Those who are not wedded to the world will realize that the time demands something more than a weak, faint, methodical discourse. They will see that there must be earnestness and power accompanying the Word, which will arouse the powers of hell to oppose the warnings. God designs to come to the people to awaken men out of their carnal security, that they may prepare themselves for the great event right upon us. . . . God will accept no sleepy, tame message at this time.”14

“Many voices are advocating error; let your voice advocate truth. Present subjects that will be as green pastures to the sheep of God’s fold. Do not lead your hearers into waste tracts, where they will be no nearer the fountain of living water than they were before hearing you. Present the truth as it is in Jesus, making plain the requirements of the law and the gospel. Present Christ, the way, the truth, and the life, and tell of His power to save all who come to Him. The Captain of our salvation is interceding for His people, not as a petitioner to move the Father to compassion, but as a conqueror, who claims the trophies of His victory. ‘He is able to save to the uttermost all who come to God by Him.’ Make this fact very plain.”15

“He who in his preaching makes eloquence his highest aim, causes the people to forget the truth that is mingled with his oratory. When the emotion has passed away, it will be found that the word of God has not been fastened upon the mind, nor have the hearers gained in understanding. They make speak in terms of admiration of the minister’s eloquence, but they are not brought any nearer to the point of decision. They speak of the sermon as they would of a play, and of the minister as they would of an actor. They may come again to listen to the same kind of discourse, but they will go away unimpressed and unfed.”16

It is said that the favorite verse of William Miller was Titus 2:13, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ”—and from the time of his conversion, he lived waiting and hastening his Lord’s coming.

The Advent pioneer knew that the only solution for this world’s problems is Christ’s second coming and he shook the world of his time by preaching the soon coming of Christ. That was his blessed hope.

Likewise, the true believers of today are supposed to shake the world with the message of the blessed hope of Christ’s second coming, at this time when the world is once again sleeping in its false security and the nominal churches are looking for worldly gain and greatness.

“God has a people upon the earth who in faith and holy hope are tracing down the roll of fast-fulfilling prophecy and are seeking to purify their souls by obeying the truth, that they may not be found without the wedding garment when Christ shall appear.”17

My dear brethren, Christ is coming very soon, so let us by God’s grace wait (consecrate ourselves) and hasten His coming (by our actions).

What if it were today? Would you be ready?

“Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort, they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth. This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Revelation 14.

“When this work shall have been accomplished, the followers of Christ will be ready for His appearing.”18

“ ‘And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. . . . Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. . . . I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. . . . He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation 22:12, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21).