judgment is come : and worship Him that made heaven , and earth , and the sea , and the fountains of waters ." Revelation 14:6 , 7 .
This message is declared to be a part of " the everlasting gospel ." The work of preaching the gospel has not been committed to angels , but has been entrusted to men . Holy angels have been employed in directing this work , they have in charge the great movements for the salvation of men ; but the actual proclamation of the gospel is performed by the servants of Christ upon the earth . Faithful men , who were obedient to the promptings of God ' s Spirit and the teachings of His word , were to proclaim this warning to the world . They were those who had taken heed to the " sure word of prophecy ," the " light that shineth in a dark place , until the day dawn , and the daystar arise ." 2 Peter 1:19 . They had been seeking the knowledge of God more than all hid treasures , counting it " better than the merchandise of silver , and the gain thereof than fine gold ." Proverbs 3:14 . And the Lord revealed to them the great things of the kingdom . " The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him ; and He will show them His covenant ." Psalm 25:14 .
It was not the scholarly theologians who had an understanding of this truth , and engaged in its proclamation . Had these been faithful watchmen , diligently and prayerfully searching the Scriptures , they would have known the time of night ; the prophecies would have opened to them the events about to take place . But they did not occupy this position , and the message was given by humbler men . Said Jesus : " Walk while ye have the light , lest darkness come upon you ." John 12:35 . Those who turn away from the light which God has given , or who neglect to seek it when it is within their reach , are left in darkness . But the Saviour declares : " He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness , but shall have the light of life ." John 8:12 . Whoever is with singleness of purpose seeking to do God ' s will , earnestly heeding the light already given , will receive greater light ; to that soul some star of heavenly radiance will be sent to guide him into all truth .
At the time of Christ ' s first advent the priests and scribes of the Holy City , to whom were entrusted the oracles of God , might have discerned the signs of the times and proclaimed the coming of the Promised One . The prophecy of Micah designated His birthplace ; Daniel specified the time of His advent . Micah 5:2 ; Daniel 9:25 . God committed these prophecies to the Jewish leaders ; they were without excuse if they did not know and declare to the people that the Messiah ' s coming was at hand . Their ignorance was the result of sinful neglect . The Jews were building monuments for the slain prophets of God , while by their deference to the great men of earth they were paying homage to the servants of Satan . Absorbed in their ambitious strife for place and power among men , they lost sight of the divine honours proffered them by the King of heaven .
With profound and reverent interest the elders of Israel should have been studying the place , the time , the circumstances , of the greatest event in the world ' s history--the coming of the Son of God to accomplish the redemption of man . All the people should have been watching and waiting
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