of His judgment is come ." Sinners inquired with weeping : " What must I do to be saved ?" Those whose lives had been marked with dishonesty were anxious to make restitution . All who found peace in Christ longed to see others share the blessing . The hearts of parents were turned to their children , and the hearts of children to their parents . The barriers of pride and reserve were swept away . Heartfelt confessions were made , and the members of the household laboured for the salvation of those who were nearest and dearest . Often was heard the sound of earnest intercession . Everywhere were souls in deep anguish pleading with God . Many wrestled all night in prayer for the assurance that their own sins were pardoned , or for the conversion of their relatives or neighbours .
All classes flocked to the Adventist meetings . Rich and poor , high and low , were , from various causes , anxious to hear for themselves the doctrine of the second advent . The Lord held the spirit of opposition in check while His servants explained the reasons of their faith . Sometimes the instrument was feeble ; but the Spirit of God gave power to His truth . The presence of holy angels was felt in these assemblies , and many were daily added to the believers . As the evidences of Christ ' s soon coming were repeated , vast crowds listened in breathless silence to the solemn words . Heaven and earth seemed to approach each other . The power of God was felt upon old and young and middle-aged . Men sought their homes with praises upon their lips , and the glad sound rang out upon the still night air . None who attended those meetings can ever forget those scenes of deepest interest .
The proclamation of a definite time for Christ ' s coming called forth great opposition from many of all classes , from the minister in the pulpit down to the most reckless , Heaven-daring sinner . The words of prophecy were fulfilled : " There shall come in the last days scoffers , walking after their own lusts , and saying , Where is the promise of His coming ? for since the fathers fell asleep , all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation ." 2 Peter 3:3 , 4 . Many who professed to love the Saviour , declared that they had no opposition to the doctrine of the second advent ; they merely objected to the definite time . But God ' s all-seeing eye read their hearts . They did not wish to hear of Christ ' s coming to judge the world in righteousness . They had been unfaithful servants , their works would not bear the inspection of the heart-searching God , and they feared to meet their Lord . Like the Jews at the time of Christ ' s first advent they were not prepared to welcome Jesus . They not only refused to listen to the plain arguments from the Bible , but ridiculed those who were looking for the Lord . Satan and his angels exulted , and flung the taunt in the face of Christ and holy angels that His professed people had so little love for Him that they did not desire His appearing .
" No man knoweth the day nor the hour " was the argument most often brought forward by rejecters of the advent faith . The scripture is : " Of that day and hour knoweth no man , no not the angels of heaven , but My Father only ." Matthew 24:36 . A clear and harmonious explanation of this text was given by those who were looking for the Lord , and the wrong use made of it by their opponents was clearly shown . The words were spoken by Christ in that memorable conversation
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