The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 358
Like the great Reformation of the sixteenth century, the advent
movement appeared in different countries of Christendom at the same
time. In both Europe and America men of faith and prayer were led
to the study of the prophecies, and, tracing down the inspired record,
they saw convincing evidence that the end of all things was at hand. In
different lands there were isolated bodies of Christians who, solely by
the study of the Scriptures, arrived at the belief that the Saviour’s advent
was near.
In 1821, three years after Miller had arrived at his exposition of the
prophecies pointing to the time of the judgment, Dr. Joseph Wolff, “the
missionary to the world,” began to proclaim the Lord’s soon coming.
Wolff was born in Germany, of Hebrew parentage, his father being a
Jewish rabbi. While very young he was convinced of the truth of the
Christian religion. Of an active, inquiring mind, he had been an eager
listener to the conversations that took place in his father’s house as
devout Hebrews daily assembled to recount the hopes and anticipations
of their people, the glory of the coming Messiah, and the restoration of
Israel. One day hearing Jesus of Nazareth mentioned, the boy inquired
who He was. “A Jew of the greatest talent,” was the answer; “but as
He pretended to be the Messiah, the Jewish tribunal sentenced Him to
death.” “Why,” rejoined the questioner, “is Jerusalem destroyed, and
why are we in captivity?” “Alas, alas!” answered his father, “because
the Jews murdered the prophets.” The thought was at once suggested to
the child: “Perhaps Jesus was also a prophet, and the Jews killed Him
when He was innocent.”—Travels and Adventures of the Rev. Joseph
Wolff, vol. 1, p. 6. So strong was this feeling that, though forbidden to
enter a Christian church, he would often linger outside to listen to the
preaching.
When only seven years old he was boasting to an aged Christian
neighbor of the future triumph of Israel at the advent of the Messiah,
when the old man said kindly: “Dear boy, I will tell you who the real
Messiah was: He was Jesus
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