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is 〃very pitiful； and of tender mercy；〃 that all His paths 〃are mercy and
truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies。〃
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Chapter 20
A Great Religious Awakening
A Great religious awakening under the proclamation of Christ's soon coming
is foretold in the prophecy of the first angel's message of Revelation 14。
An angel is seen flying 〃in the midst of heaven； having the everlasting
gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth； and to every nation； and
kindred； and tongue； and people。〃 〃With a loud voice〃 he proclaims the
message： 〃Fear God； and give glory to Him； for the hour of His judgment is
come： and worship Him that made heaven； and earth； and the sea； and the
fountains of waters。〃 Verses 6； 7。
The fact that an angel is said to be the herald of this warning is
significant。 By the purity； the glory； and the power of the heavenly
messenger； divine wisdom has been pleased to represent the exalted character
of the work to be accomplished by the message and the power and glory that
were to attend it。 And the angel's flight 〃in the midst of heaven；〃 the
〃loud voice〃 with which the warning is uttered； and its promulgation to all
〃that dwell on the earth；〃〃to every nation； and kindred； and tongue； and
people；〃give evidence of the rapidity and world…wide extent of the
movement。
The message itself sheds light as to the time when this movement is to take
place。 It is declared to be a part of the 〃everlasting gospel；〃 and it
announces the opening of the
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judgment。 The message of salvation has been preached in all ages； but this
message is a part of the gospel which could be proclaimed only in the last
days； for only then would it be true that the hour of judgment had come。 The
prophecies present a succession of events leading down to the opening of the
judgment。 This is especially true of the book of Daniel。 But that part of
his prophecy which related to the last days； Daniel was bidden to close up
and seal 〃to the time of the end。〃 Not till we reach this time could a
message concerning the judgment be proclaimed； based on the fulfillment of
these prophecies。 But at the time of the end； says the prophet； 〃many shall
run to and fro； and knowledge shall be increased。〃 Daniel 12：4。
The apostle Paul warned the church not to look for the coming of Christ in
his day。 〃That day shall not come；〃 he says； 〃except there come a falling
away first； and that man of sin be revealed。〃 2 Thessalonians 2：3。 Not till
after the great apostasy； and the long period of the reign of the 〃man of
sin；〃 can we look for the advent of our Lord。 The 〃man of sin；〃 which is
also styled 〃the mystery of iniquity；〃 〃the son of perdition；〃 and 〃that
wicked；〃 represents the papacy； which； as foretold in prophecy； was to
maintain its supremacy for 1260 years。 This period ended in 1798。 The coming
of Christ could not take place before that time。 Paul covers with his
caution the whole of the Christian dispensation down to the year 1798。 It is
this side of that time that the message of Christ's second coming is to be
proclaimed。
No such message has ever been given in past ages。 Paul； as we have seen； did
not preach it； he pointed his brethren into the then far…distant future for
the coming of the Lord。 The Reformers did not proclaim it。 Martin Luther
placed the judgment about three hundred years in the future from his day。
But since 1798 the book of Daniel has been unsealed； knowledge of the
prophecies has increased； and many have proclaimed the solemn message of the
judgment near。
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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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of Nazareth； 。 。 。 whom your ancestors have crucified； as they did the
prophets of old。 Go home and read the fifty…third chapter of Isaiah； and you
will be convinced that Jesus Christ is the Son of God。〃Ibid。； vol。 1； p。
7。 Conviction at once fastened upon him。 He went home and read the
scripture； wondering to see how perfectly it had been fulfilled in Jesus of
Nazareth。 Were the words of the Christian true？ The boy asked of his father
an explanation of the prophecy； but was met with a silence so stern that he
never again dared to refer to the subject。 This； however； only increased his
desire to know more of the Christian religion。
The knowledge he sought was studiously kept from him in his Jewish home；
but； when only eleven years old； he left his father's house and went out
into the world to gain for himself an education； to choose his religion and
his lifework。 He found a home for a time with kinsmen； but was soon driven
from them as an apostate； and alone and penniless he had to make his own way
among strangers。 He went from place to place； studying diligently and
maintaining himself by teaching Hebrew。 Through the influence of a Catholic
instructor he was led to accept the Romish faith and formed the purpose of
becoming a missionary to his own people。 With this object he went； a few
years late