Editorial Keynotes

Through personal association, in­terviews, and seasons of prayer with • fellow workers, I am made to realize that there is widespread and deep con­viction concerning the present need, on the part of ministers and people, of being endued with more power from on high. The expression is often heard, to the effect that if we would permit the Lord to clothe us with the power which He has provided for us, we would see far greater progress and triumphs in the advancement of the third angel's message. Who shall venture to say that these convictions of need and of supply are not well founded?

From the earliest days of our history we have believed that the threefold message of Revelation fourteen would close with great power and glory. One of the reasons for this belief is the view we have held regarding the rela­tion of the fourteenth and eighteenth chapters of Revelation. We have main­tained that these chapters are insepa­rably connected, and that in the closing days of the threefold message of chap­ter fourteen, the angels in charge of that message are to be joined by the " mighty angel " of the eighteenth chap­ter; and we 'have believed and taught that when these angels unite, the three­fold message will go forward with great power and rapidity.

The following statements from the spirit of prophecy are very important, because

1. They deal with the closing ^-work of the great threefold message.

2. They bring together the four­teenth and eighteenth chapters of Rev­elation.

3. They unite the objectives, the en­deavors, and the power of the angels mentioned in both these chapters.

4. They declare that the time and the work of this union of angel messen­gers are matters of great importance.

5. Finally, they tell us that under the united proclamation of these messen­gers the threefold message swells into the " loud cry of the third angel."

Now read the statements carefully:

"As foretold in the eighteenth chap­ter of Revelation, the third angel's mes­sage is to be proclaimed with great power by those who gave the final warning against the beast and his image: ' I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice.' . . . (Rev. 18:1-6.) This is the message given by God to be sounded forth in the loud cry of the third angel." — " Testimonies," Vol. VIII, p. 118.

" I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven, descending to the earth, arid again ascending to heaven, preparing for the fulfillment of some important event. Then I saw another mighty angel commissioned to descend to the earth, to unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his message. Great power and glory were imparted to the angel, and as he descended, the earth was lightened with his glory. The light which attended this angel penetrated everywhere, as he cried mightily, with a strong voice, ' Babylon is fallen, is fallen.' . . . The work of this angel comes in at the right time to join in the last great work of the third angel's message, as it swells to a loud cry."—" Early Writ­ings," p. 277.

From the following statement, it is possible to form some idea of the blessed experiences to come to those who live at the time when these angels join forces in " the last great work of the third angel's message, as it swells to a loud cry: "

"I heard those clothed with the armor speak forth the truth with great power. It had effect. Many had been bound, some wives by their husbands, and some children by their parents. The honest who had been prevented from hearing the truth now eagerly laid hold upon it. All fear of their relatives was gone, and the truth alone was exalted to them. They had been hungering and thirsting for truth; it was dearer and more precious than life. I asked what had made this great change^,. An angel answered, ' It is the latter rain, the refreshing from the presenep of the Lord, the loud cry of the third angel.' "—Id., p. 271.

In the time of the loud cry, the mes­sage will be proclaimed by those " clothed with the armor," and they will " speak forth the truth with great power." The message will grip hearts; the chains which have held sincere, honest men and women will be broken; all fear of man will be banished; God's truth will alone appear of value.

Here is the lesson for us: in all that is set forth, in both the Bible and the spirit of prophecy, concerning the closing events• of the gospel work, divine power holds a dominant place. The angels are clothed with power, the church is endued with power, the Holy Spirit works in mighty power, and the result of the working of that divine power will be the salvation of men and women from the dominion of sin. This is the supreme purpose for which a special enduement of divine power is 'to 'be given to the remnant church.

"On the day of Pentecost the Infinite One revealed Himself in power to the church. By His Holy Spirit He de­scended from the heights of heaven as a rushing, mighty wind, to the room in which the disciples were assembled. It was as if for ages this influence had been held in restraint, and now heaven rejoiced in being able to pour upon the church the riches of the Spirit's power. . . . And what followed? Thousands were converted in a day. The sword of the Spirit, newly edged with power, and bathed in the lightnings of heaven, cut its way through unbelief. . . . As the disciples, filled with the power of the Spirit, went forth to proclaim the gospel, so God's servants are to go forth to-day." —" Testimonies," Vol. VII, pp. 31, 82.

With the facts set forth in these quo­tations, we are all do agreeMent. We believe that our Saviour is coining very soon, to translate His loyal, (redeemed people. We believe that we are now heralding His return by the 'proclama­tion of the threefold message of Rev­elation 14. We believe this Message is designed to warn the world of His coming, and prepare a people to meet Him In righteousness and true holi­ness. We believe that as this message nears its close it will take on great power, and that this power will be imparted to the true believers.

Notice the significant statement, that "floods of spiritual power are to be poured forth upon those prepared to receive it," as found on page 46 of " Testimonies," Volume VIII. This brings us face to face with the question, What is the preparation required in order to receive " floods of spiritual power "? Surely we will not fail to comply promptly and gladly with the conditions necessary in order to re­ceive this great enduement of spiritual power, which will bring blessing and victory into our own life and to weary, defeated souls on every hand.

Brethren in the gospel ministry, ill upon us rests the responsibility of leading the remnant church in making full and complete preparation for receiving the " floods of spiritual power."

A. G. Daniells.

The Secret of Success

Two most striking things are written in the Scriptures about Moses that are not written concerning any other man. His relations with God were so inti­mate and friendly that God said:

"If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make Myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all Mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the simili­tude of the Lord shall he behold." Num. 12:6-8.

Surely there could be no greater priv­ilege or honor conferred upon a human being than to have such personal com­munion and fellowship with God. Nothing could bring greater joy and satisfaction, or result in greater use­fulness.

" Moses did not merely think of God; he saw Him. God was the constant vision before him; he never lost sight of His face. He saw Jesus as his Sav­iour, and he believed that the Saviour's merits would be imputed to him. This faith was to Moses no guesswork; it was a reality. This is the kind of faith we need,— faith that will endure the test. 0, how often we yield to tempta­tion, because we do not keep our eye upon Jesus! Our faith is not contin­uous, because, through self-indulgence, we sin, and then we cannot endure, as

seeing Him who is invisible.' "—" Tes­timonies," Vol. V, p. 652.

The second striking statement doubt­less reveals the reason why Moses was so greatly favored of the Lord: "The man Moses was very meek, above all he men which were upon the face of the earth." Num. 12: 3. The meek­est man in the world was the only one who was permitted to talk " mouth to mouth " with God. Moses passed through many trying experiences in dealing with the murmurings and rebellions and apostasies of Israel. Yet so far as we know this intimate, face-to-face friendship continued with­out a break for forty years. " Nothing is more essential to communion with God than the most profound humility." —Id., p. 50.

It is also significant that in this connection God testified of Moses that he was " faithful in all Mine house." Moses' whole life was given to fellow­ship with Christ in watching for souls. In the plan of God for man three things are inseparable: fellowship with God, great humility, and the result soul winning.

" The reason so many fail to have success is that they trust in themselves altogether too much, and do not feel the positive necessity of abiding in Christ, as they go forth to seek and save that which is lost. Until they have the mind of Christ, and teach the truth as it is in Jesus, they will not accomplish much. I walk with trem­bling before God. I know not how to speak or trace with pen the large subject of the atoning sacrifice. I know not how to present subjects in the living power in which they stand before me. I tremble for fear lest I shall belittle the great plan of salva­tion by cheap words. I bow my soul iii awe and reverence before Ood, and say, Who is sufficient for these things? How can I talk, how can I write-to my brethren, so that they will catch tliz. beams of light flashing from heaven? " —" Special Testimony to Our Minis­ters," No. 2, July 15, 1892, pp. 19, 20.

God bids us now to " seek righteous­ness, seek meekness," that we may be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.

Meade Macguire