the great controversy-第60章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


weeks；　and　threescore　and　two　weeks：　the　street　shall　be　built　again；　and
the　wall；　even　in　troublous　times。　And　after　threescore　and　two　weeks　shall
Messiah　be　cut　off；　but　not　for　Himself。　。　。　。　And　He　shall　confirm　the
covenant　with　many　for　one　week：　and　in　the　midst　of　the　week　He　shall　cause
the　sacrifice　and　the　oblation　to　cease。〃

The　angel　had　been　sent　to　Daniel　for　the　express　purpose　of　explaining　to
him　the　point　which　he　had　failed　to　understand　in　the　vision　of　the　eighth
chapter；　the　statement　relative　to　time〃unto　two　thousand　and　three
hundred　days；　then　shall　the　sanctuary　be　cleansed。〃　After　bidding　Daniel
〃understand　the　matter；　and　consider　the　vision；〃　the　very　first　words　of
the　angel　are：　〃Seventy　weeks　are　determined　upon　thy　people　and　upon　thy
Holy　City。〃　The　word　here　translated　〃determined〃　literally　signifies　〃cut
off。〃　Seventy　weeks；　representing　490　years；　are　declared　by　the　angel　to　be
cut　off；　as　specially　pertaining　to　the　Jews。　But　from　what　were　they　cut
off？　As　the　2300　days　was　the　only　period　of　time　mentioned　in　chapter　8；　it
must　be　the　period　from　which　the　seventy　weeks　were　cut　off；　the　seventy
weeks　must　therefore　be　a　part　of　the　2300　days；　and　the　two　periods　must
begin　together。　The　seventy　weeks　were　declared　by　the　angel　to　date　from
the　going　forth　of　the　commandment　to　restore　and　build　Jerusalem。　If　the
date　of　this　commandment　could　be　found；　then　the　starting　point　for　the
great　period　of　the　2300　days　would　be　ascertained。

In　the　seventh　chapter　of　Ezra　the　decree　is　found。　Verses
12…26。　In　its　completest　form　it　was　issued　by　Artaxerxes；
king　of　Persia；　457　B。C。　But　in　Ezra　6：14　the　house　of　the　Lord　at　Jerusalem
is　said　to　have　been　built　〃according　to　the　commandment　＇〃decree；〃　margin＇
of　Cyrus；　and　Darius；　and　Artaxerxes　king　of　Persia。〃　These　three　kings；　in

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　327

originating；　reaffirming；　and　completing　the　decree；　brought　it　to　the
perfection　required　by　the　prophecy　to　mark　the　beginning　of　the　2300　years。
Taking　457　B。C。；　the　time　when　the　decree　was　completed；　as　the　date　of　the
commandment；　every　specification　of　the　prophecy　concerning　the　seventy
weeks　was　seen　to　have　been　fulfilled。

〃From　the　going　forth　of　the　commandment　to　restore　and　to　build　Jerusalem
unto　the　Messiah　the　Prince　shall　be　seven　weeks；　and　threescore　and　two
weeks〃namely；　sixty…nine　weeks；　or　483　years。　The　decree　of　Artaxerxes
went　into　effect　in　the　autumn　of　457　B。C。　From　this　date；　483　years　extend
to　the　autumn　of　A。D。　27。　（See　Appendix。）　At　that　time　this　prophecy　was
fulfilled。　The　word　〃Messiah〃　signifies　〃the　Anointed　One。〃　In　the　autumn　of
A。D。　27　Christ　was　baptized　by　John　and　received　the　anointing　of　the
Spirit。　The　apostle　Peter　testifies　that　〃God　anointed　Jesus　of　Nazareth
with　the　Holy　Ghost　and　with　power。〃　Acts　10：38。　And　the　Saviour　Himself
declared：　〃The　Spirit　of　the　Lord　is　upon　Me；　because　He　hath　anointed　Me　to
preach　the　gospel　to　the　poor。〃　Luke　4：18。　After　His　baptism　He　went　into
Galilee；　〃preaching　the　gospel　of　the　kingdom　of　God；　and　saying；　The　time
is　fulfilled。〃　Mark　1：14；　15。

〃And　He　shall　confirm　the　covenant　with　many　for　one　week。〃　The　〃week〃　here
brought　to　view　is　the　last　one　of　the　seventy；　it　is　the　last　seven　years
of　the　period　allotted　especially　to　the　Jews。　During　this　time；　extending
from　A。D。　27　to　A。D。　34；　Christ；　at　first　in　person　and　afterward　by　His
disciples；　extended　the　gospel　invitation　especially　to　the　Jews。　As　the
apostles　went　forth　with　the　good　tidings　of　the　kingdom；　the　Saviour's
direction　was：　〃Go　not　into　the　way　of　the　Gentiles；　and　into　any　city　of
the　Samaritans　enter　ye　not：　but　go　rather　to　the　lost　sheep　of　the　house　of
Israel。〃　Matthew　10：5；　6。

〃In　the　midst　of　the　week　He　shall　cause　the　sacrifice　and　the　oblation　to
cease。〃　In　A。D。　31；　three　and　a　half　years　after　His　baptism；　our　Lord　was
crucified。　With　the　great　sacrifice

328

offered　upon　Calvary；　ended　that　system　of　offerings　which　for　four　thousand
years　had　pointed　forward　to　the　Lamb　of　God。　Type　had　met　antitype；　and　all
the　sacrifices　and　oblations　of　the　ceremonial　system　were　there　to　cease。

The　seventy　weeks；　or　490　years；　especially　allotted　to　the　Jews；　ended；　as
we　have　seen；　in　A。D。　34。　At　that　time；　through　the　action　of　the　Jewish
Sanhedrin；　the　nation　sealed　its　rejection　of　the　gospel　by　the　martyrdom　of
Stephen　and　the　persecution　of　the　followers　of　Christ。　Then　the　message　of
salvation；　no　longer　restricted　to　the　chosen　people；　was　given　to　the
world。　The　disciples；　forced　by　persecution　to　flee　from　Jerusalem；　〃went
everywhere　preaching　the　word。〃　〃Philip　went　down　to　the　city　of　Samaria；
and　preached　Christ　unto　them。〃　Peter；　divinely　guided；　opened　the　gospel　to
the　centurion　of　Caesarea；　the　God…fearing　Cornelius；　and　the　ardent　Paul；
won　to　the　faith　of　Christ；　was　commissioned　to　carry　the　glad　tidings　〃far
hence　unto　the　Gentiles。〃　Acts　8：4；　5；　22：21。

Thus　far　every　specification　of　the　prophecies　is　strikingly　fulfilled；　and
the　beginning　of　the　seventy　weeks　is　fixed　beyond　question　at　457　B。C。；　and
their　expiration　in　A。D。　34。　From　this　data　there　is　no　difficulty　in
finding　the　termination　of　the　2300　days。　The　seventy　weeks490
dayshaving　been　cut　off　from　the　2300；　there　were　1810　days　remaining。
After　the　end　of　490　days；　the　1810　days　were　still　to　be　fulfilled。　From
A。D。　34；　1810　years　extend　to　1844。　Consequently　the　2300　days　of　Daniel
8：14　terminate　in　1844。　At　the　expiration　of　this　great　prophetic　period；
upon　the　testimony　of　the　angel　of　God；　〃the　sanctuary　shall　be　cleansed。〃
Thus　the　time　of　the　cleansing　of　the　sanctuarywhich　was　almost
universally　believed　to　take　place　at　the　second　adventwas　definitely
pointed　out。

Miller　and　his　associates　at　first　believed　that　the　2300　days　would
terminate　in　the　spring　of　1844；　whereas　the　prophecy

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　329

points　to　the　autumn　of　that　year。　（See　Appendix。）　The　misapprehension　of
this　point　brought　disappointment　and　perplexity　to　those　who　had　fixed　upon
the　earlier　date　as　the　time　of　the　Lord's　coming。　But　this　did　not　in　the
least　affect　the　strength　of　the　argument　showing　that　the　2300　days
terminated　in　the　year　1844；　and　that　the　great　event　represented　by　the
cleansing　of　the　sanctuary　must　then　take　place。

Entering　upon　the　study　of　the　Scriptures　as　he　had　done；　in　order　to　prove
that　they　were　a　revelation　from　God；　Miller　had　not；　at　the　outset；　the
slightest　expectation　of　reaching　the　conclusion　at　which　he　had　now
arrived。　He　himself　could　hardly　credit　the　results　of　his　investigation。
But　the　Scripture　evidence　was　too　clear　and　forcible　to　be　set　aside。

He　had　devoted　two　years　to　the　study　of　the　Bible；　when；　in　1818；　he
reached　the　solemn　conviction　that　in　about　twenty…five　years　Christ　would
appear　for　the　redemption　of　His　people。　〃I　need　not　speak；〃　says　Miller；
〃of　the　joy　that　filled　my　heart　in　view　of　the　delightful　prospect；　nor　of
the　ardent　longings　of　my　soul　for　a　participation　in　the　joys　of　the
redeemed。　The　Bible　was　now　to　me　a　new　book。　It　was　indeed　a　feast　of
reason；　all　that　was　dark；　mystical；　or　obscure　to　me　in　its　teachings；　had
been　dissipated　from　my　mind　before　the　clear　light　that　now　dawned　from　its
sacred　pages；　and；　oh；　how　bright　and　glorious　the　truth　appeared！　All　the
contradictions　and　inconsistencies　I　had　before　found　in　the　word　were　gone；
and　although　there　were　many　portions　of　which　I　was　not　satisfied　I　had　a
full　understanding；　yet　so　much　light　had　emanated　from　it　to　the
illumination　of　my　before　darkened　mind；　that　I　felt　a　delight　in　studying
the　Scripture　which　I　had　not　before　supposed　could　be　derived　from　its
teachings。〃Bliss；　pages　76；　77。

〃With　the　solemn　conviction　that　such　momentous　events　were　predicted　in　the
Scriptures　to　be　fulfilled　in　so　short　a　space　of　time；　the　question　came
home　to　me　with　mighty

330

power　regarding　my　duty　to　the　world；　in　view　of　the　evidence　that　had
affected　my　own　mind。〃Ibid。；　page　81。　He　could　not　but　feel　that　it　was
his　duty　to　impart　to　others　the　light　which　he　had　received。　He　expected　to
encounter　opposition　from　the　ungodly；　but　was　confident　that　all　Christians
would　rejoice　in　the　hope　of　meeting　the　Saviour　whom　they　professed　to
love。　His　only　fear　was　that　in　their　great　joy　at　the　prospect　of　glorious
deliverance；　so　soon　to　be　consummated；　many　would　receive　the　doctrine
without　sufficiently　examining　the　Scriptures　in　demonstration　of　its　truth。
He　therefore　hesitated　to　present　it；　lest　he　should　be　in　error　and　be　the
means　of　misleading　others。　He　was　thus　led　to　review　the　evidences　in
support　of　the　conclusions　at　which　he　had　arrived；　and　to　consider
carefully　every　difficulty　which　presented　itself　to　his　mind。　He　found　that
objections　vanished　before　the　light　of　God's　word；　as　mist　before　the　rays
of　the　sun。　Five　years　spent　thus　left　him　fully　convinced　of　the
correctness　of　his　position。

And　now　the　duty　of　making　known　to　others　what　he　believed　to　be　so　clearly
taught　in　the　Scriptures；　urged　itself　with　new　force　upon　him。　〃When　I　was
about　my　business；〃　he　said；　〃it　was　continually　ringing　in　my　ears；　'Go　and
tell　the　world　of　their　danger。'　This　text　was　constantly　occurring　to　me：
'When　I　say　unto　the　wicked；　O　wicked　man；　thou　shalt　surely　die；　if　thou
dost　not　speak　to　warn　the　wicked　from　his　way；　that　wicked　man　shall　die　in
his　iniquity；　but　his　blood　will　I　require　at　thine　hand。　Nevertheless；　if
thou　warn　the　wicked　of　his　way　to　turn　from　it；　if　he　do　not　turn　from　his
way；　he　shall　die　in　his　iniquity；　but　thou　hast　delivered　thy　soul。〃
Ezekiel　33：8；　9。　I　felt　that　if　the　wicked　could　be　effectually　warned；
multitudes　of　them　would　repent；　and　that　if　they　were　not　warned；　their
blood　might　be　required　at　my　hand。〃Bliss；　page　92。

He　began　to　present　his　views　in　private　as　he　had　opportunity；　praying　that
some　minister　might　feel　their　force　and　devote　himself　to　their
promulgation。　But　he　could　not

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　331

banish　the　conviction　that　he　had　a　personal　duty　to　perform　in　giving　the
warning。　The　words　were　ever　recurring　to　his　mind：　〃Go　and　tell　it　to　the
world；　their　blood　will　I　require　at　thy　hand。〃　For　nine　years　he　waited；
the　burden　still　pressing　upon　his　soul；　until　in　1813　he　for　the　first　time
publicly　gave　the　reasons　of　his　faith。

As　Elisha　was　called　from　following　his　oxen　in　the　field；　to　receive　the
mantle　of　consecration　to　the　prophetic　office；　so　was　William　Miller　called
to　leave　his　plow　and　open　to　the　people　the　mysteries　of　the　kingdom　of
God。　With　trembling　he　entered　upon　his　work；　leading　his　hearers　down；　step
by　step；　through　the　prophetic　periods　to　the　second　appearing　of　Christ。
With　every　effort　he　gained　strength　and　courage　as　he　saw　the　widespread
interest　excited　by　his　words。

It　was　only　at　the　solicitation　of　his　brethren；　in　whose　words　he　heard　the
call　of　God；　that　Miller　consented　to　present　h