Why You Should Read This Book
To millions of people, life seems both meaningless and absurd.
Science, technology, even philosophy and theology, have pictured
human beings as mere creatures of chance. Yet, consciously or not,
men and women find it difficult to accept a purposeless existence.
Violence, protests and rebellion, experimentation with drugs—these
are, in many cases, the irrational expressions of people struggling
with their appalling lostness. Like orphans they cry out from their
loneliness and despair, “Who am I? Who were my parents? Why
did they give me up? How can I find them?”
Many turn to science for answers, tuning our great radio telescopes
in on the heartbeat of the stars, as if to ask, Is there anyone
out there who knows me? Who cares for me? But science has no
answer. Science is set up to ask questions: How is an atom constructed?
How is it split? How do our minds work? How is the
universe constructed?
It cannot tell us why there is an atom, why human beings exist,
why there is a universe at all. Nor can it answer those unique
questions that concern thinking people:
If there is meaning and justice in the universe, why do the innocent
suffer with the guilty?
Is there life after death? Does the human personality live on?
Do today’s Christian churches really speak for God? What is
truth?
What is the future of the world? Will it end with the whimper of
a child struggling for a last breath in polluted atmosphere, or with the
bang of atomic hell unleashed from cherry-red ICBM nose cones?
Or will humans—who in recorded history never have demonstrated
the ability to control their own basic selfishness—suddenly succeed
[6] in banishing evil, war, poverty and even death?
This book gives the answers, and they are reassuring. Life does
have meaning! We are not alone in the universe. Someone out
there cares! Someone, indeed, who has involved Himself in human
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Why You Should Read This Book xiii
history, who Himself joined our race, so that we could get through
to Him and He to us; Someone whose strong hand has been over
this planet and who will guide it back to peace—and soon.
But long years ago a persuasive cosmic being determined to seize
control of our world and thwart God’s plan for the happiness of His
earthly family. In graphic language—indeed, multiplied thousands
have called it inspired language—the author of this book tears the
curtain from the dim unknown and fearlessly exposes the strategies
of this powerful but unseen personality whose hand is stretched out
to grasp the sovereignty of our world. On the human scene pagan
princes and religious establishments alike are exposed as guilty
parties in the conspiracy.
Only in an age of religious freedom could this book be printed
and widely circulated, for it cuts hard across some of the most
powerful Establishments of our day. It tells why a Reformation was
needed, and why it was halted; the sad story of apostate churches, of
persecuting alliances, of an emerging coalition of church and state
that will yet play its inglorious part before the great controversy
between evil and good is ended. And in this conflict every human
being is a participant.
Here the author writes of things not yet existing in her day. She
speaks with an honesty that disturbs and startles. The issues of the
controversy are so great and the stakes so high that somebody had
to voice these words of warning and enlightenment.
No reader who turns the pages of this book will put it down
without wondering whether it was more than chance that led him to
discover it.
The Publishers.
[7]
Lifting the Veil on the Future*
Before the entrance of sin, Adam enjoyed open communion with
his Maker; but since man separated himself from God by transgression,
the human race has been cut off from this high privilege. By
the plan of redemption, however, a way has been opened whereby
the inhabitants of the earth may still have connection with heaven.
God has communicated with men by His Spirit, and divine light has
been imparted to the world by revelations to His chosen servants.
“Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2
Peter 1:21.
During the first 2500 years of human history, there was no written
revelation. Those who had been taught of God communicated their
knowledge to others, and it was handed down from father to son,
through successive generations. The preparation of the written word
began in the time of Moses. Inspired revelations were then embodied
in an Inspired Book. This work continued during the long period of
1600 years—from Moses, the historian of creation and the law, to
John, the recorder of the most sublime truths of the gospel.
The Bible points to God as its author; yet it was written by
human hands; and in the varied style of its different books it presents
the characteristics of the several writers. The truths revealed are
all “given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16); yet they are
expressed in the words of men. The Infinite One by His Holy Spirit
has shed light into the minds and hearts of His servants. He has
[8] given dreams and visions, symbols
and figures; and those to whom the truth was thus revealed have
themselves embodied the thought in human language.
Written in different ages, by men who differed widely in rank
and occupation, and in mental and spiritual endowments, the books
of the Bible present a wide contrast in style, as well as a diversity in
the nature of the subjects unfolded. Different forms of expression are
employed by different writers; often the same truth is more strikingly
*Author’s Introduction
xiv
Lifting the Veil on the Future xv
presented by one than by another. And as several writers present
a subject under varied aspects and relations, there may appear, to
the superficial, careless, or prejudiced reader, to be discrepancy or
contradiction, where the thoughtful, reverent student, with clearer
insight, discerns the underlying harmony.
As presented through different individuals, the truth is brought
out in its varied aspects. One writer is more strongly impressed with
one phase of the subject; he grasps those points that harmonize with
his experience or with his power of perception and appreciation;
another seizes upon a different phase; and each, under the guidance
of the Holy Spirit, presents what is most forcibly impressed
upon his own mind—a different aspect of the truth in each, but a
perfect harmony through all. And the truths thus revealed unite to
form a perfect whole, adapted to meet the wants of men in all the
circumstances and experiences of life.
God has been pleased to communicate His truth to the world
by human agencies, and He Himself, by His Holy Spirit, qualified
men and enabled them to do this work. He guided the mind in
the selection of what to speak and what to write. The treasure was
entrusted to earthen vessels, yet it is, nonetheless, from Heaven. The
testimony is conveyed through the imperfect expression of human
language, yet it is the testimony of God; and the obedient, believing
child of God beholds in it the glory of a divine power, full of grace
and truth.
In His Word, God has committed to men the knowledge [9]
necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an
authoritative, infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard
of character, the revealer of doctrines, and the test of experience.
“Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness; that
the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every
good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, RV.
Yet the fact that God has revealed His will to men through His
Word has not rendered needless the continued presence and guiding
of the Holy Spirit. On the contrary, the Spirit was promised by our
Saviour, to open the Word to His servants, to illuminate and apply
its teachings. And since it was the Spirit of God that inspired the
xvi From Here to Forever
Bible, it is impossible that the teaching of the Spirit should ever be
contrary to that of the Word.
The Spirit was not given—nor can it ever be bestowed—to supersede
the Bible; for the Scriptures explicitly state that the Word of
God is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be
tested. Says the apostle John, “Believe not every spirit, but try the
spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are
gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1. And Isaiah declares, “To the
law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it
is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20.
Great reproach has been cast upon the work of the Holy Spirit
by the errors of a class that, claiming its enlightenment, profess
to have no further need of guidance from the Word of God. They
are governed by impressions which they regard as the voice of God
in the soul. But the spirit that controls them is not the Spirit of
God. This following of impressions, to the neglect of the Scriptures,
can lead only to confusion, to deception and ruin. It serves only to
further the designs of the evil one. Since the ministry of the Holy
Spirit is of vital importance to the church of Christ, it is one of the
[10] devices of Satan, through the errors of extremists and
fanatics, to cast contempt upon the work of the Spirit and cause the
people of God to neglect this source of strength which our Lord
Himself has provided.
In harmony with the Word of God, His Spirit was to continue its
work throughout the period of the gospel dispensation. During the
ages while the Scriptures of both the Old and the New Testament
were being given, the Holy Spirit did not cease to communicate light
to individual minds, apart from the revelations to be embodied in
the Sacred Canon. The Bible itself relates how, through the Holy
Spirit, men received warning, reproof, counsel, and instruction, in
matters in no way relating to the giving of the Scriptures. And
mention is made of prophets in different ages, of whose utterances
nothing is recorded. In like manner, after the close of the canon
of the Scripture, the Holy Spirit was still to continue its work, to
enlighten, warn, and comfort the children of God.
Jesus promised His disciples, “The Comforter, which is the Holy
Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all
things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have
Lifting the Veil on the Future xvii
said unto you.” “When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide
you into all truth: ... and he will show you things to come.” John
14:26; 16:13. Scripture plainly teaches that these promises, so far
from being limited to apostolic days, extend to the church of Christ
in all ages. The Saviour assures His followers, “I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20. And Paul declares
that the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit were set in the church
“for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Ephesians
4:12, 13.
For the believers at Ephesus the apostle prayed, “That the God
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the
Spirit of wisdom and revelation [11]
in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened;
that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and ...
what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe.”
Ephesians 1:17-19. The ministry of the divine Spirit in enlightening
the understanding and opening to the mind the deep things of
God’s Holy Word was the blessing which Paul thus besought for the
Ephesian church.
After the wonderful manifestation of the Holy Spirit on the Day
of Pentecost, Peter exhorted the people to repentance and baptism in
the name of Christ, for the remission of their sins; and he said: “Ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you,
and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the
Lord our God shall call.” Acts 2:38, 39.
In immediate connection with the scenes of the great day of God,
the Lord by the prophet Joel has promised a special manifestation
of His Spirit. Joel 2:28. This prophecy received a partial fulfillment
in the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost; but it will
reach its full accomplishment in the manifestation of divine grace
which will attend the closing work of the gospel.
The great controversy between good and evil will increase in
intensity to the very close of time. In all ages the wrath of Satan has
been manifested against the church of Christ; and God has bestowed
His grace and Spirit upon His people to strengthen them to stand
xviii From Here to Forever
against the power of the evil one. When the apostles of Christ were
to bear His gospel to the world and to record it for all future ages,
they were especially endowed with the enlightenment of the Spirit.
But as the church approaches her final deliverance, Satan is to work
with greater power. He comes down “having great wrath, because
he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:12. He will
work “with all power and signs and lying wonders.” 2 Thessalonians
[12] 2:9. For 6000 years that mastermind that once
Through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the scenes of the
long-continued conflict between good and evil have been opened to
the writer of these pages. From time to time I have been permitted
to behold the working, in different ages, of the great controversy
between Christ, the Prince of life, the Author of our salvation, and
Satan, the prince of evil, the author of sin, the first transgressor of
God’s holy law. Satan’s enmity against Christ has been manifested
against His followers. The same hatred of the principles of God’s
law, the same policy of deception, by which error is made to appear
as truth, by which human laws are substituted for the law of God,
and men are led to worship the creature rather than the Creator, may
be traced in all the history of the past. Satan’s efforts to misrepresent
the character of God, to cause men to cherish a false conception
of the Creator, and thus to regard Him with fear and hate rather
than with love; his endeavors to set aside the divine law, leading
the people to think themselves free from its requirements; and his
persecution of those who dare to resist his deceptions, have been
steadfastly pursued in all ages. They may be traced in the history of
patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, of martyrs and reformers.
In the great final conflict, Satan will employ the same policy,
manifest the same spirit, and work for the same end as in all preced-
[13] ing ages. That which has
been, will be, except that the coming struggle will be marked with
a terrible intensity such as the world has never witnessed. Satan’s
deceptions will be more subtle, his assaults more determined. If it
were possible, he would lead astray the elect. Mark 13:22.
As the Spirit of God has opened to my mind the great truths of
His Word, and the scenes of the past and the future, I have been
bidden to make known to others that which has thus been revealed—
to trace the history of the controversy in past ages, and especially so
Lifting the Veil on the Future xix
to present it as to shed a light on the fast-approaching struggle of the
future. In pursuance of this purpose, I have endeavored to select and
group together events in the history of the church in such a manner
as to trace the unfolding of the great testing truths that at different
periods have been given to the world, that have excited the wrath of
Satan and the enmity of a world-loving church, and that have been
maintained by the witness of those who “loved not their lives unto
the death.”
In these records we may see a foreshadowing of the conflict
before us. Regarding them in the light of God’s Word, and by the
illumination of His Spirit, we may see unveiled the devices of the
wicked one and the dangers which they must shun who would be
found “without fault” before the Lord at His coming.
The great events which have marked the progress of reform
in past ages are matters of history, well known and universally
acknowledged by the Protestant world; they are facts which none
can gainsay. This history I have presented briefly, in accordance
with the scope of the book and the brevity which must necessarily
be observed, the facts having been condensed into as little space as
seemed consistent with a proper understanding of their application.
In some cases where a historian has so grouped together events
as to afford, in brief, a comprehensive view of the subject, or has
summarized details in a convenient manner, his words have been
quoted; but in some instances no specific credit has been given, since
the quotations are not [14]
given for the purpose of citing that writer as authority, but because
his statement affords a ready and forcible presentation of the subject.
In narrating the experience and views of those carrying forward the
work of reform in our own time, similar use has been made of their
published works.
It is not so much the object of this book to present new truths
concerning the struggles of former times, as to bring out facts and
principles which have a bearing on coming events. Yet viewed as
a part of the controversy between the forces of light and darkness,
all these records of the past are seen to have a new significance; and
through them a light is cast upon the future, illumining the pathway
of those who, like the reformers of past ages, will be called, even at
xx From Here to Forever
the peril of all earthly good, to witness “for the word of God, and
for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
To unfold the scenes of the great controversy between truth and
error; to reveal the wiles of Satan and the means by which he may
be successfully resisted; to present a satisfactory solution of the
great problem of evil, shedding such a light upon the origin and
the final disposition of sin as to make fully manifest the justice and
benevolence of God in all His dealings with His creatures; and to
show the holy, unchanging nature of His law, is the object of this
book. That through its influence souls may be delivered from the
power of darkness and become “partakers of the inheritance of the
saints in light,” to the praise of Him who loved us and gave Himself
for us is the earnest prayer of the writer.
E.G.W.
[15]
Chapter 1—A Forecast of the World’s Destiny
From the crest of Olivet, Jesus looked upon Jerusalem. In full
view were the magnificent buildings of the temple. The setting sun
lighted up the snowy whiteness of its marble walls and gleamed
from golden tower and pinnacle. What child of Israel could gaze
upon the scene without a thrill of joy and admiration! But other
thoughts occupied the mind of Jesus. “When he was come near, he
beheld the city, and wept over it.” Luke 19:41.
Jesus’ tears were not for Himself, though before Him lay Gethsemane,
the scene of approaching agony, and not far distant, Calvary,
the place of crucifixion. Yet it was not these scenes that cast the
shadow upon Him in this hour of gladness. He wept for the doomed
thousands of Jerusalem.
The history of more than a thousand years of God’s special favor
and guardian care, manifested to the chosen people, was open to the
eye of Jesus. Jerusalem had been honored of God above all the earth.
The Lord had “chosen Zion ... for his habitation.” Psalm 132:13. For
ages, holy prophets had uttered their messages of warning. Daily
the blood of lambs had been offered, pointing to the Lamb of God.
Had Israel as a nation preserved her allegiance to Heaven,
Jerusalem would have stood forever, the elect of God. But the
history of that favored people was a record of backsliding and rebellion.
With more than a father’s pitying love, God had “compassion
on his people, and on his dwelling place.” 2 Chronicles 36:15. [18]
When entreaty and rebuke had failed, He sent the best gift of
heaven, the Son of God Himself, to plead with the impenitent city.
For three years the Lord of light and glory had gone in and out
among His people, “doing good, and healing all that were oppressed
of the devil,” setting at liberty them that were bound, restoring sight
to the blind, causing the lame to walk and the deaf to hear, cleansing
lepers, raising the dead, and preaching the gospel to the poor. See
Acts 10:38; Luke 4:18; Matthew 11:5.
21
22 From Here to Forever
A homeless wanderer, He lived to minister to the needs and
lighten the woes of men, to plead with them to accept the gift of life.
The waves of mercy, beaten back by those stubborn hearts, returned
in a stronger tide of pitying, inexpressible love. But Israel had turned
from her best Friend and only Helper. The pleadings of His love had
been despised.
The hour of hope and pardon was fast passing. The cloud that
had been gathering through ages of apostasy and rebellion was about
to burst upon a guilty people. He who alone could save them from
their impending fate had been slighted, abused, rejected, and was
soon to be crucified.
As Christ looked upon Jerusalem, the doom of a whole city,
a whole nation, was before Him. He beheld the destroying angel
with sword uplifted against the city which had so long been God’s
dwelling place. From the very spot afterward occupied by Titus and
his army, He looked across the valley upon the sacred courts and
porticoes. With tear-dimmed eyes He saw the walls surrounded by
alien hosts. He heard the tread of armies marshaling for war, the
voice of mothers and children crying for bread in the besieged city.
He saw her holy house, her palaces and towers, given to the flames,
a heap of smoldering ruins.
Looking down the ages, He saw the covenant people scattered
in every land, “like wrecks on a desert shore.” Divine pity, yearning
love, found utterance in the mournful words: “O Jerusalem,
[19] Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which
are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children
together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and
ye would not!” Matthew 23:37.
Christ saw in Jerusalem a symbol of the world hardened in unbelief
and rebellion, hastening on to meet the retributive judgments of
God. His heart was moved with pity for the afflicted and suffering
ones of earth. He yearned to relieve them all. He was willing to pour
out His soul unto death to bring salvation within their reach.
The Majesty of heaven in tears! That scene shows how hard a
task it is to save the guilty from the consequence of transgressing
the law of God. Jesus saw the world involved in deception similar
to that which caused the destruction of Jerusalem. The great sin
of the Jews was their rejection of Christ; the great sin of the world
Forecast of the World’s Destiny 23
would be their rejection of the law of God, the foundation of His
government in heaven and earth. Millions in bondage to sin, doomed
to suffer the second death, would refuse to listen to words of truth in
their day of visitation.
Magnificent Temple Doomed
Two days before the Passover, Christ again went with His disciples
to the Mount of Olives overlooking the city. Once more He
gazed upon the temple in its dazzling splendor, a diadem of beauty.
Solomon, the wisest of Israel’s monarchs, had completed the first
temple, the most magnificent building the world ever saw. After its
destruction by Nebuchadnezzar, it was rebuilt about five hundred
years before the birth of Christ.
But the second temple had not equaled the first in magnificence.
No cloud of glory, no fire from heaven, descended upon its altar. The
ark, the mercy seat, and the tables of the testimony were not to be
found there. No voice from heaven made known to the priest the will
of God. The second temple was not honored with the cloud of God’s [