Announcing Jesus coming Manuel de Lacunza 1731 1801

Announcing Jesus’ coming! Manuel de Lacunza, 1731 -1801 Joseph Wolff, 1795 -1862 William Miller, 1782 -1849 Child Preachers, Scandinavia

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. ” (GC p. 355) And that is just what happened. People everywhere began to study.

Our lesson this week is about three people in particular who proclaimed that Jesus was coming again soon, but this was proclaimed in many other countries, as well.

Remember last week we talked about some warning signs that pointed to the “time of the end”? What were those warning signs?

The Lisbon Earthquake, November 1, 1755 The Dark Day, May 19, 1780 The Falling of the Stars, November 13, 1833

Manuel de Lacunza What do you think he is studying? United States Public Domain

Joseph Wolff United States Public Domain To whom do you think he is preaching?

About what did he preach? United States Public Domain William Miller

Two texts are referenced in our lesson--Psalm 101: 3 and Psalm 119: 37. Let’s look at Psalm 101: 3 first.

Psalm 101: 3: I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

Wicked in this text is beleyah-al in Hebrew, and it means. . . Worthless, good for nothing, wicked, causing destruction It is translated Belial most of the time, the first time being in Deuteronomy 13: 13. Let’s also look at 1 Samuel 2: 12. Those of Belial have turned from God.

Now let’s read Psalm 119: 37: Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

vanity in Hebrew is shav and means. . . Emptiness, false, lying Let us look at Exodus 20: 7 --“in vain” Deuteronomy 5: 20 --“false witness” Psalm 12: 2 --“speak vanity”

If you wanted to look these words up for yourself, you could use Online Bible.

Manuel de Lacunza A Jesuit priest who was born in Santiago, Chile Expelled from Chile and moved to Italy Began to study prophecy and 20 years later wrote. . . United States Public Domain

THE COMING OF MESSIAH IN GLORY AND MAJESTY BY JUAN JOSAFAT BEN-EZRA, A CONVERTED JEW TRANSLATED FROM THE SPANISH, WITH A PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE, BY THE REV. EDWARD IRVING, A. M.

The book by Lacunza was written in Spanish, but Edward Irving read it and decided it needed to be translated into English because, as he said in the dedication of his translation, . . .

My soul is greatly afflicted because of the present unawakened and even dead condition of all the churches, with respect to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, which draweth nigh, and which, as I believe, is, close at hand. . .

Edward Irving 1792 -1834 Born in Annandale, Scotland United States Public Domain

stumpsaver at flickr

stumpsaver at flickr

Scothill

Annan River Freddie Phillips

almagill Annan River

So, he translated Lacunza’s book. It was published in London and widely-read in England. It helped to turn the attention of many people to the second coming of Christ.

Joseph Wolff A Jew born in Germany, near Bamberg, but. . . United States Public Domain

. . . 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 later, to pursue his studies in the College of the Propaganda at Rome. Here his habit of independent thought and candid speech brought upon him the imputation of heresy. He openly attacked the abuses of the church and urged the necessity of reform. Though at first treated with special favor by the papal dignitaries, he was after a time removed from Rome. (GC 358)

Wolff believed the coming of the Lord to be at hand, his interpretation of the prophetic periods placing the great consummation within a very few years of the time pointed out by Miller. To those who urged from the scripture, “Of that day and hour knoweth no man, ” that men are to know nothing concerning the nearness of the advent, Wolff replied: “Did our Lord say that day and hour should never be known? Did He not give us signs of the times, in order that we may know at least the approach of His coming, as one knows the approach of the summer by the fig tree putting forth its leaves? ” (GC 359, 360)

Bamberg, Germany Joseph Wolff was born near here Thomas Depenbusch

Thomas Depenbusch

William Miller Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts The gray-headed man who had left a comfortable home to travel at his own expense from city to city, from town to village, toiling unceasingly to bear to the world the solemn warning of the judgment near, was sneeringly denounced as a fanatic, a liar, a speculating knave. {CTr 336. 2} United States Public Domain

William Miller was despised and hated by the ungodly and unbelieving; but his influence and his labors were a blessing to the world. Under his preaching, thousands of sinners were converted, backsliders were reclaimed, and multitudes were led to study the Scriptures and to find in them a beauty and glory before unknown. (The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, pp. 220, 221)

God sent His angel to move upon the heart of a farmer who had not believed the Bible, to lead him to search the prophecies. Angels of God repeatedly visited that chosen one, to guide his mind and open to his understanding prophecies which had ever been dark to God’s people. The commencement of the chain of truth was given to him, and he was led on to search for link after link, until he looked with wonder and admiration upon the Word of God. He saw there a perfect chain of truth. That Word which he had regarded as uninspired now opened before his vision in its beauty and glory. He saw that one portion of Scripture explains another, and when one passage was closed to his understanding, he found in another part of the Word that which explained it. He regarded the sacred Word of God with joy and with the deepest respect and awe. (EW 229)

God called him to leave his farm, as He called Elisha to leave his oxen and the field of his labor to follow Elijah. With trembling, William Miller began to unfold to the people the mysteries of the kingdom of God, carrying his hearers down through the prophecies to the second advent of Christ. With every effort he gained strength. (EW 229, 230)

Miller’s home in Whitehall, NY Jomegat

In Scandinavia also the advent message was proclaimed, and a widespread interest was kindled. Many were roused from their careless security to confess and forsake their sins, and seek pardon in the name of Christ. But the clergy of the state church opposed the movement, and through their influence some who preached the message were thrown into prison. In many places where the preachers of the Lord’s soon coming were thus silenced, God was pleased to send the message, in a miraculous manner, through little children. As they were under age, the law of the state could not restrain them, and they were permitted to speak unmolested. {GC 366. 2}

The movement was chiefly among the lower class, and it was in the humble dwellings of the laborers that the people assembled to hear the warning. The childpreachers themselves were mostly poor cottagers. Some of them were not more than six or eight years of age; and while their lives testified that they loved the Saviour, and were trying to live in obedience to God’s holy requirements, they ordinarily manifested only the intelligence and ability usually seen in children of that age. When standing before the people, however, it was evident that they were moved by an influence beyond their own natural gifts.

Text adunt at flickr

Tone and manner changed, and with solemn power they gave the warning of the judgment, employing the very words of Scripture: “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come. ” They reproved the sins of the people, not only condemning immorality and vice, but rebuking worldliness and backsliding, and warning their hearers to make haste to flee from the wrath to come. {GC 366. 3}

The people heard with trembling. The convicting Spirit of God spoke to their hearts. Many were led to search the Scriptures with new and deeper interest, the intemperate and immoral were reformed, others abandoned their dishonest practices, and a work was done so marked that even ministers of the state church were forced to acknowledge that the hand of God was in the movement. {GC 367. 1}

Our lesson has focused on Lacunza’s work in Italy and its publication into English in England. . . The work of Joseph Wolff, “missionary to the world, ” visiting places in Africa, Egypt, Asia. . . The work of William Miller in America. . . And the work of children in Scandinavia.