FRIDAY MORNING MANNA December 14, 2018
Nathaniel Fajardo Email: [email protected]
The Only Real Celestial Star-Spangled Movement
I looked when he opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Rev. 6: 12, 13, N.K.J.V.
In the prophesied final coming storm, relentless in its fury, we have the full assurance that the Advent Movement will continue withstanding the closest scrutiny of Scriptures undertaken by any truth-loving, diligent Bible student. It has already achieved this as well as the test of time. Whether they are aware not, this has been attested to by a cross-section of religious, secular, and scientific authorities. Thus will it withstand the most desperate and concerted efforts by last day scoffers, naysayers and enemies of the testing truths of the three angels’ messages.
With shared increasing concerns with all thus-minded, I hope to continue searching, discovering, compiling and sharing as much supportive information and resources that will Biblically and naturally infuse increasing spiritual life and light into the Advent Movement—helping to it move faster forward and upward to its prophesied glorious consummation.
“Prophecy not only foretells the manner and object of Christ’s coming, but presents tokens by which men are to know when it is near. Said Jesus: ‘There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars.’ (Luke 21: 25). ‘The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.’ (Mark 13: 24-26). The revelator thus describes the first of the signs to precede the Second Advent: ‘There was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood.’ Rev. 6: 12.
“These signs or token were witnessed before the opening of the nineteenth century. In the fulfillment of this prophecy, there occurred, in the year 1755, the most terrible earthquake ever recorded . . . . Though commonly known as the earthquake of Lisbon, it extended to the greater part of Europe, Africa and America . . .It was inSpain and Portugal that the shock manifested its extreme violence’ (Lyell, Sir Charles, ‘Principles of Geology,’ p. 495 (ed. 1858, N.Y.) . . .The ‘shock’ of the earthquake ‘was instantly followed by the fall of every church and convent, . . The earthquake happened on a holy-day, when the churches and convents were full of people, very few of escaped.’ (Encyclopedia Americana, art. Lisbon, note (ed. 1831). ‘The terror of the people was beyond description. Nobody wept; it was beyond tears. They ran hither and thither, delirious with horror and astonishment, beating their faces and breasts, crying,’ Misericordia! the world’s at an end.’ Mothers forgot their children, and ran to the churches for protection; but in vain was the sacrament exposed; in vain did the poor creatures embrace the altars; images, priests, and people were buried in one common ruin.’ It has been estimated that ninety thousand persons lost their lives on that fatal day.” – Great Controversy, E. G. White, 1911 ed., pp. 304, 305.
“Twenty-five years later appeared the next sign mentioned in the prophecy—the darkening of the sun and moon. What rendered this more striking was the fact that the time of its fulfillment had been definitely pointed out. In the Savior’s conversation with His disciples upon Olivet, after describing the long period of trial for the church [the biblical tribulation],—He thus mentioned certain events to precede His coming, and fixed the time when the first of these should be witnessed: ‘In those days, after the tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light.’ (Mark 13: 24). The 1260 days, or years, terminated in 1798. A quarter of a century earlier, persecution had almost ceased. [due to the Protestant Reformation movement in Europe]. Following this persecution, according to the words of Christ, the sun was to be darkened. On the 19th of May, 1780, this prophecy was fulfilled. ‘Almost if not altogether alone, as the most mysterious and as yet unexplained phenomenon of its kind. . . . a most unaccountable darkening of the whole visible heavens and atmosphere in New England.’ (Devens, R.M., ‘Our First Century,’ p. 89). – Ibid, p. 306.
The extracts below are from the book, Rise and Progress of Seventh-day Adventists and a Brief Sketch of the Advent Cause from 1831 to 1844 by J. N. Loughborough, 1892, chap. 6, The Midnight Cry, pp. 23, 35, 53, 53:
p. 33:” William Miller began his public speaking on this theme [ ] in 1832. One of the specific signs given by the Savior was a token by which we might know that He was ‘near, even at the doors’ (Matt. 24: 29-33) was fulfilled the very next year after Miller began to preach. I refer to the falling stars. This event occurred Nov. 13, 1833. The masses that viewed this vivid scene regarded it as a sign of the coming of the Lord. It served to give force to the proclamation of the doctrine of the Lord’ speedy coming. We have not space to say much concerning this interesting event, but we will, however, quote from the Connecticut Observer of Nov. 25, 1833. It says: —
‘The editor of the Old Countryman makes a very serious matter of the ‘falling stars.’ He says, we pronounce the rain of fire, which we saw on Wednesday morning last, an awful type, a sure forerunner, a merciful sign, of that great and dreadful day which the inhabitants of the earth will witness when the sixth seal shall be opened. The time is just at hand, described not only in the New Testament, but in the Old Testament; and a more correct picture of a fig-tree casting its fruit when blown by a mighty wind. It was not possible to behold (see Rev. 6: 13).’
“The people had been taught by those of former times to look for a literal fulfillment of this sign. Thomas Burnet, in his ‘Theory of the Earth,’ printed in London, A.D. 1697, said of Matt. 24: 29: —
‘No doubt there will be all sorts of fiery meteors at that time; and amongst others those called falling stars, which though they are not considerable, singly yet if they were multiplied in great numbers, falling, as the prophet says, as leaves from the vine, or figs from the fig tree, they would make an astonishing sight. . . . We need not look at these things as hyperbolical and poetic strains, but as barefaced prophecies, and things that will literally come to pass.’
“Prof. Olmstead, of Yale College, who has been called ‘America’s greatest meteorologist,’ said of the falling stars of 1833: —
‘The extent of the shower of 1833 were such as to cover no inconsiderable part of the earth’s surface, from the middle of the Atlantic on the east, to the Pacific on the west; and from the northern coast of South America, to undefined regions among the British possessions on the north, the exhibition of shooting stars was not only visible, but everywhere presented the same appearance.’
“Of this display, which began about 11 P.M. Nov. 13, and continued until about 1 A.M. of the 14th, the Professor says: —
‘Those who were so fortunate as to witness the exhibition of shooting stars on the morning of November 13, 1833, probably saw the greatest display of celestial fireworks that has ever been seen since the creation of the world, or at least within the annals covered by the pages of history.’
“The Lord not only gave this definite sign of His near approach, but in connection with it He says by the prophet Joel [Joel 2: 20,31, KJV quoted]. The Adventists taught that the aurora borealis of these last centuries (commonly called northern lights) was the ‘fire and pillars of smoke; that meets the specification of the prophet; and from the best information to be obtained from history it has rarely been seen previous to this period.
“So, while the message of the Lord’s speedy coming was going forth in the earth, signs were hung out in the heavens which gave edge to the truth and arrested the attention of the people. On Jan. 25, 1837, there was a most significant display of the aurora borealis, which seemed to lead the minds of many directly to the words of the prophet Joel’s prediction of what was to precede the great day of the Lord. The following description of the scene is from the New York Commercial Advertiser of Oct. 22, 1839. It agrees so exactly with the scene as I witnessed it, that I quote it here: —
“On the evening of Jan. 25, 1837, there was a remarkable exhibition of the same phenomenon [meaning the aurora borealis] in various parts of the country, as our readers doubtless recollect. Where the ground was covered with snow, the sight was grand and ‘fearful’ in a most unprecedented manner. In one place, situated near a mountain, the people who witnessed the scene, informed us that it resembled ‘waves of fire rolling down the mountain.’ And generally, so far as was learnt, the snow covering the ground appeared like fire mingled with blood, while above (as the apostle Peter says), ‘the heavens being on fire,’ resembled so much the prophetic description of the last day, that many were amazed; the children beholding it were affrighted and inquired if it were the coming of the Judgment; and even the animals trembled with much manifest alarm.’
“It was not alone in America that this sign of the prophet Joel was displayed, but as the doctrine of the Lord’s coming was gaining publicity in Great Britain, the same sign was hung out over there. The New York Commercial Advertiser of Oct. 22, 1839, quotes the following from London papers concerning a remarkable phenomenon witnessed in that country on the night of September 3. It reads as follows: —
‘London, Sept. 5 [1839]. – Between the hours of ten on Thursday night and three yesterday morning, in the heavens was observed one of the most magnificent specimens of these extraordinary phenomena, the falling stars and northern lights, witnessed for many years past. The first indication of this singular phenomena was ten minutes before ten,, when a light crimson, apparently vapor, rose from the northern portion of the hemisphere, and gradually extended to the center of the heavens, and by 10 o’ clock, or a quarter past, the whole, from east to west, was one vast sheet of light. It had a most alarming appearance, and was exactly like that occasioned by a terrific fire. The light varied considerably; at one time it seemed to fall, and directly after rose with intense brightness. There were to be seen mingled with volumes of smoke, which rolled over and over, and every beholder seemed convinced that it was a ‘tremendous conflagration.’ The consternation of the metropolis was very great; thousands of persons were running in the direction of the supposed awful catastrophe. The engines belonging to the fire brigade stations in Baker St., Farrington St., Watling St., Waterloo Rd., and likewise those belonging to the west of London stations . . .These appearances lasted for upwards of 2 hours, and toward morning the spectacle became one grandeur.
‘ ‘At two o’ clock in the morning, the phenomenon presented a most gorgeous scene, and one very difficult to describe. The whole of London was illuminated as light as noonday, and the atmosphere was remarkably clear The southern hemisphere, at the time mentioned, though unclouded, was very dark; but the stars, which were innumerable, shone beautifully. The opposite side of the heavens presented a singular but magnificent contrast; it was clear to extreme, and the light was very vivid; there was a continual succession of meteors, which varied in splendor,–they appeared formed in the center of the heavens, and spread till they seemed to burst. The effect was electrical.
Myriads of stars shot out over the horizon, and darted with such swiftness towards the earth that the eye could scarcely follow the track; they seemed to burst also, and throw a dark crimson vapor over the entire hemisphere. The colors were most magnificent. At half past 2 o’clock, the spectacle changed to darkness, which, on dispersing, displayed a luminous rainbow in the zenith of the heavens, and round the ridge of darkness that overhung the southern portion of the country. Soon afterward, columns of silvery light radiated from it. They increased wonderfully, intermingled among crimson vapor which formed at the same time, and when at full height, the spectacle was beyond imagination. Stars were darting about in all directions, and continued until four o’clock, when all died away.’ ‘
“Of the use that was made, both in England and America, of these fulfillments of Joel’s prophecy, we may learn by reading from the ‘Exposition of the Twenty-Fourth of Matthew,’ by Sylvester Bliss, published in Boston in 1843.” (Continued next week)