and His word, their
understanding had become darkened, their hearts earthly and sensual. Thus
they were in ignorance concerning Messiah's advent, and in their pride and
unbelief they rejected the Redeemer. God did not even then cut off the
Jewish nation from a knowledge of, or a participation in, the blessings of
salvation. But those who rejected the truth lost all desire for the gift
of Heaven. They had "put darkness for light, and light for darkness,"
until the light which was in them became darkness; and how great was that
darkness!

It suits the policy of Satan, that men should retain the forms of
religion, if but the spirit of vital godliness is lacking. After their
rejection of the gospel, the Jews continued zealously to maintain their
ancient rites, they rigorously preserved their national exclusiveness,
while they themselves could not but admit that the presence of God was no
longer manifest among them. The prophecy of Daniel pointed so unmistakably
to the time of Messiah's coming, and so directly foretold His death, that
they discouraged its study, and finally the rabbis pronounced a curse on
all who should attempt a computation of the time. In blindness and
impenitence, the people of Israel for eighteen hundred years have stood,
indifferent to the gracious offers of salvation, unmindful of the
blessings of the gospel, a solemn and fearful warning of the danger of
rejecting light from heaven.

Wherever the cause exists, the same results will follow. He who
deliberately stifles his convictions of duty because it interferes with
his inclinations, will finally lose the power to distinguish between truth
and error. The understanding becomes darkened, the conscience callous, the
heart hardened, and the soul is separated from God. Where the message of
divine truth is spurned or slighted, there the church will be enshrouded
in darkness; faith and love grow cold, and estrangement and dissension
enter. Church-members center their interests and energies in worldly
pursuits, and sinners become hardened in their impenitence.

The first angel's message of Revelation 14, announcing the hour of God's
judgment, and calling upon men to fear and worship Him, was designed to
separate the professed people of God from the corrupting influences of the
world, and to arouse them to see their true condition of worldliness and
backsliding. In this message, God had sent to the church a warning, which,
had it been accepted, would have