Testimony of Twenty-one Witnesses

In this connection we give a testimonial signed, in 1888, by twenty-one individuals, each of whom was in the advent movement in the year 1844, and was conversant with the rise of the third angel’s message. All were in the message prior to 1851, most of them having been connected with the Seventh-day Adventists almost from the rise of the message:—GSAM 226.1

“We, the undersigned, having been well acquainted with the advent movement in 1844 at the passing of the time, and having also embraced the truth of the third angel’s message as early as 1850, hereby cheerfully subscribe our names to the following statement concerning the shut-door doctrine held by believers in the third angel’s message from the time of its rise to the last mentioned date, and onward.GSAM 226.2

“They believed, in harmony with Revelation 3:7, 8 and other scriptures, that at the close of the twenty-three hundred days of Daniel 8:14, Christ closed his work in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, and changed his ministration to the most holy, and entered upon the work of the judgment, changing his relation in this respect to the plan of salvation. Here was a door opened and a door shut.GSAM 226.3

“They believed that those who had the clear light upon the first angel’s message, and turned against it, bitterly opposing it, were rejected of God. But they did not believe that those who had not had the light or those who had not come to years of accountability previous to 1844, if they should seek God with honest hearts, would be rejected.GSAM 226.4

“While they believed with William Miller and the great mass of Adventists immediately after the passing of the time, that their work for the world was done, and that the Lord would come very soon, yet after the light upon the sanctuary and the third message explained their disappointment, they did not believe that mercy was past save for those who had rejected the light.”GSAM 226.5

Signed, “J. B. Sweet, South Saginaw, Mich.; Samuel Martin, Westrindge, N.H.; Ira Abbey, North Brookfield, N.Y.; Mrs. R. B. Abbey, North Brookfield, N.Y.; Mrs. Diana Abbey, North Brookfield, N.Y.; Mrs. L. B. Abbey, North Brookfield, N.Y.; Heman S. Guerney, Memphis, Mich.; Ann E. Guerney, Memphis, Mich.; William Gifford, Memphis, Mich.; Mrs. Mary S. Chase, Battle Creek, Mich.; S. M. Howland, Battle Creek, Mich.; Mrs. F. H. Lunt, Battle Creek, Mich.; Mrs. Melora A. Ashley, Battle Creek, Mich.; Mrs. Caroline A. Dodge, Battle Creek, Mich.; Mrs. Sarah B. Whipple, Battle Creek, Mich.; Mrs. Uriah Smith, Battle Creek, Mich.; Mrs. Paulina R. Heligass, Moline, Kan.; R. G. Lockwood, St. Helena, Cal.; Mrs. R. G. Lockwood, St. Helena, Cal.; Reuben Loveland, North Hyde Park, Vt.; Mrs. Belinda Loveland, North Hyde Park, Vt.”GSAM 227.1