CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: Paralleling Second Advent and Conditionalist Movements Merge

I. Two World Movements-Neither Complete in Itself

Before we take up the two major Adventist bodies of America, let us first go back and note certain relationships of two paralleling world movements that form their background and setting.CFF2 646.1

1. ADVENT MOVEMENT OMITS MAN’S NATURE AND DESTINY

At the beginning of the nineteenth century the conviction was widespread on both sides of the Atlantic that mankind had entered the latter days, or time of the end, with the hour of God’s judgment impending and the second premillennial advent of Christ drawing near. But, except for occasional individuals, the Second Advent movement of the early decades of the century did not go into the question of man’s nature and destiny, and thus of the disposition of the wicked. It did not raise the issue of the mortality or immortality of man, and whether the final disposition of the wicked is terminable or interminable.CFF2 646.2

We repeat, for emphasis, that the worldwide Second Advent movement, with all its last days, last things, eschatological emphasis, never grappled with this related problem. Its impelling concern was Bible prophecy-the eschatological prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse. It was marked by a great revival of prophetic study. Literally hundreds of books were produced on both sides of the Atlantic, many written by Christendom’s outstanding scholars. But there it ended. And as a movement its momentum had waned by mid-century.CFF2 646.3

2. MOVEMENTS PARALLEL BUT DO NOT MERGE

On the other hand, the great Conditional Immortality movement; which we have been surveying in detail here in the nineteenth century, was a distinctively separate awakening, likewise very active on both sides of the Atlantic and progressively spreading out to various other continents. It paralleled the great Second Advent movement in geographical spread and volume, and brought the issue of the nature, and particularly the destiny, of man, sharply to the forefront. It drew ever larger numbers into the study and acceptance of Conditionalism. And it is also to be noted that this Conditionalist awakening was likewise an integral yet independent part of the over-all field of eschatology, largely overlooked by the Advent Awakening group.CFF2 647.1

That was the fundamental difference and relationship. Both movements emphasized aspects of eschatology but not the complete coverage. They paralleled but did not merge. Only in subsequent developments did they blend, and unite with other neglected or abandoned truths, together constituting a full-rounded body of belief.CFF2 647.2

Uniquely enough, both movements were directed toward the same all-embracing eschatological goal, with its Second Advent climax-one looking for the consummation of all prophecy, the other to the reception of immortality at the resurrection accompanying the Second Advent. Neither concept was complete without the other, and the total emphasis and scope of eschatology would be complete only when they merged. That would have to come before full coverage of the “last things” would be compassed, as many noted Bible students had envisioned. That fact now began to be recognized.CFF2 647.3