Four forty-year generations have entirely passed since 1844. Each one has failed to take hold of the high calling of being in possession of the third angel's message--the "last message of mercy" for a dying world. The delay in the return of Christ must not be charged to God's account, as though He is waiting for some celestial time clock to reach a pre-determined mark. Although God knows the day and the hour, He has been waiting for us.

As we look around us at the rapid deterioration of our planet and witness the increasing fulfilment of the signs of His appearing, we get a deep...