The Confessing Seventh-day Adventist

It is my reasoned belief that Uriah Smith’s commentary Daniel and the Revelation is now terribly obsolete. I have no problem acknowledging that Sister White wrote very nice things about Uriah Smith’s book but I must point out the divine instruction that Sister White received that called for a simpler interpretation.

“A message that will arouse the churches is to be proclaimed. Every effort is to be made to give the light, not only to our people, but to the world. I have been instructed that the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation should be printed in small books, with the necessary explanations, and should be sent all over the world. Our own people need to have the light placed before them in clearer lines.” {TM 117.3}

The context to the meaning of these clearer lines is new light:

“Those who eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God will bring from the books of Daniel and Revelation truth that is inspired by the Holy Spirit. They will start into action forces that cannot be repressed. The lips of children will be opened to proclaim the mysteries that have been hidden from the minds of men.” {TM 116.1}

“The perils of the last days are upon us, and in our work we are to warn the people of the danger they are in. Let not the solemn scenes which prophecy has revealed be left untouched. If our people were half awake, if they realized the nearness of the events portrayed in the Revelation, a reformation would be wrought in our churches, and many more would believe the message. We have no time to lose; God calls upon us to watch for souls as they that must give an account. Advance new principles, and crowd in the clear-cut truth. It will be as a sword cutting both ways. … Let Daniel speak, let the Revelation speak, and tell what is truth.” {TM 118.1}

These testimonies were written in 1896, which was 14 years after Uriah Smith’s massive book Daniel and the Revelation was first published. Smith’s commentary was developed out of his two earlier works:

1867 – Thoughts, Critical and Practical, on the Book of Revelation
1873 – Thoughts, Critical and Practical, on the Book of Daniel

The first combined edition of these two works “Daniel and the Revelation” was printed by the Review and Herald Publishing Association in 1882 and was revised many times thereafter.
TM is the accepted abbreviation for Testimonies to Ministers.