The Scriptures, in whole or in part, have been printed in more than five hundred distinct tongues; and the work of translation into new languages and dialects is still carried forward with unflagging zeal.
[Page 288.] Foreign Missions.—Dr. G. P. Fisher, in a chapter on “Christian Missions” in his “History of the Christian Church,” outlines the beginnings of the missionary movement, which, in “the later years of the eighteenth century, ushered in a brilliant era of missionary activity, an era which, in the history of missions, is only less remarkable than the first of the Christian ages.” In 1792, “the Baptist society was founded, with Carey as one of its first missionaries. Carey sailed for India, and there, with the help of other members of the same society, founded the mission of Serampore.” In 1795, the London Missionary Society was founded; in 1799, there was formed “the organization which in 1812 became the Church Missionary Society.” Soon afterward, the Wesleyan Missionary Society was founded.
“While the missionary activity was growing up in Great Britain, the Christians of America were becoming animated with a like zeal.” In 1812, they founded the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions; and in 1814, the American Baptist Missionary Union. Adoniram Judson, one of the first missionaries to go out from America, sailed for Calcutta in 1812, and reached Burmah in July, 1813. In 1837, the Presbyterian Board was formed. (See Fisher, “History of the Christian Church,” period 9, ch. 7, par. 3-25.)
Dr. A. T. Pierson, in an article published in the Missionary Review of the World for January, 1910, declares: “A half-century ago, China and Manchuria, Japan and Korea, Turkey and Arabia, and even the vast continent of Africa, were sleeping—hermit nations, locked in the cell of long seclusion and exclusion. Central Asia was comparatively unexplored, as was Central Africa. In many lands, Satan's long occupation was undisputed and his empire unmolested. Papal countries were as intolerant as pagan; Italy and Spain imprisoned a man for daring to sell a Bible, or preach the gospel. France was practically infidel, and Germany permeated with rationalism; and over a large part of the mission field, the doors were shut and locked by a more or less rigid exclusion and caste system. Now the changes, on every side, are so remarkable and so radical that, to one who should suddenly come out of this middle period of the last century, ... the world would be unrecognizable. He who holds the keys of the two-leaved gates has been unlocking them, opening up all lands to the Messenger of the Cross. Even in the Eternal City, where, a half-century ago, a visitor had to leave his Bible outside the walls, there are Protestant chapels by the score, and a free circulation of the Scriptures.”
[Page 327.] Prophetic Dates.—See note for [page 329].
[Page 329.] Prophetic Dates.—The historical and chronological facts connected with the prophetic periods of Daniel 8 and 9, including many evidences pointing unmistakably to the year 457 B.C. as the proper time from which to begin reckoning these periods, have been clearly outlined by many students of prophecy. See Stanley Leathes, “Old Testament Prophecy,” lectures 10, 11 (Warburton Lectures for 1876-1880); W. Goode, “Fulfilled Prophecy,” sermon 10, including Note A (Warburton Lectures for 1854-1858); A. Thom, “Chronology of Prophecy,” pp. 26-106 (London ed., 1848); Sir Isaac Newton, “Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel, and the Apocalypse of St. John,” ch. 10 (London ed., 1733, pp. 128-143); Uriah Smith, “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,” part 1, ch. 8, 9. On the date of the crucifixion, see Wm. Hales, “Analysis of Chronology,” Vol. I, pp. 94-101; Vol. III. pp. 164-258 (2d London ed., 1830).
[Page 335.] Fall of the Ottoman Empire.—For further details as to the predicted fall of the Ottoman empire during the month of August, 1840, see J. Litch, “The Probability of the Second Coming of Christ about A.D. 1843” (published in June, 1838); J. Litch, “An Address to the Clergy” (published in the spring of 1840; a second edition, with historical data in support of the accuracy of former calculations of the prophetic period extending to the fall of the Ottoman empire, was published in 1841); the Advent Shield and Review, Vol. I (1844), No. 1, article 2, pp. 56, 57, 59-61; J. N. Loughborough, “The Great Advent Movement,” pp. 129-132 (1905 ed.); J. Litch, article in Signs of the Times, and Expositor of Prophecy, Aug. 1, 1840. See also article in Signs of the Times, and Expositor of Prophecy, Feb. 1, 1841.
[Page 340.] Withholding the Bible From the People.—On the attitude of the Roman Catholic Church toward the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, in vernacular versions, among the laity, see Catholic Encyclopædia, art. Bible; also G. P. Fisher, “The Reformation,” ch. 15, par. 16 (1873 ed., pp. 530-532); J. Cardinal Gibbons, “The Faith of Our Fathers,” ch. 8 (49th ed., 1897, pp. 98-117); J. Dowling, “History of Romanism,” b. 7, ch. 2, sec. 14, and b. 9, ch. 3, sec. 24-27 (1871 ed., pp. 491-496, 621-625); L. F. Bungener, “History of the Council of Trent,” pp. 101-110 (2d Edinburgh ed., 1853, tr. by D. D. Scott); G. H. Putnam, “Books and Their Makers during the Middle Ages,” Vol. I, part 2, ch. 2, par. 49, 54-56.
[Page 373.] Ascension Robes.—The story that the Adventists made robes with which to ascend “to meet the Lord in the air,” was invented by those who wished to reproach the cause. It was circulated so industriously that many believed it; but careful inquiry proved its falsity. For many years a large reward has been offered for proof that one such instance ever occurred, but the proof has not been produced. None who loved the appearing of the Saviour were so ignorant of the teachings of the Scriptures as to suppose that robes which they could make would be necessary for that occasion. The only robe which the saints will need to meet the Lord is the righteousness of Christ. See Rev. 19:8.
[Page 374.] The Chronology of Prophecy.—Dr. Geo. Bush, Professor of Hebrew and Oriental Literature in the New York City University, in a letter addressed to Mr. Miller, and published in the Advent Herald, and Signs of the Times Reporter, Boston, March 6 and 13, 1844, made some important admissions relative to his calculation of the prophetic times. Mr. Bush wrote: