The Chicago Scene

“Scenes that would soon take place in Chicago and other large cities also passed before me [Sister White]. As wickedness increased and the protecting power of God was withdrawn there were destructive winds and tempests. Buildings were destroyed by fire and shaken down by earthquakes…” Last Days Events, p. 113.

While visiting Toronto, Canada during the Easter weekend, I was told (and later read in the American News Letter) that in the coming week Brother Henry Dering will visit Chicago, and conduct a Daniel and Revelation Seminar. Desirous of seeing him and the believers who live in that city, I telephoned them, asking, If I may come there? They said, “Come.” Then I, after opening the Sabbath in my apartment, drove non-stop in the car my Lord gave me to Chicago, Illinois.
To my surprise, Brother Joshua Martinez, a worker from Florida, was also visiting. He was assisting Brother Henry and the Chicago church set up for the seminar. Brother Joshua was also our translator. After morning worship and breakfast at the home of Brother Javier de Dios, we traveled to the church where the little company met for Sabbath services.

Brother Joshua opened the Sabbath school. Brother Rufo Samano led us in prayer. His wife, Sister Silvia Samano, gave the secretary’s report. I reviewed the previous week’s Sabbath school lesson. Sister Gladys Conde gave the new lesson. The Sabbath school was closed with Brother Javier’s prayer. Before the divine service began, Brother Javier and his wife Julia dedicated their one month old baby boy, Jonathan, to the Lord.

Brother Henry Dering’s message was about Heaven. It’s a long way from here. Are you ready to go there? The apostle Paul has been there. He called it the “third heaven”-where there is no pain, sickness, or death. Sister White has been there. “But I [Sister White] declare to you, my brethren and sisters in the Lord, it is a goodly land, and we are well able to go up and possess it.” Early Writings, p. 14.

Like any trip the traveler must make preparations. “Said the angel, ‘Get ready, get ready, get ready. Ye will have to die a greater death to the world than ye have ever yet died.’” Early Writings, p. 64. Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3. “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” 1 John 3:3. They are justified, sanctified, and will be glorified.

“And the Lord spake… saying,… On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, ‘The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.’ And they shall put My name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.” Amen.

During lunch, a long time friend of the church, Fredrick Conde, announced that he was ready, willing and able to become a baptized member of the church of God-The International Missionary Society of Seventh-day Adventist Reform Movement. Praise the Lord.

After a delicious and healthy lunch prepared by the mothers of Israel, we gathered in a room to look at a pictures of Brother Henry’s missionary experience in Belize, Central America. Afterward, he gave instructions on giving sermons. These can be found in the April 19th Sabbath school lesson.

From the church we traveled to a recreation center where the seminar was being held. A good group of interested souls were present. They were surprised to hear that the antichrist is the Roman Catholic Church. But in the end, those who have rejected the message of the Reformation will be more surprised. “In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from heaven.” GC, pp. 607, 608. “The people see that they have been deluded. They accuse one another of having led them to destruction; but all unite in heaping their bitterest condemnation upon the ministers. Unfaithful pastors have prophesied smooth things; they have led their hearers to make void the law of God and to persecute those who would keep it holy. Now, in their despair, these teachers confess before the world their work of deception.” GC, pp. 655, 656.

Sunday morning, the members gathered together at Brother Rufo’s home where we participated in our Lord’s Supper. This was done not to offend our Adventist friends who believe that the Lord’s Supper is open to all Christians. But the Scripture says, “This is the ordinance of the Passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof.” “A foreigner and an hired servant shall eat thereof.” “But every man’s servant that is brought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat.” Exodus 12:43, 4,5 44.

“In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.” Colossians 2:11.

From there we drove to Battle Creek, Michigan – the historic site of the Advent Movement. We went inside the house where Sister White once lived. In her upstairs room, she received a vision and wrote The Great Controversy. The grave where she is buried is there, too. I did not go there. I remembered what she had wrote about Moses and thought that some may treat her the same way. “Many who had been unwilling to heed the counsels of Moses while he was with them would have been in danger of committing idolatry over his dead body had they known the place of his burial.” PP, pp. 477, 478.

“As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies as the signal for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation in the decree enforcing the papal Sabbath will be a warning to us. It will then be time to leave the large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains.” 5T, pp. 464, 465.
Amen

Chester Cosby