The following are excerpts from the book “The Voice of the Seventh Angel”.
In what condition was the human family when Adam proclaimed his work and mission to the world? In a state of spiritual darkness, not knowing good from evil, being without the divine law, and consequently without condemnation or judgment, they were innocent because ignorant of the order of heaven and a true knowledge of God.
It established the agency of mankind and gave all men an opportunity to repent and obey the gospel of salvation, or to reject it and be damned
What was the message Adam proclaimed to the world at the beginning of time? It was a commandment calling upon all men everywhere to repent and be baptized.
But what authority had this man (Adam) to proclaim such a message? He had the highest qualification, being sent of the Father, having a fulness of the Holy Ghost; by which he testified that he was the only-begotten Son.
What was the result of this proclamation from heaven by the Son of God? It established the agency of mankind and gave all men an opportunity to repent and obey the gospel of salvation, or to reject it and be damned; and from that time forth men began to be carnal, sensual and devilish; i.e., they rejected the message of Adam and proved that they loved Satan more than God, their deeds being evil.
In what sense did all mankind die in Adam? In a spiritual sense, he being the chosen representative of the race.
In what sense will all be made alive in Christ (Adam the quickening spirit?) In a spiritual sense also, i.e., all will hear the voice of the Archangel (Adam) and come forth out of their graves, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt, and they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation.
Will any of the human family be damned because of Adam’s transgression? No, verily no, neither will any be saved by the obedience and work of the Son of God, but the salvation or condemnation of all mankind, will depend upon their own act and choice of life or death.
Then the great plan of redemption, (comprehended in the commandment and transgression in the beginning; the obedience and suffering and death in the meridian of time; the restoration of all things or beings, in the end of time😉 will not make any difference whatever to the nature and character of any man? No, verily no, the whole arrangement simply involves the question of man’s agency, giving him the opportunity of choice, and was a method or plan devised by the Father and his Only-begotten, to test and prove the nature, disposition and capabilities of all the inhabitants of the earth; through a probationary period of seven thousand years, including the last great day of judgment.
Then let it be known that the life and actions of all mankind, whether good or evil will not be changed or affected in the least degree by the great plan of redemption; but that all mankind will find themselves responsible for their own acts, and that this method was instituted to give a knowledge of good and evil; (by the transgression of a given law,) and the power through repentance and obedience to overcome evil by the good. Not in any sense escaping the consequences of evil actions, but to overcome them; this is the only way of dispensing with the result of evil deeds; and on the other hand no one will be rewarded for good works, because of this plan of salvation, but in harmony with it, for justice demands a reward of good to those who have done good, whether they obey the gospel or not.
Or, in other words, as the fall of Adam did not affect the character of any man, in the beginning, so neither will the restoration, but everyone will be resurrected and restored to that which he hath done; i.e.: the whole plan of salvation is simply the institution of laws calculated to test the character of the human race; making it possible for every individual to receive a righteous judgment in accordance with his own acts and free choice whether it be unto eternal life or unto death.
In what character did Satan come among the sons and daughters of Adam? In the person of a wicked man who persuaded them not to believe in the teachings and revelations of their father and mother. And this same individual also spoke with Cain, desiring to have him that he might overthrow the mission of Adam and destroy the agency of man, by introducing an order, requiring men to bind themselves in wicked oaths and secret combinations; whereby they might murder and get gain.
Is there any such combination in the world at the present time? Yes, and every government on the earth is bound, controlled, or influenced by it; paralyzing the very lifestrings of freedom and liberty; working behind the scene in secret conclaves, and beyond the reach of the laws of any nation or kingdom on earth.
The world at this hour is full of secret organizations, and they have made the civilized world one grand machine of power, which can only be moved by the ironbound heart and hand of secret combinations.
Then has man lost his agency by secret organizations? Yes, and none are exempt from the influence of these secret combinations and secret conclaves, practiced both in the churches as well as in these societies, by those who hold the highest degrees and authority to deceive and to destroy as they may desire.
When will these secret abominations of Cain and works of darkness be overthrown? At the end of time and before the establishment of the government of God on the earth.
We have stated there are two powers, which have necessarily had place from the beginning; their identity was first made manifest in Eden, when the pure and simple laws of heaven were introduced, and became the standard by which all mankind might learn good and evil; thus testing their character, and finally placing them in their proper condition according to their own nature and choice.
How were these powers distinguished in the Garden of Eden? By the institution of a government which tested the agency and character of all the race; Adam and Eve being the chosen representatives of this divine order, who were placed at the head. And the other power being represented by the serpent, or the chief person in opposition to this arrangement. The woman (representing the church) constituting the dividing line between the two powers; Satan making her the object and the agent by which to accomplish his wicked designs.
In the beginning, the Lord God gave to Adam, his Only-Begotten Son, an universal kingdom, and made him ruler over all the earth, but for just reasons and for a certain purpose in the great plan and work of the redemption and salvation of the race Adam was deposed, and cast out from the presence of his Spiritual Father, in order that he might learn a lesson that will not be complete, until he shall deliver the kingdom up to God, even his Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power; which will consume a period of seven days, each day a thousand years; when he will be established forever in his kingdom, and receive a more excellent majesty, being secured to him not only by the right of inheritance, but also upon the ground of knowledge and his experience in all things and conditions, throughout a period of seven thousand years.