WHERE ARE WE? by J. P. P.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 9, 1867

“WHERE ARE WE?”

By J. P. P.

The year 1866, which many students of Divine prophecy have long looked forward to as a decisive year in connection with the fulfillment of prophecy, is gone. A great relief is felt by some, that it did not bring the end of the world. Worldlings laugh and scoff the more, nestle themselves in deeper self-security, and say, with a certain editor “The fact of the world now having survived, and its being in excellent condition to continue for an indefinite period, has made these false prophets quite chop-fallen. They accordingly again, most reluctantly, announce a postponement.” Poor souls! I envy not their boastful consolation. The world “in excellent condition!” Almost every day’s issue which makes this declaration, announces scores of murders, robberies, incendiary fires, desertions by husbands and wives, and crimes of the blackest dye multiplying everywhere. “In excellent condition!” when the jails and penitentiaries are over-crowded with convicts, and no one scarcely safe on the streets of our cities by day or by night. “In excellent condition!” when the whole land is swarming with pickpockets, gamblers, assassins, swindling associations, and shameless debauchery of all sorts. “In excellent condition!” when every nation on the earth is exerting all its energies in preparation for war and bloodshed, and the hearts of men are failing them for fear of what is coming. “In excellent condition!” when the whole world is filled with strange and ominous shadows of coming judgment. From such excellency, the Lord deliver us!

But we are not moved by the sneering and scoffing of the unbelieving world. It is but further evidence of the truth of our position, that the world has about run its course. The Master, whose speedy return we wait, has told us that, as the days of Noah were, so shall it also be as his coming draws near. Paul tells us, “that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers,” &c.—2 Tim. iii, 1, 2. “In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.”—1 Tim. iv, 1, 2. And Peter says: “There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming?”—2 Pet. iii, 3, 4. And though nothing occurred in 1866 to convince scoffing editors that the end is near, my faith in the speedy, personal coming of our Lord, is firmer than ever. Their own behavior and words help to make me confident that the end is close upon us, and stimulate my prayer to God that I may be ready every moment for the coming of Him who has promised to come, and who will come, and will not tarry.

With strange eyes must men view the political perplexities and disturbances which are upon our own country, India, China, Mexico, South America, Spain, and indeed the whole world, to see in them only an “excellent condition.” True, the Paris Exposition approaches, where the world is about to gather its glories, to prove that it is “in excellent condition,” and that its beautiful millennium is at hand; but God’s word is, “When they say, peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them.” “As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

The developments in the direct line of the approaching end are remarkable and numerous, and they follow each other in quick succession. The man must be blind indeed, who cannot see them. God is accomplishing his purposes, and the world is adjusting itself in every particular to the picture foredrawn on the pages of his holy word, when his Son, whom he hath appointed to judge it, shall come. And the scoffing infidelity and want of faith, and blindness of men, so alarmingly prevalent, prove that the end of this “excellent condition” of things is verily at hand.

We cannot expect the world to favor us in attacking its corruptions, and preach up only disappointment to its fond persuasions and Christless hopes; but still it is our duty to “cry aloud and spare not.”—J. P. P. in Prophetic Times*.