Signs of the Approaching End by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 26, 1915

Signs of the Approaching End

By W. A. S.

Part 6. General World Conditions and Movements

From the specific signs in the heavens, which were to herald the coming of the latter days and awaken the church to look for its coming Lord, our Saviour’s prophecy passed on to designate certain general conditions in the world which were to continue until the great day of God should come. He said:—

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars,” and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21: 25-27.

Among developments of these times which are contributing to the “distress of nations, with perplexity,” we may list the following:—

1. Signs in the Political World—the Arming of the Nations

Following on closely with the signs in the heavens, there came the awakenings to national aspirations and rivalries in Europe, out of which has grown the arming of the nations. The beginning of the modern race of armaments may be dated from those stirring and eventful years of 1830 to 1848. We have seen the resources of the soil and the inventive genius of man devoted to preparations for war on a scale never before thought of. The prophet Joel foretold these conditions in the last days:—

“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles [“the nations,” Revised Version]; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. . . . Let the heathen be awakened. . . . Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision [or “cutting off”]: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” Joel 3: 9-14.

Another prophecy forewarns us of the “peace and safety” cry that is to be heard as the end draws near, and we are told that many people in the last days will be saying that swords are to be beaten into plowshares, and the nations cease from war (Isa. 2: 3, 4); but the actual conditions are repeatedly described in prophecy as warlike and perilous. Thus the revelator saw the closing days:—

“And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servantsthe prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” Rev. 11: 18.

What we see among the nations proclaims the approaching end.

2. Signs in the Social World

A New Testament prophecy of the latter days tells us:—

“In the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” 2 Tim. 3: 1-4.

“Unrestrained passion for pleasure,” said M. Comte, editor of the French Relèvement Social, writing just before the European war, is bringing a terrible train of evils into modern society. Along with it he put “the hunt for money without regard for means,” adding:—

“This is the theme which manufacturers, business men, men in the public administration, continually harp on with ever the same conviction and ever the same wealth of proof.

“The note is ever the same, and the conclusion identical: Nous sommes perdus! [We are lost!]”—Quoted in Record of Christian Work, July, 1914.

Many agencies for social and temperance reform are rendering the greatest human service; but for lost humanity the only hope is Christ, the divine Saviour. With an urgency born of the last call, his gospel is sounding to a world on the verge of eternity. Yet with divine love longing to save, the world sweeps on, less and less mindful of eternal interests. Christ’s prophecy foretold it as it is:—

“But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matt. 24: 37-39.

The “perilous times” have come, when, as never before, we are bidden to watch and pray lest the day find us unprepared.

W. A. S.

(To be concluded)