The End of “This Generation”
By L. A. S.
For half a century and over Seventh-day Adventists have been giving to the world the message that the end of all things is at hand. They have not announced any date for that event to take place, for the Saviour has plainly stated that such a date is unknown even to the angels of heaven; but it is just as plainly stated in the words of Christ that his followers are to know when his second coming is near, even so near that he will be “at the door.” It is plainly stated that they will know when they have reached the time of the last generation that is to exist upon the earth. The Saviour foretold signs which would appear in the heavens and upon the earth, expressly to announce the nearness of the end. He said that the generation which should witness those signs should not pass from the earth till all things should be fulfilled and the end come. Upon these prophecies of Christ the message of Seventh-day Adventists has been based; and now for more than half a century they have been giving that message to the world. If that message is true to-day, it was true half a century and more ago; at that distant date it was true, therefore, that the generation had been reached which should not pass from the earth till Christ should come. It is evident without argument that the end of this generation is now almost reached. “This generation” to which the words of Christ referred is now represented only by hoary heads and feeble frames. They have reached the place in life’s journey where death gathers his harvest from their number rapidly. A few more years at most must terminate the natural span of life for the few who yet remain. There remains only a brief part of the brief period which constitutes “this generation.” Yet in this small remaining fragment of time great things must occur. Some prophecies remain to be fulfilled. The power symbolized by the two-horned beast of Revelation 13 is to perform great wonders, “so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,” and in connection with this the same power is to enforce upon all men the worship of the “beast,” or of the “image” to the same, and the reception of his “mark.” These are not to be insignificant events secretly or quietly accomplished, but events which will mightily stir the world, and will be performed by one of the great world powers. They mean a great world-wide religious upheaval, of which to-day only the surface indications are to be seen. This great power described in the prophecy of Revelation 13 is the United States, which is to speak “as a dragon,” when it shall have apostatized from those principles of freedom upon which it was founded. Protestantism in this nation is to have relations with spiritualism. It is reaching across the gulf to clasp hands with Rome, and it will yet reach across the gulf which separates it from spiritualism. “Under the influence of this threefold union, our country” is to “repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government.”—Testimonies, Vol. V, page 451. Such a change is to come over public sentiment in this country with respect to spiritualism, that it will be considered blasphemy to speak against it. See “Early Writings,” page 50. As the final crowning deception, Satan is to appear on the earth in the form of an angel of light, personating Christ himself. He is to be seen by multitudes, who will be taken in the deception, and will hail him as the expected Christ, come to set up his kingdom. A false teaching concerning the return of Christ is to prepare the world to be deceived by this counterfeit of his appearing. All this means that mighty, world-wide changes, of the most startling character and affecting multitudes and nations of people, are to take place; and they must take place in the few remaining years of “this generation.” Is it not plain, therefore, that we have reached the time when tremendous forces are to be let loose upon the earth, the like of which was never seen before? Is it not evident that deceptions are to rise and sweep over the people like a tidal wave sweeping over the land, carrying everything before it? How else can the prophecies be fulfilled? How else can such tremendous changes be accomplished while the few hoary heads of “this generation” remain on the earth? But the question is, Are we prepared for these things? Are we ready for this sudden and unparalleled working of Satan? Can we resist these delusions and withstand the influences which will sweep other minds before them like chaff before the wind? Are we prepared for the “working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness”? Are we ready also to be filled with the power of God which is to be poured out in measure sufficient to accomplish the mighty work that remains to be done in the proclamation of the gospel? These are important questions connected with the subject of “this generation.” L. A. S.