p. 218 | THIS GENERATION by Wm. Penniman

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 19, 1881

THIS GENERATION.

By Wm. Penniman

BY WM. PENNIMAN.

(Concluded.)

WE are living in the time of which the prophet Isaiah speaks (Isa. 24:5, 6): "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth;" in the time when "they will not endure sound doctrine," but "shall turn away their ears from the truth" "unto fables," 2 Tim. 4:3, 4; when perilous times have come, 2 Tim. 3:1-8; when many have departed, and many are departing, from the faith, 1 Tim. 4:1; when faith is so small and scarce upon the earth in this age of doubt (Luke 18:8) that one (as Mr. Spurgeon in a recent sermon expresses it) "will have to look through a microscope to find it;" when unclean spirits have gone forth, and are deceiving the nations just before the coming of Christ as a thief. Rev. 16:14-16. Iniquity is abounding, and the love of many waxing cold when the end is near. Matt. 24:12. Evil servants (backsliders, hypocritical professors of the advent faith) are saying, "My Lord delayeth his coming," and are eating and drinking with the drunken just before the Judgment day. Matt. 24:48. In the last days scoffers were to come walking after their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming?" 2 Pet. 3:3, 4. Men seem as sinful and secure as they did at Sodom's overthrow. Luke 17:28-30. The world is just as careless in regard to Christ's coming as it was to the coming of the flood in Noah's time. Matt. 24:37-39. Men are saying, Peace and safety, and that there is a good time coming, when sudden destruction is coming upon them. 1 Thess. 5:1-9. The gospel, in a threefold sense, has been preached in nearly all the world. Matt. 24:14. Many of the unwise are slumbering and sleeping just before the coming of the Bridegroom. Matt. 25:1-5. Near the end there was to be distress of nations with perplexity (see article in this paper from New York Herald on this subject), the sea and the waves thereof roaring, and stormy wind fulfilling his word. Luke 21:25; Ps. 148:8. The nations are now prepared for war as never before, and are angry, and have been in the recent past. Rev. 11:18; Joel 3:9-12.

Earthquakes are increasing, and have recently been in divers places. Luke 21:11. The sun has been darkened (May 19, 1780), and the stars have descended from heaven (Nov. 13, 1833) even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs when she is shaken of a mighty wind. Matt. 24:29; Rev. 6:13. Fearful sights and great signs are foreshadowing the approach of the King of kings. Luke 21:11. Many are heaping up earthly treasures for the fires of the last days. James 5:1-9. Many are running to and fro, and knowledge is increasing at this the time of the end. Dan. 12:4. The increase in knowledge does not refer merely to the wonderful discoveries and inventions in the arts and sciences, such as the railroad, and telegraphy, and yet more recent inventions, but to the increase of prophetic knowledge of the word of God, and of the nearness of the end.

THE LESSON.

What is the lesson we are to learn from the teachings of our Saviour that, "This generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled"? Seven times our Lord has given the injunction to watch. "Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the good man of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." Matt. 24:42-44. Not only sermons, but volumes are implied in this brief language of Christ. When he says, "Watch therefore," he refers to all the signs which the generation which precedes his coming should witness, and gives his disciples a brief, and yet most comprehensive lesson in a few words. They are taught that although they know not what hour he will come, yet they are enjoined to know this, etc. Therefore (as the good man of the house would have watched had he known what hour the thief would come) be ye also ready (not knowing the hour, etc.,), for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

A letter recently received from a brother in the truth contains the following exhortation to the church (we extract briefly): "I beseech of you, my brethren, do not put off the coming of the Lord. The world is growing darker, the struggle is getting harder. The world is filling up with prophets who are foretelling everything almost, but the greatest of all events, the second coming of Christ. Let us keep the coming of the Lord before us constantly. If we are every day looking for the coming of the Lord, we shall not neglect our duty nor grow cold in his service."

A work has recently been written, entitled, "The Decisive Battles of the World," referring to the conflicts with carnal weapons, and to the confused noise of warriors, and to the sight of garments rolled in blood. But there is a great and decisive battle coming which shall conclude the war of the great day of God Almighty. "Multitudes in the valley of decision" (Joel 3:14) are now deciding their eternal destinies, placing themselves on the side of the Lord or of the enemy in the coming great battle. How important it is to decide and act right now while probation lasts, and before the decree goes forth (Rev. 22:11): "He that is unjust let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous let him be righteous still: and he that is holy let him be holy still." "And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man (Greek oudeis, no one can enter therein, plainly teaching that the work of mercy is closed during the pouring out of the plagues) was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled." Rev. 15:8.

Do not think the uninhabited regions must yet be settled, and that the immense amount of coal in the earth must first be consumed before the Lord comes. Those who are waiting for the wilds of America to be settled will not have to wait long, for they are fast being peopled by the hundreds of thousands pouring in from foreign countries. As to the coal, or to the consumption of minerals and fluids in the earth; who knows but that the Lord is reserving some of these forces of nature (as the Lord works by means) in accordance to what we find in Job: "Hast thou seen the treasures of the hail which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?" Job 38:22, 23. Do not say there is yet too much good in the world for the Lord to destroy it. True, there is much good in the world, and that is what causes the Lord in mercy to spare it. But when the time comes for its destruction the Lord will take care of the good as he did in the time of the flood, at the destruction of the cities of the plain, and also of Jerusalem. Now is the time to escape the impending wrath of God. Many who will not obey the truth and are too high-minded, and have too much pride to pray now, will be in the great and terrible prayer-meeting soon to come: "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens, and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the lamb; for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Dear reader, let us pray earnestly unto God, seek him by fasting and prayer, walk in the light of his truth, "seek righteousness,—seek meekness,"

make a "covenant with God by sacrifice," pray for, and do all we can for those around us, do all we can in sending out the light and truth, and "it may be" as the prophet says: "Ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger." Let us heed the injunction (1 Pet. 4:7): "But the end of all things is at hand, be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer."

Again we read, 2 Pet. 3:10, 11: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" H. L. Hastings, in his "Signs of the Times," alluding to the closing words of the text just quoted, says: "What manner of persons ought we to be? Shall we dance, and dally, and riot, and play? Shall we drown our senses in indulgence, and stupefy our souls with lust? Shall we cling to our idols while the true God is so soon to come? Shall we heap up treasures to perish in the day of wrath? Shall we yield to fleshly lusts that war against the soul? Shall we build our hopes upon a fleeting world, which will soon reel to and fro like a drunkard and fall in utter ruin? Or shall we, who are of the day, be sober, and diligent, and earnest, and sincere? The Judge standeth before the door. The temple of eternity echoes with the advancing tread of him who is Lord of all. Is it a time for petty strifes and contemptible bickerings? Is it a time for vain wranglings and perverse disputations? Is it a time for seeking honors, and hoarding wealth, when the day of wailing is so near, and the multitudes around are so secure? Is it not rather a day for putting on the whole armor, and girding up the loins for the final conflict? Is it not a day for fasting, and praying, and tears? Is it not a time for men to seek the Lord, and seek righteousness, and seek meekness, that they may be hid in the day of the Lord's anger?"

We quote from another writer, which is to the point: "Bride of the Lamb, awake. The cry has gone forth, 'Behold he cometh;' the night of unrest and weeping is almost ended; the foe's distress has begun, and the church's rest hasteth. The storm will soon sweep wildly around, and the angry elements already seething and foaming in rage, becoming daily more and more exasperated with hatred and anger, will rush the final storm. Christian cheer thee; land is nearing."

Yes, the promise is sure, and "unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Heb. 9:28. Again we say, in conclusion, Judgment-hastening generation, awake! All the signs given by our Saviour in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew (except the shaking of the powers of the heavens, and "the sign of the Son of man in heaven") are now in the past. The great day hasteth greatly. "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief." 1 Thess. 5:6. "Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of man." Luke 21:36.

a soldier on his back. France adds taxes to her budget in order that she may have greater armaments. Russia throbs with revolution, and is in the hands of a young and intrepid prince.

"It will need the wisdom and strength of conservative nations like England to prevent a conflict which may result in the most destructive and disastrous war of modern times. England should preserve herself for the struggle that cannot much longer be postponed in Europe. The peace of the world depends more on the strength of England, her moral force, the wisdom of her ministers, than upon any other influence. The world sees now that if England had been wise at the close of the Franco-German war, or even at the beginning of that unfortunate strife, she might have forced upon the contending nations, a peace which would have lasted as long as that which came after the battle of Waterloo. So long as France is in an unsatisfied mood, so long as her people feel that her honor was satisfied at the time her territory was despoiled, so long as every Frenchman feels that his highest aim is to save money and buy arms, the contest on the Continent is adjourned. Russia may provoke it by new adventures in Turkey. Austria may be drawn in by an attempt to govern her newly acquired provinces with a strong hand. Germany may strike, as she wished to do not long since, the first blow in self-defense; Italy scarcely conceals her desire for Trieste and the Austrian provinces on the Adriatic; Greece, highly gifted, intellectual, flashed with new life, strong and animated by the memory of an ancient and illustrious lineage, may rashly bring on what may be the most desolating war of modern times. If England exercises her influence on the Continent, this war may be postponed. It may even be adjourned forever. As it is, the outlook is dark enough, and it would be well for Americans to expect the worst and prepare for it."

It can be seen by the preceding that the prospect for a long reign of peace in the world is not very promising, as the dark clouds of war and commotion seem to be hanging over the nations. WM. PENNIMAN.