p. 156 | What is Coming?

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 3, 1870

What is Coming?

MANY eyes are intently studying the horoscope of the future. So striking and so numerous are the portents of coming events, that the voluptuary in his insane chase for pleasure, the man of the world in the giddy whirl of business, people among all classes and in all avocations, are constrained to pause and inquire, What is before us? Nor is this true alone of our own and other enlightened lands, but even in distant India, in the benighted regions of heathenism, the same inquiry is raised. The Madras correspondent of the Interior (Presbyterian paper, Chicago) says:—

"It is remarkable how the whole world seems on the tip-toe of expectation, looking for some remarkable event shortly to happen—just as it was in the days immediately preceding the birth of Christ. And surely the day of his second Advent is drawing nigh. What a glorious prospect it is when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and when he shall reign from the river even unto the ends of the earth." A remark I read in the Madras Times, an entirely secular paper, impressed me greatly. After giving a brief summary of the events that took place in the world during last year, and the present position of things, it said:

"Surely none but the most foolish and senseless of men, but must pause at such a time as this, and ask what do all these things mean? Surely the crisis of the most remarkable events the world ever saw is at hand."

When worldly men see these things, how is it that Christians do not awake? I do feel every day more and more convinced that "the night is far spent, the day is at hand"—the bright and glorious day of Christ's coming.

"We have been talking on these subjects, and Mr. Tracy, who has been a missionary in Southern India for over thirty years, said:

"Let me tell you what the people down there think. The Mahometans say that for the next few years there are to be a great many troubles all over the world, wars, earthquakes, storms, and famines. Then their tenth and greatest Imaun (prophet or high priest) since Mahomet, is to appear. Then all the wicked are to be cut off, and he is to reign in righteousness all over the earth. The Hindoos also state that there has been a recent incarnation of Vishnu; that he is at present in the north of India, somewhere in the neighborhood of Cashmere; that he is now about thirteen years old; that he is being thoroughly educated, as soon as he arrives at man's estate he will proceed to Delhi, where he will be placed on the throne of his ancestors; that immense treasures are still concealed in that city, which he by his divine wisdom will soon discover; that before this, however, there will be the most dreadful wars, and plagues, and the strangest sights seen both in earth and heaven. Kings and queens, from all parts of the earth, will come to bring him presents, and to worship him, and those who do not, he will destroy. All those who are very wicked will die, but the good will all continue to live most happily while his reign shall last, which will be many thousands of years.

"Mr. Tracy tried if he could not trace these traditions up in some way to the Bible, but they are believed and held where the Christian religion was never heard of. Is it not singular?"