The Comet—A Strange Thing.
By Editor
THE following is the opening paragraph of an editorial in a recent number of the San Francisco Alta, entitled "Cemetery Cataclysm":— “Under this heading the Providence, R. I., Journal has a good square talk about the present comet. It is very hard to understand how Christians of any denomination can believe that the appearance of a comet denotes the destruction of the world, because they all believe that no man will ever know the hour of the last day, and that the Messiah will come as a thief in the night to judge the world.” The strange thing in this matter is that these vagaries concerning the comet having any relation to the end of the world are always found in the secular papers. We have never yet seen the least intimation of such an idea in any religious paper, nor heard of it as existing among "Christians of any denomination." And the article from which the above is taken goes on to speak of such predictions emanating from certain professed astronomers. Now it is a well-known fact that Adventists never profess to base their calculations of future events on astronomy; their sole reliance is the Bible—the "sure word of prophecy." But this is the kind of proof in which the secular world takes no interest; and with regret we add that too many Christians, and even Christian ministers, are likewise faithless as to the certainty of that which inspiration has designated a "sure word"—"a light shining in a dark place." We are told that we do well to take heed unto it; yet we recently saw an article in a denominational paper speaking sneeringly of those who profess, or try, to understand the prophecies! Surely we are in strange and "perilous times." Ministers, members, and people unite to depreciate the study of God's word; while the "professor" of "science"—too often "falsely so-called"—is listened to with wonder and delight. We have no fear of comets; we take no interest in "perihelion" theories of coming trouble. But we have unbounded confidence in the Bible, and in its prophetic declarations. We believe we are nearing the time spoken of by Daniel the prophet, when "there shall be a time of trouble, such as was not since there was a nation." We think the people of the world are not mistaken in this one thing: they are looking for a terrible conflict among the nations of the earth, and they are expecting it to grow out of this much-vexed "Eastern Question," in which the fate of Turkey is so directly involved. We believe the wonderful preparations for war which the governments of Europe have some time been making are for the "battle of the great day," spoken of in Rev. 16, and other scriptures. To show how the world regards Bible proof as compared with professed scientific vagaries, we relate the following: Several years ago there was a great scare got up over the "signs of heaven," at which "the heathen are dismayed," see Jer. 10:2, and certain citizens of Battle Creek, Mich., came to our publishing office, located in that city, to inquire what we knew about the matter. They were told that we took no interest whatever in predictions on such a basis; that they did not amount to anything. But they were also informed that we had some very reliable evidence concerning some very interesting and important events soon to transpire. This evidence is in the Bible; in the words of the prophets who were inspired of God to acquaint us with certain facts; to warn us of coming dangers, and to incite us to diligence in the discharge of our duties in view of dangers and troubles impending. But, with an air of the utmost unconcern, they left the office. Their minds had been quieted concerning the danger from comets and conjunctions of planets, and as to what the Bible said, they had no trouble on account of that, or any interest in it. There is a great deal of the "form of godliness" in these days, but there is very little respect for the word, the commandment, the authority of God. Popularity has taken the place of reverence. "Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey." Margin—is accounted mad. Isa. 59:15. But God has made a precious promise to those who love the truth when iniquity abounds. (Matt. 24:12.) "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him." Isa. 59:19. The Spirit of the Lord reveals his will in the inspired word. And may the Lord give his people grace to rally to the standard of "present truth," whereby they "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.