p. 8 | The End of All Things Is at Hand

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 7, 1909

The End of All Things Is at Hand

By Florence Lloyd Evans

FLORENCE LLOYD EVANS

THE “time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation,” is at hand. The earth is laying aside her usual quiet habits, and is participating in a general unrest. Cyclones and hurricanes, earthquakes and tidal waves, are no longer unusual things, neither are they confined to a few localities, but are becoming much more frequent, and are often felt in places where the reeling “to and fro” of the earth was never before known.

Any one who is candid with himself must admit, in the moment of his soberest reflection, that the world is in a terrible condition. Never before have the nations made such gigantic preparation for war as at the present time. To-day there is not a single nation that is not straining every resource to increase its fortifications, armies, and navies.

We are confronted with a social problem that increases in difficulty with every new day. Oppression of the lowly and unfortunate—the amassing of money out of the miseries of life—is one of the noteworthy abuses. The great concentration of wealth, whether it be in corporate trusts or by individuals, has reached a point dangerous to the future prosperity of the nation. In every strike it may be seen that “violence” is becoming more pronounced. We can easily recognize that the greatest evil of any civilized age is confronting us.

Society to-day is a school that is filling the world with criminals. The world is driving headlong unto the time when every imagination will be only evil continually, as in the days of Noah; when the corrupting vice of Sodom, as in the days of Lot, will break out as a debasing plague.

Though this violence has not as yet broken out with all its malignant powers, nevertheless the seeds of the evil are rapidly growing into a prolific harvest. Stability of governments is no longer a fact. Change is in the atmosphere. There is dissatisfaction everywhere. Statesmen are at their wits’ end, and philosophers speculate in vain.

New diseases are constantly breaking out upon man and beast. Even the tiller of the sod is painfully aware of the fact that it is becoming more and more difficult to raise a crop. The outlook before the world to-day is filling men with fear and perplexity. What does all this mean?

Jesus gives a vivid description of the conditions that will prevail on the earth near the close of time. He foretells the time of trouble, the last-day perils, and the distress of nations: “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.” Luke 21:25, 26.

Looking down to the end of time, the prophet beheld the angry nations. He heard the piteous cry of the laboring man oppressed by those who are heaping to themselves treasures for the last days, and he saw the injustice, crime, and violence that fill our land. Who can doubt the fulfilment of prophecy? Will God allow sin to reach to the heights of folly, plunging men to the lowest depths of wickedness, and do nothing to expose the danger, and to rescue those whom he gave his only begotten Son to save?—No, never! “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, . . . and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.” Rev. 1:7. “And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 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 freeman, 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?” Rev. 6:14-17.

But to those who have heeded the admonition of the Father in heaven, it will be the gladsome day of all ages. With exultant joy God’s people will shout, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us.” The Lord is coming soon to destroy all evil, and if wickedness is still found in our hearts, we shall perish with our sins. But just now he is inviting us to come to him. The same Jesus that hung on the cruel cross on Calvary is pleading for us. Let us not crucify him again, but accept him while mercy pleads, that we may greet him with rejoicing when he shall come. Who will heed his warning? Is it possible for any to spurn so devoted and faithful a friend? “To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”

Los Angeles, Cal.