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Religious Conditions in the Last Days

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 18, 1909

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 7.

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Religious Conditions in the Last Days

By George Ide Butler

GEORGE I. BUTLER
In order to comprehend fully the conditions connected with “the fall of Babylon,” it seems necessary to consider certain scriptures which speak of the last days and of the religious conditions prevailing in that interesting period.
The fall of Babylon is certainly an important matter. It is made prominent in the book of Revelation. We should approach the subject in a candid, kind, Christian spirit, and never in a censorious, sharp, criticizing spirit calculated to wound and hurt the feelings of others. Our efforts should be to instruct, edify, and kindly lead along the lines of truth, as the Lord has done in his blessed Word. We should mildly seek to present the reasons of Babylon’s fall, so that candid Christian people may see and fully comprehend, and be saved from its awful effects.
With these objects in view, we approach the subject by considering certain scriptures relating to the last days of time. In the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew we have a most remarkable prophetic discourse, given by our Saviour just before his crucifixion, in answer to his disciples’ question, “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”
Jesus then answered their questions, and told them how and when these things would come. In his discourse he first rapidly gave a summary of the prominent events of the Christian dispensation. In the latter part of the chapter he gives the special signs of his coming. In verses 11-14 he gives a special description of the religious conditions prevailing in the last days: “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” There can be no question but that Christ is here speaking of the very last days.
Notice especially verse 12: “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax [or grow] cold.” The last days are days of great light and knowledge: “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Dan. 12:4. We have surely reached that period. But though it be an age of “knowledge,” it is likewise an age of great spiritual stupor, coldness, and apathy among professed Christians generally. Who can dispute that we have reached such a period? There are some noble exceptions left in the world, we admit, but most assuredly religious coldness and apathy characterize these last days.
In the parable of the importunate widow (Luke 18:1-8), we have another statement by our Saviour bearing on this subject. In this parable there is introduced an unjust judge, who feared not God nor man, wholly selfish and indifferent to the rights of the poor oppressed widow. Holding the office of judge, he had to listen to the cause of the wronged and oppressed. She pleaded her case most earnestly. He simply put her off, and wished to be bothered no more with her claims. But she was persistent, and felt that she must have justice. She had the right to come to him, and she came constantly. He soon found that if her case did not receive attention, he would be worn out with her importunities. This selfish reason, rather than any desire to see justice done, induced him to grant her request. She got justice because of her earnestness. The Lord says: “Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? . . . Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith [or this kind of faith] on the earth?”
His language strongly implies that there will be very little of this strong, vigorous, persistent, earnest faith on the earth when the Son of man comes. Our Saviour sometimes prayed all night for strength to carry out his wonderful mission. But the great majority of professed Christians in these last days know very little of prevailing faith. It is a day of religious carelessness and apathy.
In the latter part of Paul’s first epistle to the Thessalonians, we have a wonderfully vivid description of the second coming of Christ: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. . . . For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, . . . and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.”
Why is it that some of God’s professed people are of darkness, while others are the children of light? There must be a reason for this difference. Peter answers this question: “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19. This earth is a dark place morally. Every form of iniquity prevails in it. The midnight of heathenism envelops more than a thousand million of earth’s inhabitants to-day, after eighteen centuries of gospel light; and besides these, vast multitudes dwell in darkness almost as great. These care little for the light of prophecy, which alone can enlighten them. A small number have accepted that blessed light, and hence they are said to be “the children of light.” They are illuminated by its clear rays. One class heeds “the sure word of prophecy,” and the other rejects that light. Each has the same opportunity. God wishes to enlighten all; but his method is cast aside, sometimes with evident scorn and hatred, but still oftener with indifference and neglect. Hence the great darkness which broods over the mass of professed Christians to-day. They refuse to receive the light which God has in mercy sent. They are crying, “Peace and safety,” when sudden destruction is impending.
What can be done to arouse and enlighten the professed people of God? Their condition is passing strange, yea, sad above measure. It is as it was at Christ’s first advent. His professed people, the Jews, ignored the prophetic instructions God had given through his prophets. He had, through the prophet (Daniel 9), given the very year when the Messiah should appear. A few knew this, and believed, and were looking for his advent. Simeon was “waiting for the consolation of Israel.” The Holy Ghost was with him. The Lord had made known to him that he should not die till he had “seen the Lord’s Christ.” In the temple of God he was waiting, and when they put the child Jesus into his arms, he cried, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace. . . . Mine eyes have seen thy salvation.”
The widow, Anna, a prophetess, also recognized the fulfilment of the prophetic prediction. A small minority of God’s professed people accepted the light. The great majority rejected him, and somesaid, “His blood be on us, and on our children.” God’s judgments followed the rejection of light. It will doubtless be the same at his second coming.
Bowling Green, Fla.