Signs Everywhere by A. J. Bristol

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 3, 1907

Signs Everywhere

By A. J. Bristol

A. J. BRISTOL.

In these days of strenuous competition in trade one is frequently impressed with the ingenuity manifested by the venders of various wares. Wherever we go, advertising signs meet our eyes, as if the merchants were determined that we should not forget them.

The writer recalls a striking illustration of the enterprise of a certain jeweler in Wheeling, W. Va., who had placed great sign-boards upon the hills overlooking the city. Being against the very skies to all beholders, this bold piece of advertising called to mind the signs that God himself has hung in the heavens. He has placed signs of the coming end of the world in so many conspicuous places that men can not avoid them.

The unaccountable darkening of the sun and moon on May 19, 1780, occurred according to the word of Jesus “in those days [of papal supremacy], after that tribulation,” and was followed by the falling of the stars Nov. 13, 1833, “even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.” Thus all the heavenly bodies are made to tell of the approaching end; and there is no place among them where a sign could be hung that has not been used for that purpose.

In addition to the “signs in sun and moon and stars,” there was to be “upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows.” While there have been some great disturbances of the sea in the past, yet the great waves and storms, causing such enormous loss to shipping as has occurred within a few months, ought certainly to be recognized as God’s sign in the waters.

Likewise the appalling earthquake disasters of St. Pierre, San Francisco, Valparaiso, and Kingston, to say nothing of the hundreds of lesser ones within a short year, certainly meet the specification that “there shall be earthquakes in divers places.”

The very air we breathe has, in the last few decades, shown such freaks of destructiveness in cyclone and typhoon as to remind us of the “stormy wind fulfilling his word.” So air, land, and sea proclaim his coming near.

The disturbed atmospheric conditions are largely responsible, through crop failures, for the famines which are classed among the signs; and the recent appeals of the starving millions of Russia, China, and India bear mournful witness to the fact that this sign has been hung out plainly in the world.

Pestilences were also enumerated among the signs. Of these there is no lack, whether we apply the term to the deadly diseases that afflict both man and beast, or to the many pests with which we must contend in raising any crop. It seems that in the last few years they have multiplied so rapidly that almost every fruit, grain, and vegetable has its particular pest.

But not only were there to be signs in the physical heavens and earth, but among the different classes of its inhabitants God has placed the unmistakable evidences of the end. The twice-told prophecy of Isaiah and Micah says that “in the last days . . . many nations shall come and say, . . . Let us go up to the house of the God of Jacob;” “and he shall judge among the nations, . . . and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” How plainly is this being fulfilled in the growing movement for universal peace!

Notwithstanding all these pretentions of friendliness, the nations are acting exactly contrary to their words, by which they are fulfilling that other word of God which finds its application in the last days: “Prepare war; stir up the mighty men; let all the men of war draw near, let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Haste ye, and come, all ye nations round about, and gather yourselves together: . . . let the nations bestir themselves.” Never before were such preparations

made for war; and it will finally result in the “battle of that great day of God Almighty.”

The growing oppression of the poor by the rich who “have heaped treasure together for the last days,” constitutes another in the series of pointers to that time of deliverance for which the “brethren” are to wait patiently.

There is still another evidence of the hastening end apparent to all who have to do with “this present evil world.” The prevailing iniquity of almost every type is foretold in that summing up of Paul’s which says that “in the last days grievous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof.” Without noticing in detail this long list of evils, we call particular attention to the disobedience to parents, which is so frequently remarked upon as characterizing the children of this generation. The oft-recurring waves of crime which shook the world, and their wide publication in all their horrid details, are proving true that statement of Scripture which says that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse.”

Not only in the social, business, and family relations of men, have the signs been placed, but in the church as well, for “the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” By these few words is pointed out the condition that we see so largely prevailing in the professed church of Christ. The doctrines of heathenism (devils) have been by many substituted for the gospel which is “the power of God unto salvation.” So wherever you look among men, there is seen a sign of the end.

Sun, moon, stars, air, sea, earth, inhabitants, animals, nations, rich men, poor men, criminals, families, churches,—all have been used to advertise the coming of the just One to rule. Seemingly every conspicuous object has been made to bear silent witness to this fact; and one wonders how it can escape the attention. But despite these many evidences, we not infrequently hear people ridicule the idea of the coming of Christ. But, as a crowning evidence of the fact, the Lord has used this very scoffing, for he says that “in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, . . . saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”

In view of all the evidence mentioned above, such persons can be compared only to a blind “sandwich man” carrying about two flaming advertisements of some pageant which is being heralded by flash lights upon the clouds, by banners across the streets, by bill-board posters, by advertisements in the newspapers, and by handbills distributed in every home. Although he can not see any of these things, nor read the signs which he is bearing upon his own shoulders, yet he is the most conspicuous sign of all. Blindness has sealed his eyes. Such are they who to-day say, “I can not see these things.” The darkness of blindness has settled upon them.

“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, . . . and they shall in no wise escape.” “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight.”

Takoma Park, D. C.