The Last Days

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 9, 1906

The candid students of the prophecies who are also thoughtful observers of present conditions in the world recognize the fulfilment of the predictions concerning the last days. We note an example of this in the August issue of The Missionary Review of the World. Under the title “The Last Days” it quotes the catalogue of sins which will characterize that period of the world’s history, as they are listed in 2 Tim. 3: 2-5, and then says:—

These are God-given signs of the times — indications of the last days. Whether they fit these times or not, the devout, thoughtful reader must decide for himself. But certainly some of the signs here indicated are very obvious present facts: self-love, greed, boastfulness, haughtiness, lawlessness in the family and in the state, ingratitude and ungodliness, even the decay of natural affection, resentment, defamation, cruelty, the love of pleasure, and the external form of godliness without its power — who can deny the presence of these evils in modern society, and even in Christian lands? These are ever before us, and our study should be both to recognize and, as far as may be, to arm ourselves against such dire and threatening evils.

The signs of the end of all things and the return of the Saviour, according to his promise, are plain enough so that those who are willing to accept God’s word rather than human philosophy and tradition need not be overtaken by the day of the Lord as by a thief in the night. Those who are unprepared for the coming of Christ will be without excuse.