Scripture References

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Aug 2, 1877

Scripture References.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

1. The prophecy of Daniel fulfilled. The prophecies of Dan. ii, vii, and viii, which reach to the end of this dispensation, are all fulfilled except the very closing specifications. The empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, and Rome, have successively arisen and passed away as foreshown. The fifth universal empire, which is God’s everlasting kingdom, is immediately impending. All that remains to be accomplished is, that the image be smitten upon the feet by the stone cut out of the mountain, chap. ii, 34, 44; that the beast be slain, and his body given to the burning flame; vii, 11, 26; or that the little horn, which has waxed exceeding great, be broken without hand. Chap. viii, 25. For a full explanation of this subject see works on Daniel, for sale at the Signs of the Times Office, Oakland, California.

2. The words of Christ relative to the signs in the sun, moon and stars, are fulfilled. (1) The sun shall be darkened. Matt. xxiv, 29; Mark xiii, 24; Luke xxi, 25; Rev. vi, 12.

“In the month of May [the 19th], 1780, there was a terrific dark day in New England, ‘when all faces seemed to gather blackness,’ and the people were filled with fear. There was great distress in the village where Edward Lee lived—‘men’s hearts failing them for fear’ that the Judgment day was at hand, and the neighbors all flocked around the holy man, for his lamp was trimmed and shining brighter than ever, amidst the unnatural darkness. Happy and joyful in God, he pointed them to their only refuge from the wrath to come, and spent the gloomy hours in earnest prayer for the distressed multitude.”—Tract No. 379, of American Tract Society—Life of Edward Lee. See also President Dwight, in Historical Collections; Gage’s History of Rowley, Mass.; Sears’ Guide to Knowledge; Stone’s History of Beverly.

(2) And the moon shall not give her light. Matt. xxiv, 29; Mark xiii, 24; Luke xxi, 25; Rev. vi, 12.

“The darkness of the following evening was probably as gross as has ever been observed since the Almighty first gave birth to light. I could not help conceiving at the time, that if every luminous body in the universe had been shrouded in impenetrable darkness, or struck out of existence, the darkness could not have been more complete. A sheet of white paper held within a few inches of the eyes, was equally invisible with the blackest velvet.”—Mr. Tenny, of Exeter, N. H., quoted by Mr. Gage, “to the Historical Society.” See also Portsmouth Journal, May 20, 1843, and Stone’s History of Beverly.

(3) And the stars shall fall from heaven. Matt. xxiv, 29; Mark xiii, 25; Luke xxi, 25; Rev. vi, 13.

Prof. Olmstead, of Yale college, speaking of the extent of the falling stars of 1833, says, “It was such as to cover no inconsiderable part of the earth’s surface.”

The People’s Magazine, Boston, January, 1834, says that the “Rockingham (Va.) Register calls it a rain of fire.”

The Journal of Commerce says that “three hundred miles this side of Liverpool, the phenomenon was as splendid as here.”

The Lancaster (Pa.) Examiner says, “The air was filled with innumerable meteors, or stars.”

For fuller quotations from history, and further proofs that the darkening of the sun and moon was fulfilled in the notable dark day and night of May 19, 1780, and that the sign of the falling stars was fulfilled November 13, 1833, see “Brief Exposition of Matthew Twenty-four,” for sale at the Signs of the Times Office, Oakland, Cal.

3. A great spiritual declension among professing Christians. 2. Tim. iii, 1–5; iv, 3, 4; 1 Tim. iv, 1, 2; Matt. xxiv, 11–13.

4. The prevalence of mockers and scoffers, ridiculing the doctrine of the Second Advent. 2 Pet. iii, 3, 4; Jude 17, 18.

5. Cry of peace and safety among Christian professors. 1 Thess. v, 3; Matt. xxiv, 48–51.

6. Likeness of the times to the days of Noah and Lot. Matt. xxiv, 37–39; Luke xvii, 26–30.

7. Heaping up of earthly treasures. James v, 1–9.