The End of All Things Is at Hand.
How remarkably do the transpiring events of our day coincide with the prophetic delineations of the closing scenes of time, yet how few are willing to consider them as even the premonitory signs of the end of the world, as intimated by the pen of inspiration. So rapidly do the most wonderful events transpire that even the days of an infant are sufficient to compass the rise and fall of empires. With what rapidity do the revolutions of governments and the changes of the social condition of countries follow each other! What a change even in a single year has been produced! What a dissolving of the elements of human greatness, and the power of princes! What a repelling force has been developed, operating between the particles of social organism! Of how little value are the suggestions of man’s wisest experience to the eager throng of adventurers hastening to the vortex of human finality! how impatient of restraint! how unstable in the path of duty! In fine, how accurate the description of the apostles in the foretold events of the last days. “Now the spirit speaketh, expressly, that in the latter time some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” 1 Tim. 4: 1, 2. “This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” 2 Tim. 3: 1–5. “Knowing this first that there shall come in the last days, scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” 2 Pet. 3: 3–4. “But beloved, remember the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last times, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.” Jude 17, 18. How melancholy have been the departures from the faith of late! who does not feel sorrow for the defection of some friend who has turned his back upon the truth, and no longer lingers at the portals of the temple of God? How wide-spread have been the delusions of seducing Spiritualists? what destruction of social confidence and virtue has attended their manifestations! seducing spirits, how truly they were named by the apostles! Doctrines of devils! What horrid developments have been witnessed! Who does not know of cases of glaring hypocrisy, lies, India rubber consciences, as if seared with a hot iron—unblushing effrontery! Look at the gross immoralities of the Mormons. See what a host of individuals are accurately described by the apostle in the second quotation from Timothy. But we have not room to specify all the abominations now openly manifested as foretold. If any one can read the daily journals and not be satisfied of the truth of prophecy, we are sorry for their skepticism, for this is also one of the signs of the times. Look at the political condition of society—what corruption! what bribery! how given to all the arts of deception and intrigue are office-holders! witness the ballot-box stuffing, false swearing, and other acts of violence everywhere prevalent. Alas! it seems to be too true that we live in the last days, the days of peril. The tyranny of former ages gave way to constitutional monarchy, and again, that form of government yields to democracy. How greatly is it to be feared that even the feeble restraints of democracy will fail, and the deplorable condition of anarchy succeed to the last flickering existence of human government.—Sabbath Recorder, 1857.