HOW MAY WE KNOW?

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Dec 14, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 49.

“YOU say,” says a candid questioner, “that the end of earthly rule is nearly over, and that Christ’s coming is near. How may we know?”

It is a candid question, which demands a candid reply. However, we can here answer but briefly. The evidence is in general twofold.

1. Great Lines of Prophecy.

There are not less than one dozen of these found in the Word of God, as follows:

The great symbolic message of Daniel 2.
The four beasts of Daniel 7.
The kingdoms and 2,300 days of Daniel 8 and 9.
The kings of the north and south of Daniel 10 and 11.
The seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3.
The seven seals of Revelation 5 to 8.
The seven trumpets of Revelation 8 to 11.
The two witnesses of Revelation 11.
The great dragon of Revelation 12.
The agents of the dragon, of Revelation 13.
The apostate church and earthly powers of Revelation 17 and 18.
The end of the age, and Christ’s coming of Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.

There are still others. The converging lines of these great highways of time bring us now to the very focal center, the second coming of Christ.

Did you ever stand upon the Arch of Triumph, or the Arc de l’Etoile in Paris, and note the eight (we believe, twelve we will suppose) great avenues leading from all parts of the beautiful city, converging in the one center at your feet? Suppose that on a certain night twelve torchlight processions should start at the beginning of these avenues, a procession in each avenue. Suppose that it was authoritatively said that when all these processions, marching oftentimes at different rates of progress, reached the terminal point, the Arch of Triumph, the doom of the republic was sealed.

We can imagine the interest the citizens of Paris would take in the event. Many would note one procession in one avenue; they would mark its rate of progress, and would thus conclude that the fatal moment would come at such an hour. They would make a mistake. Their field of vision is too limited. Others would endeavor to learn the progress made by two or more; they would arrive at certain conclusions, but their field also would be too limited, their vision too circumscribed.

He above all others who could obtain accurate information would be the watchman on the great central Arch. He could see the movements of all. He could note their progress. He could appreciate their approximate nearness to the end by their distances apart on the converging avenues.

Even so it is with the servant of God. The Master calls him up into the mount with Himself, and reveals through the eye of faith “visions [seeings] of God” concerning the kingdoms of earth, their soon utter destruction, and the glorious reign of Jesus over all. And he can say with Peter, “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.

2. Signs of the End and Christ’s Coming.

If the people of Paris were told that when these great processions had well passed a certain circle of distance from the center, a certain number and street from the Arch, various signals of noted character would occur in the triangles between the numbered street and the avenues, and they then might know that the end had nearly come, how intently would they watch for these signals? How eagerly and anxiously would they note each feature to see if it bore the stamp of what was told them! And how surely would they know that the doom of the city was nigh! Every high eminence would be covered with anxious-eyed citizens.

Well, God has given us, not alone the lines of prophecy, but the special signs and warnings.

According to several prophecies, the time of the end began in A.D. 1798. Since that date God has given a score or more of special prominent signs, telling to all the world that we are living in “the last days,” and that the coming of Christ is “nigh, even at the doors.” In reply to a question asked by His disciples as to what should be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age (Matt. 24:3), Jesus said: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:25-27.

Everywhere are these signs to occur, that men may see and know that the day of the Lord is at hand. We note some of these many signals, assuring the reader that all are predicted in the Word of God:—

The waxing old of the earth, manifest in increasing calamity, drought, flood, famine, plague, disease, earthquake, cyclone. Heb. 1:11, 12; Isa. 24:1-3; Jer. 4:23-26.
Increase of knowledge. Dan. 12:4, 10.
Increase of crime and wickedness. Isaiah 59; Matt. 24:37; Gen. 6:11.
Increase of riches, and that by oppression. James 5:1-8.
Mormonism. Matt. 24:24-26.
Spiritualism. Matt. 24:26; Rev. 16:13, 14.
Last-day confederacies. Isa. 8:9-18.
Last-day scoffers. 2 Peter 3:3, 4.
Spiritual declension. Matt. 24:12; 2 Tim. 3:1-5.
Peace-and-safety cry. Isa. 2:2-4; 1 Thess. 5:1-3.
Great war preparations. Joel 3:9-12; Rev. 16:13, 14.
Signs in the heaven. Matt. 24:29, 30.
“Perplexity of nations,” rejection of God’s law, the last Gospel message, etc., etc. Rev. 14:6-14, etc.

All these things are fulfilled or fulfilling before the very vision of all. They are not in a corner. Some of them are world-wide. And Jesus says, “When ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.” Luke 21:31.

The foregoing are some of the evidences in brief whereby we know that the coming of our Lord is near. The year, the day, the hour, He has not revealed, but He has given us the watching, waiting, praying, working time.

“We’ll watch and we’ll pray, with our lamps trimmed and burning, We’ll work and we’ll wait till the Master’s returning, We’ll sing and rejoice, every omen discerning, But we know not the hour.”

“Multitudes,” said the prophet, as he looked forward to this, our day, “multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.”

Mighty questions are at the front. Is the Bible God’s message to this world in all ages? or is it the work of man? Shall the church of Jesus Christ follow that Book as revealed in Christ Jesus? or shall she make void its commandments by following human creeds and human traditions. Will she draw her present light from its present truths? or will she seek to light the way by the ephemeral sparks struck from human anvils? Will her power to save souls come from the Holy Spirit received by faith in God’s Word? or will the church depend upon her great men, her great numbers, her great wealth, her great education, and her power to direct human legislation?

These and others like them, are some of the mighty questions which souls in the valley of decision are called to solve, and only those grounded on the rock of God’s truth will decide aright. Many will look to their spiritual leaders for help. Many have come from their quest sad and heart-broken to find their pastor an infidel. Many are losing all faith in the Bible and the God of the Bible by the instruction received. A few find loyal men, and we say again, we are glad there are such. As the great crucial questions come to Mr. Sink and his congregation, may they be loyal to the grand old Book.