THE TIME IS RIPE | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 17, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 46.

THE TIME IS RIPE.

JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL wrote:—

“The time is ripe, a rotten ripe, for change.”

And so will the careful observer say as he views the world in the light of the pure morality of Jesus Christ. It is a common saying that one can not depend upon what a merchant, or grocer, or dealer of any kind, tells you who has wares to sell. You are told that a fabric is “all wool,” but a little wear proves it to be part cotton. A piece of goods is “warranted not to shrink,” but the first time it is dried after being wet, proves the assertion to be falsehood. There are noble exceptions, but they are indeed rare. It was not long ago when a clothing merchant, if asked, “Are these goods shoddy?” would, if such were the case, have responded promptly, “They are; that is the reason I can sell them at such a low price.” His word was good as gold so far as lay in his power to fulfil; he expected yours to be.

When you purchased butter of a farmer, you knew that it was not part oleomargarine. You knew your milk was not watered or “fixed.” You knew the apples at the bottom of the basket were as large and firm as those at the top.

If you purchased olive-oil, you knew it was not part cottonseed oil or lard. There were exceptions to this honest dealing, but they were the exception, not the rule. But now the exception is the honest man; the dishonest dealing is the rule.

The same thing is true in politics, in municipal life, in every kind and grade of public office. In religious circles, in sermons, in church discipline, the same spirit is manifest. Truly “the time is ripe, a rotten ripe.” All these things the Lord foretold us would come. The harvest is near. “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” “Iniquity shall abound.” “Perilous times shall come” “In the last days,” perilous because twenty different sins are noted as being among those “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” “Judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity can not enter.”

All these things are manifest. The next great event to the world is the reaping of the harvest by the coming of Jesus Christ. Rev. 14:14. Men may ridicule that coming, but just as truly as He was once upon earth, so truly shall the opening heavens reveal again the Son of God. Are you ready?