A DREAM AND A REALITY by M. E. K.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 26, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 33.

A DREAM AND A REALITY.

By M. E. K.

That all the people of the world will be converted to Christ before he shall come again is one of the illusions which is dearly cherished by many sincere Christians. But the fact that good Christians, even very many of them, so believe, has no real bearing upon the question whether there will or will not be such a condition of things prior to the return of the Master. There are three ways in which one may study the subject: (1) What would we like to see; (2) the teaching of the Scriptures upon this subject, and (3) the probabilities that such a condition will ever ensue, judging from the present condition of the world and its trend of thought and action.

1. Of the first point mentioned we may say that probably every one would be glad to believe that there will be such a time, and, further, that there is little doubt that this very natural desire to have it so is the greatest cause why so many persons believe that it will be so. But really our desires upon this subject have no bearing upon the question, tho personal desires have, no doubt, been largely instrumental in causing many to overlook the more weighty considerations of the testimony of the Scriptures and the probabilities as forecast by the present aspect and condition of the world. To treat this question from the standpoint of the natural desires is the way that it was recently treated by a writer in the Christian Oracle. He indulges in a dream of the time when by present processes of grace sin will have been eliminated from the world. He visits (dreamily) a town where he had once lived, and finds every one holy and happy. He draws a beautiful picture of society as seen in his dream,—no jails, drunkenness, assignations, riots, assaults, wars, and murders. People had forgotten the word “saloon,” so long had it been unknown. It could not be found in the dictionary. Other words of a similar character,—the names of bad actions,—could not be found. It was an ideal picture, but there was one great blot,—death was there. The last enemy was not destroyed. It seemed very singular that sin should all be gone, and still that death, which came by sin, should reign. There must certainly be something wrong in this theory. The dream can not be a true forecast and revelation of what is to be. It can never come to pass.

2. Looking at the subject in the light of the second proposition, what the Scriptures teach, we see where the mistake lies. It is in assuming

that the world will be converted, and all the people holy, before the coming of Christ. The testimony of the Scriptures is against this theory. Let us look up a few texts which throw light upon the subject.

There will never be a time before Christ’s coming when all mankind will serve him. The wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest (Matt. 13:30), which is the end of the world (verse 39); at the time of Christ’s coming there is lamentation and mourning (Matt. 24:30); kings and great men will be in sore distress (Rev. 6:17), and vengeance will be taken on those who do not obey the Gospel (2 Thess. 1:7–10). As that time draws near, many will deny that he will ever come (2 Peter 3:3, 4), and the day of the Lord will come upon them unexpectedly, as a thief in the night, and as a snare (2 Peter 3:10; Luke 21:35). These scriptures and many more that might be adduced prove that the last days are not to be days noted for the piety of the people, but for something exactly opposite. Paul describes them as days of great peril, when every kind of sin will be practised, and when the form of godliness shall have superseded the power. 2 Tim. 3:1–5. See also Matt. 24:37–39.

3. And now as to the probabilities of the world’s conversion. Are they in harmony with, or are they against, the teachings of the Scriptures upon this subject? Christianity is spreading, but there never was a time when a profession of Christianity meant so little as now. Professed Christians embark in all kinds of selfish and wicked enterprises; they oppress the hireling in his wages, do just as those do who make no profession, and but for the fact that they attend some popular church, and have their names upon the church-book, no one would suspect that they were Christians. Infidelity of all kinds is everywhere in so-called Christian lands, in the pulpit as well as out. Lands once illuminated by the Gospel have been obscured by the smoke of darkness from the Mohammedan pit of error. Romanism, which distorts every Gospel truth, sits enthroned in the temple of God showing that its head is God. Missionaries are disregardful and dismayed at the forces of evil to be encountered in the dark places of the earth, and at the supineness and indifference of the churches in Christian lands who have sent them out and then fail to adequately support them; and everywhere the words of Scripture are being fulfilled, that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 2 Tim. 3:13.

Shall we be discouraged at this outlook?—No indeed. This condition will not always last. It is very dark, but the day is about to break. The same Jesus who gave his servants the commission to go to all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, with the promise of his continued presence and blessing, said of its finality, “And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt. 24:14. We have not to wait for a world’s conversion, but only for God’s measure of witnessing, and then the end.

There will be an end: (1) Of the preaching of the Gospel. Not always will mercy be offered. As a priest Christ now sits upon a mediatorial throne (Heb. 4:14–16), but he will lay aside that office and come as a king (Matt. 25:31; Rev. 19:16). The saints will then be taken to heaven (1 Thess. 4:16), the wicked will be destroyed (chap. 5:3), and an eternal separation between those who have accepted Christ and those who would not, will take place (Matt. 25:46). (2) There will be an end to the earth itself in its present state (2 Peter 3:10). Dissolved by the fires of the last day, it will be made new for a final home of the blessed (2 Peter 3:13; Matt. 5:5). (3) There will be an end of sin. Penitent sinners are saved from sin and from sinning; impenitent sinners are destroyed in their sins. Sin can not survive sinners. (4) There will be an end of death (Rev. 21:4; 1 Cor. 15:24–26). The work of the Gospel is preparing for that time. The world, under the influence of the Spirit of God and the spirit of Satan, is rapidly approaching the final end, the harvest. Soon will the command be given, “Thrust in thy sickle, and reap; for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” Rev. 14:15. Day of judgment, day of wonders, day of glorious rewards and of righteous retribution! This is no dream; it is reality. Are you ready to say with the beloved John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus”? M. E. K.