Signs of the End | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 28, 1884

Signs of the End.

THE apostle Paul says that in the last days men shall grow worse and worse. See 2 Tim. 3. Now when we speak of the advent of the Lord we are told that that sign is not being fulfilled, for the world is fast growing better. Is this so? What is the testimony of observing men on this subject?

Mr Moody said, in a recent sermon at the Tabernacle: "You say the world is growing better. What a thrill of horror the Parkman murder sent through society! Now a hundred Parkmans might be murdered in a week and it would produce no excitement."

Henry Ward Beecher speaks in the following scathing terms: "All the frame-work of society seems to be dissolving. On every side we find men false to the most important trusts. Even the judges on the bench are bought and sold like meat in the shambles. One must go into court with a long purse to obtain justice. The judiciary of New York stinks like Sodom and Gomorrah. Men say they hardly know a court in which to trust a case. It is no longer an honor to sit on the bench; for if the judge be an upright man, his character will be contaminated by the great majority of his associates."

The Philadelphia Times says: "Honesty has fled from the world, and sincerity has fallen asleep. Piety has hidden herself, and justice cannot find the way. The helper is not at home, and charity lies sick. Benevolence is under arrest, and faith is nearly extinguished. The virtues go a-begging, and truth has long since been buried. Credit is turned lazy, and conscience is pinned to the wall."

The North America says: "From the terrible evidences of human depravity which develop themselves from day to day, we begin to think that our cities are rapidly descending to the level of Sodom and Gomorrah."

Says the Scientific American: "It is admitted by all parties that crimes of the most outrageous and unprecedented character abound throughout the country and probably throughout the world, to a degree wholly unparalleled."

And every day Nihilistic, Socialistic, and Atheistic manifestations become more startling. Surely, if predicted increase of crime is to be taken as a sign of the advent near, we have already reached a state of things that warrants the immediate expectation of our Lord's personal appearing.—Sel.