The Two Descriptions by Robert Atkins

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 14, 1875

The Two Descriptions.

By Robert Atkins

My hearers, am I not stating truth when I say: Go where you will, either to the platforms of Bible societies, or to the pulpits of churchmen, or dissenters, and you will hear one uniform tale of the increasing piety, and of the extending success of the gospel? You will almost be persuaded that the ministers and the churches are as holy and as zealous as they well can be; that the world is mending every day through the influence of the religious example, and that we may shortly expect the triumph of the gospel—the fulfillment of the promise that the whole earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. Now, without stopping to inquire what influence such statements as these, or such opinions; however modified, of the church and of the world, are likely to produce upon either, let us see how they accord with Scripture and with fact. It is plainly stated by our Lord that until the end of the present dispensation, there should be the co-existence of Christianity and anti-Christianity; that the tares should grow together with the wheat until the end of the age—not the end of the world, as it is rendered in our translation; and, if this be true, when shall every knee bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord? When shall righteousness cover the earth, and when shall the earth be filled with the glory of the Lord? Most certainly, if Christ’s declaration is to be taken, not during the present dispensation.

The apostle Paul informs us that iniquity, which, at the beginning of the dispensation, only worked by way of mysteries, in the latter days would assume the character of an actual manifestation. In his second epistle to Timothy, he also declares that “in the last days, perilous times shall come; for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, 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; . . . ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth; . . . men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith;” and that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” And the apostle Peter gives this addition to the awful picture: “There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming?” Here are two descriptions of the last days—the present age—as widely different as two descriptions can possibly be; the first is of man’s drawing, and the second of God’s. Which of the two will you believe?—

Rev. Robert Atkins.