SOUND AN ALARM by M. Wood

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 1, 1877

SOUND AN ALARM.

By M. Wood

Our divine Lord has said, “Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39. In obeying this holy command, what do we find in this Book of books? In 1 Tim. 4:1, we find recorded by the pen of inspiration the following words: “In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.”

Is it not even so at the present time? Do we not see this literally fulfilled upon every hand? We look around us and see those who made a start to serve God, and follow after the good Shepherd, wandering from the fold, going into forbidden paths, and becoming so far deluded by his Satanic majesty as to lose all love for the purifying and sanctifying truths of God. Desirous of earthly gain and popularity, they soon yield themselves up to Satan, and are led captive by him at his will, when they sink deep into sin, and will sink still deeper unless they turn at once, and do their first works.

Again, in Matt. 24:37, we find words used by the Saviour, of great significance to the people of God: “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” The antediluvians laughed at the faithful preaching of Noah; they rejected the warning, despised his counsel, and scoffed at the idea of a coming flood. We see the same spirit manifested to-day by the worldlings; yes, and by professed Christians. They laugh at our faith in Christ’s soon coming, to resurrect the sleeping saints and to change the living righteous. 1 Cor. 15:51, 52; 1 Thess. 4:11, 17.

Let the mockers mock on; it is but an additional evidence of Christ’s soon coming and a fulfillment of Jude 18. The apostle speaking upon this point says, “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” 2 Peter 3:3, 4. Paul affirms that “when they shall say peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, . . . and they shall not escape.” 1 Thess. 5:3.

Jesus is coming, he is coming “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” “And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” 2 Thess. 2:8. And those who do not heed this warning, and seek God while he may be found, will soon be the recipients of the wrath of God poured out without any mixture of mercy.

God never sent judgments upon the world without first giving the inhabitants of the earth due warning. It was so with the cities of the plain; it has been so in every age of the world’s history, and it will continue to be so until the curse of sin is effectually wiped from off the face of the earth. God warned the Ninevites; they heeded the solemn proclamation of Jonah; they fasted and prayed, repented, and forsook their sins, and God spared their city.

But how different with Sodom! When Lot gave the people warning in his day to flee for their lives from the doomed city, they heeded not the warning. “The same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Luke 17:29, 30.

As we proceed in our researches after truth, we find that Daniel was to seal up the book even to the time of the end. We have crossed the threshold of this time spoken of by Daniel, and but few of the prophecies remain to be fulfilled before Michael shall stand up, and every one whose name is written in the book shall be delivered. Dan. 12:1. The end is near, and as the hour of probation is closing up, God in his merciful providence has prepared a people to sound forth the most solemn and impressive warning ever given to the human family.

Open your Bible please; and read Rev. 14:9–12, and hasten to obey God, keep his commandments, and flee from the wrath to come. The watchmen upon the walls of Zion are proclaiming this solemn message. Reader, do you believe it? Will you heed it, and turn your feet unto the testimonies of the Lord? Be not deceived in this cry of peace and safety. It is the work of the devil. And while the church and the world go hand in hand singing this delusive song of peace and safety and a good time coming, the people of God are being sealed against the day of trouble which is drawing on with fearful rapidity. Says the prophet, “The great day of the Lord is near, and hasteth greatly.” Zeph. 1:14. The 18th verse closes up with the solemn announcement that he (God) shall make a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

The church is taught to be prepared, waiting, watching, for their coming Lord, clad with the white robes and the wedding garments. Rev. 19:8. Such ones will go in to the marriage, and then the door will be shut. Matt. 25:10. Reader, is the coming of the Lord a welcome sound to you? Is it a pleasing theme of conversation? Are you watching? If not, why not? Christians ought always to be watching, for we know not when the time is. The Master may come at even, at midnight, or in the morning. Watch, “lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.” Mark 13:36.

M. WOOD.