p. 10 | Peace and Safety by J. O. Corliss

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 10, 1878

Peace and Safety.

By J. O. Corliss

Many and various are the interpretations given of the Bible, especially of those scriptures that refer to the coming of the Lord and the end of the world. Any view that will explain away their force and give them a “spiritual” meaning, or place the event of which they speak in the distant future, is listened to by many with evident pleasure.

Recently a man preached from the words, “But the end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” 1 Pet. 4:7. The speaker commenced by saying that he, in common with all good orthodox people, believed in the second personal appearing of Jesus Christ upon the earth; but he could not, with some, think that these words had any reference to that event. He then gave some (to him, no doubt) weighty reasons why he differed from them. Mighty achievements were yet to be executed, whose completion would require ages. The entire world must first be settled, and brought under a high state of civilization, in order to become converted. The mighty forests must be cleared away, and the soil on which they stand cultivated and become like the garden of Eden. In short, he seemed to think the end no nearer than when Peter wrote the text.

How strangely some men reason! Just think of it! The gospel must bring the world from its darkness occasioned by the fall to the highest point of civilization, convert the world, and restore the earth to its primitive beauty, in order for the Lord to come and destroy it! Could it not be just as effectually destroyed without? What marvelous views such people must have of the infinite wisdom of the great God, and how short-sighted the wisdom that begets such reasoning! It may truthfully be called human, and not heavenly, wisdom. Such representations are faithfully portrayed in the word of God. 2 Pet. 3:3, 4: “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.” Since Inspiration has recorded that such speeches will be made in the last days, may we not safely conclude, when we hear them on every hand, that we have entered upon that time!

Another argument advanced was, that had Peter meant the end of the world, he would have said so in so many words. The conclusion was therefore drawn that Peter simply exhorted the people to be sober, and watch unto prayer, because he was about to die! What? Everybody watch and be sober because Peter was going to die? Peter’s death the end of all things? We could not believe that, for a number of reasons: 1. We believe Peter had more sense than to think his life of such importance as to call its termination the end of all things; 2. Had he meant the end of his life he would have “said so in so many words;” 3. That is not the way Bible writers talked about dying. Hear Paul: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.” 2 Tim. 4:6. Peter also says, “Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, . . . I will endeavor that ye may be able, after my decease, to have these things always in remembrance.” 2 Pet. 1:14, 15.

The apostle spoke of that which ever seemed uppermost in his mind—the time when all would render up their account, and receive their reward. 1 Pet. 5:4; 2 Pet. 2:9. God spoke through Peter to those who should live in the time of the end.

In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul spoke of the Lord’s coming as an event immediately pending: “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” Chap. 5:4. “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others.” Verse 6. Yet he told them in his next letter that before the Lord should come, certain events must transpire which were then matters of prophecy. 2 Thess. 2:1, 3. Paul here speaks as a representative of the whole Christian church, as his epistles cover the whole Christian age. Hence the “ye” and “us” used in the first letter, refer to a class living after the fulfillment of those events given in the second letter; and the apostle expresses himself in language appropriate to that time.

Peter, guided by the same unerring Spirit, takes the same course. In his first epistle he says, “The end of all things is at hand.” In his second letter he speaks again of the Lord’s coming, and says that in making it known he has not followed cunningly devised fables. He then cites for his authority the sure word of prophecy, to which, he says, “ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn.” 2 Pet. 1:16–19. This certainly refers to that people who see the glad day dawn, and yet he speaks as though it applied to the church in his day. If we take heed to the prophecy, as to a light that shines in darkness, it will point with such unerring certainty to that great event that none need be in doubt.

In view of the many omens of the end, how strange that some still persist in lulling the world to sleep. “When they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, and they shall not escape.” 1 Thess. 5:3.

J. O. CORLISS.