p. 371 | Suddenly by Jesse S. Gilbert

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Jun 24, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 24.

Suddenly.

By Jesse S. Gilbert

WE are told by the apostle Paul (1 Thess. 5:3), when speaking of the overthrow of the ungodly at the glorious appearing of Christ, that "sudden destruction cometh upon them." And Jesus himself speaks of his second advent as breaking in upon a thoughtless world with a startling suddenness: "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matt. 24:27. The resurrection of the sleeping saints will be instantaneous—no gradual change—"in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." 1 Cor. 15:52.

All the prophecies concerning the last things indicate wonderful rapidity of movement as the end draws near. Do we not see symptoms of this all about us? Is not this called preeminently "a fast age"? It is the age of machinery, of steam, and electricity. Each new invention outstrips all its predecessors in the effort to annihilate time and space. Nor is this all; there is wonderful rapidity of movement in the unfolding of events, in the making of history. A decade is more than a century used to be, and a century shows more changes than formerly took place in a millennium. The stream of time flows faster as it nears the ocean of eternity. It is an age of travel. Many "run to and fro" and knowledge is increased. How sudden and startling are the changes that take place in the political, social, and scientific worlds at the present time! One surprise follows upon another until we almost lose the power of being astonished.

Faith in God and an earnest expectation of our Lord's glorious appearing, alone can keep our hearts and minds tranquil in this age of excitement and sudden change. Men of the world may ask with bated breath what all these things mean, but the true watcher for the Lord's return knows that it is the "budding fig-tree," foretelling the eternal summer.—Rev. Jesse S. Gilbert.