PEACE AND SAFETY by Frank Hope

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 6, 1887

"PEACE AND SAFETY."

By Frank Hope

THE recent disaster in Charleston caused a decided revival of religion in that city, and forced even the most frivolous to entertain serious thoughts. But now that the scientists have satisfied the people that there is no longer any immediate danger, their religious ardor has somewhat cooled, and the ministers are still further calming their fears by preaching to them "peace and safety." The Rev. A. Toomer Porter, D. D., preaching on the thirteenth chapter of Mark, made the following statement:—

"In these days we have known affliction, which has not been since this land was settled, nor is the end yet. There is much of daily current event which is making history of these prophecies, uttered so many centuries ago by the man of Nazareth, in the land of Judea. And no doubt there are many who are thinking the end is at hand. But there are two passages in this same chapter that set to absolute rest all our vapid prophesying: 'The gospel must first be published among all nations.' 'Of that day and that hour knoweth no man; no, not the angels which are in Heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. So that all such prognostications are vain. The gospel has not yet been so published.'"

Mr. Porter is not quite correct in saying these prophecies are being made history, for all the prophecies recorded in Mark 13 have already been made history, of course excepting those in immediate connection with the coming of the Lord.

Then to prove that the end is not at hand, and all such prognostications are vain Mr. Porter quotes, "the gospel must first be published among all nations." From which it is to be inferred that Mr. Porter thinks it will be a considerable length of time before the gospel will be preached to all nations. But how is it possible to know to what extent the gospel has been preached, or as to how long it will take to be published to all nations. Paul said in his time, "Their sound went out into all the earth, and their words into the ends of the world." Rom. 10:18. And again in Col. 1:6, he says, "Ye have heard the gospel, which is in all the world." If Paul said that the gospel went to all the earth in his life-time why should it be thought that "this gospel of the kingdom" to which Christ refers, should take such a long time to be published to the nations?

Where so many people go astray is that they judge the progress of the gospel by the number of converts. Some even say that publishing the gospel to all the world means the conversion of the world. But this is unscriptural, for "this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations." Matt. 24:14. This gospel is preached as a witness. In verse 9 of this same chapter of Mark we are told that the disciples would be brought before wicked men who would not be converted, but the gospel was preached to them as a testimony against them. Christ when sending out the twelve to preach the word said, "And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles." Matt. 10:18. So publishing the gospel to the nations does not mean the conversion of the world; and when this gospel of the kingdom is preached in the last days all men will not accept it, "and for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thess. 2:11, 12.

Such men as these will not be converted by the gospel, but they will be condemned by it, for the gospel is accompanied by the law, and the law condemns the world. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." John 3:19, 20. To these men that which was ordained unto life brings death, for they disregard the admonition of the Saviour: "Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison."

The next scripture Mr. Porter quotes to prove that the coming of the Lord is not at hand, is, because "of that day and that hour knoweth no man." By this Mr. Porter reasons that because no one knows when the Lord is coming, therefore his coming is a long way off. It would indeed be presumptuous for any one to set the time when the Lord is to come, but for the same reason is it any less absurd to tell people when he is not to come? But Christ gives us a surer guide; he says, "When ye see these things come to pass know that it is nigh, even at the door." Mr. Porter himself testifies that these things are being made history. Then why not believe Christ? We may surely know an event is about to take place without knowing the day or the hour. Christ illustrates this in the parable; when the leaves are being put forth we know that summer draweth nigh, but yet the leaves do not indicate the exact day or hour that summer will come. Likewise when we see these signs come to pass we know that the Lord draweth nigh, although we do not know the day nor the hour. FRANK HOPE.