The Sabbath-School by Ellet Joseph Waggoner

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 31, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 29.

The Sabbath-School.

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

LESSON FOR THE PACIFIC COAST—AUG. 16.

In our last lesson, what scripture was quoted concerning a time of tribulation?
What was this time of trouble to follow?
Show that the time of trouble referred to does not mean the destruction of Jerusalem.
Prove that the predicted tribulation was to come upon the people of God alone.
Repeat the words of prophecy that foretell such a period of tribulation. Dan. 7:25.
What power is here referred to as "wearing out" the saints of God?
How long were the saints and laws to be given into his hand?
To how many days is this equal? Rev. 12:6, 14.
In symbolic prophecy what does a day represent? Eze. 4:5, 6.
Then how many years of papal supremacy and persecution were predicted?
From what date are they to be reckoned?
Then when would they end?
How was the papal power broken in 1798?
What did Christ say would be done to those days for the elect's sake? Matt. 24:22.
What must be meant by this?
What great movement produced a sentiment against persecution for conscience' sake?
What did the Lord say would immediately follow the tribulation of those days? Matt. 24:29.
How definitely is the beginning of these signs located? Mark 13:24.
When did the darkening of the sun and moon take place?
When was the prophecy concerning the falling of the stars fulfilled?
Is the shaking of the powers of the heavens a sign of the coming of the Lord, or something that occurs in connection with it? 2 Pet. 3:10.
Are there to be any signs besides those in the heavens? Luke 21:25.
When these signs begin to come to pass, what is near? Luke 21:28.
How can we tell when summer is approaching? Luke 21:29, 30.
Do the signs here considered just as surely prove that Christ's coming is near? Verse 31; Matt. 24:32, 33.
Are we to admit of any doubt concerning it?
If the Lord commands us to know, is it not a sin to remain ignorant?

IN our last lesson we identified the time of tribulation, of Matt. 24:21, 22, with the period of wearing out the saints of the Most High, mentioned in Dan. 7:25. The power that was then to "wear out the saints," is admitted by all commentators to be the papacy. The period of time during which they were to be given into its hand is stated as "a time and times, and the dividing of time." Without entering into any discussion as to the length of a "time," we can very easily determine how long this period of Dan. 7:25 was. In Rev. 12:14 we find the same period given as the length of time during which the "woman" (the Christian church) was nourished in the wilderness. In the sixth verse of the same chapter the same event is brought to view, and the time is said to be "a thousand two hundred and three-score [1260] days." We may therefore read Dan. 7:25 thus: "And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws; and they shall be given into his hand until [or during] twelve hundred and sixty days."

BUT twelve hundred and sixty days, only three years and a half, would be rather an insignificant persecution; the time would be entirely too short to accomplish the wearing out of the saints; and besides we know that the persecution of the church by the papacy lasted much longer than that. We remember, therefore, that the prophecy in which this prediction occurs, is symbolic, and that the time brought to view is figurative. If we turn to Eze. 4:4-6, we shall find that in prophetic symbols a day represents a year. Substituting this, we are warranted in reading Dan. 7:25 thus: And he shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws; and they shall be given into his hand for twelve hundred and sixty years.

THIS period of papal rule began in 538 A. D., when, by the overthrow of the Ostrogoths, Justinian's decree that the bishop of Rome should be head of all the churches, went into effect. Twelve hundred and sixty years from that date would bring us to A. D. 1798, for the close of papal supremacy; and just at that time it was that Pope Pius VI. was taken prisoner by the French, and the temporal dominion of the papacy was destroyed, never again to be restored to its former glory. That the years intervening between these two dates were filled with persecutions which literally "wore out" the people of God, is fully attested by history. The "tribulation" may doubtless be considered as beginning before 538 A. D., for under pagan rule the Christians suffered terrible persecutions; but pagan persecutions did not begin to compare in fiendish malignity with those waged by the apostate Christian church against the true followers of Christ.

"BUT for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened." What days? Not the days of papal supremacy, for the time of its continuance had been definitely fixed years before. Our Lord must refer to the days of persecution by the papal power. Had that persecution been pushed to the close of the 1260 years with all the relentless rigor that characterized it in its height, none of the people of God (no flesh), as the Bible says, would have escaped. But in the providence of God the Reformation arose. God did not design that his truth and people should be utterly exterminated, so that he could have no witnesses upon earth. So he moved on the hearts of devout men like Luther, to preach the word, showing that men must be justified by faith, and not by penances, pilgrimages, or the payment of coin. Their preaching was accompanied with such power that thousands were constrained to believe the glad message of salvation through Christ alone; and when the rulers of various European States espoused the new light, and refused to yield abject obedience to the commands of the pope of Rome, the persecution was gradually diminished, until about the middle of the eighteenth century, it virtually ceased. So for the elect's sake the days were shortened.

"IMMEDIATELY after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened," &c. As recorded by Mark (chap. 13:24) our Saviour was still more explicit in his prediction. After speaking of the affliction above noted, he said: "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light." We must therefore look for the fulfillment of these signs somewhere between the middle of the eighteenth century and the year 1798. Do we find it? The dark day of May 19, 1780, is one of the notable events of history. A brief description may be found in "Webster's Unabridged Dictionary," the list of "Noted Names," etc. The darkness extended over the entire day, after ten o'clock in the morning, and through the greater part of the night following. Although the moon was then full, not a ray of light was to be seen. Even in the day-time the darkness was so great that no work could be done out of doors, and persons who were out were actually unable to find their way home. Fowls went to roost in the forenoon, as though it were night. History contains no parallel to this wonderful event.

MANY have sought to find an explanation for the darkness of May 19, 1780, thinking thereby to destroy its value as a sign of the Lord's coming. None of these efforts have been successful, and so good authority as that quoted above (Webster) says: "The true cause of this remarkable phenomenon is unknown." However, even if it were possible for any one to explain it on scientific grounds, that would not in the least invalidate the claim that it is a true sign of the Lord's coming. Mark the fact that Jesus did not say that a darkening of the sun should occur, which nobody could account for. What he did say was that at a certain time such an event should occur; its occurrence at the exact time specified establishes it beyond all controversy as a valid sign of the end.

"AND the stars shall fall from heaven." This was fulfilled in the memorable meteoric shower of Nov. 13, 1833. It accurately fulfilled Rev. 6:13, which likens the falling of the stars to the falling of unripe figs when the tree is shaken by a mighty wind. Prof. Olmstead, of Yale College, said:— "Those who were so fortunate as to witness the exhibition of shooting stars on the morning of Nov. 13, 1833, probably saw the greatest display of celestial fire-works that has ever been seen since the creation of the world, or, at least, within the annals covered by the pages of history."

"WHEN these things begin to come to pass then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21:28. That is, these signs show that the Lord's coming is near. Says one, "I don't believe in frightening people with talk about the Lord's coming." Well, the Lord didn't say anything about getting frightened. He was speaking to his disciples (not simply to the chosen twelve, but to all who should believe on him through their word); and he tells them to rejoice. Why should they not? Their best friend is coming to redeem them, and to take them to himself. Does the prisoner tremble at the coming of the one who he knows will open his prison doors and let him walk at liberty? Does the bondman, toiling in weariness and pain, writhing under the lash of the taskmaster, become frightened at the thought that the time of his cruel bondage is nearly over, and that one is coming who will make him a free man? Then certainly the Christian will only rejoice at the thought that his Saviour is coming to end all his trials and temptations, and to give him an everlasting home in the mansions of light. The Lord saves those who love his appearing, and those who love his appearing will not shrink from it with alarm.

HOW DO WE KNOW WHEN SUMMER IS APPROACHING? By certain infallible signs. We see the buds begin to swell, the leaves begin to appear, and the tiny blades of grass shoot forth from the ground. When these things begin to take place, we know that summer is not far distant. No one could make us believe differently. "So likewise ye," says the Saviour, "when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand." Luke 21:31. This is a direct command. We are not to disbelieve, nor to be in doubt, nor to guess that he is near, but to know. To disregard this command is certainly a sin, as well as to disobey any other injunction. If we study his words carefully, how can we help knowing? How near is it? "Even at the doors." The day and hour are not given, nor is it necessary that they should be. When we are informed that a friend is at our door, we do not require a message telling us when to prepare to receive him. If we are not then ready, we know that we have no time to lose. No expression could more strongly convey the fact that Christ's coming is close upon us.

AND HOW SHALL WE PREPARE FOR THAT MOMENTOUS EVENT? "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven." Matt. 7:21. If we would enter into Christ's kingdom, we must obey the laws of that kingdom. There will be none but loyal subjects there. Treason will not be found. Let us then, by the aid of Christ and his Holy Spirit, have the law of God so written in our hearts that we may be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. E. J. W.