Are There No Changes? by R. F. Cottrell

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · Nov 14, 1878

Are There No Changes?

By R. F. Cottrell

NUMBER TWO.

THE predicted signs have been seen in the heavens above us, and among the nations of the earth there is distress and perplexity. The sun, moon and stars have borne their testimony to the truth of our Saviour's predictions, and the angry elements of earth portend approaching wrath, being the agents of death in various ways, by earthquakes, storms and plagues, inundations, conflagrations and pestilences.

And are there any ominous changes in the moral world? Speaking of the signs of the last days, Jesus said, "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Matt 24:12. In agreement with this, an apostle left this prediction: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come; for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemous, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affections, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

This testimony shows that iniquity will abound, not only in the world at large, but also with those who have a form of godliness. Are these predictions being verified in our own days? From the testimonies of the press, both religious and secular, they are. The records of crimes of all sorts are so terrible that one can hardly open a newspaper which gives the news of the day without a shudder. Iniquity of the most flagrant character abounds, in high as well as in low places, in the church as well as in the outside world. Men of observing minds testify to the rapid increase of crime. Indeed every person of twenty years' observation can see that murder and the most revolting and outrageous crimes have fearfully increased in that length of time. Since the war of the rebellion, human life has seemed much cheaper than before.

Closely allied to the increasing wickedness of the last days are the "false prophets" and "lying wonders" predicted by Christ and the apostles. Matt. 24:24. 2 Thess. 2:9. In fulfillment of these predictions, Spiritualism has arisen in our days to advocate the first great lie ever uttered to our race—"Ye shall not surely die," Gen. 3:4; and with it, infidelity and immorality, open or half concealed, to throw off all restraint from the wickedly disposed, break down the distinction between vice and virtue, and set at defiance law and order, human and divine.

The spirits communicating are not the spirits of the dead; but they are, according to Rev. 16:14, "The spirits of devils working miracles, which go forth to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of the great day of God Almighty." Their last work will be immediately followed by the coming of Christ, for at this point he says, "Behold, I come as a thief."

It is the united testimony of the best minds that infidelity and crime are fearfully on the increase. All things do not continue as they were in this respect. And these were foretold as signs of the last days. The cup of iniquity is fast filling up. The great day of the Lord is at hand; and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. As it was in the days of Noah and of Lot, when God poured out his wrath upon the unbelieving and wicked, "Even thus," said Jesus, "shall it be in the day when the Son of man shall be revealed." Who will be able to stand in that day? Those who "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12. R. F. COTTRELL.