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Bible Readings

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 2, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 47.

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Bible Readings.

"Seek ye out of the Book of the Lord, and read."—Isaiah.
"Whoso readeth, let him understand."—Jesus.

SPIRITUAL DECLENSION—A SIGN OF CHRIST'S COMING.

1. WHAT is the condition of the world apart from Christ?
"The whole world lieth in wickedness." 1 John 5 : 19.
2. What is said of the continuance of this evil?
"Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." 2 Tim. 3 : 13.
3. How will deception affect the church?
"And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." Matt. 24 : 11, 24.
4. How will the abounding wickedness affect those who have loved God?
"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Verse 12.
5. Who only will be saved?
"But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Verse 14.
6. How does the apostle speak of this backsliding in the church in the last days?
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God." 2 Tim. 3 : 1-4.
7. Among what class do we find these sins?
"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away." Verse 5.
8. How will such regard the coming of the Lord and kindred truth?
"These also resist the truth." Verse 8.
"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." 2 Peter 3 : 3, 4.
NOTE.—The fact that scoffers will ask such a question shows that in the last days there will be those preaching about the Lord's coming, and asking of the question is in itself a promise in that it fulfils the prophecy the Lord has given.
9. Of what may we be assured?
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night." Verse 10.
10. Upon whom will it come as a thief?
"For yourselves [the brethren] know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they [the scoffers] shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them; . . . and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." 1 Thess. 5 : 1-4. See also Rev. 3 : 3.