Signs of the Times by Uriah Smith

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 17, 1878

Signs of the Times.

By Uriah Smith

So common has this expression become, that men use it almost without thought, and let it pass as without meaning. But if it means anything, it means a great deal. A sign, in the sense here used, is that which foretakens or gives evidence of coming events. A sign of the times, is that which marks any particular time, as showing its relation to times past or future.

In order that we may have signs there must be a prediction of future events, the approach of which is to be from time to time foretold or indicated by other events. But these other events must also be foretold, or they could not be signs. For instance, we might have the most startling phenomena in nature; but they would be without significance respecting what is before us, unless it had been foretold that certain events were to occur, and that their approach should be marked by these abnormal exhibitions. But these signs, being thus foretold, become themselves predictions, and their accomplishment a fulfillment of prophecy.

The signs of the times, therefore, are simply those prophecies which are fulfilling in our own day, which show that the time has come, or is at hand, for the fulfillment of other predictions, which stand in the same chain of events. Signs of the times are themselves prophecies of what is before us, and they are the seal which God sets to what has been declared in the past. They are the solemn voice of God to us, as if he were himself now walking through the land reiterating the declarations of his prophets of old, and proclaiming the truthfulness of his word to all the inhabitants thereof.

Therefore one well-defined, clearly-established, sign of the times, is an event of immense importance. It ought to arrest the attention of all mankind, and be with them, the chief topic of interest. Neglect of this will be no less a subject of censure in this generation, than it was with the Jews, whom Christ rebuked for not discerning the signs of their day. Nor will such neglect result less fatally now than then.

And is there such a sign existing in our day? Every student of prophecy knows that there is not merely one, but a whole array of them, not ambiguous, and indistinct, but clear, prominent, and startling. Yet the mass of mankind shut their eyes to these things; professed Christians ignore them; and all immediately set about the work of trying to account for, and explain away, any unusual occurrence, instead of considering what lessons of instruction they are to draw from it. They would fain persuade themselves that the moral darkness and gloom, which they are constrained to admit is everywhere spreading and deepening, is but the blackness of the transient cloud, which will soon give way to the clear blaze of millennial glory. And thus they blind their eyes to the view as it really is, and wait for that sudden destruction, which the apostle declared should come upon men just when they had yielded themselves to the fast embrace of this fatal delusion.

The signs of these times are events which are laid down in the prophetic word as tokens of the near approach of the great consummation, and the opening of eternal scenes. To forewarn mankind of the coming of this eventful day, the world was to exhibit remarkable phases, and witness remarkable scenes. These may be classified under four general heads:—

Unusual occurrences and phases in the religious and moral world.
Remarkable advancement and discoveries in the literary and scientific world.
Unprecedented activity and threatening movements in the political world; and,
Strange and startling phenomena in the natural world.

That the state of things here indicated does exist in all these divisions, no one will deny, who is ordinarily well-read in reference to passing events. Wherever we may look, there is no lack of occurrences, calculated to excite wonder and elicit comment. Every literary vehicle is loaded with them, every mouth is full of them. Why all do not look upon them in the same light as the student of prophecy, is because they are either ignorant of the fact that these things are pointed out in prophecy as tokens of the coming end, or are unwilling to admit the application of the prophetic declarations to them. The former, however, is largely the prevailing cause; for when a person will candidly compare the words of prophecy with the present state of the world in all its divisions, he can but see such a faithful correspondence between them, as to be convinced that these are verily the things which the prophets have said should come to pass.

No, the masses are not aware of what the prophets have spoken; and hence, although they are struck with wonder at the unusual occurrences and strange events of this time, they fail to see their significance, and realize their importance. But it is not sufficient merely to have attention aroused and wonder excited; for men may wonder at the remarkable works of God, and view with astonishment the stately march of fulfilling prophecy, and, knowing not its significance, may, with wonder and amazement, perish at last.

U. S.