Striking Signs of the Times
Wealth, Labor, and Capital
1. For what is prophecy given? "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts." 2 Peter 1: 19. "But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known . . . what shall be in the latter days." "He that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass." Dan. 2: 28, 29. 2. What great lines of prophecy are given us in the Scriptures? There are the second chapter of Daniel, the seventh chapter, the eighth and ninth chapters, the eleventh chapter, and not less than seven in the book of the Revelation, besides our Lord's great discourse in Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21. Each of these begins at a different date of the world's history, but all of them carry us forward to the glorious consummation of the kingdom of Christ. 3. To what particular point of time does the fulfilment of some of these prophecies bring us? NOTE.—There are certain periods of prophetic time in the books of Daniel and the Revelation which reach their endings at the beginning of an indefinite period, called "the time of the end." Mark that this is not the end of time, but "the time of the end," a period during which the study of God's word should be revived, and the wise should understand. 4. What occurrences would take place during this period? "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." Luke 21: 25, 26. NOTE.—In other words, God would hang out these signs everywhere. First, He would write them in His word as PREDICTIONS OF EVENTS TO COME; and secondly, He would in His providence so overrule that they would again be written in the physical, social, religious, commercial, and political worlds, in order that men everywhere might read them. 5. What great event would these predicted signs herald? "And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." Luke 21: 27. 6. What is one of the noted signs predicted for the last days? "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days ["in the last days," R.V.]. Behold, the hire of the la-