Literature by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Sep 5, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 36.

Literature

By Editor

Literature.—One of the great political parties in 1896 sent out over 160,000,000 pieces of campaign literature, making over 130 car-loads of printed matter. So says L. A. Coolidge, in Ainslee's Magazine for June. In the shipping department alone 275 people were employed. The other great party sent an amount almost equally large. Can it be that in this critical moment, when the Lord's coming is so near, "the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light"? "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good."

Timely Instruction.—When the disciples of Christ asked Him about His coming again, and of the end of the world, He gave them most valuable information on the subject. He said: "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Matt. 24:4, 5. Further along in His conversation He repeats the caution: "If any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Then there will be a terrible deception in regard to the second advent. But He continues: "Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth; behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not." Verses 25, 26. But he does not leave us with these negative assurances: He gives in plain words the manner of His coming, so that no one need be deceived, if he will "take heed" to the Word. Here it is: "As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Paul tells us that, in connection with this great event, the righteous dead will be raised to life; that "the Lord Himself will descend with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God." This instruction is timely just now, in these deceptive times, when the doctrine of the coming of the Lord is being enshrouded with so much error. The manner of His coming, as shown in His Word, can not be counterfeited by any one; and any pretender who can not fulfil the foregoing requirement is a deceiver. "Take heed, that no man deceive you."