HEAPING UP TREASURES by G. B. Thompson

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Sep 26, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 39.

HEAPING UP TREASURES.

By G. B. Thompson

NUMEROUS scriptures show that many in the last days will possess immense fortunes. This is seen from the fact that when the Lord comes they will 'cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed.' Eze. 7:19. Their hoarded and ill-gotten treasures will be cast to the moles and the bats. Isa. 2:18-21; Zeph. 1:18.

The apostle James tells us that men will heap treasure together 'in the last days.' Chapter 5:3, R.V. No evidence is needed to prove that such is the present condition of things. The marvelous accumulation of wealth is looked upon with astonishment and alarm by the masses. They know that it portends trouble, and await the outcome with anxious expectancy.

As a sample of the accumulation of wealth, the New York World of Aug. 8, 1900, presents the following summary of the income of John D. Rockefeller and his brother William, the Standard Oil Company magnates:—

This man's wealth is so great that the oil industry, immense as it is, is not large enough to employ his riches. He owns an interest in innumerable railroads, banks, insurance and trust companies, mining corporations, and industrial enterprises.

He and his brother William control the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad; the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad; and they are large owners in the Chicago and Alton Railroad; the Federal Steel Company; American Sugar Refining Company; American Glucose Sugar Refining Company; American Cotton Oil Company; National City Bank; Hanover National Bank; First National Bank of Chicago; Second National Bank of New York; the National Park Bank; Bank of Metropolis; the United States Trust Company; the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company; the Chicago Terminal Transfer Company; the Amalgamated Copper Company; the Anaconda Copper Mining Company; the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad; the Consolidated Gas Company; the Standard Gas Company; the Brooklyn Union Gas Company; the New Amsterdam Gas Company; the Union Gas Company; the Harlem River and Port Chester Railroad; the Leather Manufacturers' National Bank; the Mutual Life Insurance Company; the Cleveland, Akron, and Columbus Railroad Company; First Municipal Bond Insurance Company; the International Banking and Trust Company; and the Kern Incandescent Gaslight Company.

His investments in these corporations will bring his total income this year up to at least $60,000,000, and perhaps to $75,000,000. Based upon $60,000,000, his daily income for every one of the 365 days in the year is $164,383, one-fourth of which would be deemed an independent fortune by the average family.

An income of $164,383 per day is nearly $6,850 per hour, or over $112 per minute. And this is but an illustration of the vast increase of wealth throughout the world. If this can not be truly said to be 'heaping' up treasures, we hardly see what could be. And the Lord said this would be done in the 'last days.' The 'last days,' therefore, are here, and the Saviour is 'at the door.' How few are preparing to meet Him! Reader, are you preparing? G. B. THOMPSON. Rome, N. Y.