AS IT WAS, SO SHALL IT BE by E. L. Maxwell

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, Cal. · Jul 26, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 30.

AS IT WAS, SO SHALL IT BE.

By E. L. Maxwell

BY E. L. MAXWELL.

"AS it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man." Then they were "eating and drinking." Matt. 24 : 38. It is not the idea that it was wrong to eat and drink proper foods in proper quantities at proper times; but unwholesome foods and drinks taken at unseasonable times in immoderate quantities made gluttony and drunkenness prevailing sins. Now the same causes are leading to the same results; and the wrecks of humanity, wrecked by liquor, tobacco, tea, coffee, condiments, and rich, unhealthful foods—which may be found in nearly any home in the land—are crying witnesses to the fact that we are in the days of the Son of Man.

Then "they were marrying." Matt. 24 : 38. It is not the idea that God condemned marriage; but they had subverted his plan and instead of one wife "they took them wives of all which they chose." Now, tho the laws prohibit a plurality of wives, still there is a well patronized "divorce-mill" system; and men are able to, and do, make the sacred marriage institution a plaything of lust; and from the resulting ever-increasing army of unhusbanded and unwifed parents and unfathered

and unmothered children comes a cry of blasted hopes, of ruined homes and broken hearts, which says to every soul, We are living the days of Noah over again; "the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."

Then "the earth was filled with violence." Gen. 6 : 11. Now the man must be blindly and unreasonably optimistic, who,—in the face of all the wars, strikes, murders, suicides, to say nothing of the political and financial struggles of the present hour, which plainly fulfil this specification of the prophecy,—will say the world is growing better.

Then the people "knew not until the Flood came, and took them all away" (Matt. 24 : 39); but they might have known, in fact, they were entreated to know. Now the announcement of the coming of Christ is disbelieved, explained away, and scoffed at, by unbelievers, while the doctrine of a temporal millennium lulls to sleep the great body of church members. They are saying "Peace and safety," not knowing that "sudden destruction cometh upon them," "and they shall not escape."

Then a definite warning was given to all by Noah, a "preacher of righteousness." 2 Peter 2 : 5. Now, by a message peculiarly fitted to meet every condition of the last days, God is definitely warning "every nation, kindred, tongue, and people" to "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come," "and obey (A. R. V., mar.) Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and fountains of waters." Rev. 14 : 6, 7.

Then God's message embraced the Ten Commandments, and they were taught by His messenger; for "Noah was a preacher of righteousness," and "all God's commandments are righteousness." Ps. 119 : 172. Now God's message for to-day embraces the teaching of the same Ten Commandments, for the people who heed it are said to "keep the commandments of God." Rev. 14 : 12.

Then it was by faith that "Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house." Heb. 11 : 7. Now the "remnant" who are coming out in response to God's great call "keep . . . the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14 : 12.

Then Noah "became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." Heb. 11 : 7. Now, when God says of His last-day children, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God," He adds the reason—"and the faith of Jesus."

Then the message began and ended within the limits of one generation. Gen. 7 : 1. Now, says Jesus, "This generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled." Matt. 24 : 34.

Then a profession of religion without living faith in Noah's definite message did not save any one however great or good; for only those who believed and entered the ark were saved. Gen. 7 : 21, 22. Now living faith in the message will characterize those who will be saved; for it is God who says they keep "the faith," and He "looketh on the heart." Rev. 14 : 12; 1 Sam. 16 : 7. Merely professing Christ, without active faith in the message, will not avail anything. Matt. 7 : 21; Heb. 9 : 28.

Then "few, that is, eight souls were saved," 1 Peter 3 : 20. Now Jesus speaks of His people as a "little flock" (Luke 12 : 32), a "remnant" (Rev. 12 : 17), "144,000," out of all the world, when He comes (Rev. 7 : 1-4; 14 : 3).

These parallels prove that we are living in the "days of the Son of Man." Do you hear the message? Are you heeding it? Will you triumph with it? Oklahoma, Okla.