p. 8 | Untitled article

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 13, 1904

RIPENING FOR THE GREAT HARVEST. NO. 7.

WE have seen from the last two articles that the human race is on the down grade in moral, physical, and mental stamina; that the present conditions are making fertile soil of the human body in which all manner of diseases are taking ready root. Immorality is making evil conditions, and the evil conditions are producing greater immorality. The evil in men is producing the evil conditions, and the evil conditions in turn are producing evil in men, women, and children. As the world nears its climax, the forces of evil are increasing in intensity, and as they increase, the worn-out condition of the race becomes more manifest.

What the Lord says of the earth at the time when His coming is near is also true of those who will be living on the earth at that time. “The earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner.” Isa. 51:6. That is, the people themselves will wear out as the earth does, aging before their time, dying in their youth, passing away like a garment that is dropping to pieces from age and wear. It is literally true to-day; and the moral condition of earth’s inhabitants is shown in these words of scripture: “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Tim. 3:13. In fact, the whole chapter has a distinct and definite application to this very time.

In the face of all this, can we say that the world is growing better?—We can not, if we would speak truthfully. Is it wise, is it safe, for us to place ourselves on the side of the “optimists” of the world, and try to make ourselves see a moral and spiritual progress that does not exist? The reader must answer for himself in the light of the open-faced, startling facts of the present time. The condition of the world as we see it is in perfect harmony with what the Word declares that it would be; and the Word declares that it would be in this condition “in the last days.” 2 Tim. 3:1.

But when these terrible conditions have reached their climax, the Son of God will return to this earth, and destroy sin and sinner. At that time “our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before Him; and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people.” Ps. 50:3, 4. “Then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.”

At the same time, the Word declares that “there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming?” 2 Peter 3:3, 4. And scoffers are multiplying as never before—another sign of the times. But that same Word declares (verses 12, 13) that they who are following Christ will be “looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat;” but that God’s people, “according to His promise,” shall “look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

Better days are coming; and better still, they are coming soon. Men tell us that there is a glorious future before us. There is; but it is not the future for which they are looking. Between this present time and that glorious future there is to be the marvelous “working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish.” 2 Thess. 2:9, 10. Between this present time and that glorious future there is to be the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven to put an end to all that unrighteousness, and to them that have pleasure in it. 2 Thess. 2:8, 9; Matt. 24:30, 31. Not as a secret rapture, not at individual deaths, will that coming be; but “in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory,” and “all the holy angels with Him.”

Truly, the Word is finding its fulfilment in the conditions of this present generation. Inspiration has pointed out these conditions, and pointed to them as signs of the coming end. We see them all around us, and still many doubt that the end is near. When the opening heavens reveal the dawn of the great day of God, the unsaved world will then realize that the warnings of God were worth their most serious heed. The wise course is to give that heed now, and so be expecting Him and ready to meet Him.