Signs of Christ’s Second Coming by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 31, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 22.

Signs of Christ’s Second Coming

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

EDUCATION IN THE HOME. No. 3.

Signs of Christ's Second Coming.

THE next Wednesday evening was decided upon as most convenient for the family study; and that evening found all the members of the little flock assembled once more, with their Bibles in hand.

"Last Friday evening," began Brother Hartman, "I believe we found proof enough from the Bible itself to establish its claim as being the Inspired Word of the great Jehovah. Then, my dear children, let us take it as such, and obey as well as believe. The world is full of people who are trying to destroy confidence in this holy Book. You are, in fact, meeting this very thing at school, every day. Skepticism and infidelity are being talked to you. But there is no need of giving way to these things. 'If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?' We know you are surrounded by evil associates, but can you think of any examples of godly people who had the same temptations and evil surroundings that you have, and even greater, and yet they held fast to their integrity? John, can you give me an example?"

"I think, father, that Joseph was a pretty good exam; le."

"Yes, and so was Job," said Elsie, "and Moses, and Daniel; and——"

"And Noah, and Abraham," added Mattie.

"And little Samuel," smiled Beth, who never tired of hearing about the youthful prophet.

"I think you are missing the greatest and best Example of all," said grandma, softly.

"And thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins," quoted mama.

"Well, my children, if such illustrious characters as these lived holy lives in the midst of evil and worldly associates, do you not think it possible for us to hedge our souls about with prayer and a knowledge of God's Word that we shall be able to escape,—not temptation,—for God's own Son was tempted; but we need not give way to temptation, and be led into sin. Moses had for his teacher a godly mother; and, altho surrounded by the glitter and show of the court of a heathen king, he never forgot the lessons learned at his mother's knee. And so, as it seems quite impossible for us to change our present conditions, we can only make the best of matters by learning from God's Book at home; so that we may be ready always to give to every man that asketh us a 'reason of the hope' that is in us, 'with meekness and fear.'"

"O mother!" interrupted Mattie, "Josie Wilber said to-day that she would like to join our circle, if you and father have no objection."

"Surely, we have not; and you may tell her we shall be glad of her company," said Sister Hartman.

"Yes," added grandma, "we may be able to get mutual good in this way,—so we shall look for her next Friday evening."

"But now," said Brother Hartman, "we must begin our study. Elsie, my daughter, why do you believe in the soon coming of Christ?"

"Because the Bible has given us certain signs of it, and I can plainly see those signs fulfilling every day."

"John, if any one should ask you what you consider a sign of the soon coming of Christ, what would you answer him?"

"That is just what Mr. Bradshaw did ask me to-day; I had been looking up some references in my Bible for this evening's study, and I told him I thought that disobedience to parents was one of the signs. I had my Testament in my pocket, and so I read to him the first two verses of second Timothy, third chapter. He told me that children had always been disobedient, but I asked him if they were quite so much that way when he was a boy. He smiled, and said, 'No, that's so, young man.' So I told him to read the whole chapter, and he would find a great many more signs."

"You see we can already begin to see good coming from our studies, my dear children, and I fully believe, if every family would put the same in practice, more good might be done than by almost any other means. Now Mattie, you may turn to 2 Peter 3, and read the third and fourth verses."

"There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming?"

"Have you ever met any one, my child, to whom this verse might be said to apply?"

"I don't know, father, whether it would mean any one but grown-up people; but Mamie Brown laughed at me, because I wouldn't go to her party on the Sabbath, and said that it was quite silly to believe as we do; for the world would not come to an end in a thousand years."

"My dear children," interrupted Mrs. Hartman, "it is these very things that make it hard for you to attend school; but you must be fortified against them. But, always, you must be kind and forgiving to those who are unkind toward you."

"In what manner will the day of the Lord come? Elsie, you may read 2 Peter 3: 10."

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."

"Grandma, do you think there is any danger of being deceived regarding the coming of Christ?"

"Matt. 24: 24 answers your question exactly," and grandma quoted, earnestly: "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."