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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, Cal. · Jun 21, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 25.

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EDUCATION IN THE HOME. No. 6.

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

BY MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.
"WHEN did this third universal kingdom succeed Medo Persia? and what was its name? Grandma, you may answer, if you please."
"The name of the kingdom was Greece, the first king being the reckless Alexander the Great. But I can not remember dates as well as I once could, so I will ask Mattie to give the date of his conquest," said grandma, as she laid her hand lovingly on Mattie's brown curls.
"I think it was in 331 B.C.," replied Mattie quickly.
"What particular characteristic did the fourth kingdom have? Josie, you may answer by reading the fortieth verse of Daniel 2."
"And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron; forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things; and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise."
"What was the name of this fourth universal kingdom? Will you please tell us, Mr. Jones?"
"If I remember rightly, Rome was the fourth and last universal kingdom."
"You are correct; but what is said about the feet and the toes? Will you please read the 41st and 42d verses of Daniel two, Miss Josie?"
"And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potter's clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly broken."
"Now," said Brother Hartman, "there will happen a very great event in the days of these kings,—the setting up of the eternal kingdom of Christ at His second coming."
"Allow me to ask you what kings are meant by 'these kings?'" said Mr. Jones.
"They must be the kings last mentioned,—those represented by the feet and toes of the image,—or the fragments of the Roman kingdom, which exist to-day. But lest we mistake in any particular these most important events, we are not left with this single line of prophecy. It is as tho the Almighty, knowing the liability of man to put his own interpretation upon the inspired Word, gave us several other complete lines of prophecy, covering the same events. The seventh and eighth chapters of Daniel are but repetitions of what we have already gone over, and serve, by explanations, to make assurance doubly sure. I shall be glad to lend you a book I have, neighbor, entitled, 'Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,' that I dare say will interest you."
"I thank you, I shall be glad of the book. I have been much interested already, and shall surely continue my studies at home."
"Perhaps now it would be well to take a little brief survey of the points we have considered in these lessons. Our first evening's study proved what, Elsie?"
"That the Bible is the inspired Word of the Almighty, and this from the Book itself."
"What next have we learned, mother?"
"We have found that the signs of the coming Christ are abundant; that evil men and seducers are waxing worse and worse; that disobedience to parents forms one sign of the last days;—and that, from a study of only one of the lines of prophecy in the book of Daniel, we find we are living in the time represented by the feet and toes of the image of Nebuchadnezzar. Now, in the days of these kings, what is to happen, John?"
"The God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed," quoted the lad.
"God grant that we all be ready for a place in that kingdom," said grandma, earnestly.
"Remember that we have only considered a few of the signs of the coming King. The good old Book is full of them. But perhaps it would be well next Wednesday evening to consider a few of the reasons why we observe the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath."
"Yes," said Sister Hartman; "I am more than anxious that our dear children should be well posted on this most important subject. And we cordially invite our friends again."
"Well, Mrs. Hartman," said Mrs. Jones, "of all the subjects under the sun that I would like to hear considered from a Bible standpoint, this is the one, and so I think you may count on Mr. Jones and myself for your next reading."
"I think my papa and mama would like to come too," said Josie.
"Good; you are all more than welcome. And now, Elsie, will you play the organ while we sing together:
'Are You Ready for the Bridegroom When He Comes, When He Comes?'"