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

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jun 14, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 24.

Signs of the Second Coming of Christ

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

EDUCATION IN THE HOME. NO. 5.

Signs of the Second Coming of Christ.

"I TELL you, wife," said Neighbor Jones that night, when he reached home, "they are having very interesting Bible studies over at Mr. Hartman's; I learned a great deal to-night, for I joined their circle, at their invitation. They hold the next on Friday evening, and have invited us both. Let's go; what do you say?"

"What is the subject to be considered? perhaps we might go."

"A continuation of the subject of to-night, which was concerning the second coming of Christ."

"Well, these Adventists are queer people. They are forever harping about the end of the world, or the old Jewish Sabbath, or—"

"But hold; they were only having a Bible study with their own children, which surely they have a right to do; and surely, wife, if the church of Christ loves her Leader, she will be happiest when talking about His coming again. And then, really, when one comes to look the matter up, it is surprising how much there is said in the Bible about it. Really, I hope you will decide to go."

So it came to pass that the next Friday evening found Neighbor Jones and his wife at Brother Hartman's, Bible in hand; and, among the rest, seated close by Mattie's side, was the young friend, Josie Wilbur, who had not forgotten the appointment.

"I think it is needless to say," began Brother Hartman, "that we are all much pleased to see you, Mr. and Mrs. Jones, and you, Miss Josie, here to-night. I trust you will all be free to ask any questions, if you do not understand the points made."

"Our subject is still the coming of Christ and the signs preceding it. We have already touched upon one line of prophecy, and to-night will spend a little time upon another,—for it is not our purpose to exhaust the subject, but only to prepare our minds for further investigation and personal study. Elsie, will you please turn to the second chapter of Daniel, and read the thirty-first verse?"

"Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible."

"Beth, who is this speaking to the king?"

"It is the prophet Daniel, papa."

"And the king's name?"

"Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel is telling the king the strange dream that the king had one night."

"That is good. Can you tell us, Miss Josie, how it was that the king asked Daniel for help?"

"Please, Mr. Hartman, I'd rather Beth would tell the story."

"Why, papa, it was because he could not find any one else who could tell him. God showed it to Daniel, and then Daniel told the king, and afterward explained what it meant. If he couldn't have done all this, I suppose that both he and the 'wise men' would have been killed."

"Well done! The book of Daniel is a wonderfully interesting one, and the interest is greatly increased by the fact that we know it to be the truth of God; and not only that, but it is especially necessary that this truth should be understood just now."

"Of what was the head of the image, which the king saw in his dream, composed, Mr. Jones?—verse thirty-two."

"This image's head was of fine gold."

"Of what material was the rest of the image composed, Mattie?"

"His breast and arms were of silver, and his sides and thighs were of brass, while the legs and feet were part of iron and part of clay."

"Finally, Mrs. Jones, what became of this strange image? please read the thirty-fifth verse."

"Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer thrashing-floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them; and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth."

"Now we would be completely in the dark concerning this vision," said Brother Hartman, "were it not for the fact that the full explanation is given; but we are not left in the dark. So, since the Lord has taken such pains to tell us in His Word what is going to come to pass, isn't it a pity to be ignorant regarding it?"

"I believe the Lord says," commented Sister Hartman, that "the secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those which are revealed belong unto us and to our children."

"That is true," remarked Mr. Jones, "and I am quite anxious to read the explanation of this strange dream. Of course I must have read it some time before now, but the fact is, I have not studied the Bible as I ought to have done," he continued, sadly.

"The head of gold represents the kingdom of Babylon, according to verse thirty-eight: 'Thou art this head of gold.' Verse thirty-nine declares that another inferior kingdom shall succeed this, which did occur B.C. 538."

"Will Elsie tell us the name of this successor to the Babylonish kingdom?"

"History says that the reign of the Medes and Persians began then. And these ruled over the known earth until, as it says in verse thirty-nine, still another kingdom of brass should succeed this."