THE HOUSEHOLDER'S RETURN
By Max Hill
TELL us,” the disciples asked, “when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” It is still a living question. The world asks it, demanding an answer. It is well to consider the first words of the Saviour’s reply: “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” Matt. 24: 4, 5. Then follows a series of views of future history. Verses 6 to 14 of Matthew 24 carry us down to the time when the Gospel has been preached to all the world; “and then shall the end come.” Verses 15 to 20 come back to what lay just before the Jewish nation, the destruction of Jerusalem, followed by a very brief history of the persecutions of the church during the early centuries and the Dark Ages, mercifully cut short by the Reformation. Verses 21, 22. Then note the warnings against false Christs and false prophets. Never in the past were there so many false Christs as there have been since the Reformation, and the number increases. This in itself is a sign of the nearness of the end, else why should Christ make mention of it so often, and always when speaking of that event? Verses 23 to 28 are devoted to the manner of Christ’s coming, which we have already noted, bringing us to the time when the vultures of plague shall feed on the carcasses of sin. Then follows a series of literal events of striking interest and importance to the student. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days [the days which were shortened by the Reformation. Mark 13:24 reads, “in those days, after that tribulation”] shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.” The “days” of the Dark Ages of the papal supremacy were not ended until 1798 when the temporal power of the pope was taken away by the French, the pope being taken prisoner, soon to die in exile; but the “tribulation of those days” was shortened, by the decree of toleration by Maria Theresa in 1776, and the opening of this country to the oppressed of all nations. The sun was darkened May 19, 1780, “immediately after the tribulation of those days” of papal persecution, and the moon failed to give her light on the night following, tho it was full at the time, and the weather was clear, there being neither clouds nor smoke in the air. History has given such definite and accurate descriptions of these events that the mere mention of them is sufficient here. On the night of November 13, 1833, occurred the greatest meteoric shower on record, when the stars fell “as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.” This has also been recorded in history, and almost every neighborhood has those who witnessed the wonderful nocturnal sign the Lord displayed in the heavens to show His coming near. “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Tho we know not the day nor the hour of His coming, we may know from His own words that it is near, even at the door. Added to the Saviour’s words we have also the testimony of other prophets. James tells of the financial and social conditions in the last days,—conditions seen in the world at the present time as never before,—treasure heaped together, the hire of the laborers kept back by fraud, living for pleasure and idleness; but through it all the “brethren” are exhorted to be patient, with stablished hearts, “for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” Paul wrote to Timothy: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” Little wonder it is that the apostle closes with the admonition, “From such turn away.” Comment is unnecessary. The daily papers demonstrate that all these conditions are in the world to-day as never before, and to such an alarming extent that vigorous attempts are being made along lines of reform, attempts that seem to be accomplishing little when the magnitude of the task is considered. The fact is there never will be a complete reform until that wakening shout is heard, the faithful ones gathered on the eternal shore, when our Lord shall say: “Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” May it be our happy lot to hear these words and enter in.