The World Is Convinced of It
THERE is a definite conviction, in the minds of most men, that there will come an end to this world in its present sinful state, and that the second coming of Christ is sure to take place. As an evidence that the majority of men are convinced upon this subject, let any great catastrophe occur, like an earthquake or some terrible storm, and immediately the men who are in the presence of it begin to say that the end of the world has come, or that Christ is about to come. Men will say these things who under other conditions will indulge in all kinds of ridicule of the doctrine of the soon coming of Christ, or that this sinful world may be brought to a termination. But why, when they are placed under the terrors of some great calamity, do they immediately begin to cry out that the end of the world has come? It shows the strong power of the action of God's Spirit through His word. God's word has very clearly said that Christ will come again. Definite prophecies point out the event. Men and women have been earnestly preaching and teaching these things. They have been showing this clear evidence. And facts warrant the statement that thousands upon thousands of people are affected by the evidence, or possibly are convinced by it, who refuse to yield to it. The Lord will finally come, according to His promises. And when He comes, some will be ready to meet Him; for "it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." Isa. 25:9. This shows a class who would be looking for the coming of Christ, and who were brought before the vision of the prophet. When the great day finally arrives, they exultantly cry out, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us." Of another class in that great day, it is said: "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" Rev. 6:15-17. It rests with us now to decide which of these classes we will be in. Will we be among those who stand ready to be clothed with immortality, and who will call out in exultant delight, "This is our God; we have waited for Him"? or will we be among that class who will call for the rocks and the mountains to fall upon them? Our course will elect where we will stand in that day. We will stand in one place or the other. There will be no neutral ground.