SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Apr 17, 1855

SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

“Can ye not discern the signs of the times?” Matt. xvi, 3.

Our Lord asked the Pharisees and Sadducees this question, at a time when they came to him tempting him for a sign from heaven. It was a reproof to them for their unbelief in the signs mentioned in the Old Testament writings, which they professed to believe, and which were actually fulfilling before their eyes, yet disregarded by them. They could tell the weather for the morrow, but had no skill in those prophecies that pointed to that time. “When it is evening, ye say it will be fair weather, for the sky is red; and in the morning it will be foul weather to-day, for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” Matt. xvi, 3.

We will here name some of the signs which the Jews had as evidence of Jesus’ being the true Messiah.

SIGNS OF THE FIRST ADVENT.

1. Christ’s birth-place, which was Bethlehem. [Matt. ii, 1,] mentioned in Micah v, 2.

2. Herod slaying all the children in Bethlehem, from two years old and under, [Matt. ii, 16–18,] prophesied of in Jer. xxxi, 15.

3. His return from Egypt, [Matt. ii, 14, 15,] prophesied of in Hosea xi, 1.

4. His forerunner, John. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, &c. Isa. xl, 3. All Judea and Jerusalem saw this sign when they went out to be baptized of John. Matt. iii, 1–6.

5. The gospel preached. When Jesus stood up in the synagogue to read, he opened the book and read where it is written, [Isa. lxi, 1,] “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel,” &c. The eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened upon him. And he said unto them, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Luke iv, 16–21.

6. The place where he commenced his public ministry, [Matt. iv, 12–16,] mentioned in Isa. ix, 1, 2.

7. The time when he commenced his ministry prophesied by Daniel; viz., at the end of the 69 weeks, A. D. 27. Mark i, 14, 15.

8. His healing the sick, [Matt. viii, 16, 17,] spoken of in Isa. liii, 4.

9. His speaking in parables, [Matt. xiii, 34, 35,] mentioned in Ps. lxxviii, 2.

10. His riding into Jerusalem, [John xii, 12–16,] spoken of in Zech. ix, 9.

11. His humility when on trial. See Matt. xxvii, 12–14. “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted; yet he opened not his mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.” Isa. liii, 7.

12. The manner and circumstances of his death. ‘They gaped upon me with their mouths as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. . . . They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.’ Ps. xxii, 13–18. This prophecy had an exact and literal accomplishment at the crucifixion of Christ, and the Jews saw it. Read Matt. xxvii, 35.

13. The fulfillment of the seventy weeks of Dan. ix, 24–27. The Jews understood this, or might have understood it. Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied [or taught the prophecies,] that Jesus should die for that nation, and not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.” John xi, 49–52.

14. Christ’s resurrection, [Acts ii, 25–31,] spoken of in Ps. xvi, 8–11.

We might add to these signs the miracles of Christ, the pouring out of the Holy Ghost on the day of pentecost, and still others which were distinctly spoken of by the prophets.

But notwithstanding all this scripture was fulfilling before the faces of the rulers of the Jews, and all these signs were actually accomplished in a little more than thirty years, and they themselves had to acknowledge that notable miracles had been done, yet they believed not.

Well may it be said by this generation, that the Jews deserved wrath, and God was just in destroying their nation and place. But how is it with the professed people of God at this day? Do they believe in that Word which they blame the Jews for rejecting? The Jews were looking for a temporal kingdom, and overlooked the signs of Christ’s first advent. The nominal churches, as a body, are looking for a temporal millennium, and overlook the signs of his second advent, which are, as we shall show, as numerous and as forcible as those of his first advent. Then if the signs of Christ’s second coming are doubted and rejected by the professed people of God of this generation, the sin of unbelief will rest upon them as heavy as it did upon the Jews.

SIGNS OF THE SECOND ADVENT.

1. The Dark Day of May, 19th, 1780. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened,” &c. Matt. xxiv, 29. What days of tribulation are here referred to? Read a description of them in verse 21. “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” For the following reasons we believe this to be the tribulation of the church during the Papal persecutions, and not the destruction of Jerusalem, as some teach.

(1.) That was the greatest tribulation that the church has ever suffered. Fifty, and some writers say, one hundred millions of Christians were put to death by the rack, flame and sword, and by every other engine of cruelty that wicked men and devils could invent. It was a greater tribulation than the church will ever suffer; for in the time of trouble such as never was on the world, when Michael [Christ] shall stand up, [Dan. xii, 1,] the saints will not be put to death. God has promised to deliver “every one” of them.

(2.) This tribulation cannot apply to the destruction of Jerusalem; for that trouble on that nation was not so great as that of the cities of the plain, when God rained fire and brimstone from heaven on them, or the destruction of the old world by the flood. Neither was it so great as the day of God’s anger will be, when the last vials of his wrath shall be poured out.

(3.) If this tribulation be applied to the Jews, or any other class of unbelieving men, it cannot be harmonized with Dan. xii, 1, which speaks of the time of trouble such as never was, when Michael shall stand up at the close of probation. Certainly, there could not be two times of trouble, at different periods, greater than ever was, or ever would be. Therefore we apply the “tribulation” spoken of in Matt. xxiv, 21, 29, to the saints during the Papal persecutions, and the “trouble” mentioned in Dan. xii, 1, to the unbelieving world, to be experienced by them in the future.

Then, “immediately after the tribulation of those days” of Papal persecution, the sun was to be darkened. Mark this: It does not say, after those days; but “after the tribulation of those days.” The days reached from 538, to 1798, eighteen years this side of the dark day; but the tribulation of the days ceased before the sun was darkened in 1780. The days of tribulation were shortened for the elect’s sake. Verse 22. “The reformation under Martin Luther modified this tribulation and continued to restrain the rage, and consume the power of Papacy until 1700; since which time, according to all church history, there has been no general persecution against the church.” Mark xiii, 24 makes this point very plain. “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened.” That is, before the 1260 years shall close; but after the tribulation, or martyrdom of the saints shall cease, “the sun shall be darkened.”

In May 19th, 1780, there was a remarkable fulfillment of the predicted darkening of the sun; and in reference to the facts and date, there can be no doubt; for, besides the historical accounts, which all agree, there are many now living who witnessed it, and can testify to it.

“A something strikingly awful shall forewarn that the world will come to an end, and that the last day is even at the door.”—Martin Luther.

“In the month of May, 1780, there was a very terrific dark day in New England, when ‘all faces seemed to gather blackness,’ and the people were filled with fear. There was great distress in the village where Edward Lee lived; ‘men’s hearts failing them for fear’ that the judgement day was at hand, and the neighbors all flocked around the holy man; for his lamp was trimmed, and shining brighter than ever, amidst the unnatural darkness. Happy and joyful in God, he pointed them to their only refuge from the wrath to come, and spent the gloomy hours in earnest prayer for the distressed multitude.”—Tract No. 379 of Am. Tract Society—Life of Edward Lee.

“The 19th of May, 1780, was a remarkable dark day. Candles were lighted in many houses. The birds were silent and disappeared. The fowls retired to roost. It was the general opinion that the day of judgment was at hand. The Legislature of Connecticut was in session, at Hartford, but being unable to transact business adjourned.”—President Dwight, in Ch. Historical Collections.

“Dark day of May 19th, 1780.—The sun rose clear, and shone for several hours; at length, the sky became overcast with clouds, and by 10 o’clock, A. M. the darkness was such as to occasion the farmers to leave their work in the field, and retire to their dwellings; fowls went to their roosts, and before noon, lights became necessary to the transaction of business within doors. The darkness continued through the day.”—Gage’s History of Rowley, Mass.

“Anniversary of the Dark Day.—The Dark Day, May 19th, 1780, is thus described by Mr. Stone, in his History of Beverly:

“The sun rose clear, but soon assumed a brassy hue. About ten o’clock, A. M., it became unusually dark. The darkness continued to increase till about one o’clock, when it began to decrease. During this time candles became necessary. The birds disappeared and were silent, the fowls went to their roosts, the cocks crew as at daybreak, and everything bore the appearance and gloom of night. The alarm produced by this unusual aspect of the heavens, was great.”—Portsmouth Journal, May 20th, 1843.

“In the Dark Day, May 19th, 1780, the heavens were covered with a dense cloud for three or four hours. . . . During this time, the clouds were tinged with a yellowish or faint red, for hours, for which no satisfactory cause has been assigned. I stood and viewed the phenomenon, but had not any fear that the world was coming to an end.”—Noah Webster, L. L. D.—New Haven Daily Herald. “The following description of the extraordinary dark day was given by Dr. Adams, on the 27th of May, 1780, eight days after it occurred. He writes:

“We had a very extraordinary phenomenon the 19th day of this month. In the morning it was rainy till about 9 o’clock, when the clouds broke away and the sun appeared, but very red. After nine the clouds grew very thick, with the wind from south-west in breezes; at half-past ten it was uncommonly dark, the clouds appearing of a yellow hue. At eleven, the public school was dismissed, it being so dark that no person could read or write. It continued to grow darker till twelve, when it was so dark we could not tell one person from another in a room with three large windows in it. In short, it was midnight darkness at noon day. . . . Thousands of people who could not account for it from natural causes, were greatly terrified; and indeed it cast a universal gloom on the earth. The frogs and nighthawks began their notes.”

Says D. T. Taylor, as published in the Advent Herald of April 9th, 1853, ‘I have conversed with two individuals, men of veracity, one a native of Scotland, the other of England, who both testify to the occurrence of this darkness throughout their native countries. All the phenomenon described as attending that memorable day in New England was also witnessed in Great Britain, producing also the same effect and being regarded as a sign of the coming judgment-day. In Scotland it is remembered and referred to as the “Black Saturday.”’

In the same Herald, the Editor gives the following note:—‘The dark day in New England was Friday. There is no record that that darkness was seen in England. The dark day there was on Saturday.’

‘From Robert Sears’ Guide to Knowledge, published in New York, 1844, we extract the following: ‘On the 19th of May, 1780, an uncommon darkness took place all over New England, and extended to Canada. It continued about fourteen hours, or from ten o’clock in the morning till midnight. The darkness was so great, that people were unable to read common print, or tell the time of the day by their watches, or to dine, or to transact their ordinary business without the light of candles. They became dull and gloomy, and some were excessively frightened. The fowls went to roost. Objects could not be distinguished but at a very little distance, and everything bore the appearance and gloom of night. Similar days have occasionally been known, though inferior in the degree or extent of their darkness. The causes of these phenomena are unknown. They certainly were not the result of eclipses.’’’

2. The dark night following the dark day, May 19th, 1780. ‘And the moon shall not give her light.’ Matt. xxiv, 29.

‘The moon shines with a borrowed light, and therefore if the sun from whom she borrows her light is turned into darkness, she must fail of course and become bankrupt.’—Matthew Henry.

‘The night succeeding that day (May 19th, 1780) was of such pitchy darkness, that, in some instances, horses could not be compelled to leave the stable when wanted for service. About midnight, the clouds were dispersed, and the moon and stars appeared with unimpaired brilliancy.’—Portsmouth Journal, May 20th, 1843. Extract from Stone’s History of Beverly.

‘The darkness of the following evening was probably as gross as has ever been observed since the Almighty first gave birth to light. I could not help conceiving at the time, that if every luminous body in the universe had been shrouded in impenetrable darkness, or struck out of existence, the darkness could not have been more complete. A sheet of white paper held within a few inches of the eyes, was equally invisible with the blackest velvet.’—Mr. Tenny of Exeter, N. H., quoted by Mr. Gage, ‘to the Historical Society.’

Dr. Adams, speaking of the dark night, says:—

‘At nine it was a darkness to be felt by more senses than one, as there was a strong smell of soot. Almost every one who happened to be out in the evening, got lost in going home. The darkness was as uncommon in the night, as it was in the day, as the moon had fulled the day before.’

3. The falling stars of Nov. 13th, 1833. ‘And the stars shall fall from heaven.’ Matt. xxiv, 29.

We are aware that some view that phenomenon an exhibition of meteors, and not of stars, and therefore no fulfillment of this sign. But what kind of a star guided the wise men to the birth-place of the Savior? Surely, no planet, or fixed star. And how many planets think you, could fall from heaven on to this earth without producing its destruction? It is evident that this sign must have a shower of meteors, or small stars for its fulfillment. And that the falling stars of 1833 fully exhibit the sign, the following extracts will show. The first, from Henry Dana Ward of New York, published in the Journal of Com., Nov. 15th, 1833.

‘At the cry, ‘look out of the window,’ I sprang from a deep sleep, and with wonder saw the East lighted up with the dawn and meteors. The zenith, the North, and the West, also, showed the falling stars, in the very image of one thing, and of only one, I ever heard of. I called to my wife to behold; and while robing she exclaimed; ‘see how the stars fall!’ I replied, ‘that is the wonder;’ and we felt in our hearts, that it was a sign of the last days. For truly the stars of heaven fall unto the earth, even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.’ Rev. vi, 13. This language of the prophet has always been received as metaphorical. Yesterday it was literally fulfilled. The ancients understood by aster in Greek, and stella in Latin, the smaller lights of heaven. The refinement of modern astronomy has made the distinction between stars of heaven and meteors of heaven. Therefore, the idea of the prophet, as it is expressed in the original Greek, was literally fulfilled in the phenomenon of yesterday, as no man before yesterday had conceived to be possible that it should be fulfilled. The immense size and distance of the planets and fixed stars forbid the idea of their falling unto the earth. Larger bodies cannot fall in myriads unto a smaller body; but most of the planets and all the fixed stars are many times larger than our earth. They cannot fall unto the earth; but these fell towards the earth.

‘And how did they fall? Neither myself, nor one of the family, heard any report; and were I to hunt through nature for a simile, I could not find one so apt to illustrate the appearance of the heavens, as that which St. John uses in the prophecy before quoted. ‘It rained fire!’ says one—another, ‘It was like a shower of fire!’ Another, ‘It was like the large flakes of falling snow, before a coming storm, or large drops of rain, before a shower.’ I admit the fitness of these for common accuracy; but they come far short of the accuracy of the figure used by the prophet. ‘The stars of heaven fall unto the earth,’ they were not sheets, or flakes, or drops of fire; but they were what the world understands by ‘falling stars,’ and one speaking to his fellow, in the midst of the scene, would say, ‘see how the stars fall!’ And he who knew would not pause to correct the astronomy of the speaker, any more than he would reply, ‘the sun does not move,’ to one who should tell him ‘the sun is rising.’ The stars fell ‘even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.’ Here is the exactness of the prophet. The falling stars did not come as if from several trees shaken, but from one: those which appeared in the East fell towards the East; those which appeared in the North fell towards the North; those which appeared in the West fell towards the West; and those which appeared in the South (for I went out of my residence into the Park) fell towards the South. And they fell not as the ripe fruit falls. Far from it, but they flew, they were cast like the unripe fruit, which at first refuses to leave the branch; and when under a violent pressure, it does break its hold, it flies swiftly, straight off, descending; and in the multitude falling, some cross the trunk of others, as they are thrown with more or less force, but each one falls on its own side of the tree. Such was the appearance of the above phenomenon to the inmates of my house.’

The second extract is from Prof. Olmstead, of Yale College, a distinguished meteorologist.

‘The extent of the shower of 1833, was such as to cover an incomparable part of the earth’s surface, from the middle of the Atlantic on the East, to the Pacific on the West; and from the northern coast of South America, to undefined regions among the British possessions on the North, the exhibition was visible, and everywhere presented nearly the same appearance.

‘In nearly all places, the meteors began to attract notice by their unusual frequency as early as eleven o’clock, and increased in numbers and splendor until about four o’clock, from which time they gradually declined, but were visible until lost in the light of day. The meteors did not fly at random over all parts of the sky, but appeared to emanate from a point in the constellation Leo, near a star called Gamma Leonis, in the bend of the sickle.

‘Those who were so fortunate as to witness the exhibition of shooting stars on the morning of Nov. 13, 1833, probably saw the greatest display of celestial fire-works that has ever been seen since the creation of the world, or at least within the annals covered by the pages of history.

‘I feel assured that this is no atmospheric or terrestrial phenomenon, but that these fiery meteors come to us from the regions of space, and reveal to us the existence of worlds of a nebulous or cometary nature, existing in the solar system, and forming constituent parts of that system. Nor are these conclusions built on mere hypothesis, but are necessary inferences from certain facts.

‘This is no longer to be regarded as a terrestrial, but as a celestial phenomenon; and shooting stars are now to be no more viewed as casual productions of the upper regions of the atmosphere, but as visitants from other worlds, or from the planetary voids.

‘Subsequent inquiries have led me to the belief, that the body was so distant as hardly to exhibit any apparent parallax, but was projected on very nearly the same part of the sky, as seen by all observers. This fact at once shows that the source of the meteors was far beyond the atmosphere, and confirms the preceding conclusion that it was wholly independent of the earth.’

After our Lord names these three signs; first, the sun darkened; second, the moon not giving her light; and, third, the stars falling from heaven, also the scenes closely connected with his second advent, [Matt. xxiv, 29–31,] he gives the parable of the fig-tree.

‘Now learn a parable of the fig tree. When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that Summer is nigh. SO LIKEWISE, when ye shall see all these things, KNOW that it [margin, he] is near, even at the doors.’ Verses 32, 33.

Here, dear reader, our Lord has stated the object of these signs, which is, that we may know when his coming is at the doors. But we are told that the church is never to know anything of the period of Christ’s second advent. Then we inquire, why did our Lord give signs of the event? The fact that Christ foretells signs of his coming, and then states the object of those signs, that the church might know when the event should be near, even at the doors, is sufficient proof that it was the design of Heaven that the church should understand, the period of the Second Advent.

It is true that our Lord has said, ‘of that day and hour knoweth no man.’ Mark adds, [Chap. xiii, 32,] ‘no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.’ But if this proves that all men are to be perfectly ignorant of Christ’s coming till he suddenly descends from heaven, then it also proves that the angels who are to attend him, and Christ himself will have no knowledge of the event till it takes place, and they find themselves in this world. This makes the text prove too much; therefore we must take another view of it. The text does not state that man shall never know the day and hour of Christ’s coming. Rev. iii, 3, is good evidence that even the day and hour will be known by the watching ones. ‘Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.’

The testimony of the Apostle is also to the point. ‘But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you; for yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord so cometh (on the unbelieving world) as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them. . . . But ye, brethren, are not in darkness (as to the time of Christ’s coming) that that day should overtake you as a thief.’ 1 Thess. v, 1–4.

We do not profess any knowledge of the day and hour of the Second Advent, neither the year; but from the signs, we may know that it is near, even at the doors. It is the opinion of critical scholars that the text should read, ‘of that day and hour maketh known no man,’ &c. It would then teach that no man, neither the angels, nor the Son is to make the day and hour known; but the Father will do it. This is in perfect harmony with Rev. iii, 3; 1 Thess. v, 1–4. Read also Eze. xii, 21–28, and mark particularly verse 25.

It is sometimes stated that ‘when these signs are fulfilled, they will be so plain that no doubt will remain respecting their fulfillment. All men will then believe.’ But if this should be so, then how could it be as it was in the days of Noah? ‘As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.’ Noah knew the period of the flood, and preached it to the world, and prepared the ark. In doing this, he condemned the world, and saved himself and family. But the people doubted and scoffed, and were destroyed. ‘So shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.’

God has never revealed his truth to man in a manner to compel him to believe. Those who have wished to doubt his word, have ever found a wide field in which to doubt, and a broad road to perdition. While those who have wished to believe, have ever found everlasting rock on which to base their faith.

The parable of the fig-tree is probably the most forcible one that could be employed by our Lord. When the trees of the field begin to put forth their leaves, and the tender grass begins to spring up, and the ground is being covered with its green velvet carpet, we know that Summer is nigh. If one should doubt, and talk of the season’s changing back to cold Winter, he would be thought insane. It is a certainty with us that Summer is coming when we see these signs in nature. ‘So likewise ye,’ or with the same certainty, know that Christ’s coming is at the doors when the signs in the sun, moon and stars are fulfilled.

A dear friend of ours, who had long been absent, might be coming, yet a thousand miles off. He might be near, yet twenty miles from home; but with what interest should we watch his approach to the door, and special care would be taken to be ready to receive our long absent friend.

That Christ will come again has been gospel truth for more than 1800 years. He says, [Luke xxi, 28,] ‘And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.’ When these signs begin to come to pass, redemption is drawing nigh; but when they come to pass, then know that Christ is at the doors. Reader, this is our

true position; Christ is at the door. Are you prepared to welcome him? If you are not, delay not one hour. Make haste and get ready!

The shaking of the powers of the heavens, sign of the Son of man, and the mourning of the tribes of the earth, are events closely connected with the Second Advent, but are not given as signs to be presented as evidence that the event is near. A little while before Christ comes, every man’s case will be unalterably fixed. It will then be said, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” Rev. xxii, 11. As proof that this is a short period before the Advent, read the next verse, “And behold I come quickly,” &c. He has not come, although the destinies of all are then fixed. In this short period of time, these events will take place: not to be preached to the world; for salvation’s hour to them will then be past; not to inspire faith in the saints; for their faith will then be perfected.

[To be Continued]