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SIGNS OF THE TIMES,

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Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · May 1, 1855

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 6, No. 28.

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SIGNS OF THE TIMES,

"Can ye not discern the signs of the times?" Matt. xiv, 2. [Concluded.]
4. Northern Lights. "I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke." Joel ii, 30; Acts ii, 19. Both the prophet Joel and the apostle Peter connect these wonders with the scenes of the last days; and probably no language could better describe the Northern Lights than the terms used by them. Blood, and fire, and pillars (or "vapour") of smoke.
"The most anciently published history of this phenomenon which I have yet seen, is contained in a large 'DICTIONARY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES,' published in London, just about eighty years ago. This, like others published since, gives a full account of the first occurrence of this phenomenon at London, in March, 1716, and states expressly, that the oldest inhabitant there, at that time, had never seen, nor heard of the like before."—Modern Phenomena of the Heavens—pp. 7, 8.
5. The chariots of Nahum mark this as the day of God's preparation. "The chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir-trees shall be terribly shaken. The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways; they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings." Nahum ii, 3, 4. That this scripture is strikingly fulfilled in the rail-road cars of the present day, is acknowledged by professors of religion, and non-professors who have no faith in the speedy coming of Christ. That the day of God's preparation spoken of by Nahum, is the day of his preparation for the Second Advent is manifest from a careful perusal of the first chapter of his prophecy. That such an instrumentality should appear in the day of God's preparation when many are to run to and fro and knowledge to be increased, seems worthy of the providence of God.
6. The prophecy of Daniel unsealed in the time of the end. "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end." Dan. xii, 4. Here it should be noticed that the book is not to remain shut up and sealed till the end; but "to the time of the end." This period, called the time of the end, evidently commenced about 1798. In Chap. xi, 32-35, the 1260 years of Papal supremacy are referred to. "And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end." Verse 35. In 1798, the 1260 years, in which the Papacy had power to put the saints to death, closed, marking the commencement of the time of the end. Since that time, great light has shone upon the book of Daniel. This prophecy, which before had been considered obscure, and was hardly read, has become one of the plainest books of the Bible, and the attention of the people has been called to it.
7. "Many shall run to and fro." This was to be fulfilled in the time of the end, when the prophecy of Daniel should be unsealed, and knowledge should be increased relative to the end of the wonders. With this knowledge, which is the truth relative to the coming and kingdom of Christ, many of the servants of God have, for the last twelve years, run to and fro in the land to proclaim the glad tidings that Christ was coming. In 1843 and 1844, there were several hundred ministers from the different churches, devoting their whole time to this subject; besides as many more who had never before preached, who left their farms, shops and stores to proclaim the coming of the Lord. And as they went out on their heavenly mission from city to city, and from town to town, they crossed each other's track, as they "ran to and fro" to sound the alarm. Behold the facilities of traveling now existing, unknown before the time of the end. Nahum ii, 3, 4. What men have named the "Lightning Train" of cars, carries passengers over the road from Rochester to New York city, a distance of about four hundred miles, in eleven hours. Mails move rapidly by the power of steam, so that publications may be sent thousands of miles in a few days. The way, then, is prepared, and the prophecy is being fulfilled.
8. "And knowledge shall be increased." This does not mean general knowledge on all subjects; but it must be limited to the one great subject presented to Daniel by the angel. The book of Daniel contains chains of prophecy which reach down to the end of earthly kingdoms, and the Judgment scenes. Chapters xi and xii are one chain, reaching down to the time when Michael shall stand up, the time of trouble such as never was, and the resurrection of the just, which, of course, embraces the second coming of Christ. Chap. xii, 1, 2. In verse 6th, one says to "the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?" Mark this: The end of the wonders are the scenes connected with Christ's second coming. In the next verse the answer is given by the man clothed in linen, with a most solemn oath, with both hands raised to heaven. He swares to time. But says Daniel, [verse 8th,] "I heard, but I understood not; then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?" The Prophet here makes his earnest inquiries relative to the scenes connected with the SecondAdvent; for these were the end of the things shown him. Now read the angel's reply. Verse 9. "And he said, Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." That is, the prophecy of Daniel that definitely points out the period of the Second Advent, was closed up and sealed till the time of the end. What shall then take place in this period called the time of the end? The answer is given in the next verse. "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand." The truly wise, those that fear the Lord, will listen to the voice of instruction, and will understand that the day of the Lord is coming, and hasteth greatly, and will prepare. "But the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand." While the wise understand by the opening prophecies that Christ is speedily coming, believe, prepare, and rejoice in the blessed hope, the wicked doubt, scoff and do wickedly. The great object of the prophecy of Daniel seems to be to bring us down to, and distinctly point out the period of, and events connected with, the Second Advent. The book, then, was given more for the benefit of the generation that should witness Christ's coming, than for any other in past time. Hence the propriety of its being closed up and sealed to past generations, till the time of the end. Then when the generation that is to witness the scenes of the last day is on the stage of action, the prophecy is unsealed, knowledge in regard to it is increased, and many join to warn the world that Christ is coming.
9. The gospel of the kingdom preached in all the world for a witness. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come." Matt. xxiv, 14. This is the first sign given by our Saviour in answer to the question in the third verse of this chapter, "what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" The text is often used to prove the doctrine that all men will be converted, and that there will then be at least one thousand years in which all will "know the Lord from the least to the greatest." But it comes far short of proving all this. In order for it to sustain the modern doctrine of a temporal millennium, and harmonize also with the idea that nothing is to be known relative to the time of the Second Advent, it should read something as follows:—This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, every individual shall hear it, and become converted, and made holy by it, remain no one thousand years, and then no man shall know anything about the end! But the text only states that the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world; and the object stated, is, "for a witness unto all nations." "Then," not a thousand years after, "shall the end come." Is this the gospel in its common acceptation? or is it a particular part of the glad tidings? It was spoken in reference to the question of the disciples, "What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world;" therefore it seems proper to apply it to the proclamation of Christ's second coming. But if it be applied to the gospel in the common acceptation of the word, the circulation of the Scriptures in so many different languages and dialects during the last half century, and missionaries sent to all the nations of the globe, are sufficient to fulfill the text. The heads of all the missionary departments tell us that there is not a nation on the earth to whom the gospel has not been preached. But if Matt. xxiv, 14, be applied to a particular part of the glad tidings, namely, the second coming of Christ and the end of the world, the fulfillment is equally evident. For testimony showing the fulfillment of this text, see J. N. Andrews' work on Rev. xiv, pp. 23-35.
10. Scoffers of the last days. "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." 2 Pet. iii, 3, 4. That this sign of the last days has been strikingly manifested is a fact which few persons will attempt to deny. The preaching of the immediate coming of Christ has manifested the most profane scoffing even among the ministers and members of the various churches, as well as the professed infidel or the drunkard. And yet the church professes to be laboring for the conversion of the world!
11. Heaping up of treasures. "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasures together for the last days." James v, 1-3. This sign which was to distinguish the last days has been fully manifested. Every kind of speculation seems to be in operation, that men may heap up treasures for the last days. Banking corporations, manufacturing corporations, rail-road companies and the like seem to swallow up almost all classes of men in the reckless pursuit of wealth. Witness also the gold digging of California and Australia. As examples of the hire of the laborers kept back by fraud, we point to the condition of the laboring classes of Europe, and to three millions of slaves at home. "Behold the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth; and the cries of them which have reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth." Verse 4.
12. Perilous times of the last days. "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, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." 2 Tim. iii, 1-5. The most startling fact in that which is here recorded, is that all the foregoing classes are to appear in the professed church, in the last days. We submit to every candid mind the fact that this sign is now fulfilled before our eyes.
13. Iniquity abounds. "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Matt. xxiv, 12, 13. The "end" here mentioned is the end of the world spoken of in verse 3, in connection with Christ's coming. Then, just prior to the end, iniquity is to abound, the love of many wax cold; but the faithful soul that endures the perils of this time, will be saved when Jesus comes. This deplorable state of things is spoken of by the Apostle in 2 Tim. iii, 1-5. This dreadful picture represents the main body of the nominal churches of the last days. It is not a representation of that portion of the community who make no profession of religion; but of those who have a "form of godliness." Iniquity abounds in the church, which calls down the frown of God, and the love of the body has grown cold. "From such turn away." This is in harmony with the voice from heaven, "Come out of her my people." Rev. xviii, 4. "What agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean, ["thing" is incorrectly supplied;] and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." 2 Cor. vi, 16-18. "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Tim. iv, 1-4.
"Luther said, just before his death in 1546: 'The day of judgment is not far off; yea, will not be absent above 300 years longer.' And speaking of the state of things near the end, while writing on the prophetic periods of Daniel, in his German Bible, he says: 'About the consummation of these periods, this gospel will be shut out of all the churches and confined to private houses.'" "Dr. Cotton Mather, who died about 100 years since, near Boston, a little before his death wrote on the second coming of Christ. And he confidently affirmed, from the word of God, that the end of all things was near at hand, and gave it as his settled opinion, that there were persons then living who would live to witness the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven; and that a little before the burning day, the nominal church would be in a fallen and corrupt, or lukewarm state; and to use his own words: 'It will be like a dead, putrid carcass, having no faith in the Lord's coming!' Yes, Jesus declared, 1800 years ago, that there would be but little of this faith when he comes. How fearfully it is now fulfilled! How few believe in his coming!" "Says Dr. Griffon: 'The world! the world! the world! This is the object which engrosses every care; this is the supreme deity that is adored. Buy and sell, and get gain—out with the thoughts of death—away with the Judgment and Heaven—my farms, my merchandise; I will have them, though the earth trembles under my feet, and Heaven weeps blood upon my head!'" "Says Charles Beecher: 'Oh, woful day! Oh, unhappy church of Christ! Fast rushing round and round the fatal circle of absorbing ruin! Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased in goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art poor, and miserable, and blind, and naked!'" The world is full of iniquity and crime. "As it was in the days of Noah," and of "Lot," "so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man." Mankind was then so corrupt that God had to destroy them off the face of the earth. But the sins of this generation are more heaven-daring than those of any former generation since time began; and the only reason why the wrath of Almighty God is not at once poured out, is because of the intercessions of Christ for his scattered people. "Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah." Isa. i, 9. Says the Christian Herald: "It is a fact that about in the same ratio that the cause of experimental religion declines, immorality and vice increases."
14. Cry of peace and safety. "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 as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, . . . and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober" 1 Thess. v, 1-6. Two distinct classes are here spoken of. One class, called brethren, have an understanding of the times and seasons, and know perfectly well that the day of the Lord will come on the wicked as a thief. They are not in darkness so that that day should overtake them as a thief. They are the children of the light and of the day. They are not asleep; but awake and watching for the day of the Lord. The other class will not understand the times and seasons; and although the day of God's wrath is hasting upon them greatly, they will be crying, "peace and safety." They will be in darkness, or without knowledge as to the approach of the day of the Lord, and sudden destruction will come upon them as a thief in the night, and there will be no escape for them. The two classes are represented thus: One by a person awake and watching; the other by a person asleep. We will first notice the doctrine of a temporal millennium, or the conversion of the world and spiritual reign of Christ 1000 years before the Judgment. This unscriptural doctrine, so generally held by the churches of this day, is of quite recent date, and is well calculated to lull the church and world to sleep. While looking for the world's conversion, they will not be expecting the day of the Lord. It will come upon such as a thief. The first that taught the modern doctrine of a temporal millennium was Daniel Whitby, who died in 1726, aged 88. He taught that the reign of Christ during the 1000 years was not personal, but spiritual.
Our Lord taught that the wheat and tares should grow together until the harvest; and the harvest is the end of the world. And that as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also at the coming of the Son of man. "Wide is the gate," said our Lord, "and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction and many there be that go in thereat; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matt. vii, 13, 14. He does not say that the narrow way to life is to grow wider and wider till the whole world can walk in it. The doctrine of universal salvation is also of recent date. It is a fable of the last days to lull its thousands to sleep. It is a device of Satan to close the ear against the warning voice of truth. The Universalist has taken the advantage of the unscriptural doctrine that all men have immortality, and that the sinner is to wail eternally in hell fire, and has built himself up on these errors found in the creeds of the churches. But lay out the doctrine of immortality through Christ, and obtained at the resurrection of the just, at the second coming of Christ, and the Universalist is "done over" at once. But we are of the opinion that this cry of peace and safety is yet to have a more perfect fulfillment in the wide-spread delusion of Spiritualism. That "ism" has no Devil, no judgment and no punishment of the wicked. All enter some one of the circles of the spirit world at death. There the vilest find pardon of sins committed in this world, and ascend in triumph to the higher circles!! All are safe; for although they may be guilty of crime of the blackest dye, yet at death they can do nothing less than to enter some one of these lower circles. 15. Magicians like Jannes and Jambres. "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith." 2 Tim. iii, 8. These two men were magicians, who withstood Moses by performing the same miracles that Moses performed. Thus persuading Pharaoh that Moses was a magician like themselves. Modern Mesmerizers, Psychologists, Biologists, and Spiritualists, now claim to perform the same miracles by their magic arts, and the aid of familiar spirits, that our Lord and his apostles performed by the power of God in attestation of their being sent of God. These modern magicians openly declare that Christ and his apostles wrought all their miracles in the same manner that they now perform theirs. And it is an undeniable fact that they have to a very great extent instilled this doctrine into the public mind. This sign of the last days is now manifestly fulfilling before us. 16. The days of Noah and Lot, are set forth by our Lord as examples of what the state of the world will be at his second coming. The world was warned of coming wrath; but they heeded not the warning. Their unbelief did not prevent the fulfillment of God's threatening. Nor will the unbelief of the present generation prevent the fulfillment of God's threatening which has been addressed to it. Here are our Lord's words. Certainly they are a faithful picture of the present day. "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away: so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matt. xxiv, 37-39; Luke xvii, 26-32. 17. 'Distress of nations with perplexity.' Luke xxi, 25. The present condition of the nations of Europe presents a complete fulfillment of this prediction. 18. 'The nations were angry.' Rev. xi, 18; Joel iii, 9-12. This is one of the events in the days of the voice of the seventh angel. Is it not now strikingly fulfilled? 19. The holding of the four winds. See Rev. vii, 1-3. Notwithstanding the anger of the nations, and their hostile attitude toward each other, theyhave thus far been held in check in the most surprising manner. 20. The faithful and wise servant giving meat in due season, and the evil servant saying, 'My Lord delayeth his coming,' Matt. xxiv, 45-51; Luke xii, 42-46. Has not this sign also been completely manifested? The faithful servant in view of the signs of his Lord's speedy return, has been faithfully warning his fellow men of impending judgment. The evil servant has been saying, "My Lord delayeth his coming," and has united with infidels and drunkards in reviling those who have faithfully warned their fellow men. This cry of peace and safety will be followed by swift destruction. 21. The Three Angels of Rev. xiv, 6-12. By reference to the Tract on this subject it will be seen that the first and second angels are fulfilled in the past, that the present is the period for the third, and that the next great event in the prophetic chain is the wrath of God, and the coming of the Son of man. The third message brings to view the patience of the saints, and the keeping of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. It is a remarkable fact that since the period of great expectation and excitement relative to the second coming of Christ, the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus have been subjects of thrilling interest to many, and thousands have turned to keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, as embraced in the "commandments of God." We have now passed through this subject, and have pointed out some of the most prominent signs of the immediate coming of the Son of man, and have shown their fulfillment by well known facts. We have seen the signs given the Jews to prove to them that Jesus was the true Messiah; also the numerous and impressive signs of his second advent. Christ said to the Jews, that the men of Nineveh would rise up in the Judgment and condemn that generation. Also, that it would be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of Judgment than for them. If you reject greater light, how will you stand in the Judgment? Will it not be more tolerable for the Jews in that day, than for you? O reject not the plain word of the Lord, now fulfilling before your eyes. Prepare to meet thy God. If you love the glorious appearing of Christ, hold fast the rejoicing of the hope, live humble, keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and soon you will receive a crown of life with all who love his appearing. How natural for those who really love Christ, to love his appearing. A lack of love for his glorious appearing, betrays a want of love for the dear Saviour. The following by John Hooper, England, is to the point: "It was a prominent characteristic of the primitive Christians 'that they loved Christ's appearing,' and looked forward to it as the period that would consummate their happiness. Surely, if our affections were placed on the Saviour—if he was to us the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely—if we had none in heaven but him, or on earth that we desired in comparison with him—we should desire his return—we should long to 'see him as he is'—should pray, 'thy kingdom come'—'Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.' 'Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his chariot?' The observations of Mr. Drummond on this subject, in a speech which that gentleman delivered at the Eleventh Anniversary of the Continental Society, are so much to the point that I cannot refrain from quoting them. 'Let us suppose,' says he, 'for instance, a woman whose husband is a long way absent from her, perhaps in the East Indies. She is possibly very diligent in the management of his affairs, and conducts herself with perfect outward propriety, but always breaks out into a passion whenever any one speaks to her of her husband's return: 'Oh no,' she says, 'he cannot be coming yet; I expect to be much better off before he comes; I expect his estate under my management to be much more extensive; if he were to come now, he would disarrange all my plans; besides, what is the use of thinking about his coming—I may die first, and that will be exactly the same as his coming to me?' Let her reservations of love and affection be what they may, you cannot believe otherwise than that her heart is alienated from her lord, and probably fixed upon another. Now let us suppose another woman in the same situation: see her constantly reading his letters, and especially those parts of them which describe the time and circumstances attendant on his return; hear her talking of it to her children, and teaching them to look forward to it as the consummation of her and their fondest wishes. Mark the silent scorn with which she treats a judicious friend who would try to persuade her that there was no use in looking out for his return, for that he had never mentioned the month, far less the day or the hour when it was to take place. Though she may make no noisy protestations of love; though she may speak but little about him, except to her children, and to those whose hearts are tuned in unison with her own, we cannot for a moment entertain a doubt of the real state of her affections. Let us apply this figure to ourselves: and of this I am certain, and I wish I could make the warning ring through every corner of our professing land, that a dislike to hear of the coming of the Lord is a more decided proof of the affections of the religious world at large, and of every single member of it, being alienated from Christ, and, therefore, in an unholy, unsanctified, and unconverted state, than all the noisy protestations at Annual Meetings, all the Bibles and tracts circulated, and missionaries sent out, are proofs of the reverse."